Here’s how to maximize your ability to buy the home of your dreams. Determine how much to spend. The first step for any homebuyer is to determine how much you can afford, and then how much of that you actually want to spend. Just because a bank offers you a big home loan doesn’t mean … Read more
As you prepare to sell your house, you may be tempted to engage in practices that could ruin your opportunity to get the best return on your investment. Here are some tips to come out on top. Don’t rush the process Selling a house can be nerve wracking, so it’s understandable when sellers jump at … Read more
Recently, homeowners in Rogina Heights were stunned to discover that after moving out of their home in preparation to sell, someone had setup living quarters there by crawling through the wood box (a box used to load firewood from the outdoors and access the wood from the indoors). Squatting is on the rise and removing … Read more
This is a great time to sell your house. The weather is beautiful and everything is blooming. However, no amount of sunshine and flowers can overcome crummy curb appeal. While there are a lot of things you can do to make your property more appealing, none of those things matter if prospective buyers never make … Read more
People sometimes get confused about how the capital gains tax exemption applies when it comes to selling a home. It’s worth understanding because it can have a huge impact on your proceeds. Capital gains tax is the tax on profits realized when you sell an asset such as stocks, bonds, precious metals, real estate, and … Read more
Last week, I wrote about what to expect from the Realtor who lists your house for sale. In short, a listing agent’s job is to get you the highest price in the shortest time with the least inconvenience. To do so, it’s important to come to some agreements up front—who is responsible for what, how … Read more
Selling your house often means selling the most valuable possession you’ve ever owned. Having a good Realtor to guide you through the process can reduce your stress and increase your financial return, not to mention assuring that you comply with all relevant laws and regulations. In short, a listing agent’s job is to get you … Read more
If the housing market were a grocery store, the shelves would be sparsely stocked. In many ways, this is an opportunity for sellers to get top dollar for their property. A huge part of why housing inventory is so low is because prospective sellers worry that the current interest rates will keep buyers from paying … Read more
For the last several years, rates for homeowner’s insurance for single family homes have skyrocketed. A few years back, a friend of mine paid about $1400 per year for insurance. Today, he pays about $28,000 per year—that’s a 20-fold increase. It’s enough to make you ask, “Do I really need this insurance?” The cost of … Read more