I found this article and thought it was really interesting. From my experience, it's not usually that first-time buyers are really unrealistic in their expectations, but rather, they focus on the cosmetics of the house. Usually people will compromise somewhere on their wish list. I always stress that location, size, and layout of the house should be the focus, rather than the color ...
Found a house you love and have an accepted offer? The hard part isn’t over yet. I caution buyers to not get too emotionally attached to a property until they have completed a home inspection. In a basic home inspection, the inspector will check the structural and mechanical systems of the house (foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, furnace, etc.) There are additional inspections for pests, ...
99% of the population loves spending money if they have it. You might say you don’t, but just remember the adrenaline rush you had when you handed over the cash and carried your last purchase out to the car. It’s even better with your first home because it will be the most expensive thing you have ever bought so far, plus it’s a big leap from your next highest purchase which was probably ...
Grand Rapids has gotten so much attention over the last year. We have been recognized for having one of the best real estate markets, for being a great place to raise a family, and even for our beer. Here is article citing Grand Rapids as one of the most sustainable cities in the U.S. We still have a lot of work to do, but Grand Rapids has made vast improvements over the last few ...
The real estate market officially rebounded this past year. Buyers came out in swarms attracted to the low prices and low interest rates. At the same time, the supply of homes for sale dwindled. Within a couple short months, the market changed from a buyer's market to a seller's market. Most of 2012 we had a measly 3.9 months of inventory, giving sellers the edge. To put ...
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Sometimes buyers are anxious to look for a home and want to get started right away. However, the first step in the home buying process is getting pre-approved for a loan. Before issuing a pre-approval letter, a lender will check a person's credit, income, debt, and assess their overall financial position. From there, the lender can state that you qualify for a loan up to a certain ...
Ten Hottest Kitchen Countertop Materials-
Home decor is not unlike fashion. There are classics with looks that will last a lifetime and there are trends that come and go. Generally, the lifetime of kitchen decor is less than 10 years, so when creating your dream kitchen you want to consider a look that will last.
So now you’re ready for an upgrade and you’ve given careful consideration ...
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When selling a home, you don’t want buyers to step foot in a room and suddenly feel cramped. They will quickly start questioning whether they’ll be able to fit their belongings in there and whether the home is too small.
What can you do to open up some of the tight spaces in your listings?
1. Remove furniture. Rooms packed overly full of furniture will not allow buyers to visualize their ...
When it comes to presenting a home to buyers, some sellers are clueless. When representing a seller, it is a Realtor's duty to discuss these items with seller clients, even if the conversation might be uncomfortable. Here are the 10 most common responses from buyer’s agents when asked about the worst mistakes they see when presenting for-sale homes to clients:
1. Leftover home owners
By ...
FHA 203k loans allow the cost of renovations to be included in your mortgage. It gives buyers the option to buy a property that could use some work, even if they don't have a large sum of money saved.
First, some 203(k) basics:
15- or 30-year term option
ARM or fixed-rate option
3.5% down payment; other FHA loan qualifications apply
Interest rate a tad higher than market
Higher fees compared ...