Archive for category: Buying and Selling

They say that it is harder to sell a home during the winter months, but it isn’t impossible. Sometimes the holidays are the best time to try to sell your home. Whatever time of year you put your home on the market, you want to stage it for a quick sale. During the holidays, you have even more opportunity to stage your home and make it look like a welcoming, warm place to live.

Christmas Tree

It is a good idea to go ahead and put up a Christmas tree that is well lit and fully decorated. It should be placed prominently in your home, without making the space look cluttered. The Christmas tree and other indoor decorations will allow potential buyers to imagine what holidays will be like if they buy the home. Read more

When you make the decision to sell your home, you really want it to sell as quickly as possible. After all, most homeowners cannot afford to move until they sell the home they already have. If you did move before selling your home, you are likely in a hurry to take your budget down to one mortgage payment instead of two. Realtors and other professionals say that homes sell 90 percent faster when you stage your home. While staging can cost some money, there are some things you can do to sell your home faster that won’t cost you a dime.

Deep Cleaning

It probably goes without saying that you should clean your home before showing it. But how clean does it really need to be? You might be tempted to do just your normal weekend cleaning, but what you really need to do is deep cleaning. Pretend that it is spring and you are deep cleaning your home after a long winter of staying indoors. That is how clean you want your home to be for showings. Read more

Selling a home can be stressful, but when you are selling a home long distance it can be even more so. There are a lot of reasons you might be needing to sell your home long distance, such as relocation for a job or to be closer to family in an emergency. Whatever your reasons for needing to sell your home from another city or state, there are some additional things you need to consider before putting your home on the market.

Safety and Security

When you have a home sitting vacant, it can be a safety and security issue. You run the risk of vandals, drifters, or thieves coming into the home and destroying the property. While this is true even if you are in the area and selling your home after moving out, it is even more of a concern when you are not in the area to keep an eye on the property.

One of the best things you can do is team up with neighbors to keep an eye on the property. Enlisting the help of the neighbors ensures that any unusual activity at the house will be noted and reported to the police. Of course, if you send workmen over to make repairs you need to notify the neighbors so that they do not call the authorities unnecessarily. Read more

Whether it’s your first or fifth time buying a house, the process is generally the same. It can be exciting when you are finally in the market for an upgrade and it seems like the possibilities are endless. But there are a lot of important pieces that go into buying a house, and one of the most important ones is determining a budget. A big mistake that some homebuyers make is not being realistic with what they can afford.

Debt to Income Ratio

If you are applying for a home loan, banks will look at your DTI, otherwise known as your debt to income ratio. A DTI considers the ratio of your total monthly debt and your pre-taxed monthly income. Some lenders might say you qualify for a high debt to income ratio, but many experts recommend not to exceed 36%. The 36% limit allows for a cushion in case something unfortunate happens and you are temporarily not bringing in income.

Affordability

When looking at affordability, you want to start by tracking all your monthly debts, including various types of loans such as your car or schooling. You will also need to consider your household income. If you are planning on purchasing a home with someone, you both should determine how your mortgage will be paid.  Next, you need to ensure that you have enough money in your savings account to cover a complete down payment and at least 3 months of housing payments. In case something happens, you want to make sure you have enough to pay your mortgage and various expenses. Read more

Conventional wisdom tells you to sell your home in the spring or summer, but that doesn’t mean selling in the winter will be a disaster. In fact, selling your home during the holidays can actually be a wild success. Use these tips to guide yourself through a surprisingly easy and hassle-free winter home sale.

Enjoy Less Competition

It’s no secret that the spring real estate market is bursting with properties, many of which may be located right around the corner from your home. Rather than facing the competition of their beautiful inground pool or three-car garage, you can sell in the winter when your home will be one of the few on the market in your area. Homeowners will find you easier, and you may even have your choice of offers and buyers!

Stage Your Home With Some Holiday Magic

Nothing makes for a more inviting indoor atmosphere than the holiday season. Take advantage of the magic of the holidays by putting candles in the windows, lighting the fireplace, and making your kitchen smell like freshly baked gingerbread. Potential buyers will definitely remember your property and the welcoming, inviting environment you created. They will want that sense of home for themselves!

The Internet Is a Powerful Weapon Year Round

It might be winter outside your window, but the Internet has no seasons. In fact, if anything, buyers are even more likely to browse online listings in the winter when it’s too chilly to venture outside. You can trust that your real estate listing will receive plenty of views throughout the winter. Read more