If you’re a fan of HGTV, you’ve probably been entertained by shows where prospective homeowners are shown houses that seem to meet their needs, only to bicker bitterly over one feature or another. She wants to be close to downtown, he wants to live in the suburbs. She wants a large backyard, he wants something that doesn’t require a lot of yardwork. You get the idea. First off, I am obligated...
Buying a home is a big commitment, but it also has a great many advantages. If you’re throwing money away on rent month after month, what’s holding you back from making the move to homeownership? The truth is, there are a lot of myths about buying a home that keep people from making the move. But in reality, instead of renting, they could be owning their own home. Here are five of the most...
What’s the most important room of the house? Most people would say the kitchen. It seems no matter how incredible your living room is, everyone always wants to congregate in the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home and the place where memories are made. It’s no wonder, then, that the kitchen is often an important factor when buyers are looking for a new home. It only makes sense that if...
It seems like much is written about making an offer on a house—how much to offer, what contingencies to consider and how to make your offer stand out. But a surprising number of buyers—especially first-time would-be homeowners—do not come to the real estate process with a clear understanding that they are entering into a legal contract when making an offer on a home. For the...
For many homeowners planning to list their homes, presenting their property at its very best is often one of their main concerns. Staging can be helpful in getting a home sold for top dollar. Whether done in whole or in part, there are advantages to staging a house before presenting it to buyers. In addition, if a home is sitting empty, staging can help potential buyers to better visualize...
Homeownership is certainly not without its costs. Saving for a down payment and coming up with closing costs are just the beginning. Covering costs like maintenance, repairs, insurance, and HOA fees are among the expenses that soon become too familiar with new homeowners. But the alternative—renting—also comes with its own slate of costs. The choice of whether it is better to buy or rent has...
Thinking about buying a fixer-upper? Buying a property in need of renovation and turning it into a suitable personal residence can be extremely satisfying. But tackling a fixer-upper can also be challenging. For starters, when inventories are tight, it can be difficult to purchase a fixer-upper at a significantly lower price than the market value of a comparable move-in ready home. That can mean...
Buying a home for the first time can be nerve-wracking and exciting, all at the same time. There are so many things to remember, so many considerations to be had and so many decisions to be made. It’s no wonder, then, that some homeowners find themselves committing blunders when it comes to their search for the perfect home. At times, those mistakes can be costly or even get in the way of a...
It’s hard not to get glued to the 30-minute drama of some of today’s property-buying-flipping-loving-and-listing lineup of real estate reality TV shows. After all, they are pretty entertaining. And, that’s the point. These shows are simply entertainment. But if you log too many hours watching reality TV versions of real estate, you may start to get a skewed idea of what it’s really like...
Whether or not you’re a first-time homebuyer, you’ve probably given some thought to how to negotiate with the seller when it comes to contract time. But most homebuyers focus only on price. While price is critical, it isn’t the only part of the contract you may want to negotiate. Particularly in a market when inventories are low, being able to negotiate on things besides price could help your...
