Category Archives: Housing

Home Buying, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Realtor

10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership

  1. Decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
  2. Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list.
  3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
  4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don’t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
  5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.
  6. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.
  7. Get preapproved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.
  8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you’ve saved to buy your fist home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.
  9. Calculate the costs of homeownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable.
  10. Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help guide you through the process.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Home Buying, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Realtor, Seller

8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here’s why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

 

  1. Navigate a complicated process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

 

  1. Information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

 

  1. Help finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

 

  1. Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

 

  1. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

 

  1. Someone who speaks the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

 

  1. Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

 

  1. Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, homebuying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Financing, Home Buying, Housing, Interesting Facts, Mortgages, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market, Realtor

Buying More Affordable Than Renting

In the majority of U.S. housing markets, buying is more affordable than renting.  While housing values have been on the decline in recent years, rents have been on the rise as the demand for rental properties have increased.

If your currently renting, now might be the best time to purchase financially. Housing values are at all time lows along with interest rates. These conditions are not expected to continue indefinitely. In fact; housing values are already showing signs of rising along with interest rates.

You might be asking yourself; how much house can I buy, and will I actually be better off purchasing a home versus renting? Your best resource to get answers to these questions would be either a mortgage broker or your banking institution. They will be in a position to tell you how much house you would qualify for, how much cash you will need to close and what your projected monthly payment would be.  Once you have this information, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

If you’ve decided that now is a good time to buy a home, then the next step is to contact a REALTOR® who will assist you with the house hunting process through the closing on your new home.

Act today; don’t keep putting your future plans on hold.

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Home Buying, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Seller

When Do Most Real Estate Closings Occur?

The most common days for real estate closings are Fridays and the last working day of the month.

Here were the most popular days in 2014:

•June 30th (Monday)

•May 30th (Friday)

•August 29th (Friday)

•April 30th (Wednesday)

•July 31st (Thursday)

As you can see from the list, the spring and summer months are the most popular.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Seller

Think Again Before Selling Your Own Home

Using an agent can net you 13% more studies have shown: FSBO $208K versus agent assisted $235K.

How do buyers look for a house: 88% search on-line, 21% newspaper ads.

How do buyers find the house they buy: 43% on-line, 9% yard sign, 1% newspaper.

Here are the people that you’ll have to negotiate with to sell your house: the buyer, the buyer’s agent, the buyer’s lender, the inspection company, the appraiser, the title company, plus possibly others.

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit down with a real estate professional to see what they have to offer you.

Source: Keeping Matters Current

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Home Staging, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Seller

Tips for Selling Your Home

•Don’t overprice – This will only lead to disappointment and your house will get “market worn”.

•Take care of needed renovations – In today’s market most buyers are looking for a move-in ready home and not a fixer upper.

•Make sure general maintenance is done – Taking care of the details will help your home to shine and stand out from the crowd.

•Remove the clutter – Pick-up and clean-up. You want your home to have a clean and spacious feel for the prospective buyers.

•Leave for showings – Buyers will feel more comfortable looking at your home if your not around, plus you will not be put on the spot with questions that you might handle differently if asked through your agent.

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Home Buying, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate

Why Do Americans Buy a Home?

• Having a good place to raise children and provide them a good education.

• Having a physical structure where you and your family can feel safe.

• It allows you to have more space for your family.

• It give you more control over what you do with your living space.

• Owning a home is a good way to build wealth that can be passed along to your family.

Source: Keeping  Current Matters

Facebooktwitterlinkedin
Home Staging, Housing, Interesting Facts, Real Estate, Seller

10 Tips for Staging Your Home

•Remove the clutter – put small things away
•Brighten areas up with light – open drapes and blinds, add lighting
•Re-purpose rooms – add some new furniture and paint
•Vary wall hangings – try different groupings
•Bring nature inside – add plants and fresh cut flowers
•Group in threes – odd numbers are preferred when grouping accessories
•Give areas a face lift – add new counter tops or cabinet doors if dated
•Add some color – paint with warm tans, honeys and soft blue-greens
•Beware of layout – pay close attention to the traffic flow of each room
•Clean – this is the cheapest and easiest way to improve the look of your home

Facebooktwitterlinkedin