When on the hunt for your dream home, there are a few security features you should pay attention to. We've outlined the key points below: What should a house hunter know about locks? I took this picture in a condo building. It was the kind of building with one hall...
When a real estate brokerage serves both the buyer and the seller, what can go wrong? The seller's agent, who must get the best price for the seller, is the same company that must get the best price for the buyer. Legally and structurally, companies are run by a...
I look forward to two nights and three days on the Cape - mid-week - every July. I get time off in the winter, so these summer days off are rare and special. This year, I had a lousy time. When I deconstructed what bothered me most, it made me a better buyer's agent....
Regardless of real estate market conditions, first-time home buyers need to know what loan programs and grants are available to help as they begin the home buying process. If you do your homework, there are many programs and grants available to first time homebuyers...
Avoiding a Big Mistake and Still Being A Competitive Buyer One really big mistake the house hunters are being talked into is waiving your home inspection. Why do you need an inspection? If you hire an experienced exclusive buyer's agent, you have the backing of...
Summertime is when Massachusetts heads outdoors, so does most of the US. Sometimes, this leads to tragedy. A fire in Arlington, Massachusetts reminded me that smoking on the porch is not a foolproof way to keep your house safe from fire. Smoking Can Set a House On...
If you're a home buyer looking for a bargain (what buyer isn't?) then one option to consider is a HUD home. This is a home owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. When a buyer who took out an FHA loan forecloses, the property goes to HUD. But...
You'll often hear that homeownership builds wealth. Usually what people mean by that is owning a home builds equity. Equity is a term that refers to how much of your home you actually own. Anyone who takes out a mortgage will need to make a down payment. How much of a...
When on the hunt for your future home there will be a lot of things to consider and compare. Every buyer will have different needs and wants and a smart buyer will have these clearly established in their mind before they begin their home search. After all, a buyer's...
Purchasing a home is likely one of the biggest financial investments you're ever going to make. A loan officer will tell you how much you can borrow at a certain interest rate, but it's critical that you thoroughly understand how much you can realistically afford to...
Nothing talks quite like money in real estate. The ability to put down an all-cash offer on a home immediately puts you ahead of those offers who are relying on financing. Why? Because it cuts out the time and hassle of the mortgage approval process. For those who...
Buying a Condominium If you want the benefits of home ownership without the obligations of having to perform your maintenance, a condominium could be right for you. When you purchase a condo, you are obtaining ownership of a specific unit within a building. Condo...