Here are the top 5 essential amenities home buyers are looking for according to a survey by Porch. When showing homes, I see these same issues come up frequently.
Continue reading Home Buyers’ Top 5 Essential Amenities
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 MistakesRising interest rates have a significant impact on your mortgage payment and your ability to qualify for a loan. Whether you are looking for your first home or your fifth, you are probably going to need a mortgage to purchase it. The infographic below shows what your payment would be as interest rates increase.
Continue reading Interest Rate Impact
Don’t wait until you’re ready to move to start preparing financially to buy a home.
If you’re like the vast majority of home buyers, you will choose to finance your purchase with a mortgage loan. By preparing in advance, you can avoid the common delays and roadblocks many buyers face when applying for a mortgage.
The requirements to secure a mortgage may seem overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But I’ve outlined three simple steps for getting mortgage ready.
Even if you’re a current homeowner, it’s a good idea to prepare in advance so you don’t encounter any surprises along the way. Lending requirements have become more rigorous in recent years. Changes to your credit history, debt levels, job type and other factors could impact your chances of approval.
It’s never too early to start preparing to buy a home. Follow these three steps to begin laying the foundation for your future home purchase today!
Continue reading Three Simple Steps for Getting Mortgage Ready
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?
Since the election, interest rates have started going up. This will have a direct effect on the cost of housing. A one-half percent change in interest rates can affect your monthly payment more than a five percent change in home prices.
When does one-half equal more than five? When interest rates increase! Here’s what a change in interest rates costs you compared to a rise in home prices.
I’ve used a $500,000 purchase price with a 20 percent down payment. Interest rates are broken down in 0.25 percent increments from 0 to 1 percent. Price increases are broken down in 2.5 percent increments from 0 to 10 percent.
Continue reading When Does One-Half Equal More Than Five?
One of the most common questions I get at this time of year is, “What’s going on in the market?” It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners always want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is the American real estate market is strong and healthy. Home values are up, prices and sales are strong, and millennial, first-time buyers are eager to become homeowners.
We often use national real estate numbers to give us a clearer view of our local market. However, real estate is local, and while statistics and predictions help us understand the overall real estate market, our local market may be different. If you’re thinking of buying or selling, or just want to know how much your home is worth, give me a call!
Continue reading Real Estate 2017: What to Expect
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