If you own a home, you’re dealing with property taxes. Property taxes are an essential part of homeownership, but you may not really understand or realize how they are actually calculated. In fact – sometimes understanding how they are calculated can feel like attempting to unravel a complex puzzle. Once you unlock the secrets of […]
Selling your home involves many decisions – some easier than others. Sometimes, those decisions can cause an owner stress or procrastination. Early in the process, the owner will have that opportunity to decide whether to sell their home “as-is” which avoids the issues that tend to loom when selling a home. But, is “as-is” a […]
Closing costs – we’re pretty sure you’ve probably heard that term at one point or another. There are fees and expenses associated with mortgages that must be paid by the closing date for closing costs, and pre-paid items, in addition to the down payment. These amounts can vary according to the type of loan, mortgage […]
There wasn’t anything at all “normal” about the housing market in 2021 and in part of 2022. Mortgage rates were at an all-time low, and there’s a great possibility we will never reach those levels again! Double-digit appreciation drove prices to new heights. Low inventories fueled by high buyer demand made multiple offers a normal […]
Real estate isn’t the only profession where there are tools and techniques available to help with particular situations. Really, any profession has those tools and techniques. For real estate professionals, one of those is the backup offer. In situations where multiple offers may arise, the seller can accept any offer for whatever reasons are important […]
I’m sure you’ve probably played Monopoly at some point in your life. During this game, you’ll purchase and develop properties (developing them by placing houses and then hotels on them), and sometimes you may even sell them. As you go along in the game, and when many of the properties have been purchased and developed, […]
Homebuyers in 2022 experienced a huge shock – soaring mortgage rates which doubled in one year resulting in approximately 15 million mortgage ready buyers displaced from the market due to affordability issues. As of February 23, 2023, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage was at 6.5%. While that is twice as high as it was on […]
Market conditions are a big reason as to why you should lock your interest rate. Quite simple – locking that interest rate will protect you from increases due to market conditions. If you lock your interest rate early, it can safeguard your budgeted payment. Here’s how it works – if you lock the rate, and […]
Last year, sellers weren’t necessarily willing to make any concessions. This year, due to the softening of the market because of inflation and higher mortgage rates affecting affordability for buyers, they are much more likely to do so. Let’s discuss concessions. They can take place in many forms. A seller could offer to pay the […]
So many negotiations take place during a real estate transaction. The seller wants the most for their home and the buyer wants to pay the least possible. Starting in the very beginning of the homebuying process, there are well-defined positions between those two principals. And, if you happen to be in a multi-offer situation, it just […]
