If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably received your share of advice from family and friends. Add to that the constant stream of TV shows, news segments, and social media posts that over-simplify the home buying process for easy entertainment.
With so much information to sift through, it can be tough to distinguish fact from fiction. That’s why I’m revealing the truth behind some of the most common home buyer myths and misconceptions.
Continue reading Top 10 Home Buyer Myths
It’s easy to look up how much money you have in your savings account or the real-time value of your stock investments. But determining the dollar value of a home is trickier.
As a seller, knowing what your home’s worth helps you price it correctly when you put it up for sale. If you price it too high, it may sit on the market. But price it too low and you may be losing out on a good chunk of money. For buyers, it’s important to know a home’s worth before you make an offer. You want your offer to be competitive, but you don’t want to overpay for the property.
Continue reading What’s Your Home Actually Worth?
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of buying a home. Once you’ve had an offer accepted on your dream house, you’ll probably be anxious to move in. However, before you make a significant financial commitment, it’s best to know exactly what you’re buying.
Continue reading Avoid These Top 8 Home Inspection Errors
If you use your garage as storage space, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, because the space isn’t climate controlled, it’s best to keep these items elsewhere and avoid these storage mistakes according to Realtor.com:
Pollutants, moisture and heat can quickly destroy your photos. You should digitize all of yours. If that’s not an option for you, keep printed copies in a dry area inside your home.
Continue reading 7 Garage Storage Mistakes
Understanding a home’s true market value is about more than pictures, software assessments and price-per-square-foot. Whether you’re a current homeowner thinking of selling or are house-hunting, it’s crucial you understand what factors affect home valuation. By partnering with a local market expert, sellers will avoid pricing their house out of the market (the kiss of death in real estate) while still getting top dollar. Buyers will ensure they get a good deal on their next home.
So, how do you accurately calculate a home’s value? After all, the value a home is assigned by the tax assessor and the one it’s given when it’s listed are often dramatically different from one another. Which one is accurate and what does it all mean? Read on to learn more.
Continue reading How to Do a Home Valuation and Get Top Dollar
If you’re in the market for a new home or investment property, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “What can we afford?” To answer this question, you must look at more than just the asking price of a home. You need to understand what your total buying power is, and the factors that will affect it.
Continue reading What’s Your Home Buying Power?
Okay, you made one of the most important decisions in your life: you’re buying a home! You found your ideal home. It’s in your desired neighborhood, close to everything you need. You love its design and feel, and you’re ready to finalize the deal.
But, whoa … wait a minute! Buying a home isn’t like buying a toaster. If you discover something’s wrong with your new home, you can’t return it for a refund or exchange. You’re stuck with your buying decision. Purchasing a home is an important investment and should be treated as such. Therefore, before finalizing anything, your ideal home needs an inspection so you don’t throw your hard-earned money into a money pit.
Continue reading Get a Home Inspection and Save Money
Maybe your dream home has the intricate details that you usually find only in older construction — wainscoting and crown molding in the interior, a large yard with an older tree shading the back yard, and a white picket fence.
Or maybe your dream home has all the conveniences of modern living — open floor plan in the living and dining spaces, large windows, connected, “smart” appliances, and minimalist design elements.
Whether you go for a brand new construction or an existing home, both types of properties have their pros and cons when it comes to purchasing. What type of home is right for you will depend on which factors are most important for your lifestyle.
Continue reading Should You Buy a New or Existing Home?
No matter if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s market, there are a few critical steps you can take to make a smarter purchase. Since buying a home is likely the biggest single investment you will ever make, being prepared will help you make a better purchase. Here are 7 tips and tricks to buying a home.
What is your buying power? It is your ability to borrow plus the cash you have available for a down payment and closing costs. Your credit-worthiness and income will affect how much you can realistically borrow for a home.
Continue reading How to Buy a Home: 7 Tips and Tricks from Real Estate Insiders
According to a survey by the California Association of Realtors, one of the top reasons home owners have not considered selling is a concern that property taxes on another home would be too expensive.
For certain groups of people living in San Diego County and some other counties in California, there is a way to move but not increase property taxes.
California voters have passed several propositions, Propositions 60, 90 and 110, that allow eligible property owners to transfer the base year value of an existing principal residence to a replacement dwelling.
What do these propositions do? Who qualifies, and what are the benefits?
Continue reading How to Move But Not Increase Property Taxes