When touring a beautifully staged home, it's easy to admire both the layout and the furnishings. While certain furniture like sectional sofas may seem perfect for the space, they typically don't stay with the home once sold. However, the inclusion of other items in the sale might not be so clear-cut. Find out what’s included in this blog post.
Read MoreRetirement marks a significant milestone in one's life—a time to bid farewell to the daily grind and embrace newfound freedom. For many, it's an opportunity to reassess priorities, simplify life, and embark on new adventures. One such transformative decision that retirees often contemplate is downsizing their home. While the prospect of leaving behind the family home may evoke emotions ranging from nostalgia to apprehension, the benefits of downsizing can profoundly enhance the retirement lifestyle.
Read MoreA home inspection is almost automatic for homebuyers during the escrow period. The goal is to uncover issues that present either an unsafe environment, potentially expensive repairs, and other challenges the new buyer may not expect. Some inspection items are typical, such as electrical and systems, but others are not performed unless requested.
Read MoreA divorce is an emotional upheaval regardless of how amicable the parties try to be. One important factor is housing as at least one party will be moving out of the home, and maybe both people will be looking for new, more affordable living arrangements. During the divorce, it’s common for one person to owe the other some form of alimony (spousal support) and/or child support. So, in the search for a new home, how does alimony and child support affect the ability to qualify for a new mortgage? Can a spouse with no income other than alimony and child support buy a home?
Read MoreWhen evaluating a potential borrower, lenders consider a number of factors. You already expect to produce a good FICO score, proof of income, and a reasonable down payment, but have you reviewed your resume? A crucial aspect of loan approval is your employment and employment history – your resume.
Read MoreMost people know that choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important aspects of a great lifestyle. When buying a new home, this becomes even more important. While everyone knows that property values, safety, schools, and commute rank high in importance, there are some considerations that are not commonly thought about in advance yet make a huge impact on satisfaction.
Read MoreSearching for a new home can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be a stressful experience, especially when you have young children in tow. It can be difficult to keep them entertained and engaged while you're trying to focus on evaluating potential properties. However, with a bit of planning and preparation, it is possible to make touring properties with children a more enjoyable and successful experience.
Read MoreOne of the best things a homebuyer can hear is, “we have ‘clear to close.’” It’s one of the biggest milestones in the mortgage lending process and means the underwriter has cleared the application to move forward to document signing and close of escrow. While a critical stage for the sale, this is not the final step in closing on a new home. There are several things that can still affect the transfer of title.
Read MoreBuying a new home is exciting and confusing. There are a lot of steps to buying a home, and people have questions. These are the most common questions home buyers have, and the answers.
Read MoreWith so many buyers vying for the same property, it’s important to write the best offer right up front. Here are 5 tips to help you write a strong offer.
Read MoreWith soaring home values and rising interest rates, many potential first time home buyers find saving for a down payment increasingly difficult. For many people, the main source of savings is in the form of a 401k and tapping into this resource for a home purchase is one way to find the down payment necessary to finance a new home; but should you use your 401k to buy a home? Experts are conflicted.
Read MoreOne of the most important financial considerations of buying a new home is the interest rate paid on the mortgage.
Read MoreCouples dream of buying a home together, leisurely enjoying a latte while dropping by open houses to look at remodeled kitchens and manicured backyards. Today’s market is quite different. Desirable homes are snapped up the moment they hit the market, often with multiple offers. Homebuyers in this climate must move quickly. This may require jumping on an opportunity without both partners adding their input.
Read MoreIt’s no secret that many prospective homebuyers are finding the current real estate market challenging. One of the more unexpected consequences of the Covid pandemic was the hyper-focus on one’s home. This has resulted in a robust market where sellers are seeing advancing home sales prices and multiple offers.
Read MoreIf you’re planning to buy a new home, you may be wondering about the down payment. Loan programs require down payments as low as 3.5% for FHA loans and conventional offers as low as 5%. While you have a lot of options, there are 4 strong benefits to making a 20% down payment on your home.
Read MoreWhether you plan to buy a single-family home, condo, or townhouse, buying in a new development can cause years of issues if you don’t choose a property with a solid, reputable home builder.
Read MoreMore than one seller has been surprised to find that their favorite chandelier is not theirs to take when they move. First-time home sellers might be especially confused when confronted with an exclusion form presented by their agent, but understanding what is, and is not included in the sale by statute is important to avoid disappointment on both sides.
Read MoreFirst-time homebuyers are struggling to find affordable housing. Unlike recent years when inventory was high and finding a great home was easier, now buyers are faced with either postponing homeownership or making compromises.
Read MoreAn essential component of any listing strategy should be a good backup offer, meaning that another buyer is willing to step in and close if escrow falls through. As you consider a backup offer, here are 4 things you need to know
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