Posts with tag 'Homebuying tips'
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26
How to Decide if a Condo or House is Right for You
Real estate is a financial investment, but it's also an investment in the type of lifestyle you want to enjoy. There are advantages to purchasing a home, and there are advantages to buying a condo. Carefully weighing your options is the key to making the right choice for your future.
Comparing the Costs of Fees and Maintenance
A house is more than just four walls and a roof that encloses a large space. It is also a yard, fence, and landscaping that you will need to maintain. And, unlike a condo, all of the maintenance is your responsibility. Unless you have an HOA, the advantage is that as the sole owner, you have full decision-making authority over how to maintain it and what you want to include in the landscaping. In general, you can expect to spend approximately 1 to 2% of the home's purchase price each year on maintenance. Further, if an HOA governs you, you will also need to pay HOA fees to maintain landscaping, parks, pools, etc. within the community.
5
Homebuyers: What to Ask During a Video Tour
If you're buying a home in a location that you can't readily commute to, video visits are a perfect way to get up close to a house you may not be able to see in person just yet. Video visits can help you narrow down options, or reduce the risks when you must buy a new home sight unseen. Our real estate agents are highly experienced in helping home buyers in a variety of situations, and we want you to make the best of your visits, whether virtual or in person. You should have a list of questions to ask about the homes you view; you can add these, or use them to start your list.
- How long has this property been on the market?
Sometimes, a home just needs the right buyer. But if a home has been on the market for more than a few months, it may have problems that local buyers have spotted more readily. It shouldn't bar you from considering a property you love, but it should prompt closer inspection and further questions.
20
Homebuyers: Finding a Fitting Floor Plan
When shopping for a new home, most buyers tend to think first about the location and maybe the size. But the layout of a home is one of the most significant parts of the homebuying process. From the shape and size of the home to the number of stairs and the distance between the living room and kitchen, the flow and layout of the home will impact your daily life. Choosing the perfect home layout requires careful consideration because you don't want to regret your choice or outgrow your living situation a few years down the road. To help determine which layout will work best for your family currently and in the future, here are some pro tips from our real estate agents.
- Lifestyle Needs
It may sound obvious but when shopping for a home, you need to envision your family actually living in the home. Some of the important things to consider include pet ownership, how many children you have and whether you'll have more in the future, whether an older family member may need to move in with you at some point in time, and general lifestyle needs. If you have kids, you may want to look into the number of bedrooms, a larger dining area, and kids' playroom. If you entertain often, you may require a gourmet kitchen, plenty of living and dining space, and a fantastic outdoor leisure area.
30
New Year, New Home: When Should I Get Loan Pre-Approval?
Start off your new year with a new home by getting your loan pre-approval and preparing to purchase. A new year means a new start, and a sparkling home awaits.
Our real estate agents understand that the pre-approval process can be rather confusing. To start off your new year right, we're here to help guide you through this first stage of the home purchase process.
Know Your Credit
Knowing your credit score is a great place to start when deciding if you are ready for a pre-approval. Lenders will have varying minimum credit scores, but for the most part, you'll need a score of at least 620 to ensure you are approved for a loan.
11
The Ins and Outs of Buying a Home in a Gated Community
Gated communities offer many amenities for homeowners. From added security to guest services, to shared facilities like pools or tennis, a gated community adds that "something extra" to suburban living. While all of these communities offer different bonuses compared with standard street housing, not each community will have the same offerings. Our real estate agents offer the following advice to help you know what to look for when buying a home and to choose the right community for yourself and your family.
Understand Gated Security
For some communities this may be a simple physical gate with a key or code, in others, this may consist of a robust security system including a staffed security guard. There are benefits and drawbacks to each type of security. If security is simply an automated keypad, this will be less difficult to breach, but personal security may instead be more expensive. Either type of security has a shared safety advantage. However, less traffic in the area means a reduced risk of accidents for both cars and people, as well as less stranger-based vandalism or theft.
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