06
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

3 Important Factors That Affect Your Real Estate Transaction

The real estate market is quite different from other markets and can be confusing for even the most experienced buyers and sellers. You will need the help of a real estate agent whether you are an experienced buyer or doing it for the first time. Even with the help of an agent, you can educate yourself on some of the basic elements of a real estate transaction in order to make yourself more comfortable throughout the process. Here are 3 things that you should be aware of before you start a real estate transaction: Market Demand And Sales Price There…
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02
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

What Does A Home’s Energy Rating Imply?

Your home's energy rating is an evaluation of your home's overall energy efficiency. If your house's rating is high, it means your potential for energy loss is also high. Bringing your rating numbers down means that your home is becoming more energy efficient.  Your home's energy rating is based on several things. When your energy company does a home energy audit, they are looking for ways that your home or its components are wasting energy. A low rating means that a home is more energy efficient than one with a higher number. For example, if a home is rated at…
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01
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

How To Cut A Great Deal On A New Home Construction

Savvy home buyers often get great deals on new home constructions by asking for deals and discounts and doing some up-front research.  Home builders often dislike offering steep discounts in sales prices because they want everyone in the community to feel like they bought their property at a fair price. Maintaining sales prices also helps with future home appraisal values. It helps all of the buyers in a neighborhood to keep sales prices consistent and growing.  Fortunately, you can still get great discounts that can reduce the cost of your new home. Ask the builder if they can do the…
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31
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows to 20-Month Low

Home price growth slowed to its lowest rate in 20 months according to the 20-City Home Price Index issued by Case-Shiller. After years of dismal readings, Las Vegas, Nevada led the cities included in the index. Top three cities for August included Las Vegas, Nevada where year-over-year home prices grew by 13.90 percent. San Francisco, California saw home prices increase by 10.60 percent year-over-year and Seattle, Washington home prices rose by 9.60 percent year-over-year. August's 20-City Home Price Index overall reading fell below six percent for the first time in a year. Cooling Home Price Growth Helps Balance Housing Markets…
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30
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage, ,

Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment Is Trending

Although the real estate market is currently booming, the last housing bubble burst remains relatively fresh in investors' minds and that has many taking a long look at crowdfunding. One of the lessons that came out of the burst and ensuing Great Recession was that investors were blind to where their money went. If you watched the Academy Award-winning film "The Big Short," then you at least understand Hollywood's hyperbolic explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis. You may be asking: what does this have to do with real estate crowdfunding real investing? Well, everything. Among the key reasons that the…
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26
Oct
By Jim Hasek
Real Estate, ,

Could Fed Interest Rate Hike Help Home Buyers?

News of the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates appears to have caused unnecessary panic among people poised to purchase a first home or a larger one for a growing family. Headlines and news reports that talk about interest rates being at their highest since 2014 can be alarming. Announcements from the Fed that rates would increase four times in 2018 and again in 2019 seems downright scary. After all, isn't it logical that increased interest rates mean that monthly mortgage payment could be substantially higher? As it turns out, neither the click-bait headlines about dramatic rate increases or higher monthly premiums…
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