Category: Home Buying
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Why are there still poor real estate appraisals?
Reader Question: Today, we have fantastic technology. We have companies using algorithms that evaluate homes without even walking through the house. Yet we still have poor real estate appraisers. I want to refinance my home with the low-interest rates. I am working with one of the big players that lend across the country. I…
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Is home buying in the pandemic the right time?
Reader Question: We are considering buying a home. My husband and I both have good jobs, no debt, and more than an adequate downpayment. We have spent several years saving, and now we feel ready financially. There are many distractions today; we wonder if buying in the pandemic is the right time? Monty’s Answer:…
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Who should have caught this condition problem?
Reader Question: I bought a house a year ago with some permitted room additions. However, the flipper replaced the electrical box from 100 amp to 200 amp non-permitted. This work was not disclosed to me or caught in the homeowner’s inspection. So now, I have been experiencing electrical issues at my house. The utility…
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What’s wrong with the real estate industry?
Reader Question: What’s wrong with the real estate industry? We have a large family by today’s standards—five grown children with children. At a recent family reunion, we discussed real estate and ended up taking a poll. Transaction number ten started the conversation. Together they have concluded nine transactions, with number ten now pending. Only one…
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Is Our “Buyer Agent” Legitimate?
Reader Question: We recently purchased a home. We used a buyer agent because we understood that a buyer agent works for the buyer instead of the seller. Our friends also bought a house recently, and they used a buyer agent. We just learned that our friends signed a buyer agent contract when they started…
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Home buyer is afraid of hidden home defects.
Reader Question: We like a home and want to make an offer. The seller is offering the home in “as is” condition and did not complete a seller condition report. While we do see conditions that will require repair or replacements, those repairs do not seem severe enough to go “as is” on us. Our…
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Seven points to consider when home buying during COVID
Reader Question: We are thinking of buying a home. We have saved a substantial down payment by living frugally for 15 years. We both have good jobs. The thought of taking on a mortgage is a bit frightening to us. It feels like there is much uncertainty with the economy, COVID, and more. Do you…
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When the listing agent and seller are great friends
Reader Question: Just put an offer on a house, and we are under contract. The listing agent and seller are great friends, live on the same street, and have known each other for many years. They are friends with a contractor who does work for them. Following my home inspection, some items came up. The…
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How to verify lot lines
When buying a home it is important to verify lot lines. Avoid angst in the future when you build a fence on your neighbors property.
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Critical Deadlines on Home Sale Documents
Our reader this week asks about a deadline for receiving an answer to an offer to purchase a home. It is a simple question but leads to the realization that potentially there are many deadlines to follow. This instant is where planning is required up-front to avoid a stressful and frustration filled experience. The expression…
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Does zoning affect affordable housing prices
A brief overview of the issues involved in rising home prices in new developments. Is America pricing the middle class out of home ownership? Zoning is a fractured and complicated issue.
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Treat family like outsiders with real estate deals
Our reader wants to know if he can use a quitclaim deed to buy property from a sibling. He can likely do so, but needs to educate himself about the cons of doing so.
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Are online value estimates harmful?
Home sellers and buyers need to be cautious using online home valuations websites that do not disclose accurate PSF costs. In real estate, cost sets the upper limit of value and understanding why is important.
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Is there a superior method to evaluate homes?
Our reader this week views appraisals as obsolete. While there is some credence to his opinion, the better mousetrap remains elusive particularly, when the experts are expecting to conquer the challenge without even inspecting the property. I, for one, believe a set of knowledgeable eyeballs physically observing the property will be challenging to eliminate. Online…
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Is a renovation mortgage right for you?
Reader Question: We are looking to buy our first home. We have seen a house we like, but it needs renovation. The house has been neglected but has a solid structure. We have a down-payment and good credit. Twenty-percent down at our price point, but not enough cash to make the down payment and do…