Home Buyer Tips

29

Jul

Home Buyer Tips

Buying for Retirement: 3 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Buy Your Retirement Home Before You Retire

Many people dream of buying their ideal retirement home after their career has come to a conclusion - with all that extra free time it seems like it'd be the most logical time to shop around. However, many real estate professionals strongly recommend that their clients find a retirement property before they're off the payroll. While it may seem like a big time commitment to find a new home while you're still busy with your work there are several significant financial benefits to purchasing your retirement home before you actually do retire. Here are our top reasons why. It Makes…

15

Jul

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

4 Websites to Help You Evaluate the Safety of Your Future Neighborhood

When you're just moving into a neighborhood, it can be hard to know exactly what you're getting into. Certainly, you can see the sights for yourself and read about your new community online, but there are still things that may not be readily available. If you're looking for the cold, hard facts on the safety of your neighborhood, look no further than the following websites for the things you'll want to know. Situation Alerts on SpotCrime By simply typing your street address in at SpotCrime, you will get an instant report of all the criminal goings-on in your community from…

28

Jun

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

First-time Home Buyers: Why Splurging for a Larger Home Beats Condo Living

Some first-time home buyers are on a tight budget when making their real estate purchase, and there may be an inclination by many to purchase a smaller property, such as a condo, rather than the home they truly want. While there may be some initial financial benefit associated with buying a smaller property, there are a few benefits associated with splurging and buying a larger home as a first purchase. By analyzing these benefits, first-time home buyers can make a more informed decision about how to proceed. Costs Associated With Upgrading In The Future Some people will purchase a smaller…

02

Jun

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Saving Up for Your Down Payment? Try These Money-saving Tips to Speed Things Up

One of the most significant challenges that many people face when preparing to buy a first home relates to saving money for a down payment. While there are many different loan programs with varying down payment requirements, the fact is that it can still be difficult to save up a large sum of money. Some programs may require you to save as much as 10 percent or 20 percent of the sales price of the home. You can employ a few different tips and techniques to save money for a down payment more quickly, and these are some of the…

20

May

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Avoiding Home Buyer Remorse: 5 Tips for a Happier Homeowner

The rush of excitement that comes with finding the home you've been looking for is ideal, but just because it seems like the perfect place, it doesn't mean there aren't other factors to consider. Instead of getting hit with buyer's remorse, here are some tips so that your home purchase doesn't become something you'll regret. Forget About The Competition If you're contemplating a house and happen to be dragged into a bidding war, it's important to take a step back and determine if it's really the right home for you. It can be easy to get carried away and up…

19

May

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Evaluating Neighborhoods: 4 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Home

From finding the right agent to discovering the home you can truly feel comfortable in, there are a variety of things involved in the home buying process. However, it's important not to get caught up in the home and ignore altogether the community you'll be living in. If you're planning a move to a new neighborhood, here are some things you should look into before putting in an offer. Local Amenities A peaceful, picturesque community is ideal, but if there are not a lot of resources nearby for your family, it's possible that your new neighborhood may not be the…

18

May

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Suffering in a ‘Low Inventory’ Real Estate Market? 3 Helpful Tips for Finding a Home to Buy

Many homebuyers struggle with finding a home that is within their price range, but many of those perusing the market also struggle when it comes to the search. If you're currently in the real estate market and are having difficulty finding a good selection of homes, here are some ways to expand your search so you can find an opportunity you're prepared to invest in. Look Over The Old Listings Whether you do it on your own or enlist the help of your real estate agent, it's worth looking through the old listings to determine if any old opportunities are…

13

May

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Getting to Know the Neighbors: 3 Tips for Building Good Relationships

One of the factors involved in feeling truly comfortable in your community is the relationships that you've been able to establish with the locals in your neighborhood, but it can be hard to know how to nurture a good relationship. Whether you're moving to a new home soon or are wondering how to make some nearby friends, here are some simple tips for ingratiating the ones that live closest to you. Offer up Your Favorite Dish It might seem like a bit of a risk, but one of the best ways to get to know your neighbors is to knock…

04

May

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

6 Tips That Will Help You Get the Most Out of Your Home Inspection

A home inspection may be one of the last things that needs to be done before the deal is sealed. However, it's very important to have a proper inspection done so that you can ensure you're offering price is appropriate for the home you're getting. If you're prepping for an inspection soon, here are some things you'll want to consider beforehand. Choose A Good Inspector Like a good agent, the right inspector is going to have expertise in what they do and know what to look for. They will not only find the small fix-ups, they'll be able to highlight…

04

Mar

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

5 Tips to Make Moving With Kids Easier

Sometimes a move is unavoidable, regardless of how much you or your kids' would rather stay in your current home. If your young ones are not looking forward to a change in scenery, here are a few tips to help them make a smoother transition into their new home. 1. Involve Them Involving your children in the moving process will not only help them to better understand the move, it will also make them feel as though they are more in control of the situation. By taking them to open houses they'll become familiar with the neighborhoods you're considering moving…