Posts in category 'For Buyers'

If you're a renter and live alone, it's no surprise that it costs you more than if you had a significant other, or at least a roommate, to help pay the rent. But have you ever done the math on exactly how much extra it costs you?

According to this Business Insider article, it costs a single person an average of $7,000 more in rent per year than people with a partner or roommate.

The obvious solution to avoid this "singles tax" is to find yourself a significant other, or a roomie. But if you live alone, there's probably a reason why you haven't already...

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You're probably well aware that mortgage rates are rising. At the same time, home prices don't seem to be coming down, there's still a ton of competition, and you're probably no stranger to bidding wars when you make an offer on a house.

So you might be searching for a way to maintain the buying power you had when rates were a little lower, or just a competitive edge so you can offer a little more for the houses you bid on.
Which means you've probably been reading or hearing about adjustable rate mortgages making a comeback.

They haven't been getting much attention for quite some time. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage has been so historically low, they haven't been all that necessary to consider. But with the mix of rates going up, low inventory, and stiff competition, buyers are sizing them up as an option.

The last time they were popular was prior to the real estate market bubble bursting in 2007. Leading up to it, people were taking on riskier mortgages...

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You've found your dream home. You're ready to make an offer—or you already have made an offer. But you feel like your real estate agent isn't quite the right fit—and there's another agent you've been talking to that you'd rather work with.

So, can you actually do that?

A recent article from realtor.com explored the question of whether home buyers can switch real estate agents during the offer process. And the answer? It depends.

According to the article, there are a number of factors that determine if and when a buyer can switch real estate agents while making an offer on the home, including:

• What the agent has done during your home search process. Generally, if an agent has just taken you out and shown you a few homes...

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Low inventory in markets across the country have been driving up prices and creating bidding wars, making it extremely difficult for many potential buyers to successfully find and purchase homes.

But it looks like things are (finally!) starting to look up for buyers.

According to realtor.com's Monthly Housing Report for July 2021, while inventory is still low, more homes are starting to hit the market. New home listings were up 6.5 percent nationally year-over-year—and up even more (11.1 percent) in large metro areas. The more homes that become available, the more options there are for buyers—and the more the market shifts in their favor.

"July housing trends show a market still working its way back toward some version of normal. The feverish pace of home sales is beginning to follow...

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You know that old phone prank…

Someone calls and says, "Is your refrigerator running?"

The person on the other end then says, "Yes. Why?"

And then the caller says something like, "You better catch it before it gets too far away!!"

The joke worked because, for the most part, everyone has a fridge, and it is probably working.

And that is when you should have a home warranty in place… when your fridge is working, not once it is broken.

Do you have a list of worries?

There's a lot of things you probably notice, but ignore around your house. Until it is too late, and becomes a much bigger problem.

It's not broken…but maybe you notice that your fridge is making a different sound lately.

Your garage door isn't working quite right. It goes half way down and gets stuck.

The bathroom faucet is dripping.

You notice a little leak in your bedroom ceiling.

Little worries like these are super co...

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