Home Value

Escalation Clause: Love It or Hate It, Here’s What Homebuyers Need to Know

With buyer competition reaching new heights, it’s no wonder homebuyers feel they need to pull out all the stops to ensure their offer rises to the top. There’s nothing like the frustration of losing out on a house that checked all your boxes—especially if it turns out to be a matter of a few thousand dollars you would be willing to throw into the deal, if given the chance. Pursuit of the top...

What it Takes: Preparing to Make a Winning Offer on Your Next Home

It’s never fun to lose out on the house you had your heart set on. Unfortunately, when inventories are tight, that scenario can play again and again. The result of not being able to move when you want to can make the whole scenario very challenging. So, how do you get the edge over other buyers and land the home of your dreams?  As your real estate agent, there are a number of strategies and...

Numbers Game: What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in Today’s Real Estate Market?

When it comes to credit scores and applying for a home mortgage, your first thought may fall to whether or not you qualify. But, your credit score not only plays a critical role in your ability to qualify for a home loan, its influence continues when it comes to your down payment requirements, interest rates and other mortgage terms. Here’s what you need to know: Minimum score to qualify The four...

Short on Time? Here are Quick Ways to Spruce up Your Home’s Entryway that Fit Any Schedule

Whether you’re planning to list your home or you are simply thinking about the impact when guests arrive, your foyer or entryway is the first impression visitors get when they come into your home. Ironically, the entryway is often one of the most neglected areas when it comes to your home’s decor. Most are left to a drab existence, though there are some that swing the pendulum too far in the other...

Thinking About Listing Your Home? Here’s Why You May Want to Sell Sooner Rather than Later

Housing inventory was thin going into the pandemic and has remained that way into 2021. Part of the reason is that homeowners who would have put their house up for sale in a normal year, held back.  With low interest rates continuing to drive demand and low inventory keeping the market extremely competitive, the simple economic laws of supply and demand have led to rising home prices amidst a...

Buyer Disappointment: Here are the Worst Reasons Not to Make an Offer on a Home

Yes, it’s a competitive world out there if you’re a homebuyer. But you can’t win if you don’t get in the game.  That’s not to say every house you look at is going to be worth making an offer. There are plenty of very legitimate reasons for not making an offer, such as serious structural issues or a price that is way over budget, to name but a few. But, let’s face it. Sometimes,...

Safe and Secure: Here’s How to Choose Your Home Security System

Home security systems have gone through tremendous changes in recent years, with smart phone integration and do-it-yourself installed systems becoming more sophisticated.  While new tech development is good news for consumers, it also leaves many homeowners wondering where to turn when it comes to choosing a new or updated home security system. Here are some considerations before making your...

Here’s What Buyers Say Are the Biggest Challenges to New Home Ownership

Buying a home is an exciting endeavor. But, it isn’t without its challenges. If you’re thinking about making a new home purchase, whether this is your first home or your fifth, you may be wondering what buyers are saying about the process. What are the obstacles they found most difficult to get through?  According to the National Association of REALTORS®  2021 Home Buyer and Seller...

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...

Buying a House in a Low-Inventory Market

Tight supply of available homes for sale has been the story across the country for a number of years now and nowhere is that more evident than here in the Valley. The simple laws of supply and demand have left many buyers disappointed and frustrated. After the crash of 2008, first-time homebuyers in particular were less able, or at least less willing, to take on the large debt of a mortgage. With fewer...

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