Our Latest News & Blog

Your success in the realty market lies in how well you negotiate. But negotiation is a complicated matter. All the parties involved want things to go their way. Given these conditions, how can you make things work for your favor? How does one become a succesful negotiator? Based on experience, these five aspects determine a successful negotiation: What the market says Study the market. There [...]

Usually, spring and summer is the busiest time in residential real estate. Most families want to take advantage of the good weather and the children's summer break. However in most regions, spring is also when houses are most expensive. During this time, there are a lot of buyers and competition is tough. Here are some measures you can take that can give you an advantage [...]

Looking for a new home is exciting and overwhelming. There are so many things and details to pay attention to. Focus on these five most important areas: electrical, foundation, plumbing, the attic, and landscaping. According to Don Walker, inspector and owner of Ace Home Inspections, these are the five areas in homes that he frequently reports problems with. Electrical Most people assume that if they [...]

According to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in more than 390 cities in the United States and Canada, atleast fourty percent of homes in the market have at least one major flaw. Kathleen Kuhn, CEO and president of HouseMaster says, "Virtually every 'used' home needs some repair or improvement," "That's to be expected. But with today's high prices, you want to make [...]

Most first-time home buyers are eager to have their very own home but it has to be at a price they can afford. Smaller homes, fixer-uppers and cheaper commutes to work are the best options to look into. The problem is, most firt-time home buyers expect more than what they can actually afford in a home. Coldwell Banker conducted an online survey with 150 of [...]

Buying a home is expensive. A lot of people want to have a home of their own but do not have enough cash or can't get enough funding to afford a mortgage. On the other hand some people are looking for ways to be able to take advantage of tax benefits from being a home owner. So they turn to co-buying. "Neither of us had [...]

Because of the crash of the housing bubble and the economic slump, many Americans find themselves with a home that costs way less than what they paid for. It's worse for families who are troubled financially on top of this. Foreclosure seems to be the most logical option. Let's discuss details and other options. During the housing bubble, many people were compelled to join the [...]

When you see a house that seems exactly what you're looking for, you'll feel the impusle to make an offer right away. A beautiful, airy and relaxing house can make buyers easily fall in love with it. But don't allow your emotions to make you forget about what's real.  Leslie Levine, author of "Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home?"  says, "Sometimes we want something [...]

Are you looking to finance a new home? Or are you finding the best mortgage rate to refinance your home? The first step is to shop around. But what does that really mean? Research and prepare. Take time to think and analyze different mortgage plans. You could save a lot by doing this. Take this for example: on a 30-year mortgage for a $300,000 house, [...]

Their major responsibility is to protect your interest as a buyer and as their client. Their main roles are the following: Educates you about your market. Negotiates on your behalf Analyzes your wants and needs. Guides you to homes that fit your criteria. Coordinates the work of other needed professionals. Checks and double-checks paperwork and deadlines. Solves any problem that may arise.

When you think about buying a home, one of the first questions that come to mind is whether you buy an old house or a new one. A new house may be attractive because everything is new. Nothing has been used yet. The walls are clean, the closets have never been used before, they come with energy-efficient appliances and you won't have to spend on [...]

Buying a home is a big move. It leads to a series of things to think about.  One of them is whether you want to live in a condo or a single unit family house? Each choice comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Only you can determine what's best for you. Michelle and Kevin Millsom, 31 and 36, is a newlywed couple [...]

DefinitionA 1031 Exchange (Tax-Deferred Exchange) is One Of The Most Powerful Tax Deferral Strategies Remaining Available For Taxpayers. This allows the taxpayer to pay due taxes at a later date. In usual transactions, the landowner pays a percentage of his gain from the sale for taxes. But Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code allows the landowner to trade the property with another "like-kind" property. [...]

Moving in the summer when a lot of people do can be such a challenge. But if you prepare well, moving will be definitely easier for you. Here are ten tips you can follow for an easier move: Think about this: Can I handle the move alone? or do I need to hire a licensed moving company for a full-service or partial-service move? The answer [...]

According to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in more than 390 cities in the United States and Canada, 40 percent of previously-owned homes have atleast one damage. Kathleen Kuhn, CEO and president of HouseMaster says, "Virtually every 'used' home needs some repair or improvement." "That's to be expected. But with today's high prices, you want to make sure that you are aware [...]

Readines when it comes to buying a home takes more than just money. There are other factors involved - factors not involoving money but can be as important. People make decisions not just based on financial issues but on other things as well like your personality, abilities and values. Probably one of the most important consideration you'll have is the environment. What kind of place or [...]

Being a homeowner has its perks and privileges but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities which all involve money. You need to think of repairs, taxes, insurance and maintenance. Not to mention city maintenance and repairs for streets, sewers, curbs and sidewalks near your home. If your house is in the corner of the block, these costs are doubled.  But don't let these [...]

Finding your perfect home starts with searching for your kind of neighborhood. What is so important with a good neighborhood? The environment you live in affects your lifestyle and quality of life for you and your family. You may want to live near a park so you and your kids can often walk there and they could play with other kids. Others want to live [...]

Buyers are now in a better position when it comes to buying a house. Gone are the days when real estate is a hot market and you need to make an upfront offer as soon as a property is put up for sale. Competition has mellowed down in most areas. This gives buyers an opportunity to be able to deliberate on what is available and [...]

When you enter into the buying process, you will be commited despite all the uncertainties involved. By adding contingencies clauses in the contract, the buyer feels a sense of protection from the unknowns. Contingencies clauses state things that need to be met before closing the sale.  The protection buyers get from mortgage contingenciesThis is one of the most common contingency. It provides additional security for [...]

Asking for a home loan from a friend or family member is difficult; even if they are people close to you. The money involved is big and you probably see each other frequently or at least once a year. If they turn you down, you might feel uncomfortable with each other. But if you could show them how it could also work for their advantage, [...]

When you go to a real estate agent, the first thing they'll want to know is what kind of property you are looking for? What are the things you want in a house? What are the things you don't like. For them to lead you to houses that are up to your standard, you need to be specific about the features and details you want [...]

When you turn to lenders to acquire a house, they determine how much you can borrow based on computations. But do they really know your financial capacity? They can count your income and concrete expense but they don't know exactly how much you're regularly spending? You're the only one who knows if your income can support your lifestyle. Do you have enough to fund housing [...]

One of the keys to finding a good home without hassle is through a good agent. More than a good resume, they need to have a good track record and a good reputation. They should be effective as an agent. Here are eight good questions to ask an agent before hiring their services.  Why compelled you to become a real estate agent? Why would I [...]

Their major responsibility is to protect your interest as a buyer and as their client. Their main roles are the following: Educates you about your market. Negotiates on your behalf Analyzes your wants and needs. Guides you to homes that fit your criteria. Coordinates the work of other needed professionals. Checks and double-checks paperwork and deadlines. Solves any problem that may arise.

People have different goals and principles when it comes to investments. But here are vital tips that every investor needs to know to ensure success. Compare property rates.The best way to assess the value of a property is to find out the sale value of other properties in the vicinity. This is also how you determine the rental fee. Rental fees should be reasonable. Otherwise, [...]

1 - Decide to purchase. There are many good reasons why it's beneficial to buy a home. Wealth building is one of them; perhaps the most important. It is often considered an accidental investment. But it is actually a good intentional investment if it is done correctly. The financaial benefits of owning a home are: value appreciation, equity buildup, and tax benefits. Before you decide [...]

Being a homeowner has its perks and a lot of responsibilities. So before you commit to years of paying for a house, make sure you understand what you're getting into. First, think about the costs. There are many costs associated with owning a house. You need to pay a downpayment, home insurance, and other fees needed to close the contract. When you move into a [...]

Buying a home is expensive. A lot of people want to have a home of their own but do not have enough cash or can't get enough funding to afford a mortgage. On the other hand some people are looking for ways to be able to take advantage of tax benefits from being a home owner. So they turn to co-buying. "Neither of us had [...]

Buyers are now in a better position when it comes to buying a house. Gone are the days when real estate is a hot market and you need to make an upfront offer as soon as a property is put up for sale. Competition has mellowed down in most areas. This gives buyers an opportunity to be able to deliberate on what is available and [...]

Are you looking to finance a new home? Or are you finding the best mortgage rate to refinance your home? The first step is to shop around. But what does that really mean? Research and prepare. Take time to think and analyze different mortgage plans. You could save a lot by doing this. Take this for example: on a 30-year mortgage for a $300,000 house, [...]

For most people, the process of purchasing a house starts with finding what you can afford, finding a lender, finding a real estate manager, making a list of your requirements, checking out properties - a lot of them, making an offer, securing your mortgage and sealing the deal. Visiting and inspecting properties is time-consuming but a very important part of the process. Most people are [...]

The higher interest rates, the more it's going to cost you If it's your first time to invest in real estate and you don't know much about interest rates, here's something you should always remember: the higher the interest rate, the more it's going to cost you. When you borrow money, this means that you have to pay a lot higher than what you borrowed. [...]

Are you excited to purchase a new house for the first time? Here are useful tips that are sure to help you in your new venture.  Do a research on how much comparable properties cost in the same area. There are websites where you can do this. Websites like National Association of Realtors allow you to search actual MLS listings in your area. Websites like Zillow and Homegain gives you an [...]

Aim for pre-approval versus pre-qualification If you are looking to get the best house at the most reasonable rate, you need to show them that you are in a good negotiating position. There are several factors involved in a transaction. Price is one of them but not necessarily the most important. What matters more are facotrs like the length of escrow and the buyer's buying [...]