17
Jul
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

5 Critical Tips For Buying In A Seller’s Market

This summer, quality homes are being scooped up almost as fast as they're being listed - and for top price. Yes, it's a seller's market out there, which is great news if you're planning to list your home. For those looking for a home, the competitiveness can be frustrating and aggravating. Frustrating as it may be, there's plenty of reason for buyers to stick it out until their offer is accepted. For starters, interest rates are still fairly low. And secondly, there are great homes out there if you act fast enough. How can you successfully get that dream home in…
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22
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Moving to a New City? Tips for Finding a Family-friendly Community to Buy Your New Home In

If you're moving to a new city with children, one of your likely considerations is finding a family-friendly community where you can settle in and call home. In this post we'll share a handful of tips that you may find helpful if you're searching for a family-friendly neighborhood in a new city. Check Out The Quality Of Local Schools Schools are one of the cornerstones of a community and high-quality schools are a sign that a community is suitable for your family. When you've made your short list of communities that you are considering, take some time to research the…
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10
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Home Versus Buying Pre-owned

Are you thinking about buying a new home? Congratulations! Buying a house, condo or townhouse is an exciting and rewarding time which tends to be a lot of fun. However, along the way you'll need to make a number of decisions – including whether you want to buy a pre-owned home or one that has been built recently and is brand new. Let's take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of buying a new home versus buying pre-owned. New Homes Tend To Have Fewer Problems One of the major upsides of buying new is that newly-built…
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08
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Closing Costs: Understanding What It Costs to Close on a Home and What You Can Expect to Pay

If you're in the process of buying a new home, you've likely heard the term "closing costs" in regards to the many different fees and taxes that you'll be required to pay during the purchase process. In this post we'll look at a number of these closing costs and what you will be expected to pay when you buy that next dream home. Taking out a Mortgage? There Will Be Fees Attached If you're taking out a mortgage to finance the cost of buying your home you'll end up incurring a variety of fees. Nearly all lenders will charge a…
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08
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Five Absolute Truths About the Home Buying Process That You Will Need to Come to Terms With

Buying a home is one of the most exciting times that an individual will undertake in life. However, a property purchase is not without its challenges, and these can cause frustration. In this article we'll share five potential setbacks that home buyers will need to understand and come to terms with to make a successful purchase. Homeowner's Insurance is Necessary Most lenders will require insurance before financing is approved. To fulfill these requirements, the policy should be for at least one year and proof that the policy has been paid for must be presented. Purchasing the policy is something that…
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17
Jun
By Jim Hasek
Mortagage Tips, ,

What To Do When Your Real Estate Loan Is Declined

There are many reasons why a mortgage loan could be declined. It doesn't have to be the end of your real estate dreams. Here are a few things to consider if you've been turned down for a mortgage. Loan-To-Value Ratio The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the property that you are trying to finance. For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is seventy-five percent. Lenders don't like a high LTV. The higher the ratio, the harder it is to qualify for…
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