House Buying Tips
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The Facts about Fall Homebuying
As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, fall ushers in a new season of opportunity for prospective homebuyers. While spring and summer are typically considered the peak seasons for house hunting, fall has its own unique advantages that shouldn’t be overlooked. In this blog post, we’ll explore the many benefits of fall home buying and why it might be the perfect time for you to make your move. 1. Reduced Competition: One of the primary advantages of buying a home in the fall is the reduced competition. Many buyers are often focused on making their move during the warmer months, leaving fewer competitors in the fall…
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Everything You Need to Know About Builder Warranties
BY NSMITH There is an expectation of a certain level of quality when moving into a newly constructed home. You’re moving into a home with no previous owners, which prevents some of the issues an older home may have. However, problems can still occur in a new construction home. That’s why many newly built homes come with a builder warranty. If your new construction or renovated home comes with a builder warranty, it can be a major benefit that will help alleviate financial headaches should any major issues occur. Read on to learn more about what a builder warranty covers and doesn’t cover. What is a builder warranty? A builder warranty…
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The Final Walkthrough Checklist
BY NATHAN SMITH With closing only a few short days away, the final walkthrough of a house is an exhilarating experience. This could be the first time you get to see your soon-to-be home empty, giving you an opportunity to imagine how you will build your life inside those four walls. However, things may not go as planned. While you might find no issues with the home, you may also find problems that will cause plenty of frustration and could delay your closing. Follow the tips below so you can be prepared and make the most of your final walkthrough. What is a final walkthrough? This walkthrough is simply a…
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Why Hire a Buyer’s Agent?
Many people have a preconceived idea that real estate agents have an easy job. They get to go around and open doors to beautiful homes; clients buy it; and the deal is done. I’d like to blame HGTV and Bravo, but it’s mostly a lack of understanding of what a real estate agent does. I decided to finally make a list of SOME of the things we do during the home buying process (in no way could I make a list of all the very very random situations that come up in this industry): We have our buyer’s best interest at heart. We understand the market. We have a lot…
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What Happens After Your Offer is Accepted?
You’ve been searching for homes for possibly just days or maybe even months, and you finally have an accepted offer! Congratulations, but this is just the beginning. There are several things that happen after the time your purchase and sales agreement is accepted and a few people involved. So what exactly happens? In the contract, it states how long a buyer has to get the property inspected. If the purchase of the home is contingent upon inspection, this is one of the first things that needs to be completed. After the inspection is done, the buyer will receive a copy of the inspection report. It’s a great idea for the…
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Where Will I Move If I Sell My House?
If I sell my house where am I going to go? I have been hearing this question quite a lot recently, so I wanted to dive into it a bit today. It’s definitely a seller’s market right now across the United States, but especially here in the Treasure Valley. If you’re considering selling your home, but you’re worried about finding another home before your closing date, then listen up. I want to suggest a few solutions to this problem. When you’re selling your home for a higher price, then you can buy a higher priced home for the same/similar mortgage. We’ve hit historic lows with the current interest rates which really…
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4 Tips to Buying a Home in a Competitive Market
It can be difficult to purchase a home in a super competitive market like we have in the Treasure Valley right now. Anything under $300,000 is going super quick and first time home buyers are definitely running into this problem. Here are four pieces of advice to get the home you want: Make sure you are pre-approved before you start looking at houses. This way you already know what your monthly payment will be and what price you feel comfortable with. If you do find the home that you’re in love with, you’ll already be prepared to put in an offer. Be ready to go look at houses! You can’t…
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Why Do Mortgage Interest Rates Really Matter?
Interest rates are at historical lows right now. People within the real estate industry are mentioning how it’s a great time to buy a home because of this. Everyone assumes low interest rates obviously save you money on your monthly payment and how much you pay in the long run, but do you know how significant it really is? I’m going to breakdown some examples on how much interest rates really affect your mortgage. I must first bring up the difference between interest rates and annual percentage rate (APR). The interest rate is the annual cost of a loan for a borrower. The APR the annual cost of a loan…
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5 Things You Probably Didn’t Realize You Need as a New Homeowner
You’re about to buy your first home; what an exciting time! You’re probably planning the design and furniture layout, maybe even made a few trips to TJ Maxx or Target. Decorating is one of the most fun parts about being a homeowner; you can design it however you want and nobody can tell you no. Before you get too carried away with all the fun things, I want to provide a list of a few items you shouldn’t forget before you move in. I bought my first home in 2015 (oh boy, it seems like it was just the other day). I had lots of help from family and friends,…
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What To Do During a Final Walkthrough
The final walkthrough is an important part of any home buying process. Let’s start by stating a final walkthrough is NOT a home inspection. It is however an opportunity for the buyer to see the house one last time before closing. It’s often done as close to the closing date as possible, preferably the day of. This gives the sellers as much time to get things packed and out of the house. Then the buyers are able to check the home and see if there is any new damage since the home inspection. Sometimes sellers don’t move out until the day of closing; rarely final walkthroughs can happen with the…
