There are numerous factors that you may review when choosing a new place to live. If you have children, the quality of the schools and the level of education that your kids will receive in the schools is important. However, you may not be certain how to determine if a school is good or not. When you are looking at schools, use this helpful checklist to guide you in making a great decision. Achievement Data One of the easiest factors for you to research about different school districts and individual schools is achievement data. This may include the percentage of students graduating high school … [Read More...]
Real estate sales contracts can be confusing, and there seem to be contingencies and special circumstances for many different events built into a standard contract. One option that your real estate agent may ask if you are interested in is an escalation clause. This is typically an optional clause that you can choose to invoke if you desire, so you should take time to learn more about what it is before you make your offer. What Is an Escalation Clause? It can take a considerable amount of effort and time on your part to locate the perfect home to purchase, and the last thing you may want to do … [Read More...]
One of the most significant challenges that many people face when preparing to buy a first home relates to saving money for a down payment. While there are many different loan programs with varying down payment requirements, the fact is that it can still be difficult to save up a large sum of money. Some programs may require you to save as much as 10 percent or 20 percent of the sales price of the home. You can employ a few different tips and techniques to save money for a down payment more quickly, and these are some of the options that others have successfully used to save money for their … [Read More...]
When buying a new home, you may have a close eye focused on your budget and expenses, and your goal may be to keep related expenses to a minimum. However, you may also be well aware that a real estate purchase is a legal transaction, and you may be wondering if you need to pay for legal services from a real estate attorney. With a closer look, you can make a better decision that is right for your home buying plans. The Legal Forms Used With A Typical Transaction The majority of real estate contracts will be written using standard legal forms. These are legally binding forms with clauses that … [Read More...]
Last week's economic reports included the Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, FHFA's House Price Index and Pending Home Sales from the Commerce Department. The details: Home Prices Dip in March, Pending Home Sales Up According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Housing Market Index, the national reading for average home prices dipped in March. The 20-City Index moved from February's year-over-year home price growth of 4.20 percent to an average year-over-year home price growth rate of 4.10 percent in March. San Francisco, California reclaimed the top spot for home price growth of 10.30 percent … [Read More...]
Updating your kitchen may be a project that you have been looking forward to for a long time. Now that the time has come to get started working on your project, you may be exploring the different materials that are available to use in your kitchen. The counter tops are often a prime focal point for a kitchen remodeling project. While there are several materials available to consider, concrete may be the best option for a number of reasons. Endless Design Options Concrete is a popular material that is used on patios, decorative floors and more because it can be stained, scored and shaped with … [Read More...]
