We value sharing our knowledge and helping you understand the world of real estate selling, buying and homeownership.
Tips for Buyers
Avoiding Financial Stress
By asking the right questions, and knowing exactly what your needs are, you can find the right loan for you. There are certain approaches that you...
Build a Plan of Action and Get Ready
Buying a home will probably rank as one of the biggest personal investments one can make. Being organized and in control will contribute...
Finding the Right Seller
The best seller is one who is highly motivated. A highly motivated seller is more likely to sell at a price that is less than his or her house is...
Getting a Legitimate Lender and Getting Pre-Approved
It used to be that buyers could go house shopping and when they have found their dream home, then they go to get pre-approved. However, in today’s...
Hot, Normal, and Cold Markets
Hot Market This is an extremely competitive market and is advantageous to the seller. Sometimes, homes will sell as soon as they are listed or even...
Importance of Inspection
As a buyer, you are entitled to know exactly what you are getting. Don’t take anything for granted, not even what you see or what the seller or...
Tips for Sellers
Considering Offers
When reading an offer, keep in mind that you are out to get the best price AND the best terms for you. If you focus solely on the price, you may...
Finding the Right Agent
Not all agents work the same way. The most important attribute of an agent is that he/she is well connected to the real estate industry. He/she...
For Sale By Owner – A Good Idea?
FSBO (pronounced fizz-bo), or For Sale By Owner, is a way of selling your home without the use of a professional real estate agent or broker. The...
Getting the Highest Price in the Shortest Time
In order to get the highest price in the shortest time, you need to know how to market your home. The better you market your home, the more offers...
Insist on a Home Inspection
A professional home inspection protects both you and the buyer. It allows both you and the buyer the opportunity to learn about the property’s...
Know Why You are Selling
If you know exactly why you are selling then it is easier for you to follow the right plan of action for getting what you want. If you are a seller...
Making a Good First Impression
If you want buyers to be interested in your home, you need to show it in its best light. A good first impression can influence a buyer both...
Plan of Action
Analyze why you are selling – If you understand your motives, you will be able to better negotiate and to get what it is that you want,...
Setting the Price
The price is the first thing buyers notice about your property. If you set your price too high, then the chance of alienating buyers is higher. You...
What is a Short Sale Anyway?
An increase in foreclosure rates will inevitably bring with it an increase in short sales. But what is a short sale? A short sale happens when you...
Homeowner Information
Common Ways of Holding Title
How Should I Take Ownership of the Property I am Buying? Real property can be incredibly valuable and the question of how parties can take ownership...
Condominium and PUD Ownership
Builders, in an effort to combat the dual problem of an increasing population and a declining availability of prime land, are increasingly turning...
Environmental Issues
When purchasing a piece of property, it is important to be aware of any environmental liabilities associated with it. For example, you should find...
Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning is a serious problem that can lead to adverse health problems. In children, high levels of lead can cause damage to the brain and...
Living Trusts
Estate planners often recommend Living Trusts as a viable option when contemplating the manner in which to hold title to real property. When a...
Mechanic’s Liens
The Mechanics’ Lien law provides special protection to contractors, subcontractors, laborers and suppliers who furnish labor or materials to repair,...
Mello-Roos
In purchasing your new home, your future monthly payments will be made up of principal, interest, real property taxes, and insurance. But what is...
Underground Heating Oil Tanks
Underground heating oil tanks can pose many potential problems to both home buyers and sellers. They have been the source of many environmental...
Understanding Foreclosures
It is an unfortunate commentary, but when economic activity declines and housing activity decreases, more real property enters the foreclosure...
Mortgage Information
Adjustable Rate Mortgages – The Basics
An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that fluctuates periodically. This is in contrast to a fixed rate mortgage, which always has...
Adjustable Rate Mortgages – The PROS & CONS
Now that you know what an ARM is and how it works, you may be wondering what the advantages and disadvantages are. So let’s explore that issue....
Closing Costs When Buying or Refinancing a Home
This is a detailed summary of costs you may have to pay when you buy or refinance your home. They are listed in the order that they should appear on...
Documenting Your Assets – Verifying Your Down Payment
When buying a home, it is not enough to just come up with the money. With the exception of no asset verification loans, lenders want to verify where...
FICO® Score – a Brief Explanation
When you apply for a mortgage loan, you expect your lender to pull a credit report and look at whether you’ve made your payments on time. What you...
FICO® Scores and Your Mortgage
Years ago, credit scoring had little to do with mortgage lending. When reviewing the credit worthiness of a borrower, an underwriter would make a...
Items You Need When Applying For a Loan
Have These Items Ready When You Apply For a Loan It used to be that lenders mailed out verifications to employers, banks, mortgage companies, and so...
Land Contract
An alternative to a non-conforming loan is the use of a land contract, which is allowed in some states. A land contract is an agreement between a...
The Advantages of Different Types of Mortgage Lenders
What kind of lender is best? If you ask a loan officer, “What kind of lender is best?” the answer will be whatever kind of company he works for and...
The Biweekly Mortgage – Who Needs It?
Have you received an advertisement offering to save you thousands of dollars on your thirty-year mortgage and cut years off your payments? With...
Title and Escrow
Closing and Title Costs
It’s the big day. The day you go to the title or escrow company, sign your name on the dotted line, hand over a check and prepare to take ownership...
Creative Financing
Creative financing: You’ve heard of it, and, as a seller, the idea sounds pretty attractive. But, do you know everything you need to know about...
Required Reporting to the I.R.S.
Sellers of real property will have certain information regarding the sale reported to the Internal Revenue Service. This required reporting is a...
Statements of Information
What’s in a name? When a title company seeks to uncover matters affecting title to real property, the answer is, “Quite a bit.” Statements of...
The Functions of an Escrow
Buying or selling a home (or other piece of real property) usually involves the transfer of large sums of money. It is imperative that the transfer...
Title Insurance – Where Does Your Dollar Go?
Title Insurance: As a homebuyer, the term is probably familiar – but is it understood? What is your dollar actually paying for when you...
Title Insurance Requirements for Insuring Trusts
In today’s world of busy probate courts and exorbitant death taxes, the living trust has become a common manner of holding title to real property....
Title Insurance When Refinancing Your Loan
Lower interest rates have motivated you to refinance your home loan. The lower rate may save you a tremendous amount of money over the life of the...
Understanding Preliminary Reports
After months of searching, you’ve finally found it — your perfect dream home. But is it perfect? Will you be purchasing more than just a...
Understanding Title Insurance
What is title insurance? Newspapers refer to it in the weekly real estate sections and you hear about it in conversations with real estate brokers....