This is one of my favorite quotes from my all-time favorite president: “Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber, and as deadly as a hit man.” ~Ronald Reagan Ain’t it the truth?! As the Federal Reserve tries to limit inflation by raising interest rates for banks, homebuyers are feeling … Read more
Although most folks think spring is the best time to sell a house, there are some distinct advantages to selling in winter—the biggest of which is the lack of competition. Fewer homes on the market makes it easier for your house to stand out. Don’t worry about the fact that spring flowers aren’t blooming. You … Read more
Last week, I shared information about how to avoid nasty surprises from Uncle Sam when you sell your house, specifically regarding capital gains tax. Since then, it’s come to my attention that some folks don’t really understand the difference between proceeds and profit, which is key to understanding how you’ll be taxed. The proceeds are … Read more
If you own a home, it’s probably your most valuable financial asset, so if you decide to sell, you’ll want to walk away with as much money as you can. However, when you make a profit by selling assets like real estate, the government gets a piece of the action through taxes. So, the question … Read more
Whether you’re buying or selling a house, once you’ve signed on the dotted line, you’ve agreed to the terms of a contract. So, why do people back out and how can you prevent your real estate transaction from falling apart? First, there are two types of backing out: those explicitly allowed within the contract (known … Read more
As someone who makes a living based on what’s happening in the housing market, I tend to pay a lot of attention when I hear the r-word being thrown around, r as in recession. According to Investopedia, a recession is a “significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity.” Economists often define a recession as … Read more
There are really only two factors that influence the speed with which your house sells: price and exposure. If your house isn’t selling, one of these things needs improvement. Market Research To help you figure out what your house is worth, your Realtor will generally do a little research to find out what comparable houses … Read more
If it were up to me, all homeowners would be responsible for maintaining the section of road directly in front of their property out to the middle of the street. To make sure everyone maintained their portion of the road, a local committee of elected members would have the authority to keep the road in … Read more
In my office, we have a list of individuals and organizations we won’t do business with—most are vendors, others are past clients who behaved so poorly we won’t work with them again. The reasons vendors get put on the list can include things like doing substandard work, having no liability insurance or workers’ comp insurance, … Read more