Owning a home isn’t right for everyone, which is why many people invest in rental properties. This week I’m sharing my thoughts on how to prepare a home to be rented, and what it means to be a good landlord. To prepare a home for rent, consider these six suggestions: Really clean your house. As … Read more
For those of you who may not have noticed, the real estate market has changed recently. Prices are up, inventory is down, and buyers outnumber sellers. This makes it a seller’s market. Buyers are in the market because rates are still at historic lows (and have only one way to go in the future). Prices … Read more
If you’ve been thinking about selling your house, now’s the time! It is a seller’s market. Rates are low, prices are climbing, and there’s not much for sale. And, since we have more buyers than sellers, the marketing time (time it takes to sell a home) is short. If you’re curious about what your home … Read more
So, you did it! You bought a home. Now, it’s time to take care of your investment. The good thing about home ownership is that the money you put into your home builds equity (value). The bummer is that you need to spend the money, and saving for a new water heater is really boring … Read more
You may have heard about people being “upside down” on their mortgage. When people owe more than the value of their home it can lead to a short sale. If they cannot afford their mortgage payments anymore, it can lead to an REO (Real Estate Owned) sale. A short sale occurs when a home is … Read more
With so little inventory available, the market is shifting to a seller’s market, even with rates at record lows. So, if you’re a buyer fortunate enough to have signed a purchase contract and gone into escrow, here’s what you need to know to complete the process. First, let’s define “escrow.” Escrow is a neutral place … Read more
I’ve talked about why renters should consider becoming homeowners. The market is still a buyer’s market, for the most part, so this week I’ll share some information on how to buy a house. The most important way to prepare is to get your finances in order. This means getting a credit report, collecting financial documents … Read more
Like I mentioned last week, the market continues to be good for buyers. It’s so good, in fact, that I thought I’d dedicate a column to explaining why renters should consider buying right now. While I know numbers can turn a lot of people off, I think it’s important to use an example so you … Read more
The market continues to be good for buyers. Home prices are low (but starting to climb), and rates remain incredibly low compared to historic norms. While there’s not a lot on the market, spring and summer are traditionally times when more inventory becomes available, so we may see an upswing in houses listed for … Read more