Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you have to get past the home inspection. Trained professional inspectors are very thorough, and their inspection reports will usually be fairly extensive, especially when an older house is involved. Many of the things noted in the report will be minor, maybe even purely cosmetic, but others will … Continued
Staging is always an important task for home sellers. Survey after survey has shown that staged homes sell faster and for more than homes that haven’t been staged. But as with everything else, staging is evolving. Certainly, the basics remain the same, but there are new staging trends you must take into account if you’re … Continued
The title company is often overlooked in all the hub-bub of a real estate transaction, but it is in fact one of the key players. The title company plays a key role at closing – that final step at which you get the keys to your new. In fact, one of the main jobs of … Continued
When interest rates fluctuate, especially when the Fed raises them, home sales are affected rapidly and significantly. Home buyers are impacted directly and almost immediately, but sellers feel the effect too. And interest rates are indeed fluctuating. About two years ago, rates hit near historic lows, but that is now changing. We have seen several … Continued
Buying a home is a big step and a big purchase. And if you’re like most of us, you’ll need financing to make that big purchase – a mortgage loan that you’ll be paying for the next (possibly) 30 years. It just makes sense then to choose the mortgage lender that is right for you. … Continued
Property taxes make up a big chunk of the total tax burden for homeowners, so it pays to have some understanding of this tax. Certainly, we need funding for public services and infrastructure, which are funded by property taxes, but no one wants to overpay. And a good way to ensure you aren’t being overcharged … Continued
If you’re selling (or for refinancing or for tax purposes), you will need to know the true value of your house. Very seldom do homeowners get it right when they price their home at what they think it’s worth – this usually winds up in an overpriced home. The three main methods for valuation are … Continued