First-Time Homebuyers

Keeping it Simple: Five Steps to Home Ownership for First-time Homebuyers

The real estate process can seem complicated, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. The thought of dealing with tight inventories, financial requirements and complex negotiations can seem almost an insurmountable challenge. It’s enough to make your head spin and leave you wondering where do you start? Where do you turn next? Wouldn’t it be great if the whole process could just somehow be...

Getting on the Same Page: Here Are the Features Homebuyers Most Often Disagree On

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...

Entering into a Real Estate Contract: What You Should Know

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...

Rent or Buy? Here Are the Hidden Costs of Not Owning Your Home

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...

Putting the Brakes on Blunders When Buying a New Home

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...

Wheeling and Dealing: Here’s What to Consider When Negotiating Your Home Purchase

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...

Should You Buy? 7 Reasons to Own A Home

If you’ve been renting, you may wonder whether it makes sense to buy a home. You may have heard that inventories are tight right now or that the home-buying process is challenging. Maybe you have questions over the financial side of buying a home—and whether it’s better to rent or buy. If you’re still trying to figure out whether it’s better to rent or to buy, here are seven reasons you may...

Down Payment Fact or Fiction: What You Need to Know

Down payments can be the bane of many would-be homeowners. Add to the challenge all the free advice many would-be homeowners are bombarded with by well-meaning friends and family. In many cases, the information isn’t true or is only partially so.   Here’s a look at three of the most common myths surrounding down payments: Fiction: You can’t buy a house unless you’ve saved 20% of...

Ready to Buy? Five Red Flags to Consider Before Making an Offer

If you’re a first-time home buyer, or simply haven’t been in the market for awhile, it can be easy to make a misstep in the buying process. Fresh paint and a favorable floor plan can blind you to bigger items that could bring buyer’s regret down the road. No matter how hot the market is or how rushed you feel, be sure you like the neighborhood and aren’t getting in over your head with a fixer...

Five Questions to Ask Your Agent Before Making an Offer

When inventories are tight, it’s tempting to forge ahead with an offer quickly once you’ve found a house that checks all the right boxes. If you wait too long, you could lose out to another buyer. While that’s true, a home is the largest purchase of your life. It’s important to learn all you can about it before signing a contract. But do you know all the right things to ask? Here are five...

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