Is Your Home Inventory Up To Date?
A current inventory of all the personal items in your home is important and even necessary, if you are faced with filing a police report or insurance claim. The homeowner is usually asked if they have a home inventory. If not, the homeowner can reconstruct one to estimate the loss. Imagine you are in this position; would you be able to make an accurate list of your belongings and their value? As an exercise, pick a room of your home, and, while being in another room, list all the belongings and their value. When you’re finished with the list, go into the room, and check to see how you...
Read MoreQuestions to Ask a Mover
"I’d wish I’d known that before I picked a mover." Having a checklist of questions might have prevented this issue. This list of questions will provide you with things to discuss when interviewing a moving company. Fees What is the charge for packing? Does it include boxes? If not, what do they cost and will you deliver them? Is there an additional charge to deliver some items to a storage unit? Insurance How is a damage claim handled? What insurance do you provide and is there a cost? Does the insurance cover items packed by the owner? Can additional insurance be...
Read MoreBuy Before You Sell
A common concern for homeowners is that if they sell their home first, they may not be able to find another home to buy. It is understandable with the low inventories currently available in most markets, but a strong argument can be made to buy your replacement home first. In fact, there are some advisors that would tell you not to sell at all. Instead, keep the home for a rental investment and refinance it to pull out some cash for the down payment and closing costs for the new one. Many homeowners recognize that their home has been an excellent investment for them. Their home may have...
Read MoreYou don’t have to give an arm to get a lower rate
Rising interest rates compounded with increasing home prices are causing affordability issues for many buyers. To keep payments low, you won’t have to give an arm, but more buyers are considering getting an ARM, adjustable-rate mortgages. Mortgage rates are near its highest point since 2009. "While housing affordability and inflationary pressures pose challenges for potential buyers, house price growth will continue but is expected to decelerate in the coming months." said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. A $400,000 home with 10% down payment and a 30-year...
Read MoreHelping the Seller See Your FHA/VA Offer More Favorably
With multiple offers the norm on many listings these days, the seller relies on their listing agent to help them determine which one to accept. In some cases, offers subject to FHA or VA mortgages tend to move to the bottom of the list. Some sellers consider all cash offers first and then, conventional offers with at least 20% down payments as the next most likely to close. It may be because of a common misconception that FHA or VA buyers are poor credit risks and have a higher likelihood of not being approved. Both FHA and VA do not require as strict credit requirements as conventional...
Read MoreToday is a Skills Market
In today’s ultra-competitive real estate market where there is only 1.7 months supply of inventory compared to 6 months in a balanced market, and the average home is getting 4.8 offers per sale, it is more important than ever to have the right person "champion" your cause. In the Middle Ages, it became customary for a person of nobility to appoint a "champion" to fight for them in their stead. Trial by combat ended in the 15th to 16th centuries but the practice of "fighting" or speaking in one’s behalf continues even to this day. Lawyers will take up...
Read More