Real Estate
February 20, 2018
An earnest money deposit is a huge part of the home-buying process. It can help get you the house you want. With earnest money, you’re telling the seller that you’re serious and committed to buying their house. Without it, you risk losing your dream home to someone who provided earnest money. Earnest money does more than just show your good faith in a transaction; it also helps to fund your down payment. If everything goes as planned, the funds used for your deposit will go toward other closing costs and your down payment. Declaring your commitment to the seller with earnest money lets them know you mean business, so it’s important that you really understand what it is. Here are […]
February 13, 2018
Buying a home is all about negotiation. Even though you most likely have a realtor to help you through the process (link to previous blog), you should learn some solid research skills to prepare yourself for the negotiation. When you’re buying a house, you want the best price. To get the best deal on the home you’ve always dreamed of, you need to know how to negotiate, when to stick to your guns, and when to wave your white flag and surrender. Here are some tips to help you master your negotiation skills: Familiarize yourself with the market The No. 1 rule when beginning the home-buying process is to know your market. You’ll have a better chance at negotiating when […]
February 6, 2018
It’s tempting to do everything yourself. The sense of satisfaction of doing it on your own, whether you’re changing your oil or fixing a fence, is meaningful. That’s why I completely understand when people want to sell their house on their own. The accomplishment of securing a contract on your own feels great…but it often doesn’t make financial sense. The commission on selling a home with a Realtor is often 6%, which adds up to $30,000 for a $500,000 house. And while everyone should be keen to save $30k, the reality is that isn’t likely to be what you’re saving. If the buyer is using an agent, you need to cut that in half. What’s more, a good Realtor can often get […]
October 31, 2017
Buying a home for the first time can be a stressful, albeit exciting, rite of passage. Knowing what your first few steps should be can tremendously lower the amount of stress you’re probably already feeling. Without any further ado, here’s how we tell people they should start: Get Your Finances in Order When you’re about six months out, you need to start organizing your finances. First, this means checking your credit score and making sure your score is maximized. Creditworthiness is a huge factor in loan approval. Higher credit scores can mean significantly lower interest rates and higher pre-approved values. There are a ton of factors to balance (pay off your balances in full, don’t add debt like buying a […]
September 21, 2017
Getting Back to Normal After a Hurricane Everyone talks about preparing for hurricanes: making sure you have enough water, batteries and lots of lanterns for when the power goes out, and all of your important documents safe and ziplocked. But not enough attention is given to what happens once the storm passes. With any luck, Irma just left you with some debris and a few hot nights without power. But even if that’s the case, it’s still important to check your property thoroughly in case there was some damage. Your Roof First, check your roof for any damage or missing tiles. If you have any, make sure to take multiple pictures in case you need to make an insurance claim. […]
September 19, 2017
When you’re listing your home, there is so much to do that it can be easy to forget something. You’ll probably remember the big things like making some quick repairs and staging your home. But smaller things may get overlooked. This checklist will help you remember everything you need to tackle as you get ready to sell your home. Review Your Online Listing Google your address and see what comes up, and be sure to look over your online listing. Make sure all of the information is correct and that the photos show off your home’s best features. Nearly all homebuyers start their searches online, so make sure your home will make a great first impression. List Out Improvements and […]
September 12, 2017
A beautiful, spa-like bathroom is alluring to buyers. You want them to envision themselves enjoying its luxuriousness every day of their lives. The reality is that most of us don’t have perfect bathrooms. So, if you’re selling your home, you need to do a little work to get buyers to fall in love with yours. Before you get too concerned: we’re not talking about a major remodel. Instead, you can really maximize and capitalize on the space you have. These staging tips will help you turn your bathroom in to a coveted oasis—and sell your home. Create a Blank Canvas Clear off all the countertops and remove all of your everyday toiletries, like soaps, toothbrushes, and other supplies. No one […]
September 5, 2017
So, you’ve found your dream home, and your offer was accepted. Congrats! Now, it’s time for the home inspection. A home inspection might seem worrisome. But, it’s a necessary step in the home-buying process, ensuring that you know exactly what’s going on within the bones of the house. Not all homebuyers fully understand how inspections work. Here are nine things you should know about them: Inspections Are (Technically) Optional. It may come as a surprise, but home inspections are not a required part of the real estate process. But, they are a great idea. You obviously want to know what you’re getting into, and an inspection will give you an idea of the home’s problems (whether it be a roof […]
August 29, 2017
Buying a home is a huge commitment. If you’re a commitment-phobe or just new to the process, it can seem incredibly overwhelming—maybe even terrifying. The most important first step is finding the right realtor to help guide you through the process. You can rely on your realtor’s expertise, but you also need to educate yourself on the home-buying process so that you understand what’s happening at every stage. These tips will help you get through the process of buying your first home like a pro. Get Preapproved for a Mortgage If you’re planning to take out a loan to buy your house, you need to talk to a lender about getting preapproved for a mortgage. Preapproval provides credibility to your […]