Should You Have A Real Estate Agent For A New Home Purchase? A recent national survey showed that 88% of new-home buyers involve a real estate agent to help them through the home-buying process. So most buyers and most builders have decided it’s the best way to go. New home project salespeople are a great resource to understand their project. But your agent’s job is to help YOU find the right home whether resale or new construction. The fact is, new home builders... [read more]

Is An Older Home A Better Value Than A New One?   There isn't a definitive answer to this question. You should look at each home for its individual characteristics.   Generally, older homes may be in more established neighborhoods, offer more ambiance and have lower property tax rates.    People who buy older homes, however, shouldn't mind maintaining their home and making some repairs.   Newer homes tend to use more modern... [read more]

The Best Time To Sell   Real estate marketplaces are generally most active in summer because families with children want to move in before school starts.   So more homes are typically available in summer as well.   But buyers and sellers tend to balance out in other seasons too, especially in today’s tight market.   There may be fewer buyers in late December but usually fewer homes, too.    So, prices tend to rise or fall on... [read more]

Preparing for an Open House For many homes and markets, professional help from someone in “staging” makes good financial sense. Check your staging options first. If you are doing it yourself, here are 5 key tips.   One - Depersonalize. You want the buyer to envision this house being their home? Remove the things that make it YOUR home - photos, awards, collections, and STUFF.   Two - MOVE the stuff. It’s tempting to shove things in... [read more]

Tips for First-Time Home Buyers Deciding to purchase your first home is exciting, but you probably also have lots of questions!  Here are some tips for first-time home buyers. Start by checking your credit score. Good credit is one of the most important factors to qualify for a loan these days. Before you start looking at houses, you’ll want to know what you can afford – so get pre-approved for a mortgage.  Make a list of features that you’d like... [read more]