During the entire home buying transaction, from application to closing, your motto should be “Caution is Critical”.
Real Estate
Video: 4 Characteristics of a House With Good Bones
You’ve heard the phrase, or at least you must have seen it in a listing or two; “needs a little work… just a bit of TLC… a charming fixer-upper… a great value with Good Bones”. So what do they mean exactly, when they say “Good Bones”? Good Bones refers to structure and strength, a timeless… Read More
Totally-On-Line Home Buying, New Trend or New Normal?
Buying a home sight unseen is nothing new. I’ve sold several homes in the past, to buyers who completed the transaction entirely on-line, by phone and via courier. But in the world of residential Real Estate, that sort of thing has, up until now, been of the ‘few and far between’ variety. Enter Covid 19…. Read More
Residential New Construction Sales Skyrocket, and For Good Reason
Sales figures for New Construction homes closed in July are not in just yet. But I’ve spoken with several builders in the past few weeks and they’ve told me they are crazy busy, even having difficulty keeping up with the limited number of lots they are permitted to release for sale each week. The timetable… Read More
Learn the Lender Lingo! (#2- Mortgage Options for First Time Home Buyers)
You’re fortunate, not to mention unusual, if you are a first-time home buyer who has the means to obtain a Conventional mortgage. Commonly the biggest stumbling block is down payment. For the majority of home buyers, their first purchase will not be their forever home. I generally tell buyers to consider their first home to… Read More
Applying for a Mortgage? Learn the Lender Lingo! (#1-Types of Lenders)
Shopping for a home before you’ve nailed down your price range is not only unwise but can be truly disappointing. You may have a vague idea of what you can afford, but before you’ve talked with a lender, it’s hardly possible to grasp all the costs involved or the options available to you including those… Read More
Low Mortgage Interest Rates and Coronavirus – Unprecedented, Unified and Urgent
Along with Coronavirus being a novel occurrence, so too are Mortgage Interest Rates. I know I’ve never seen anything like it, some rates are under 3%. Personally, I would be thrilled if I were in a the market for a home right now. It might seem like a strange time to be buying a home,… Read More
Game Rooms are In! Brainstorm the Perfect One Before You Renovate
From fashion to entertainment, from the foods we eat to the electronics we use, what’s ‘on trend’ is a dynamic concept. Likewise, every few years there is a major shift in the features that home buyer’s are looking for; carpeting is out – plank tile is in, formica is out – stone surfaces are in…. Read More
Can Home Improvements Affect Your Insurance? You Betcha!
Most home owners consider both lifestyle enhancement and the value of their home when deciding which upgrades or improvements to undertake, but few take into account the affect those renovations might have on their homeowners insurance. For instance, installing a home security system does little to increase your home’s value. An appraiser will give limited… Read More
Thinking of Selling Your Home? Make Sure it is Drive-By Ready
Scientists believe that it takes only 10 seconds for you to develop an impression of another person. I believe the same is true of a property. Home buyers frequently tell me that they’ve driven by a home for sale and “it looks amazing” or “we don’t think it’s for us”. This is even before they… Read More