Marketplace

A home purchase is a major commitment–likely the largest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. Before you get too far down the road to homeownership, you need to be sure you’re prepared for the home-buying process. To get started, ask yourself the following six questions: 1. Do you have verifiable income and employment? While it’s true that your mortgage lender will want to be able to verify your...

There’s a lot of attention paid to first-time homebuyers and what they need to know when buying a home. But what about first-time home sellers? No matter how much an agent tries to prepare a homeowner for the listing and selling process, every sale is different and there are some nuances that are difficult to anticipate. At the same time, there are certain things that are to be expected—but for one...

Once your offer has been accepted, there are still several steps to take before you can close on your new home. One of those is an appraisal. As part of the mortgage loan process, your lender will order an appraisal of the property. This ensures that the home you have chosen is worth the loan your lender is making. In most cases, the appraisal comes in at or above the purchase price of...

Ask about the benefits of homeownership and you’re likely to hear about financial stability and tax advantages. And, for good reason. Home ownership is all of those things. Owning a home builds equity, which can even lead to generational wealth. It’s sometimes even described as a forced savings account. While the financial rewards of homeownership—financial stability, equity and tax...

The holidays can be one of the busiest times of the year. If you’re thinking about listing your home, you may be wondering whether you want to add to the hectic holidays or simply wait till after the new year. There’s nothing wrong with listing during the holidays. In fact, you might gain an advantage because potential buyers may have taken some time off of work and have fewer job distractions to...

While not the case with most other parts of the economy, the housing market remained relatively unscathed when it emerged from 2020. In fact, some might characterize it as being stronger than ever. High demand, bolstered by low mortgage rates, has resulted in higher home prices—and that’s a story that’s played out here in Arizona as well as across the country. Despite the strong seller’s market,...

There’s nothing new about the competitive real estate market facing buyers. If you’re hoping to buy a new home, you may be feeling some anxiety over what is frequently a multiple offer situation. So, what’s a buyer to do? Here are 12 strategies buyers have successfully used to get their offer accepted, despite competing in a crowded field of buyers.  Offer an escalation clause. This...

Whether you’re living in your forever home or thinking about putting your house on the market, it’s always good to be on the lookout for ways to boost your home’s value without having to spend a lot of money. Focusing on your kitchen and bathrooms will likely give the best bang for your buck. You will also catch the attention of buyers if you plan to list. With that in mind, here are some...

You’ve accepted an offer on your home, but suddenly your dreams of a smooth transaction are shattered by a home inspection report. The buyers are requesting over a dozen repairs and say they will walk if the issues aren’t addressed. Even in a seller’s market, the thought of starting all over again is less than appealing. Besides, the next buyers may ask for the same repairs. You can market your home...

There are a lot of times when a seller wants to sell their home quickly, but that doesn’t always mean they are ready to move quickly. Situations like waiting on a new construction home to be finished, the start or end of the school year, problems scheduling movers or the timing of a work-related relocation are just a few of the reasons a seller may want to stay put for just a bit longer. Rather than...