Should You Leave Your Home Vacant When Selling?
A clean, clutter-free home obviously shows better than a home that’s messy and not appropriately decorated or furnished. But does that necessarily mean that a home is better off being completely vacant when it’s on the market?
Sellers will often wonder if they should vacate the premises when their home is on the market.…
Sellers: How to Effectively Handle an Offer
When an offer comes in from a buyer, the first component that sellers will typically look at is the offer price. Naturally, the offer price is the first thing that catches sellers’ attention, and rightfully so. But as important as this number is, there are other factors that should be assessed in an offer.…
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Can Your Mortgage Application Be Rejected After You’ve Already Been Pre-Approved?
If you plan to make a home purchase sometime in the near future, one of your first steps should be to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Speaking with a mortgage professional will help you determine how much you can actually afford to spend when buying a home and how much of a mortgage you may be able to get approved for.…
Myths and Facts About Home Staging
As a seller, you’ve got a lot of things to consider in order to ensure a successful transaction, and one of them is prepping your home for prospective buyers. After all, you want to present your home in the best light possible in order to attract as many buyers as you can, and many times professional home staging is the best way to do that.…
11 Tips For First-Time Homebuyers Breaking Into the Housing Market
Are you finally ready to get into the housing market? If you so, your first time can be pretty exciting yet daunting. Considering the fact that you’ve never been involved in the world of real estate before, you’ll definitely need to take a few pointers before you dip your toes in.…
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What’s the Difference Between ‘Exurbs’ and ‘Suburbs’?
City living is ideal for many people, especially those who work in the downtown core or who simply like to be in the center of the action. But living in urban centers is typically expensive, especially when compared to homes located in the outskirts.…
What Documents Are Needed to Get a Mortgage?
Getting a mortgage is a crucial part of the home buying process unless you’ve got the funds to make an all-cash deal. The mortgage process is an in-depth one and involves quite a bit of work, both for you and your lender.…
What is a “Proof of Funds” Letter in a Real Estate Purchase?
If you were selling your home, would you want to be absolutely certain that the buyers are able to secure a mortgage to make the real estate deal go through? Of course, you would, and that’s exactly what the purpose of a “proof of funds” letter is.…
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Title Insurance 101: Everything You Need to Know
Buying a new home can certainly be an overwhelming and sometimes frightening thing, especially if you’re completely new to this game. There are so many components involved in buying real estate that buyers need to be aware of in order for a transaction to successfully take place, including a little something called “title insurance.”
The thing is, many buyers are completely unfamiliar with title insurance and why it’s necessary when real estate switches hands.…
Should Buyers Consider a Probate Sale?
Just about every home buyer is looking for a good deal on a home purchase. After all, why pay more for a home than necessary? If you can pay less for a property, you’d likely take that opportunity, and there are plenty of deals on the market to be had if you know where to look.…
What is the MLS and How Does it Work?
Whether you’re a newbie buyer or seller or have bought and sold homes a few times over the years, you’ve most likely heard of the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service.
In today’s competitive real estate market, it’s important for sellers to take advantage of all effective marketing platforms to get the word out there about their homes, and the MLS is the most widely known online database out there.…
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Sellers: Before You Finalize Your Taxes, Here are 5 Write-Offs
Paying taxes is never fun, but you may be able to find ways to keep a little extra money in your pocket when filing. Keeping tabs on specific transactions related to your home throughout the year can help you minimize your capital gains tax obligation if you happen to make a profit on the sale of your home.…
9 Considerations to Make Before Buying in a Rural Area
The idea of having a ton of space outdoors is really nice, as is the tranquility and greenery that typically comes with acreage. But as pleasant as living on a large piece of land may be, there are certain factors that could make this type of living arrangement a bit of a hassle.…
What Exactly is a Mortgage Transfer?
With the typical sale of a property, the new owners usually apply for a mortgage to finance the purchase. When the sale is finalized, the new owners begin paying their new mortgage with the set of terms and interest rate that were agreed upon with their lender.…
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Why Should Buyers Sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement?
Buying a home is a big deal, and buyers are highly advised to have representation when they search for a home and negotiate a deal. Having a real estate agent represent you when making this massive purchase is certainly beneficial for many reasons, but the details of this professional relationship should ideally be outlined in a contract, known as a Buyer’s Representation Agreement.…
