It’s only natural. Everyone wants to get the best deal possible when buying a house. Usually this means a good (or at least fair) price along with a few concessions from the seller and the house having most of the desired features. But assuming those conditions have been met, how can you know you really … Continued
A condo is a kind of hybrid dwelling – sort of a cross between an apartment and a house. For example, you can buy a condo, but you aren’t responsible for any maintenance as you would be with a single family dwelling. For many people, then, condo living has more advantages than owning a home. … Continued
Shopping for a home now is much different from the way our parents did it. Today, it occurs mostly online. And that’s why we’ve seen the advent of big websites as marketplaces where buyers and sellers can come together for ease of marketing and transactions. Convenience, then, is the main reason so many people use … Continued
Even just a move across town can be stressful and overwhelming, even traumatic, and it only gets worse when you have to move a long distance. While moving to a new home can be exciting because it means starting a new chapter in your life, there’s not much most of us dread more than the … Continued
Since as far back as Aristotle, we’ve known the importance of asking the right questions to get the answers we need. And that applies to real estate just as much as it does to philosophy. The answer most of us need, whether we’re buying or selling, is the answer to this one question: Which agent … Continued
A cloudy title (or cloud on a title) can stop a real estate sale dead in its tracks. Typically, a cloud on the title is discovered during the title search and is any document, claim, unreleased lien, or other encumbrance that could make the title doubtful or invalidate/impair the title to the property. Basically, if … Continued
Correctly pricing your home is critical for a speedy sale. Correct pricing has, in fact, been called the most effective marketing strategy you can use. But it can sometimes be quite a challenge to determine the correct price, especially when you see prices for similar homes all over the board. There are, however, some effective … Continued
Maybe it was an investment project that you now have neither the time nor inclination to see through to the end. Or maybe it’s a less-then-pristine house you inherited and don’t want to pay taxes and insurance on. Whatever the case, you now have a fixer-upper on your hands that you need to sell fast. … Continued
When it comes time to move, most of us have to budget carefully. But we can’t work up any kind of budget till we get a handle on the moving costs. There are, of course, a ton of smaller items involved in a move that will add to the cost, things such as boxes, tape, … Continued
Home sellers often need to hire contractors for repairs, renovations, or even major remodels, especially in the wake of a major natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado. It’s in these situations especially that homeowners are susceptible to a contractor scam. For example, contractor scammers bilked people in New Jersey out of millions after the … Continued
If you don’t mind strangers living in your home and touching your stuff, you can make some pretty serious money renting out your condo on a short-term basis. The two most common ways of doing this are by going through VRBO or Airbnb. In fact, nearly three million people now have their property listed for … Continued
Pricing a home properly is both an art and a science, which means there’s often some error that creeps in. Sellers have to avoid either extreme, making sure not to over price or under price. More often than not, though, they err on the side of the former. Still, there remains an element of science … Continued
Selling probate property (real estate) involves a series of steps carefully regulated, managed, and monitored by the probate court. There are strict deadlines and specialized documents to be used, and the court must oversee the entire sale process including marketing, negotiations, and actual sale. In addition, there will be a number of principals involved in … Continued
Condo living definitely has undeniable advantages. That’s why condos are so popular now, especially among aging Baby Boomers. On the flip side, though, there are some drawbacks to condo living. So you have to carefully consider your needs and your lifestyle before making a decision. With that in mind, here are some pros and cons … Continued
Many recent college graduates today have given up on the American dream of homeownership because they are saddled with student loan payments and are just starting out in their careers. In fact, one survey found that 43% of college graduates with student loan debt say they have postponed buying a house because of that debt. Even … Continued
