When you're buying a home out of state, there's a lot to consider. You have to go through all of the work tied to buying a home, but remotely. Either you have someone on the ground in the new place who is doing the legwork for you, or you visit briefly in order...
First-Time Home Buyers
7 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Needs to Ask
There's a lot of uncertainty when it comes to buying your first home, and you're bound to have a lot of questions. If you've chosen well, you have a real estate agent who will answer your questions with patience and clarity. Getting the right real estate agent who can...
Checklist for First Time Homebuyers
Eight steps for first time homebuying success Going through the purchase of your first home is an incredible milestone in many people's lives that can be exciting yet daunting. However, if you're committed to taking the time to understand the many facets of the...
What is “Buyer Representation”?
“Buyer Representation” and “Buyer's Agent” is a phrase that is thrown around in the Real Estate Industry. So much so that it's pretty much lost its significance to the average consumer. What is it and where did it start? Do buyer's actually have representation? Better...
Steps to Buying Your First Home
The steps to buying your first home may seem daunting at first, considering you've never done it before and there are a lot of things to consider. But buying your first home is one of the best things that you can do financially, and one of the best ways to move...
First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Your State
Homeownership has been a part of the American way since the founding of this country. Owning land and a home offers a sense of pride and stability in life, but it comes at a hefty price. Because the purchase of a first home can be challenging to achieve for millions...
Home Buying Report Winter 2022
Many consumers know that the off-season is typically the best season for bargain shopping. In most US markets, the off-season for home buying is the winter, particularly during the holidays and in the first quarter of the new year. However, winter home buying creates...
Before House Hunting, Choose Your Attorney and Inspector
We recommend that house hunters choose an attorney and an inspector -- and a back-up for each -- early in the house hunting process. That way, when you find a house and start making an offer, you are not scrambling to interview attorneys and inspectors during a busy...
Don’t Skip the Home Inspection
A few months ago, my clients and I attended an almost perfect home inspection. They were purchasing a classic 1940s Cape Cod that had been meticulously maintained. The only issue the home inspector found was a loose faucet in one of the bathrooms. Most home...
Ice Dams and Icicles
Icicles may be pretty to look at, but they can do considerable damage to your home's exterior by tearing off gutters, loosening shingles and causing water to back up and leak on the interior. When that happens, the results aren't pretty: peeling paint, warped...
Moving from New York? Chicago will put you in a New York frame of mind.
The decision to move has been made, maybe for a job transfer, family obligation or something in between. Whether a native or transplant, you have grown to love the neighborhood and all the city has to offer, so even getting to this point might not be easy....
Keep Your Head Above Water: How to Check a House for Water Problems
Looking to buy a home and want to check if a house has water problems? Use your nose! This sounds silly but trust me, in some cases your nose will be just as important as your eyes when searching for water damage. Whenever my clients and I enter a basement I will...