Imagine what happens when there is not a pre-listing inspection. The buyer contracts for the home with a provision for professional home inspection. When it is made, there could be things that the buyer didn't expect or even, anticipate. If it doesn't trigger an action to terminate the contract, the buyer will inevitably, ask the seller to make all the repairs. When presented with the buyer's request,...
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A much-repeated investment strategy is to buy low and sell high. Some people who purchased around the financial crisis of 2010-2012 are poised to make considerable profits. The median home price in America is now $295,300 up from $155,600 in February 2012 which calculates close to an 8% annual increase. The median equity that homeowners have earned during the same period is $140,000. Inventory is in...
Debt-to-Income ratio is a tool that lenders use to qualify buyers for a mortgage and is an important factor in determining loan approval. It provides an indication of the amount of debt that a potential borrower is obligated to in relation to how much income they have. Total monthly debts are determined by adding the normal and recurring monthly debt payments such as monthly housing costs, car payments,...
Ideally, each party will pay their own closing costs associated with the purchase and the sale of a home, but they can be negotiable based on lender requirements and market conditions. The fees are usually paid at the settlement and will be itemized on the closing statement. Buyers should be aware of them before contracting for a home. If a mortgage is involved, the lender will want to verify that the...
Mortgage assumptions have not been a practical matter for the last 30 years because mortgage rates have been on a steady decline. Even if the seller had a rate lower than the current rate, the new purchaser must qualify to assume the loan. In the case of conventional loans, the lender has the right to increase the rate to the current rate which neutralizes the reason for assuming the loan. This change...
Vacation home sales are up 44% year-over-year according to the National Association of REALTORS® based on sales during the July to September period. Not only are the number of units up, but they are also selling faster than in previous years. On a national basis, 72% of existing vacation homes closed in October were on the market for less than one month. The increased desirability and affordability...
A home inspector is another key professional involved in a real estate transaction. Many times, the sales contract will have a provision that allows the purchaser to have inspections made to discover issues that are not readily apparent or have not been disclosed by the seller. It is important to have a qualified individual perform the inspection. Regardless of whether a license is required, buyers...
If you are making a particular meal for the first time, it is essential to have a recipe so that it turns out the way it should. Knowing the ingredients and preparation can guide you through the process. Buying a home is really no different than making a new recipe. There are certain things that need to be done, many of which should occur in a particular order to save time, money, effort and...
We are all spending more time at home and will probably need to continue to do so for a while longer. Depending on the makeup of your family, your home is now a home office, a gym, a virtual classroom and considerably more meals have been prepared in your kitchens in the past six months than normal. Some businesses have undergone a metamorphosis that has shown them that maybe they do not need the big...
Selling a home and buying a lower priced home that meets your current needs can be to your advantage in an "Up" market like the current one with low inventory. The advantage is that you can maximize the price for the home you're selling and not have to reinvest it all in your replacement. Just to illustrate the point, let's say there is a 10% premium in the sales price of a home currently. If you're...