So you've found the perfect home, the seller has accepted your offer, and now you're just waiting for the mortgage to close before you wrap up the sale and take possession. It's time for the closing meeting. But what does this meeting entail? And what do you need to prepare for it? Here's what you need to know. The Day Prior: Walking Through The Property 24 hours before the closing meeting, you'll be given an opportunity to walk through the property and do a final inspection. During this inspection, you'll be able to look for any damage that may have occurred between contract and closing, … [Read More...]
The idea of home renovations when you're selling your home can be unpopular because of the cost and time that can go into sprucing up a place you're about to leave behind. However, making a few simple, economical touches can go a long way to capitalizing on your home's value and making a difference in dollars. If you're curious about cheap options for an easier sale, here are a few that may make the deal a little sweeter. Kick Up The Kitchen A Notch With all of the time that a family spends in the kitchen, it's unsurprising that it is fast becoming one of the most important features that go … [Read More...]
Multiple economic reports released last week indicate further improvement in economic conditions. Pending home sales, construction spending and ADP payrolls increased while Non-farm Payrolls fell and the national unemployment rate held steady. The details: Pending Home Sales, Construction Spending Increase According to the Commerce Department, pending home sales increased by 0.20 percent in October as compared to September's reading of -2.30 percent. Construction spending of 1.00 percent for October exceeded September's reading of 0.60 percent growth and expectations that October's reading … [Read More...]
Most people don't know enough to sell their own house. Here's why.
1. They Can't List It! - Only licensed brokers and agents can create a listing in the MLS sale-by-owner houses will be invisible to agents and unavailable on the Web.
2. Agents Won't Show It.- Typically, a buyer's agent gets part of the commission paid to the seller's agent. Sale-by-owner houses don't have that commission commitment so a buyer's agent might not get paid. No agents makes the pool of buyers MUCH smaller.
3. It's Probably Overpriced.- Most homeowners don't have enough data and emotional distance to put a … [Read More...]
While making a real estate purchase can be a matter rife with many questions, buying to invest in a long-term property can be even more confusing. If you're looking into investing in real estate and wondering what variables to consider, here are a few tips that you'll want to keep in mind before deciding on a fruitful investment property. Be Aware Of The Market You're Buying Into Since you'll need to be aware of what other people are looking for in a property if you're diving into real estate to invest, you'll want to carefully consider the neighborhood and city that you're buying in and think … [Read More...]
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're in a position to do it, paying off a family member's mortgage is one of the biggest gifts you could give this holiday season. A mortgage can be a heavy burden on a young homeowner, which is why paying it off is the ultimate act of charity. But when it comes to paying for someone else's mortgage, the process isn't entirely straightforward. So how do you pay off a family member's mortgage? Here's what you need to know. Be Wary Of The Gift Tax Under US law, you can provide a cash gift to someone else - entirely tax-free - as long as it doesn't … [Read More...]
