The search for a new home can be exhaustive in some cases. While there are certain hurdles involved in any home purchase, some factors within your control can influence the process. How prepared are you when you start looking? Are you on the same page as any other decision makers involved in the process? Do you understand your list of wants versus your list of needs for the home you’re going to purchase? These are crucial elements that will determine what type of experience you have. Start making your list of wants and needs well before you begin your home search. (more…)
Determining and Maintaining Home Value
The value of your home consists of many different aspects. There is the value that comes from the utility of your home: you have a place to sleep and enjoy your lifestyle. There is the emotional value that comes from your home: you’ll create memories in this space that last a lifetime. There’s also the raw, monetary value of your home, and that piece is key. Residential properties are assets that typically mature at a steady rate. To ensure that this happens, and to understand the value that you can expect your home to have when it hits the market, there are steps that you can take as a homeowner. (more…)
Understanding Different Mortgage Products
If you’re looking to purchase a home, or you’re interested in refinancing your home, you’ll want to understand the different mortgage products available to you. Looking at a home loan like a product is a great way to approach the situation analytically. Your home mortgage will come with certain terms and conditions, based on a combination of the institution providing you with the loan, your personal credit history, your debt-to-income ratio, and the amount of money you can place toward a downpayment. Here is some general information about the different mortgage products available to you. (more…)
Prepping For A Home Sale
If you intend on selling your home, there are a number of steps that you’ll want to take to prepare before your property officially hits the market. While the housing market will have a great effect on the price and timeline of your home sale, you still have some control over the process. These steps include financial reconciliation, emotional preparation, and research. In order to sell your home quickly and get a great price, you need to be ready. Here is a brief list of steps to take when prepping for a home sale. (more…)
Breaking Down The Homebuying Process
Purchasing your first home can feel like a daunting task. In fact, the intimidating nature of the undertaking can be a major inhibitor for many people. By breaking down the homebuying process into chunks, you can understand a little bit more about the experience and have a better understanding of what to expect. There are many moving pieces when searching for a home, but the more prepared you are, the better time you will have. Here is a simple breakdown of the homebuying process. (more…)
Know Your Home’s Curb Appeal
If you aren’t gearing up to sell your home, you might not be thinking about your house’s curb appeal. Curb appeal is important to the home sale process, because it’s the first thing people notice about your house. Great curb appeal will draw interested parties inside, increasing the number of leads you generate for your home sale. While you may be focused on interior renovation projects, don’t let your home’s curb appeal fall by the wayside. Even functional updates to the siding and shingles can have a positive effect on curb appeal. (more…)
How Your Home Insurance Works
Home insurance is far from the most exciting part of the homebuying process. For many first-time homebuyers, it’s actually an afterthought. Homeowner’s insurance is essential though. Your home is a massive investment, and you want to protect that investment against unforeseen threats. If you’re new to the world of homeownership, you may be familiar with exactly how home insurance works. With this brief guide, you can get a better understanding of how your home insurance works and why it is such an essential piece of the homebuying process. (more…)
The Value of Home Maintenance
Rare is the person who looks forward to doing chores. However, when you think about certain tasks less as chores, and more as a way to add financial value to your life, your opinion may change. This can be a helpful approach when setting up a home maintenance plan. As a homeowner, you want your investment to mature over time. While many real estate prices steadily climb over time, your treatment of your home has an effect on the overall value at the time of sale. The value of home maintenance comes from the long-term positive outcome it has for your home. Here are some factors to consider. (more…)
Know Your Home Market Before You Sell
When you decide to sell your home, it’s a major moment in your life. You may be on a tight timeline, or you may have some flexibility. You may be looking to move into your dream home, or you might be downsizing after your kids have moved out. In any selling situation, there are many administrative details to consider, and there’s the emotional equity you have in your home. You want to leave your home sale feeling good about the process, and the price you receive. The best way to ensure that you’re happy with the final result after selling your home is to know your market before you sell. (more…)
Keys to Simplifying Your Home Search
Searching for a new home takes time and effort. You may start to casually look for new neighborhoods and home options a year in advance, or you may find that you need to make your home buying decision rather quickly. There are steps you can take to make the search more efficient. A protracted home search with bumps in the road can get frustrating and stressful. You deserve to feel good about your home purchase. Take the measures that you can to make life easier for yourself. Here are some of the keys to simplifying your home search. (more…)
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