A pre-approval is a letter from a lender. It states that the lender will give this borrower a mortgage for up to the amount on the letter. A pre-approval states that earnings and debt and credit history have been reviewed and approved. A pre-approval benefits both...
Buying Basics
51 Critical Things Buyers Need To Understand About Short Sales
Short sales are often promoted as an easy way to buy a property at under-market value. That certainly works sometimes, but the majority of the short sale transactions present a very different reality to buyers. This report will help buyers objectively evaluate short...
Buying a House in 2024: What You Need to Know Now
NAEBA asked Jon Boyd, Past President of NAEBA and long-time real estate broker serving only buyers, what he would advise consumers to do if they plan to buy a home in 2024. Jon indicated that it starts with the team – you, your buyer’s agent and the others who...
How Many Bathrooms Do You Need?
Indoor plumbing has been a thing for a long time now. If you read about housing in the early 20th century, you will read about apartment buildings with one bathroom shared with several households. That is mostly unheard of now. Before 1980, many single family houses...
How Much Land Do You Need?
Especially since 2020, it has become clear to buyers that having access to outdoor space and natural lighting is good for their quality of life. Being able to get outside makes it easier to get a bit of direct sunlight every day. Light is part of why we enjoy outdoor...
How Many Bedrooms Do You Need?
As soon as you consider house hunting, the question comes up, “how many bedrooms do you need?” When you are buying, you will be happiest purchasing something that you will not grow out of in less than ten years. When you think about how many bedrooms you need, think...
How to Fail in a Bidding War
What does it mean to fail at a bidding war? If you enter a bidding war, and someone else gets the property, it might be a failure. It might not. Three ways to fail at a bidding war: Pay more for a property than its market value. And choose a property that does not...
Beware of Competition
The hardest part of the spring market is that there are more buyers in the marketplace. There are also more houses and condos for sale. You are more likely to find yourself making an offer when another buyer is making an offer on the same property. People call these...
Navigating a Competitive Housing Market
The hardest part of the spring housing market is that there are more buyers in the marketplace. There are also more houses and condos for sale. You are more likely to find yourself making an offer when another buyer is making an offer on the same property. People call...
Why is the Price of that House So Low?
Suppose you see a house that seems like a great deal. If it is too-good-to-be-true, it is time to figure out if it really is true. The house is listed on your local multiple listing service, or Zillow, or Realtor.com for much less than other houses of its size...
Tips for Buyers in the Spring Market
Throughout America, there is higher real estate activity in the spring, summer, and fall. Generally, people do not choose to sell their houses in the late fall and winter. Homeowners would rather not be showing their houses during times that will interfere with...
What do Buyer’s Agents Do?
A buyer’s agent is hired to help you with a big monetary decision, which is also a big personal decision. There is a wide variety in the quality of that fiduciary (financial) advice you will get, depending on the agent you choose. A buyer’s agent is required to help...