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Archive for the ‘Buyers’ Category
4 Reasons Why Your Home Didn’t Sell the First Time
Was your house on the market and you had to take it off because it didn’t sell? We’re sure you’ve heard the terms “seller’s market” or “buyer’s market” and either of those could have something to do with why your home didn’t sell. However, there are many other potential reasons your house didn’t sell: here are the top four. Staging Home staging is preparing your home and property for sale. The goal is to make your home more appealing to potential buyers by minimizing your personal items and allowing the buyers to imagine their own family living there. This most…
5 Things You’ll Be Thankful You Asked Your Real Estate Agent
When you’re buying or selling a home, there are numerous questions that you and your agent will be asking one another. Some could make or break your buying or selling experience. Either way, it’s important for both of you to ask as many questions as possible to make sure that your needs are being met. While there are many possible questions, here are five you’ll be thankful you asked. Do you have the time to devote to me and my search? It’s important to find an agent who devotes their full time to real estate full time. Agents who are…
Credit Report vs. Credit Score
Anytime we apply for financing, we know they are going to access our credit report and pull our credit score to determine if we are approved and how high our interest rate will be. The Federal Reserve tells us that it is especially important that we understand our credit report, credit score and the companies that compile the information, the credit bureaus. So, what are the differences between your credit report and credit score? Find out below. Credit Report The four major components of a credit report consist of: your identity, your existing credit, your public record and inquiries about…
The Trend of Outdoor Living
Isn’t it nice to retire to the comfort of your living room after dinner, perhaps to enjoy a movie on your big-screen tv above your fireplace? Now imagine doing this outside. Wouldn’t that be a treat? What is outdoor living? Outdoor living is when you create a space in your yard that is specifically made for enjoying the outdoors. Kind of like bringing the inside to the outside. This trend is becoming more popular, even in climates that experience all four seasons. What are the options? Outdoor living can be as simple as a porch swing or more elaborate, such…
Latent Defect vs. Material Fact
What is a Latent Defect? A latent defect is anything that the homeowner knows is a defect in the house. They are things that wouldn’t show in a simple inspection and if someone were walking through the house, they wouldn’t necessarily know of this defect or be able to see it. Mold, previous fires, issues with the foundation or any kind of leaks are prime examples of latent defects. It’s important to disclose these defects because they could threaten a person’s health or safety. What is a Material Fact? A material fact is anything about the property that could affect…
A Day in the Life of a Realtor
As a realtor, I wear many different hats. Every day is different and I love it! Most times when people find out that I’m a realtor, they say things to me like, “I love decorating houses,” or “Looking at houses is so much fun. I want to become a real estate agent, too.” While those can be fun parts of my business, it’s those very conversations that have inspired me to tell you about a typical day for an agent and share with you what being a realtor is really all about. In a nutshell, real estate agents assist people…
What Documents Did I Sign?
Written by: Victor Muzzatti, Esq. of RGS Real Estate Settlements What are all of those documents that I signed at closing? I feel guilty that I didn’t read any of them… How many of you already purchased a home and have gone through the rigors of a settlement? How many of you, during the signing of those documents heard a voice in the back of your head saying “never sign anything without reading it first.” And the next thing you know, you’ve just signed 53 documents and barely looked at one! Well, let me just tell you that it’s okay if…
Building vs. Buying – What’s Right for You?
It’s the classic conundrum for homebuyers – should we buy or should we build? If you’re on the fence, here are a few things to consider when making your decision. Loan Options There are different options available depending on whether you will be financing a mortgage for buying an existing home or getting a loan for building your home. According to a Capital One article, both building and buying an existing home will require the help of a lender in most cases. However, the financial differences between the two could help sway your decision significantly. Available Loans for Existing Homes…
Why Your Pulled Credit Score Isn’t the Same as Credit Karma
Written by: Jason Sheaffer of Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC We’ve all seen the commercials proclaiming you need to know your credit score before you make a major purchase. How do you know the score you are receiving is actually the right credit score? I speak with buyers all the time that tell me they checked their credit and are disappointed to find the score I pull is sometimes 50 to 75 points lower than they saw on some website they visited earlier that day. Why would that be? Shouldn’t all the information be the same? Credit Scores are Industry Specific…
Are You Trendy?
Trends, trends and more trends! Everything seems to come in trends – food, fashion, hairstyles, and more. Homes aren’t any different. Right now, there are several things that we, as Realtors, see trending. Here are a few: Smaller homes More and more, we are seeing sellers downsizing and buyers buying smaller homes. It seems that people are less interested in having a big home with the big bills. Today’s buyers are much more conservative with their spending whether they are first time home buyers or not. Solar panels You can drive almost anywhere in this area and see solar panels….