11
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

First Time Buyers: Understanding How Property Taxes Work and What You Can Expect to Pay

Are you about to buy a house or condo for the first time? Congratulations! Owning your own piece of real estate is a liberating experience and one that will provide you with the foundation to build your personal wealth and equity. Once you own your own home you'll be responsible for a variety of new costs, including property taxes which are assessed by your local government to pay for municipal services. In this blog post we'll share how property taxes work and what you can expect to pay for them when you buy your new home. It All Begins With…
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05
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

You Ask, We Answer: How to Choose Between Expanding Your Current Home and Buying a New One

Does your home feel like it's starting to burst at the seams? Many homeowners across the country can relate to this feeling having bought a home only to run out of space due to a growing family or for other reasons. Let's take a quick look at a few questions that will help you to determine whether buying a new home or expanding your current home is the best choice when you're in need of some extra space. Why Are You in Need of More Space? The first question you'll need to answer is... "why?" Are you running out of…
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04
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Buying an Investment Property? Here’s How You Can Maximize Your Rental Revenue

Whether you're buying a ski-in/ski-out condo at your favorite resort or you're thinking of picking up a small home in a busy tourist area, buying a property for short-term rental purposes can be an excellent investment that quickly begins to provide additional revenue. Let's take a quick look at a few steps that you can take to maximize the revenue that your investment properties bring in each month. Upgrade Your Home to Give It a Luxurious Feel It should go without saying that if you want your home to rent for a high price it has to have a significant…
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28
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

You Ask, We Answer: Should I Consider a Warranty when Buying a New Home?

Are you buying a new home? If so, you've likely pondered whether or not you should invest in a warranty to protect your investment. In today's blog post we'll briefly explore home warranties including some of the pros and cons of buying one and how they differ from homeowner's insurance. The Benefits of Buying a Home Warranty Home warranties are an excellent solution if you're buying a brand new home which has a lot of new appliances and fixtures inside of it, or if you're not really the "do it yourself" type and would prefer to make a service call…
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07
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Negotiation Tips: How to Ask the Seller to Pay the Closing Costs

You've found the perfect new house or condo, and you are now preparing an offer that you believe the seller will find tempting enough to accept. However, you know that there are going to be thousands of dollars in closing costs that need to be paid before the sale is completed and you become the home's new owner. The question is, should you ask the seller to pay some or all of the closing costs? In today's blog post we'll address this question and list a few scenarios in which you may want to consider having the seller pick up…
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31
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Buying a Vacation Home? A Quick Guide to Renting Out Your Second Home to Generate Income

Are you thinking about buying a second home to spend some time in when you're on vacation? Whether you're picking up a small house near the beach or you're looking at a ski-in/ski-out condo at your favorite ski resort, if you're only going to be in the home for short periods each year you may want to consider renting the property out the rest of the time to generate some additional income. In this post we'll share a few tips for getting your property ready to rent to short-term visitors and how to get things started. Preparing Your Home For…
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