Real Estate Tips

TIP: Contingencies protect both parties from any surprises and leave a way out of the contract. They should be carefully drafted and can be made specific to your particular transaction. A contingency is a condition in a Purchase Agreement which states that the agreement is reliant upon certain events taking place, such as approval of a […]

1. Home acquisition mortgage loan fees. If you have bought a primary or secondary home in the past year, you probably obtained a mortgage to finance the purchase. That mortgage is called an “acquisition mortgage” because it enabled purchase of the residence. If you paid a loan fee to obtain that acquisition […]

Have you removed all your personal property items? Have you left the property in the condition you promised you would? Is the Sale Price and payoff information correct on your closing documents? Were you given credit for any items agreed upon to be credited to your account? If you will be signing a Bill of Sale for personal property […]

Have you made a final walk-thru inspection of the property? Is the condition of the house or property as it should be? Are there any personal property items left behind by the Seller. Is everything in working order? Did you order a Home Warranty policy for future repairs? If so, did you review that policy? Are you […]

Broker: This is the person who represents the buyer/seller during a real property transaction. When buying or selling real estate through a broker, you are protected by dealing with a party who is operating under state license. Escrow: This means to deposit money and documents with an escrow agent, usually in the […]

The Seller Generally Pays: Real estate commission Document preparation fee for deed Documentary transfer tax Any city transfer/conveyance tax (according to contract) Payoff of all loans in seller’s name (or existing loan balance if being assumed by buyer) Interest accrued to lender being paid off, statement fees, reconveyance fees […]

Pricing A homeowner is usually not the best judge of the value of his or her home. There are too many emotional ties to the home for the owner to be unbiased. Also the owner knows the amount he needs or wants from the sale and may not be objective. Real estate brokers have the most current […]

Within seconds of walking into a house, prospective buyers form an impression and know whether they want to buy the house or not. In some cases they won’t even get out of the car, upon looking at the outside of the house. This initial reaction can make the difference between a swift sale and a […]

You’re getting ready to sell your home or thinking about remodeling and wondering about return on investment. What’s the percentage of payback for that kitchen or bathroom makeover? You might be surprised. Although value varies by region and neighborhood, and other factors must be considered, this report will give you some indication of what can […]

When you see the term Realtor®, it means a member of the National Association of Realtors®, a real estate trade association. All Realtors® are licensed real estate agents but not all real estate agents are Realtors®. Buying a home can be a real challenge especially if you attempt it alone. Here are some of the benefits […]