Moving to a new state or region can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to settling into an unfamiliar community. Whether you've moved locally before or this is your first big relocation, there’s more to it than just packing boxes and changing addresses....
House hunting is mainly an adult activity, but there are times when you need or want to involve your children. House hunters need to pay attention to the property to get the details of the home in their mind. Children can be a distraction, sometimes. Children’s needs...
Every buyer’s agent is required to provide a buyer’s agent contract when they begin working with a home buyer. One thing the buyer’s agent agreement must include is a clear description of what the buyer will be paying the agent and when the agent gets paid. How...
Whenever you hire a professional for something, it is a good idea to have a contract. That’s what a buyer’s agent agreement is – it’s a buyer’s agent contract. It’s a legal document that tells you what the agent is going to do for you and what it is going to cost for...
In light of the recent settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the plaintiffs represented by class-action attorneys, home buyers need to be aware of new rules that will take effect nationwide on August 17, 2024. Here’s what you need...
When deciding on whether a pool should be on your house hunting wish list, balance these two factors: Any increase in the value of the house will be less than what it costs you to install, maintain, and insure a pool. That is true everywhere in the country. How much...
When you create an offer on a house, the Seller is going to ask you to prove that your mortgage will close on time. All you need is a pre-qualification, right? Nope. You need a pre-approval. A pre-underwritten mortgage is even better! What’s the difference? A...
Getting a pre-approval will help a buyer get their offer accepted. It’s simple; the seller wants to know that the buyer’s mortgage will close on time. That means a house hunter needs to have their pre-approval in hand when they begin house hunting. Murphy’s Law...
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...
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...
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...
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...