Real Estate Articles

We hope these Real Estate Articles will provide you with some helpful information and guidance.

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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Forever Changed the Process of Selling a House ~ Ana Durrani ~ Realtor.com

In normal circumstances, selling a house involves interacting with a lot of people. In-person house tours, roundtable closings, and handshakes are all standard formalities.
But in a world rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, safety and social distancing are a must, and real estate professionals and sellers have had to adapt to a new way of doing business. That means altering how they approach open houses, closings, and even personal greetings... Read more...

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Hoping to Buy a Home in the New Year? January Is the New Hot Month to Start Looking ~ Clare Trapasso, Realtor.com

The home-buying season used to kick off sometime in spring, as the snow began to melt and people tried to plan for a summer move-in. But in recent years, the limited supply of homes for sale has spurred buyers to start their hunt earlier and... Read more....

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The Different Types of Mortgages Explained. By Marian White ~ Moving.com

So you’ve found the home of your dreams and are ready to move forward with an offer. Congratulations! Now, all you need to do is secure a home loan from a lender in order to purchase the house. Of course, if you’re a first-time homebuyer, navigating the confusing ins and outs of obtaining a mortgage isn’t... Read more...

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The 9 biggest mistakes people make when they try to sell their homes, according to real-estate agents. By Katie Warren ~ Business Insider

Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the country about what it's really like working in the industry, what they wish they could tell their clients, and the biggest mistakes people make when trying to sell their homes. Almost every single agent we talked to said the biggest mistake sellers make is ... Read more...

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Should You Waive a Home Inspection? By Laura Meuller ~ Moving.com

After months of house hunting you’ve finally found the one. Unfortunately, your local housing market is hot (read: lots of competition vying for the same house). With other buyers bidding for your dream home, you may be tempted to waive a home inspection in order to expedite the home buying process and appeal to the sellers. While this offer could end up winning you the home, it could... Read more...

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How to Help Kids Adapt to a New School. By Laura Meuller ~ Moving.com

Moving, like all other major transitions, can be tough on kids. This is especially true if the move requires a change in schools. Kids find comfort in familiarity and routine, so new neighbors, a new bedroom, and a new school can all cause stress and anxiety. As a parent, it’s your job to help ease the transition as much as possible, and fortunately, there are things you can do to... Read more....

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4 Potential Consequences of Breaking a Lease. By Laura Meuller ~ Moving.com

If you’re a renter who wants to get out of their lease early, you’re not alone. It’s very common for renters to seek an early release from their lease agreements, and many renters do attempt the process. Reasons for wanting to break a lease vary by renter, and may be due to problems with the rental or landlord, roommate issues, or a need to relocate. But regardless of how good your reasons are, before asking your landlord if you can break your lease...Read more....

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How to Make the Home Selling Process Easier on Pets. By Laura Mueller - Moving.com

When I sold my home last year, one of the unexpected challenges was the stress it put on my pets. It was my first time going through the home selling process, so I hadn’t put much thought into how things like spur-of-the-moment showings and unexpected furniture rearrangements would affect my dog and cat. We were lucky because we sold quickly, but even in the short period of time that we were on the market I could see a bit of heightened... Read more....

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6 Tax Breaks for Homeowners. By Devon Thorsby, US News, Editor - Real Estate

Whether you’re gearing up to file your taxes this year, researching what’s ahead for next year or simply contemplating the benefits to buying a house in the future, there’s a lot to consider. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which takes effect for tax filings for the 2018 calendar year, standard deduction increases will likely mean far fewer Americans will need to itemize their returns to receive the maximum amount of money back. As many as 27 million fewer taxpayers may need to... Read more....

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The Best Housewarming Gifts for New Homeowners. By Laura Mueller ~ Moving.com

A new home is a big reason to celebrate, and what better way to do it than with a thoughtful housewarming gift? Whether your friend just finished moving in to her new apartment or your cousin recently turned the key on his first house, everyone appreciates a small sentiment that shows you were thinking about them during such a momentous time. When it comes to the perfect housewarming gifts, it really is the... Read more...

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Should You Buy a Home Warranty When You Move? By Marian White ~ Moving.com

Should you buy a home warranty when you move? For many buyers, home warranties offer peace of mind when it comes to budgeting for home expenses. For others, home warranties are simply a waste of money. Whether or not you need to purchase a home warranty depends on your specific needs, finances and the... Read more...

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How Tax Reform Affects IRS Moving Deductions. By Marian White ~ Moving.com

Moving for work? You may want to brush up on the latest tax rules and regulations regarding moving expenses. Under the previous law, those moving for work could deduct the cost of movers, travel and other moving expenses from their federal income taxes. Now, thanks to tax reform, the majority of taxpayers will ... Read more....

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8 Curb Appeal Tricks That Will Bring Buyers to Your House. By Sally Forster Jones

After investing a considerable amount of money in your home, you certainly want it to always look its best. This is especially the case if you're thinking about putting your house up for sale. Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to conveying a sense of taste and style for your home and is conducive to supporting a more premium price tag. There are eight exterior home improvement tactics that you need to seriously consider to enhance the curb appeal of your home. Many of the strategies presented here can be undertaken as relatively ...Read more....

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Types of Property Deeds: Warranty, Grant, and Quitclaim. By Elizabeth Weintraub

Property deeds are legal instruments that assign ownership of real estate and transfer title to land and its improvements such as a house. Words used to convey property transfer can include grant, assign, convey or warrant, but they basically all do the same thing: They transfer the interest of the person relinquishing or selling the house to the person who's ...Read more...

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11 Ways to Save for a Down Payment. By Laura Mueller

On the path to home ownership, few tasks seem more insurmountable than having to save for a down payment. The median asking price for U.S. housing in 2018 was just over $206,000, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. For that price, competitive buyers are expected to put down between $20,600 and $41,200—no small chunk of change for most people. Stagnant wages and student loan debt have made it more difficult than ever before to save for a down payment, but plenty of ...Read more...

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A Checklist for Home Inspections. By Maryalene LaPonsie

Even in a seller's market, smart homebuyers aren't going to make a purchase without having a property professionally inspected first. "Today's buyers are really very savvy," says Robin Kencel, associate broker with the Robin Kencel Group of Compass Real Estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. That's why it's important for sellers to know where their house may fall short of a buyer's expectations. "The more we can head off anything that can...Read more....

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Why Buying & Moving to a New Home Is So Expensive. By Marian White ~ Moving.com

Just when you thought your down payment was the last big check leaving your bank account, you’re hit with more fees at the end of the home buying process. From closings costs to moving expenses, the amount of money often required to actually buy and move to a new home can be downright staggering. Purchasing a new home is only half the battle. The other half is figuring out how to...Read more...

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Want to Buy a Home? Here’s Why You Should Establish Good Credit First. By Marian White ~ Moving.com

Hoping to buy a home? You’ll likely need a strong credit score first. Establishing good credit is crucial to building a solid financial foundation in your everyday life. Without it, banks likely won’t lend you the loans necessary for... Read more....

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Ready to Buy? Advice for First-Time Homebuyers. By Laura Mueller

Buying a home can be a tricky process. For first-time homebuyers, it may seem like the most complicated aspect of a home purchase is finding the perfect property, but that’s really only half the equation (and the fun half, at that). There’s a lot to manage on the .... Read more....

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What’s More Important: The Size of a Home or Its Location? By Marian White ~ Moving.com

When it comes to purchasing a home, what’s more important: the size or the location? While both are crucial factors, the one that’s most important to you will depend on your specific needs. Realtors will be the first to tell you that it’s all about the “location, location, location.” However, empty nesters looking to downsize and growing families..... Read more....

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Condo versus Townhouse: What's the Difference? By Laura Mueller

There are so many decisions you have to make when buying a home. From location to price to whether or not a horribly outdated kitchen is a dealbreaker, you’ll be forced to consider a lot of factors on your path to homeownership. One of the most important ones: what type of home do you want to live in? Read more...

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Tips for Winning a Bidding War on a House You Really Want. By Laura Mueller

Ever found that perfect house only to get out-bid on your offer? In seller’s markets, when demand is high and inventory is low, buyers often have to go above and beyond to make sure their offer stands out from the competition. Sometimes, multiple buyers vying for the same property can end up in a bidding war, both parties trying to sweeten the deal just enough to edge out the other. And while there’s no..... Read more....

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10 Things to Do the Week Before Listing a Home for Sale. By Laura Mueller

If your home is about to go live on the market, you’re probably feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement—and possibly a bit of stress about whether you will sell quickly. Selling your home is as much as a mental exercise as it is a real estate transaction, and it’s totally normal to be facing a bit of jitters. On the bright side, there is plenty that you can do in the week before listing a home for sale that can help ease your mind, and that may even help your home get under contract faster...Read more...

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