The home buying process is an exciting time for individuals and families who are stepping into the next chapter of their lives. However, it also requires a lot of paperwork and technical knowledge that most homebuyers don’t have. Your Realtor® will be an invaluable resource in guiding you through this process, but there are also…
A foreclosure happens when a property owner stops paying their mortgage or other financial obligations to the lender. The lender (typically the bank) will take back the rights to the home, evict the owner, and try to resell the house to someone who will be able to pay for it. Foreclosed homes are often seen…
The closing is the final step of the home buying and selling process. Many sellers or Realtors® will refer to closing as the finish line in the overall process, but that doesn’t provide a lot of detail about what goes on – or what a buyer needs to do to prepare. Just because you’re done…
People often ask two questions when they want to put their homes on the market: how can I make the most money and how can I sell my house fast? While the price of your home is often dependent on the market and its condition, there are some ways to control the speed with which…
We have answers for you if you’re wondering, “Should I sell my house for cash?” There are multiple websites, groups, and promotions that claim to buy your house for cash, letting you move quickly and skip the showing, negotiating, and financing processes. This is a different process from listing and selling your house for a…
If you are a first-time home buyer, you may not know what working with a real estate agent is like. How do you hire one? What do they do? How do Realtors® get paid? These are all questions that new buyers ask when they first start out, and many rely on the real estate agents…
A home inspection is an important part of the buying process. Potential buyers bring in an inspector to check the foundation, wiring, plumbing, and overall structure of the house. The inspector will look at everything from the tiles on the roof to the support systems in the kitchen cabinets. Understanding the home inspection process is…
You may already know that you are going to inherit a home (like the house your parents live in), or the inheritance may come as a complete surprise to you (like learning that a distant relative named you as the heir to their home). Either way, there are a lot of things to do when…
Most people have seen “For Sale By Owner” signs as they drive around town. These are home sales where the listing, negotiations, and closing costs are controlled by the owner, without a Realtor® to help. At first, this may seem like a good idea. You get control over the sale and don’t have to pay…
Selling your home is a way to recoup your investment. You want to earn back the money you paid for the property, invested in upgrades, and earned through growth in the housing market. Unfortunately, not everyone gets this money back. Some people undersell their home or aren’t strategic in how they market it. If you…