The stay-at-home orders that were issued across the U.S. in 2020 resulted in a lot of homeowners thinking about how nice it would be to have a larger home to accommodate all the activities that are now taking place in their current home. This is especially evident with homeowners who have children at home taking […]
Investing in Rental Homes
Investing in a rental home, whether it is a single-family detached home, condo, two, three, or four-unit building, share the same benefits. People instinctively know many of the working parts because they are the same as what a homeowner has. They have a basic understanding of how to maintain the property and what the value […]
Pre-Listing Inspections
If you don’t have a pre-listing inspection here are some things that might happen to you. A buyer puts a contract on your home with a provision to have a professional home inspection. What could come out of the home inspection are items that your buyer didn’t expect or anticipate. If the buyer doesn’t decide […]
If it were to your advantage, would you move?
Buy low, sell high is a much-repeated investment strategy. Buyers who purchased during the 2010-2012 financial crisis are about to see some considerable profits. America’s current median home price is now $295,300 which is up from $155,600 in February 2012. The results are close to an 8 percent annual increase. Homeowners have earned median equity […]
Debt-to-Income Ratio Affects Approval & the Interest Rate
A tool that lenders use to qualify buyers for a mortgage is called the debt-to-income ratio and it is an important factor in determining loan approval. It gives the lender an indication of the amount of debt that a potential borrower is obligated to in relation to how much income they have. To determine total […]
Buyer’s Closing Costs
In an ideal situation, both buyers and sellers pay their own closing costs on the purchase and sale of a home. These costs can be negotiable depending on lender requirements and current market conditions. Closing costs and fees are itemized on the closing statement and are usually paid at the time of settlement. Before contracting […]
Where Did the Assumptions Go?
For the last 30 years, mortgage rates have been on a steady decline and mortgage assumptions have not been practical. Even if a seller today has a rate lower than the current rate, the new buyer has to qualify to assume the loan. Unfortunately, with conventional loans, the lender can increase the rate to the […]
Vacation and Second Home Sales Up
Based on sales during the July to September period, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) says vacation home sales are up 44 percent year-over-year. Not only are they selling faster than last year but the number of units is up. Across the nation, 72 percent of existing vacation homes that closed in October were on […]
Home Inspections and the Inspector
Many times, a sales contract on a home will include a provision that allows the buyer to have inspections done to discover any issues with the home not readily apparent or disclosed by the seller. A home inspector is one of many key professionals involved in real estate transactions. You must have a qualified individual […]
First Things First
The first time you make a specific meal it is essential to have the recipe so hopefully it turns out just as you are expecting. By following the recipe, you know the ingredients and the preparation instructions can guide you through the process. When it comes to buying a home, it is basically like following […]