Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Whether you are a first time buyer or someone who hasn't purchased a home in a while, these 10 steps will take you from start to finish in the Buying process
Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a home owner that hasn’t gone through the process for a while, buying a home can seem intimidating. This guide should lay out the process, taking you from the start to the closing bell. 1. Pre-approval: this is an important first step for two reasons. First, your agent will want to know a realistic price range to stay within when picking homes to show you. It does not help anyone to show properties that are well out of your range of value. Secondly, it is critical to pick a bank or mortgage company that is going to work with you and keep the transaction as hassle-free as possible. Currently, the small, local banks and companies have been the best at delivering hassle-free loans. 2. Shopping: …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Time-saving tips to getting your house in tip-top showing condition and keeping it that way!
It is tough to fit cleaning into today's schedules. Between working, school, sports, homework, volunteer shifts or social plans, the amount time available to keep the home in great shape seems to continue to lessen. If your home is on the market, the need to have it show in its best condition is extremely important, especially in today's buyer's market. Trying to keep your home in this condition can be stressful. The following 9 tips should help you to get your home in this condition and help keep it that way. 1. Keep a weekly schedule. Creating a schedule with reasonable, daily expectations for everyone will help share the load. It will also make the tasks more manageable over all. If the house is tidied up every day, the extra things…
Friday, December 16, 2011
An article featuring some of the common protocol miscommunications between buyers and agents.
The longer I am in the Real Estate business, the more I realize that many agents often make assumptions that their buyer knows how a real estate transaction works. After all, the clients coming in are very educated about the market in general – they may even be spending more time looking at properties on-line than we agents do. However, the nuances of the relationship between agents and the client are not as quickly discovered online and do vary by region. Therefore, it should be our responsibility to further educate the consumer about our protocol in following a typical real estate transaction. With all parties having the same expectations throughout the transaction, it will go more smoothly and all parties will benefit. Here are 8 things…
Monday, December 5, 2011
A discussion with Senior Paralegal Rick Misitano from the Law Offices of James M. Bosco, who goes over the basic terms of Atty General Coakley's lawsuit against 5 big banks for unlawful and illegal foreclosures.
The following column was submitted by Walt and Ali's Team. Martha Coakley, Massachusetts State Attorney General, filed suit last week against five of the Big Banks and the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS), citing "unlawful and illegal foreclosures against homeowners in Massachusetts", according to yesterday's press conference. The two goals that she laid out to be accomplished through this lawsuit are to force accountability upon the banks and to provide homeowners with "real and enforceable relief...for the harm that the misconduct has caused." There is little question that dealing with the declining real estate market is a key step in turning the economy around- a step the banks have not appeared to care to take. The …
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tips for buyers to make the most out of the winter Real Estate market.
The fall months this year have been unusually warm, so it may be hard to believe that the winter real estate market is almost here. The Spring Market is the one that many buyers wait for, but there are some great reasons not to wait and to take advantage of the homes that are on the market over the holiday season. 1. Less competition. There are less buyers over the winter months. The Buyers that are out viewing homes are serious buyers and Sellers realize this. Sellers should be more willing to accommodate your showing needs and to negotiate terms in offers. 2. Sellers are also more motivated. Homes move slower over the winter months, which Sellers are well aware of. A good Agent will educate their Sellers to the market conditions, …
Friday, October 28, 2011
This is the first of a two part article about radon. This week, we explain what radon is and how to test for it.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is naturally occurring. It comes from the natural decaying of uranium in almost all soils. While some areas are more likely to have higher radon readings, homes all across the country have had high radon levels. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer -- second only to smoking. Smokers who also have high radon readings in their homes have a 10 times greater risk for lung cancer. The only way to know if there is radon in your home is to have it tested. Outside, radon comes up through the ground and disburses into the atmosphere. It comes into homes in many ways, through cracks or holes in the foundation, dirt floors, …
Friday, September 16, 2011
We address what a home inspection is and why they are especially important for foreclosed homes.
A Home Inspection gives the Buyer knowledge about the home they are buying. When a Buyer hires a professional, licensed home inspector to conduct an inspection, the Buyer should end up knowing the major and minor components of a house. This is an important step for all Buyers in the home buying process, but especially for foreclosed homes. Knowledge is key. Banks do not provide a property condition report as many Sellers do, nor are they required to disclose information about the property as Sellers are. They have not occupied the property and are selling it "AS IS" without any warranties as to its condition. What you may think is a bargain may end up costing tens of thousands of dollars in unseen and unanticipated repairs. Why are …
