Winter homebuyers driven by deals. Source: Realtor.com The colder months are traditionally slower for the real estate market, but this winter, a report by Realtor.com says a quarter of the potential buyers are planning to look for a home because they were frozen out of the market this spring and summer.
"This summer and spring home buying season was particularly challenging for buyers, especially first-time homebuyers trying to compete with all-cash offers and bidding wars because of reduced inventory," Alison Schwartz, Realtor.com's vice president of corporate communications, said in a release. Inventory remains a major challenge for buyers, with 45 percent of survey respondents saying there are not enough homes on the market in their price range and 34 percent citing lack of inventory in general. While the dearth of homes for sale is driving more buyers into the winter months, buyers also believe sellers are more motivated during the slow months and that prices will be negotiable as a result.
Hiring a Top Producing Realtor Can Make A Big Difference. How to Spot Pest Damage Before Buying a Home. Faulty wiring and leaky plumbing aren’t the only things to be afraid of when purchasing a home.
Dry rot, crumbling timbers and spongy floors are signs of pest infestations that can seriously affect the home’s structure. What’s even more frightening is that an infestation may not be readily apparent to a home inspector and, if undetected, can seriously undermine the home’s safety. Finally, to add insult to injury, damage caused by wood-destroying pests is rarely covered by homeowners insurance policies.
If you live in a region that is notorious for this type of pest damage, a professional pest inspection is a must. Real Estate Red Flags: Six Things to Look For (and Avoid) in a Home. When you are anxious to find your dream home, it can be tempting to overlook certain flaws that lie beneath the surface.
A home, however, is one of the largest purchases you will ever make. It’s therefore important that you look at a home thoroughly and be on the lookout for signs that it may have some serious shortcomings. Here are 6 red flags in real estate that you should look out for and avoid when on the hunt for your dream home: 1.
You Aren’t Allowed to See Part of the House If the owner or real estate agent tells you that a certain part of the home cannot be viewed, this is not a good sign. 2. Avoid A Lemon: Six Things To Check Before Buying Or Renting A Home. Before you buy or rent a home, the landlord or a home inspector should walk through the property to ensure that everything is in working order, from turning on shower faucets to locking the front door.
Although this process is beneficial, you need to check specific areas that may be overlooked to avoid moving into a lemon of a property. Here are six suggestions: Up on the Rooftop Ask to have access to the roof before signing any rental or purchase agreements. The Only 3 Things You Need To Make An Offer (It's Simpler Than You'd Think!) When I was a new investor, one of the first lessons I learned was this: If you want to buy properties for a fraction of market value, you’ll have to send out A LOT of offers.
Finding deals with massive amounts of equity is a numbers game… and while this isn’t a terribly difficult concept for most of us to grasp, there remains a major obstacle that gets in the way of many new investors. When I was first trying to figure out this whole “investing game” – I used to get totally hung up on the ridiculously time-consuming task of property research. Highlight Your Home’s Selling Points: Or Improve On Them If Necessary. Each home has a unique appearance and quality as you walk in the front door.
If you are selling your home, it is up to you to highlight these selling points for a fast and lucrative sale; or improve on them if necessary. Here are some ideas for you to consider: Is it Okay to Hire a Property Manager? As a landlord, you will be looking to minimize your overheads and maximize your profits.
This is the reason why you may hesitate in hiring a property manager, who these days charge an exorbitant fee. Do I need a home inspection? Without a doubt one of the most important things, you as a home buyer can do before settling in on that dream home, is to have a home inspection.
Done by a licensed home inspector (ASHI Certified), it’s money so very well spent. I don’t have to tell you that buying a home is one of the most expensive purchases most of us make in our lives. It’s only common sense to have it checked out by someone who knows more about the operational components in a house than most of us do. What about new construction? Buying a Home? Consider COST not just Price. We have often talked about the difference between COST and PRICE.
As a seller, you will be most concerned about ‘short term price’ – where home values are headed over the next six months. As a buyer, you must be concerned not about price but instead about the ‘long term cost’ of the home. Let us explain. Last month, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase by about one full percentage over the next twelve months. We also know that many experts are calling for home prices to also increase over the next year. 5 Low-Cost Kitchen Redos Buyers Will Love. Kitchen remodeling sales were up 36 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the same time a year earlier, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
It’s no wonder: The kitchen is the focal point in many homes. Kitchens are one of the features buyers compare most closely when they’re shopping for a home. Here are cost estimates for some of the low-cost kitchen upgrades that listing agents often recommend to sellers: 1. Hardware. Renting Your First House? Take These Things Into Consideration. If your only experience with having your own place has been in the dorms or sharing a small off-campus apartment packed with undergrads, it’s time to get something a bit more grown up. Don’t let your inexperience with renting a home doom you to a place with bad cell phone reception, bug infestations or loud neighbors, however—when it’s time to start looking for your own house to rent, here are a few tips to light the way. Utilities Utilities can make or break a house rental, especially if you’ve never paid utilities for an entire house before.
The space is great for spreading out, but it might not be so great in winter when you’re looking at a $1,000 heating bill because the house has no insulation. Get a utility bill history from the landlord or the electric company, so you can estimate how much the heating and air conditioning expenses will be year-round. Quality of Life Issues Conflict Resolution Furnishing the Place Article and insights provided by Eva Parker. The GoGirl Guide to Buying a Home: Why You Need an Appraisal and a Home Inspection. To many first-time homebuyers, paying for a home inspection and appraisal may seem like a waste of money. This is absolutely false. 9 Ways To Save Money On Your Utilities. Should I use a Real Estate Agent? 5 More Reasons the Answer is Yes! Buying and selling real estate can be one of the most complicated business/personal transactions you will ever make, and to ensure everything is handled correctly it’s best to enlist the services of an experienced real estate agent.
There are a number of reasons you should use a real estate agent; here are 5 reasons for your consideration which can potentially save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Contracts and Paperwork Contracts and paperwork are the essence of real estate transactions, and even the most experienced business people have trouble deciphering them. An experienced real estate agent will be up to speed on all types of contracts, which can save additional dollars being spent on attorneys after the fact. You’ll still need an attorney to finalize the paperwork, but an experienced real estate agent will not only help you with the details, but might also be able to recommend someone to get the paperwork done. Negotiations Keeping it Simple Area Knowledge Affordability. Preparing to Sell Your Home: 6 Tips To Help Your Home Look its Best. Selling your home can be a stressful process and preparing your house for sale can be just as stressful.
Critical buyers, less than optimal photographs and competing homes can sink a sale before the offer is even brought to the table. If you want to make your home stand out from the crowd, try these six tips to help your home look its best when you’re preparing it for sale. 1. Put away the clutter Your Aunt Agnes’s collection of Hummel figurines may be precious family heirlooms, but they also can turn off potential buyers. 2. Arranging Furniture - Tips for Furniture Arrangement at WomansDay. When it comes to arranging furniture, there’s definitely more than one way to do things, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make mistakes.
Home decorating is a recognized art, requiring careful calculation of both the space’s needs and the host’s tastes. While experts agree the surest way to a flawless room is trial and error, there are a few rules to keep in mind as you design your setup. So read on to find out what three home design pros say are the tricks of their trade. 1. 10 Home Improvement Ideas: How To Make The Most of What You Already Have! Three years ago, we moved into our house, a 1970's fixer-upper. I'm sure people thought I was crazy to take on the renovation of an older home. I had a very limited budget, and I had never done any sort of home improvement or home remodeling in my life. Selling a home with tenants in place. Tips for Caring for a Second Property. 7 Tips for Writing a Rental Reference Letter. Being Green: 6 Home Improvements We Can All Do To Help.
HouseLogic Home Improvement Tips. 3 most important 'must-knows' when selling your home. How Often You Should Really Clean Your Home. The Right Kitchen Remodel Can Pay Off. By Sabine H. Schoenberg, SabinesHomes.com Unequivocally, the kitchen is … Back to Basics: 7 Essential Kitchen Tools. Before starting any recipe, it should go without saying that you are going to need to stop by your nearest William Sonoma (or more realistically, Bed, Bath & Beyond) to pick up some essential cooking tools for your newest hobby. Below I've provided some of the tools that I think are essential and reasoning for why it is worth investing the money. 1.)
Chef's knife - Probably one of the most essential tools on this list. You will be wondering how you survived without this for the rest of your life. First, I'd like to say that whenever I pick up my chef's knife, I instantly feel like a bad ass. TtF recommends: OXO Good Grips Professional 8-Inch Chef Knife 2.) TtF recommends: Wusthof Classic 3-1/2-Inch Paring Knife 3.)
TtF recommends: Black & Decker FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor 4.) TtF recommends: Excelsteel Set Of 3 Stainless Steel Stockpot With Lids 5.) TtF recommends: Tovolo 12-Inch Silicone Spatula Tools. (1) How to Protect Your Patio Furniture. Why You Should Sell Your House Now. 10 Top Green Home Building Ideas - LotNetwork.com.
5 Unexpected Places to Clean Before Listing a Home. With summer upon us, the housing market is starting to heat up.