House Buying Tips
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The Importance of a Home Inspection
Home inspections are such an important part of the home buying and selling process. It gives the buyer the opportunity to identify any major issues with a home prior to closing. It is quite common for the home inspection to be paid for by the buyer and it is s typically completed within the first couple of weeks after an offer has been accepted. Inspectors vary in experience, knowledge, and thoroughness. Ask your real estate advisor for a recommendation on which inspector they’ve worked with and trust. A typical inspection lasts two-three hours and can cost around $300-$600 (based on the square footage of the home). Your agent should be…
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First Time Home Buying Tips
Buying a house can seem like an overwhelming decision and many renters are hesitant to make the leap into homeownership. There are so many advantages to buying vs. renting. To start with, let’s discuss some of the pros and cons of buying. Pros: -building equity -tax benefits -freedom to renovate/decorate your home however you want -bring your animals 🙂 Cons: -maintenance fees -less flexibility in moving from place to place If you’ve decided that buying a home is the next step for you then take a few steps to get prepared! Tip One Save up for a down payment. Many people think you have to save up 20% to purchase…
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What is a CMA in Real Estate?
Real estate agents often create a comparative market analysis (a.k.a CMA) to estimate the value of your home. This information is beneficial to sellers so they can price their home accurately and it allows buyers to feel comfortable with how much they’re paying for their home. Real estate agents create a CMA by looking at recently sold properties that are similar to your house (or, if you’re a home buyer, the one you want to make an offer on). Similarity is very important since it gets you the closest comparison to ensure you are making an informative financial decision. Things We Look For: Recently Sold: It’s important to make sure…
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Why Buy a Home in the Winter?
Many people do not want to purchase a new home during the winter months. It’s definitely a busy time because of the holidays, but there are some significant advantages to purchasing a home in these slower months. The market is less competitive. The simple fact that less people want to move during this time means you have less competition when putting an offer on a house. The Treasure Valley market will start to get very busy again this spring and multiple offers on a home is very common. The odds of having a competing bid is much lower during the winter months. You may get a better deal for your…
