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Archive for the ‘Buyers’ Category
Home Buying Isn’t as Far Fetched as You May Think
Owning a home is part of “The American Dream” and can often feel unattainable, especially for lower-income families. The thought of saving a down payment can seem a daunting task. Add the stress of finding the right home at the right price, and it can feel downright impossible. It’s not impossible! The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Interfaith Housing Association have introduced the Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program. This program makes it possible for lower-income families to purchase homes that fulfill the USDA requirements and have money built into the mortgage to complete repairs on the home because almost all…
The Best Time to Buy and Sell
The decision has been made to sell (or buy) your house, but what do you need to know before you start? When you are looking to buy or sell a home, it is important to know the current market and how it will affect your transaction. A local Realtor® will be able to best assist you in coming up with a strategy to optimize both your buying and selling power keeping your best interest in mind. Seller’s market You’ve heard the term “seller’s market” but what exactly does it mean? A seller’s market occurs when the demand is greater than…
Show Me the Money
Getting a mortgage is one of the biggest financial steps you will take in your lifetime. It’s important to know how much home you can afford before you start looking and your lender can help with this process. If you are a first-time homebuyer, this is all new to you so we shed some light on what you can expect. Pre-qualification and pre-approval A lot of people think that the terms pre-qualification and pre-approval are synonymous. Don’t confuse them, as they are two different terms with two very different meanings. A pre-qualification will give you a rough idea of what…
Property Taxes and What to Expect in Certain Areas
Property tax is assessed on real estate and is usually based on the value of the property you own. This tax is assessed by the local or municipal government and is typically used to repair roads, build schools, remove snow or other similar services in your area. Depending on what county you live in, you will see different tax rates and if you live within the city or town limits, you will see an additional tax for that municipality. In Maryland, county and city taxes are not all you will see on your tax bill. Below, we discuss some of…
Should You Have a Buyer’s Agent for a New Build?
It’s a beautiful day, the sun is out, and the birds are singing. You decide it’s the perfect day to go look at the model home of the new neighborhood you want to move into. When you’re looking to build in a new neighborhood, it’s important to either take your agent with you or to be sure to let them know you already have a buyer’s agent representing you! Things you should know about having a buyer’s agent The common misconception A common misconception about buying a home that is being constructed as part of a development is that you…
6 Ways to Correctly Time Your Sale and Purchase
The time has come to sell your home and buy a new one. With this, comes the task of correctly timing your sale with the purchase of your new home. Not an impossible feat, but it certainly can be complex. With a bit of understanding and some planning, it can be successful, especially when considering these 6 items. Same day closing Sometimes the stars align and you can time the purchase and sale to close on the same day. The ideal situation would be to sell in the morning and buy in the afternoon. This works best when you are not…
Keep Your Family Safe by Screening for Radon
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) about 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has some level of radon that needs to be reduced. If your level of radon is high, there are steps you can, and should, take to fix it. What is it? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Radon is emitted through uranium that is found in soil, often that is rich in limestone. You cannot see Radon and there is no smell or taste, so there is no way to know it’s there unless you test. How…
Houses Are Like Perfume
When you go to the store and try on a new perfume, after about the third scent, they all start to blend together and smell the same. Houses aren’t much different. When you schedule a day and look at twelve different houses, they all start to meld together in your mind. You may get your favorite house mixed up with a house that wasn’t even a contender. We are going to share some tips on how to keep your perspective AND your houses straight. If you have time, take time If you can schedule multiple days to view houses, this is…
Score with These New Construction Opportunities
Are you considering a move to Frederick County, MD? There are many new areas being developed and new homes are being built daily. We’ll share a bit about some of the neighborhoods, the builders and how you can score in our wonderful county. When you are looking for mountain views, minutes to downtown Frederick, paths to ballfields, picnic pavilions and boat launches on the Monocacy River, Tallyn Ridge at Pinecliff Park would be well suited for you. The builders in this area are Drees Homes and Miller & Smith. Westview South – You’ll have terrific amenities like a pool and…
Age Matters
After intense shopping, you have found the house you want to write an offer on. Have you looked at things like the appliances and major fixtures? Everything has a life expectancy and could potentially cause you some serious out of pocket expenses in the first few years after your purchase. It’s important to consider the age of items like the furnace and roof before submitting an offer. After all, age matters. How old is too old? Even though an appliance is working well, we know it’s not going to last forever. Let’s take a look at the most common household…