Home Buyer Tips

06

Dec

Home Buyer Tips

Buying Your First Home? Learn These 5 Essential Home Maintenance Skills as Soon as Possible

New homes can be scary. But when you take the time to think about it and plan ahead, maintaining a home is easier than you think a manageable mix of experience and common sense. Here are five skills that will help maintain your new home for years to come. Fixing A Toilet It's not as daunting as it sounds. Just remember that toilets work with gravity the water wants to flow freely. Don't be afraid to open that tank up and adjust the floater and valves as needed. Occasionally run the water (flush the toilet, turn on the sink) in…

30

Nov

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips, Homebuyer Tips

Speed Your Mortgage Approval up by Following This Checklist

Have you finally found your dream home after months of searching, and then you are told that the seller has received other offers? No buyer wants to find themselves in a bidding war against another buyer as it is a stressful situation. Being unprepared and not having your finances in order will make it even more stressful. Here are a few quick ways if you're looking to speed up your mortgage approval process, here's a checklist to help you prepare: · Review your credit report: Maintain a good credit score by paying bills on time, reducing existing debt, and avoiding…

14

Nov

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Negotiating Homebuying Costs: Securing Your Dream Home at the Right Price

Buying a home is one of life's significant milestones, but it often comes with a significant price tag. Fortunately, the sticker price on a house isn't always set in stone. When buying a home, negotiating certain costs can save you a significant amount of money. Here are some costs that every homebuyer should negotiate: Closing costs: Closing costs are the fees associated with finalizing the purchase of a home. They typically include things like appraisal fees, title search fees, and attorney fees. Closing costs can be a significant expense, so it's worth trying to negotiate them with the seller or…

24

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Home Buyer Tips

Worried about Your FICO Score? 4 Easy Strategies to Fix It Up

If you're worried about your bad credit, you'll want to do everything in your power to improve your rating as quickly as possible - especially if you have a major purchase coming up. Improving your credit rating can give you access to better interest rates on mortgages or even help you to get that job you're after. IMPORTANT! If you are currently involved in a home loan transaction, speak with your trusted mortgage lender before taking any action regarding your credit! So how can you boost your FICO score quickly and easily? Here's what you need to know. Get Your Credit…

05

Oct

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Worried about Your FICO Score? 4 Easy Strategies to Fix It Up

If you're worried about your bad credit, you'll want to do everything in your power to improve your rating as quickly as possible - especially if you have a major purchase coming up. Improving your credit rating can give you access to better interest rates on mortgages or even help you to get that job you're after. IMPORTANT! If you are currently involved in a home loan transaction, speak with your trusted real estate advisor before taking any action regarding your credit! So how can you boost your FICO score quickly and easily? Here's what you need to know. Get…

27

Sep

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Four Mistakes to Avoid When Making an Offer for Your Dream Home

You've scoured the new home listings, been to all the open houses and have finally found the home of your dreams. It is now time to draft an offer and begin the negotiation process. Below we'll share four mistakes that you will want to avoid when making an offer on your dream home. Mistake #1 – Not Working With A Professional The first mistake that home buyers make is trying to buy a home without using the services of a real estate professional. Buying a home is a significant financial transaction and one where the seller and their agent are…

22

Sep

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

House Hunting: Watch for These Five Small Signs That Can Indicate Much Bigger Problems with a Home

It’s not uncommon for homebuyers to recount horror stories about properties that appeared to be fine at first glance, but were actually hiding very expensive problems. If you fail to do your due diligence, you might find your dream house turning into a nightmare. The next time you walk through a house, pay attention for these five signs that the property might be hiding a unfortounate secret or two. Mold, Water Spots and Water Damage Older and newer homes alike may develop a leaky pipe or another similar plumbing issue from time to time, but any type of water issue…

12

Sep

By lizlaurenb

Home Buyer Tips

Ready to Buy Your First Home? Don’t Forget to Check Your Credit Score – Here’s Why

Whether you're just out of college, recently married or simply haven't jumped into the market yet, buying your first home is an exciting prospect. It can also be an expensive one, which is why most people will take out a mortgage to help finance the cost. If you are planning on engaging with a mortgage lender, you'll need to have your finances in order. In today's post, we'll share a few key reasons why you'll want to check your credit score well in advance of buying your first home. Your Credit Score Is A Signal For Lenders As you know,…

07

Jul

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

What is a Home Warranty

A home warranty is a type of service contract that provides coverage for repairs or replacements of major systems and appliances in a home. It typically covers items such as heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, plumbing, water heaters, and kitchen appliances. Home warranties are purchased by homeowners to protect against unexpected expenses for repairs or replacements that may occur due to normal wear and tear. When a covered item breaks down, the homeowner can contact the home warranty company, which will send a qualified technician to diagnose and repair the issue. If the item cannot be repaired, the home…

16

Jun

By lizlaurenb

Home Buyer Tips

Buying in a New Community: How to Meet and Make Friends with Your New Neighbors

One of the stresses of moving to a new area is giving up the familiarity that you have with your old neighbors and starting from scratch. Whether you've just moved to a different locale or you're planning to relocate in the near future, there are some easy ways that you can make a home of your new neighborhood right from the start. Stand Up and Smile While there are neighborhoods where people are definitely friendlier than others, by making your presence positively known you can make an instant impression on those that live around you. When you're walking around the…