Blog
Does a Pool Increase or Decrease Your Home’s Value
Like any other unique home feature, swimming pools can either thrill homeowners or leave them cold, making their real value up to the buyer. On the plus side, swimming pools are part of the overall outdoor decorating trend that has given new emphasis to backyard landscaping, fencing, walkways, decks, weather-proof kitchens, fireplaces, patios, ponds, […]
Read More >>Understanding Capital Gains in Real Estate
When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain — the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same holds true when selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations. How to Calculate Gain In real estate, capital gains […]
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Tips For Staging Your Home
The first step to getting buyers to make an offer on your home is to impress them with its appearance so they begin to envision themselves living there. Here are seven tips for making your home look bigger, brighter, and more desirable. 1. Start with a Clean Slate Before you can worry about where […]
Read More >>Why Use a Realtor
Why Use a REALTOR®? All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR “®” logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a […]
Read More >>Real Estate Better Than Stocks
Despite recent gains in the stock market, Americans have more confidence investing in real estate. About a quarter of Americans surveyed said real estate was their top choice for long-term investing, according to a new national survey released by Bankrate. Consumers selected real estate as the top pick to invest money they wouldn’t need for […]
Read More >>Can I Get a Better Deal Without Using a Realtor?
A common myth I have heard over the years is that you can get a better deal as a buyer if you don’t use a real estate agent. That’s a completely false premise. If the house is listed with a real estate agent the total sales commission is built into the price. If the buyers […]
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Lending
Lenders will pull credit as the closing date approaches. Buyers should avoid creating any new debt during their real estate transaction. New debt can jeopardize your loan approval. Wait until after closing to go out and buy that new car!
Read More >>Home Inspectors
A home inspector is like a doctor who’s a general practitioner. They both can diagnose problems, and they both know when to refer you to a specialist. If your housing inspector recommends a specialist, you should get one. Buyers shouldn’t be discouraged or afraid of paying a little more money to have secondary specialized inspections […]
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