Knowing how much you can afford before looking for a home is ideal. You may have a golden number in your head but a lender will have the final say. If you secure a pre-approval from a lender ahead of time it makes the whole buying process much easier and avoids delays. It is easy […]
Realtors® always seem to think that right now is a good time to buy and they usually have good reasons why. But being a good time to buy doesn’t just rely on market conditions, loan rates or economic factors. It has more to do with individuals than anything else. Here are four factors to consider. […]
The age of the internet is here and it has empowered people looking to buy including people looking to buy homes. If you know how to type text into a search engine then you know how to search for public information about home size, condition, sales history, current inventory, recent sales, photographs, videos, school info, […]
On occasion, buyers who are prepared and qualify to buy a home decide to take a step back and wait to commit to the purchase of a home. When their focus moves from buying a home, they start considering using their down payment money for other things. They begin to think about other large purchases […]
In a recent annual Gallup poll that started in 2002, 35 percent of the respondents said real estate was the best long-term investment option compared to 27 percent who choose stocks. Although the top choices were real estate, stocks, savings accounts and buying gold, respondents had the most confidence in homes as investments. Even with […]
The IRS has four different types of real estate. Each type of property has benefits based on its classification. The property itself does not determine the classification as much as how the property will be used and the intentions of the owner. Below are some classifications and their definitions. Principal Residence – this would be […]
We have reached the busiest months for selling a home this year. But when there is a short supply of inventory and competition is high, you must show the seller that you are a serious buyer. With the help of a Realtor ®, make your offer look as good as possible the first time because […]
If you experienced the distressed sale of a home but now you have your credit and finances back in order, you may still be asking the question “How long do I have to wait to qualify for another mortgage.” Based on when you experienced your distressed sale, the length of time will differ. Each different […]
We are past April 15th, tax filing day. You already know what your expenses were for last year. Unfortunately, the money spent on home repairs is not deductible. But if you are aware of how much you spent, it could help you make decisions that will save you money this year. Buyers are often provided […]
When you need an inventory of your personal belongings in your home it is usually too late. You can try and create one from memory, but you will forget something important and it will cost you money on an insurance claim. Your homeowner’s policy might give you a blanket amount of coverage for personal items […]
