If you’re looking on ways to use your home’s equity you can always refinance it. In essence, this is a way of paying off your current mortgage and getting cash out based on how much equity (the difference between the market value of your home and what you owe on it) you have in your […]
When you’re ready to move, figuring out what to do with your house is a big decision. And today, more homeowners are considering renting their home instead of selling it. Recent surveys show about two-thirds of sellers thought about renting their home before listing, with nearly a third taking that possibility seriously. Compared to 2021, […]
Appraisers take into account many factors when determining the worth of a home. While some of these, such as location, can’t be helped, there are things a homeowner can do to ensure that the home is appraised for maximum value. Some things do impact a home’s value more than others; the bottom line is that […]
It may seem that homebuyers and sellers don’t agree on much, but they share one important concern: that the transaction is successful. This comradery is never more evident than during the appraisal process. It’s only natural, since the results of the appraisal can send the deal spiraling out of control. It’s largely based on the […]
If prospective buyers walk into your house greeted by the smell of cat litter, cigarette smoke, mildew or pet accidents, there is little chance that even a reduced sales price will persuade them to buy. So the first thing to do is: Clean, clean, clean. This includes walls, floors, inside closets and cabinets – everything. […]
Closing costs vary wildly and depend on the type of loan, the amount of the down payment, and a host of other factors. Unfortunately, this lack of information frequently causes real estate deals to disintegrate. To avoid this particular problem, pay attention to all communications from your lender. First, you will receive a form called […]
The real estate industry does a great job of reminding homebuyers that they’ll need a down payment – typically from 3 percent to 20 percent of the total loan amount – when they purchase a home. What they often fail to inform real estate consumers about are the loan’s closing costs – the money you […]
There’s an old saying in the real estate industry that counsel’s homeowners that the best time to sell a home is when you need to sell your home. Yes, we understand that isn’t very helpful if you’re one of the fortunate that an choose when to put your home on the market. Get excited if […]
The current economy is a key factor affecting the real estate market. Broadly speaking, when the economy is sluggish, so is real estate. Rather than look at the glass half-full, we choose to take the opposite tack—when the economy is humming along, the housing market is at its most attractive. When job growth is robust, […]
It certainly is no secret that obtaining a lower interest rate for a mortgage typically allows for a lower payment. Naturally then, low interest rates make home-buying an attractive venture—and, even whispers of a rate hike can interest buyers to get out into the market. For instance, by the end of 2015, the U.S. saw […]
