As a result of the ongoing mortgage crisis, it’s a lot more difficult to get approved for mortgage financing when purchasing a piece of property. Gone are the days of 100% financing and no doc loans. Now you actually have to prove you make the income you say you make and put a little skin… Continue reading Getting Pre-Approved with the Real Estate Agent’s Preferred Lender
The Open House Scam Your Agent Doesn’t Want You to Know
If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, or currently have it listed, you’ve probably considered an “open house” or two to help facilitate the sale. Put simply, an open house is an event where your listed property is made available to the general public (anyone off the street) to tour for… Continue reading The Open House Scam Your Agent Doesn’t Want You to Know
What You Second Guess, Your Buyer Will Too
When looking for a suitable property, you’ll probably have some “deal breakers” that you just can’t bear to live with. Perhaps you don’t want a home that is too close to the freeway, or a home with only one bathroom. Whatever it may be, it’s clearly a negative. And if you have a problem with… Continue reading What You Second Guess, Your Buyer Will Too
Insulting Price Reductions in Real Estate
If you’ve ever bought a house or sold one, you’ve likely come across the conventional buying etiquette that says not to make a super low-ball offer. Sure, you can underbid for a home, but if you offer something too low, it will come off as offensive to the home seller and their listing agent. While… Continue reading Insulting Price Reductions in Real Estate
No Housing Turnaround for a Generation?
Last week, famed Yale economics professor Robert Shiller told Reuters there might not be a housing market rebound for an entire generation. Yes, an entire generation. Or longer… He told the news service that there’s a chance we won’t a “major turnaround in our lifetimes,” though he was speaking in the first person to other… Continue reading No Housing Turnaround for a Generation?
Stale Listings and Price Reductions
If you’ve been scouring real estate listings for a while now, you’ve probably paid close attention to how long a particular property has been listed. And if you haven’t, you should probably take note. Every little nugget you can take away from a property listing will help you better assess the situation, which could ultimately… Continue reading Stale Listings and Price Reductions
Cul-de-Sac vs. Dead-End Street: From a Real Estate Perspective
Cul-de-Sac Definition The word cul-de-sac literally means bottom of the bag But it’s a good thing when it comes to real estate Because it means you don’t live on a through street And there’s a safer area for kids to play Even if you’ve never shopped for real estate, you’ve undoubtedly heard both the term… Continue reading Cul-de-Sac vs. Dead-End Street: From a Real Estate Perspective
Smart Move Advantage Guaranteed Lease Review
Homebuilder Pardee Homes recently teamed up with Smart Move Advantage in the hopes of selling more homes, while alleviating the concerns of existing homeowners. It’s called the “Smart Move Advantage Lease Guarantee,” and basically guarantees rent on your existing home for up to three years if you buy a new Pardee home. Here’s how the… Continue reading Smart Move Advantage Guaranteed Lease Review
Two Standard Sales That Aren’t So Standard
These days, real estate agents love to mention that a particular listing is a “standard sale,” meaning it’s not in foreclosure or in a short sale situation. While this is generally a good thing, largely because non-standard sales can be riddled with red tape and other issues, some properties aren’t as standard as they seem.… Continue reading Two Standard Sales That Aren’t So Standard
Condo vs. House: Which to Buy and Why?
Realty Q&A: “Condo vs. house.” If you’re currently looking to buy a piece of property, perhaps to take advantage of the record low mortgage rates on offer, and also the reduced home prices, you may be torn between a house and a condo. But which is the better buy and why? Well, it really depends… Continue reading Condo vs. House: Which to Buy and Why?