Most of us only encounter property surveyors when we drive by construction projects. But did you know they also can help when you’re buying a home or adding an addition, fence, shed, etc. to an existing home? Their tools and methods may seem inscrutable—just what is that camera-looking thing, anyway? (Answer: a digital theodolite, used to measure angles. Now you know.) But […]
Tag Archives: buying a home
Mortgage Rates: Expected to Rise but Steady For Now
Mortgage rates held near their recent lows this week, with 30-year, fixed-rate loans averaging 3.59%. Last week, the average rate was 3.58%. A year ago it was 3.65%, according to Freddie Mac. Policymakers at the Fed raised short-term interest rates in December, causing people to worry that mortgage rates would rise, too. Thus far they […]
What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know About the Current Housing Market
Low inventory levels are a defining characteristic of the current housing market. While it is not a universal condition, a low inventory of homes on the market seems to be prevalent in many desirable areas including right here in Columbus. As you’ve probably heard the real estate market is thriving and in fact activity has sky rocketed! In […]
What You Need to Know About Pocket Listings
Over the past several years, “pocket listings” have become a more mainstream option for quietly marketing a home. You probably haven’t heard this real estate term before but here’s what today’s home buyers and sellers need to know about pocket listings. A pocket listing is an unofficial, off-market listing Also known as a “quiet” or […]
Which Real Estate Search Portal is the Best?
Nowadays, just about everyone looking to buy or sell real estate begins their search online and new real estate listings services have drastically changed the way Americans look for homes. It’s now possible, with a click of a mouse, to find the sales price of the home next door, search for listings in a given school […]
Do I Need a Buyer’s Agent When Buying a New Home?
Do I need the services of an experienced real estate agent when buying a new home? This is a question we often get from home buyers who are only interested in considering new construction. The answer is yes, and here’s why. When you buy an existing home, what you see is what you get for […]
How the Fed Move Impacts Mortgage Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve did it — they raised the target federal funds rate a quarter point, its first boost in nearly a decade. However, this does not necessarily mean that the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage will be a quarter point higher as a direct result of this move. That’s not how mortgage rates […]
6 Real Estate Secrets from Investors
You’ve seen the TV shows: Individual finds a foreclosed home in the best neighborhood in town, scoops up said property for a steal, fixes it up, and sells it for a significant profit. What those DIY and home improvement shows don’t necessarily show you is just how tough flipping houses for a profit can actually be. But […]
Tips to Avoid Over-Improving Your Home
Can your house ever be too nice? The answer is yes. Unfortunately, there’s no simple measure to determine what constitutes an over improvement. How much is too much, depends a lot on what improvements you undertake, what’s happening in your neighborhood and, in the end, your personal reasons for improving. That said, when you sell […]
Selling a Home to a Buyer With a Home To Sell
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 […]
