Buyers and their agents need to feel welcome to look at the property at their leisure without danger or distractions. So while you adore your sweet-tempered pit bull rescue, he could turn territorial, barking and growling at potential homebuyers. And it could cost you the opportunity to sell your home. Think of buyers as guests and work to make them feel comfortable as they consider your home for...

Curb appeal, the first impression your home conveys to prospective buyers, should create an emotional desire to own the home and enjoy the lifestyle and status it represents. Putting the best face on your home also should give a lasting impression that motivates buyers to cross the threshold and take that first step toward closing the deal. Experts advise, more like a home improvement or exterior...

In general, ‘prior to fund’ means your loan approval is almost at the goal post. When lenders issue an initial decision, there will still be things needed to complete even though you’ve submitted everything your lender asked for. There are stages in the loan approval process and even though you probably realize it, lenders have given these stages different names. When you receive your initial...

Adding on to your house is a very popular decorating idea nowadays. Whether you've always wanted a new addition or just think it's time to spruce up your home you need to have a plan to make the process go smoothly. From hiring a contracting company to figuring out exactly how to pay for the additions you want, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Making a Plan The first thing you have to do is figure...

It can be hard to buy a home in a different state than where you live. Not only is the area new, but the people are too. To help you buy your home out of state, follow our tips below to get yourself started in the right direction. Buying a Home Out of State The first step you should take is to hire a buyer’s agent. Buyer's Agents are incredibly useful in assisting you in the home-buying process in...

If you’re thinking about becoming a homeowner any time soon, there are tax benefits to buying. In particular, tax deductions are one way to reduce your tax bill and income. Tax deductions are different from credits. Credits are money that gets taken off a tax bill. You can think of them somewhat like a coupon. A tax deduction reduces your adjusted gross income or AGI, reducing your tax liability. The...

When you’re buying a home, you’ll need two types of inspections—one is the actual inspection, and the other is the appraisal. They seem similar at first glance because both, as you might guess, involve a walkthrough of the property. They have different purposes, however. The information obtained is also reported to different parties. What is a Home Inspection? An inspection is thorough and is done...

When people talk about closing costs, it typically means the direct costs of getting a new mortgage. But there are two primary types of closing costs, often times referred to as recurring and non-recurring charges. Recurring charges include things that will happen again and again as one owns the home. What might they be? Recurring charges are things such as property insurance, interest and property taxes....

When you and your REALTOR® sit down to price your home, you'll be looking at competitive homes that are the most similar in size, location and amenities as your home. You may find that prices can be thousands of dollars higher or lower. It's tempting to pick the highest price and say, "Let's list it here." But what if your home doesn't sell at that price? High prices are a strategy that can work in an...

In all my years in the mortgage industry, and there are a lot of them, I don’t recall a single loan application I submitted to underwriting that didn’t come back with approval ‘conditions.’ What exactly does the term mean? Essentially, it means the loan may be approved based upon certain conditions. All loans have them, perhaps a few skate through but those are extremely rare. But there are two...