General

Pending home sales trailed off for the fourth consecutive month in September, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All four major regions recorded month-over-month and year-over-year declines in transactions. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, slumped 10.2% to 79.5 in September. Year-over-year, pending transactions…

Pre-Listing Checklist for Sellers: Curb Appeal: Front Entry: Check your front door to see if it needs painting.Polish door fixtures if needed.Purchase a fresh welcome mat.Hanging baskets also make a nice visual appearance. Paint: Paint the outside of your home if needed. Landscaping: Find your green thumb. Potted plants and flowers will make your home…

I hope this article finds you well! We have had many recent inquiries about the impacts of COVID-19 and how they are affecting the real estate industry. Locally, we have felt some impacts from this unprecedented time and are adapting as things progress. I will elaborate on some of the effects below and how we…

Home Buyer Checklist: “Pre-Approval to Closing”  Understand your budget and what amount you are comfortable in paying toward a mortgage which includes funds needed for down payment and closing costs.  Plan accordingly and prioritize your budget which could take some time in executing but will be beneficial in the initial planning stages of buying a…

Pre Closing Check List for Sellers Notify every one of your change of address including the postal service, credit card companies, etc.Talk with Buyer about transferring utility services into their name because it could save Buyer connection fees if utilities are transferred instead of disconnected.Speak with cable and internet company about modems and cable boxes…

Questions and Answers on: OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE The purchase contract is the most important document in any real estate sale. It must reflect the entire agreement between the buyer and seller. This brochure examines issues arising during contract negotiations in residential real estate sales transactions. In particular, it focuses on “offer” and “acceptance”: the process…

Government Backed or Insured Loan Programs Most government backed loan programs require strict appraisal guidelines on condition of home when compared to non-government backed loan programs. Typically, interest rates are lower for government backed loans compared to conventional loans. All government backed loans typically require an upfront Mortgage Insurance premium or Funding Fee.  Some of…

Agency A legal relationship in which someone (principal) hires someone else (agent) to represent them to a third party. Amortization Schedule A timetable for payment of a mortgage loan. An amortization schedule shows thestrong>amount of each payment applied to interest and principal and shows the remaining balance after each payment is made. Application Fee A…

Typically, the general public does not understand how a REALTOR® gets paid. Most REALTORS® are paid by commission only and do not receive a salary or hourly pay. In addition, most real estate agencies are only paid a commission when a property is sold. The real estate industry is one of the only industries that…