Buying a home for the first time is both exciting and scary. There are many unknowns for the first-time buyer, and too often mistakes are made. Obtaining financing, understanding inspections, closing costs, and other incidentals are all challenges for the first-time buyer. The following tips cover some of the most important things the buyer needs to know, but it’s also important to hire an experienced real estate agent to help explain the process.   Arrange For Your Loan – A pre-approval lets a seller know you are a serious buyer. […]

  It’s rare that anyone perfectly times the market in real estate, but if you’re thinking of selling your home, you probably want to put it on the market when it’s most ideal.   Almost every home seller is concerned with two primary things: selling for top dollar and selling quickly. Even though timing the market perfectly is unattainable, there might be times to sell that are better than others.   If you’re thinking of selling a home, here’s how to know when to put it on the market.   […]

Buying your first home or property can be a little intimidating. It is a long-term commitment that often involves a complex web of financial transactions. However, learning real estate jargon can make this process a lot easier. Here are some basic terms to help you get started.   Activity List: A detailed list of properties a real estate agent has sold over a specified period.   Ad hoc Partnership: A formal arrangement a buyer makes with an investor to share the buying costs and profits of a property.   Adjustable […]

Whether if it’s for health reasons, job flexibility, or seasonal weather, if you find yourself staying at home more, you might also be facing a new reality: Spending more time at home can make it more difficult to stay fit. If you’re home more, you’re likely not going to the gym as much. Cooped up in your house, you’re probably less active. And the more time you spend at home, the more time you spend close to your refrigerator. Don’t panic, however. You can get fit in and around your […]

Every homeowner wants their house to have curb appeal. Visitors quickly form a first impression of your home based on how its exterior appears from the street. A major point of emphasis when it comes to curb appeal is the front entryway. Nobody’s going to look at the front of your home and not notice it. The front entryway is also a key to the overall curb appeal because it can seem warm and welcoming or cold and uninviting. Re-doing an unappealing entry with a new porch or stoop or […]

Different homeowners at different stages of their lives have different housing needs. A young, growing family, for example, probably needs a larger house than a single person or retired couple. If your need for a large home has passed, you might be thinking about downsizing. It’s not an easy decision. If you have adult children who have moved out, perhaps you enjoy having space for them when they come to visit. Maybe it’s hard to separate yourself from the nostalgia you feel from raising a family in the home you’ve […]

Purchasing a home is often the single largest transaction for a person or family. It is a big financial decision and commitment, and one decision is the type of home. The most popular is the single-family home. However, another option is the condominium. There are pros and cons for each home type, and there are four main differences when comparing condominium to single-family homeownership. What You Own The typical single-family home is a free-standing structure with a yard, and you purchase ownership of the structure and the land on which […]

Buying a house is a huge decision at the best of times, and it’s even worse when the market favors sellers. When more people are trying to buy than to sell, prices are high, and finding your dream house may seem impossible. But don’t give up. These guidelines will help you buy the right house, even in a seller’s market. Avoid Offer Nights In some cities with hot housing markets, offer nights are common. This means that on a certain night, the house will essentially go up for auction. The […]

Home sellers are usually concerned about two things first and foremost: how long it will take for their home to sell, and how much money it will sell for. The answers to those two questions are mostly tied to two factors. The asking price and condition of a home are what typically determine how fast it sells and for how much. A home priced correctly from the start that’s in great condition should sell fast and for top dollar. Getting your home in tip-top shape before putting it on the […]

Low-interest rates and a strong economy make the perfect opportunity to reap substantial profits in the real estate market. Whether you are upgrading, downsizing, or relocating, obtaining the maximum amount possible from the home sale is the goal. So, while preparing your home for listing, avoid some common mistakes sellers make before your home hits the market. Pricing for maximum profit (treating your home like a piggy bank) One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is determining the listing price of their home by the amount of money they want/need […]