In today’s “move-up” housing market, many buyers commonly have to sell their current home before they can purchase a new one. To protect themselves, a buyer will typically submit their offer making the purchase contingent on the sale of their current residence. While many sellers are reluctant to consider offers with such a contingency, this out of fear it will take months […]
Category Archives: For Buyers
Why You Shouldn’t Buy the Best House in the Neighborhood
When you’re house hunting, finding an amazing house in your location of choice that is turn key and doesn’t require much additional investment seems like a major score. But is it really? Before making an offer on that picture-perfect home, take a look at the surrounding houses. If they’re all in disrepair—or fall far short of the one you’re […]
New Law Protects Buyers and Sellers From Surprises at Closing
You’ve heard the home closing horror stories: At the eleventh hour the buyers find that the amount needed for closing exceeds what they were originally quoted. Well thanks to a new law this experience is now a thing of the past. If you’re about to close on a new house, your timing couldn’t be better. Thanks to new mortgage rules […]
Home Amenities that are Likely to Grow in Demand
When selling a home, you need to understand the current consumer expectations and lifestyles. While some trends come and go, others remain popular for years and certain amenities that home buyers now consider “nice-to-have” may soon move into the “must-have” category in the coming years. Regardless of which category these features fall into for a buyer, […]
In Love with a Home that’s a Pending Sale? It Might Not be to Late!
You’ve been searching for the perfect home for weeks, or perhaps months and you’ve finally found it! It has the right number of bedrooms and baths, plenty of square feet and that updated kitchen and gorgeous backyard with outdoor living space you’ve been dreaming about! There’s only one problem: it’s already in contract and the sale is pending. If […]
A Note of Caution About HOAs and How to Spot a Bad One
Understanding HOAs The number of Americans living in common-interest communities — those governed by either a homeowners association, condo board, or cooperative — has grown from 1 percent in 1970 to 24 percent in 2013. Community associations are a growing share of the residential real estate market, however, many home owners have little understanding of the […]
Perks of Buying a Home in the Fall-Winter
It’s that time of year and as we close out a summer marked by rising home prices and limited supply, many buyers expect the common end-of-season slowdown. The change of season doesn’t mean activity drops off completely – in fact, fall’s arrival presents opportunities for homebuyers, in part due to a “back-to-school mentality”. If you’re a prospective homebuyer, […]
Is it Legal for a Seller to Shop Offers?
As multiple offer situations have become common place, we real estate agents are increasingly running into situations where the seller wants to “shop” an offer. Here’s an example: a seller has received three offers to purchase their home. One of the offers is higher than the other two, but the seller prefers the closing and possession dates on […]
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent
Buying and selling real estate is complex, and it’s imperative to select a competent, honest agent who will skillfully represent your best interests throughout the entire process of selecting, negotiating and closing on your property. Here are several things to look for and consider when selecting the real estate professional to represent you in a […]
What is a Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a form that lists basic information about the terms of a mortgage loan for which you’ve applied. The GFE includes the estimated costs you’ll have to pay for the home loan. The Good Faith Estimate provides you with basic information about the loan including the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), […]