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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...