Your office might be a built-in desk in the corner of a spare bedroom, a downtown co-working space — or the front seat of your pickup. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are 15 million self-employed workers in America living the dream, being their own boss. Sure, it can be a struggle, but there…
Potential buyers are now ready to move off the sidelines, mortgage preapproval letters in hand, for the chance to find their dream home. Housing inventory has been tight the last couple of years, which means more competition among buyers, especially during these busy months. As a seller, this is good news, because competition among buyers drives prices…
Your home is likely your largest investment. When it’s time to sell, you’ll want your investment to impress buyers and earn top dollar. A real estate agent can suggest ways to make the process go smoothly, but all homeowners can take some basic steps even without professional help. Here are five important steps to take when you’re…
Buying stuff online has spoiled us with “one-click ordering.” If only buying a house were so easy. A lot of people stumble into the whole thing and try to figure it out as they go. That’s tough; we’ve been there. From that first home — little more than a cottage, really, but what seemed like…
It would be nice if houses for sale came with giant price tags so a buyer could easily compare “all-in” costs. Imagine trying to buy a gallon of milk and having to separately compute what it costs to feed the cow, distribute the inventory and stock the shelves. Let’s bottom-line your homeownership costs, from one-time…
You may feel the urge to buy a house, but is it the right decision? There can be advantages and disadvantages to homeownership, but when it comes to such large financial transactions, the best thing you can do is take the emotion out of your decision. Consider the way investors often get worked up about…
Live in a hot real estate market? If you’re selling your house, you might be lucky enough to receive more than one offer. If so, it’s a good idea to let potential buyers know. That way, they can tailor their offer with the competition in mind. You’ll then need to evaluate each offer fairly and…
You’ve found a house you love, and now you’re ready to make an offer. This is where the process really begins to get serious and the paperwork starts to build. Buying a home isn’t a handshake deal; verbal agreements just don’t count. That’s why everything important — in fact, any little detail expected to be a part…
Buying a house is a give-and-take process. But it’s more than just giving your money and taking the keys. The contract process is wrapped around a series of contingencies and disclosures. Let’s break it down. Contingencies are “walk-away” clauses in a contract that allow you to back out of buying a house if certain conditions aren’t…
When making an offer, a real estate agent brings some pretty powerful assets to the table: market knowledge, objectivity and (hopefully) some well-honed negotiating skills. Buying a house is emotional, and your agent can help level the field by bringing a more rational approach to the transaction. Here’s how the two of you can work…
