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How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent
Since buying or selling a home is one of the most significant transactions you’ll ever make, working with an expert is essential. As a seller, you risk overpricing or underpricing your home. On the other hand, if you’re a first-time buyer, you might not have the bargaining power to purchase a home at a good…
Read MoreHow to Use an Escalation Clause When Buying a Home
Home prices have consistently risen. For instance, according to Statista, the median price for a single-family house stood at about $391,200 in April 2022. That represents an increase of over $100,000 since 2018. Mortgage rates have also risen significantly. You’d expect these sharply higher rates to slow down house price appreciation. As a prospective buyer,…
Read MoreWhat are the Financial and Tax Benefits of Homeownership?
Homeowners who have maintained their properties in good condition can see a significant return. Even adjusting for inflation, home values tend to have positive gains over the years. Note: Consult your licensed financial tax expert before making changes in homeownership for financial and tax purposes. Home Price Trends While the average home price has risen…
Read MoreRenting vs. Owning a Home
Owning a home is a life-changing decision, and it’s something to take seriously. And while homeownership is the ultimate goal for most people, owning a home has several challenging aspects. If you’re still renting and contemplating whether to renew your lease or buy a home, here are some essential points to help you decide. The…
Read MoreQuestions to Consider About an Investment Property Before Buying
Successful real estate investing demands attention to detail. Careful analysis is especially important for investors who intend to purchase investment rentals or flip a property. Not adequately addressing all the elements of a real estate transaction can reduce the anticipated return or even result in financial loss. For example, overlooking weaknesses in a property, underestimating…
Read MoreHow Home Appraisals Impact Buyers and Sellers
Home appraisals are unbiased professional insights into a home’s value based on the property’s condition, location, and features. A professional assessment is required for most real estate transactions to confirm the property is worth at least as much as a mortgage lender will lend to purchase the property. Similarly, when a homeowner wishes to refinance…
Read MoreHow Do Interest Rates Affect the Housing Market?
Most prospective home buyers work with a mortgage lender to finance a home purchase. In fact, according to a U.S. Census statistic in 2020, 64.8% of current homeowners used a mortgage loan to buy their homes. The mortgage interest rate plays a vital role in most home purchases, often the most significant single investment individuals…
Read MoreHow Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
The time it takes to buy a home can be a long process. According to a December 2021 Bankrate.com article, the average time to close on a home with a conventional mortgage is about 51 days. Having all documentation organized in advance and quickly responding to all lender questions will minimize the time between an…
Read MoreDoes a Kitchen Renovation Improve Your Home’s Value?
One glance at your tired and out-of-date kitchen might suggest that a renovation is necessary. However, when considering kitchen renovations, questions about cost and whether you could recover the renovation costs when you sell the home come to mind. Kitchen Renovation Factors to Consider: Cost The cost of any home improvement will vary depending on…
Read MoreFour Upgrades that Add the Most Value to Your Home
Remodeling and upgrades can help increase the return on investment (ROI) of a home; however, it is unlikely the homeowner will recoup the total cost of most upgrades. Generally, an upgrade project must fix a design or structural flaw to recover the construction cost. A home remodeling project can help increase a home’s value. But…
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