Month: May 2011

  • The Rules Of The Real Estate Game

    What You Do Not Know Can Hurt You Most of us coming into the real estate market today are searching for information. We tend to look for information about homes, neighborhoods and financing. Consumers  do not always ask the right questions  because they do not know which questions  to ask. Conversely,  agents do not realize…

  • Well and Septic Systems In Your Home

    Problems with your well and septic systems? It is no secret that problems with a well and septic systems can result in much inconvenience, danger, and expense. Fortunately, prior knowledge can help reduce or avoid these common problems. This article is designed to provide you with the proper information and assist rural buyers and sellers…

  • A home’s condition is critical

    Unless consumers are somehow familiar with construction methods and techniques, knowing which signals require follow-up when viewing or selling a home can be difficult. Here is some general information for both buyers and sellers regarding what to look for with a home’s condition. For example; It is not unusual for home sellers (who were once…

  • The pros and cons of housing lifestyles

    The pros and cons of housing lifestyles The pros and cons of housing are sometimes overlooked. People sometimes begin the home buying process without thinking about or reviewing their preferences or circumstances. If they have lived in a particular type of home all their life, other options are not “top of mind” at an important…

  • Fair Housing Law

    The Law Says.. Federal law requires that all people be treated equally and prohibits discrimination in the housing industry throughout the United States. The law also applies to mortgages, insurance and rental housing. The Federal Fair Housing Law makes discrimination  illegal against individuals based on their sex, age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin,…

  • Home Buying Contingencies

    What are home buying contingencies? Home buying contingencies are contractual requirements regarding fundamental aspects of the transaction upon which settling the contract is dependent. Because a home is an expensive and complex structure, it is often difficult or costly to address all issues prior to agreeing on the terms of a purchase or sale. The real…

  • When To Clean up, Paint up, Fix up Your Home

    Why Is This So Important? First put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Assume two homes are virtually identical. They are both the same price and in the same neighborhood. Except, one of them is un-kept. Which one will you buy? If you chose the un-kept one because it was 3 blocks closer to work, how much…

  • Home Inspections

    A Great Tool For Buyers And Sellers The question of whether or not to have an inspection should actually not be a question at all. One of the most common com­plaints against home sellers is in the area of condition, specifically disclosure of the condition. A home inspection is a valuable tool in deter­mining and…

  • The “Red Flags” Of Real Estate

    Sometimes we are unaware they exist because they are not in the house, or they are in the house but we are inexperienced.

  • A successful home seller closing

    Many real estate transactions end in water-cooler conversations. The closing takes place, but not on the date planned, or money requirements require changes, or the seller took the washer and dryer; or dozens of other possibilities. Ensuring a successful home seller closing is attainable. Many real estate closings take place on time and as agreed.…

  • A successful buyer closing

    Many real estate transactions end in water-cooler conversations. The closing takes place, but not on the date planned, or money requirements require changes, or the seller took the washer and dryer; or dozens of other possibilities. Ensuring a successful real estate closing is attainable. Many real estate closings take place on time and as agreed.…

  • How to get good referrals in real estate

    What are good referrals in real estate? Webster’s Dictionary says, “To direct for information or anything required.” That seems straightforward enough on the surface, but let’s take a closer look. In my first year selling real estate, I had an experience that taught me a valuable lesson. A true confession The community I served had…

  • Moving out of your home

    You have an accepted offer, and the closing completed. All of your determination, organization and hard work is finished, right? Wrong! Now, you must put the same preparation and research towards moving out of your home. The moving process can be taken for granted. No matter how often you have moved, something may go wrong…

  • Radon Gas In Your Home?

    How Small Is Small? Radon is a radioactive gas which occurs in nature and has always been present in the air. You can not see it, taste it or smell it, and it can only be detected with specialized testing equipment. Radon is measured in units, called picocuries. The curie is a standard measure for…