Blog
What Is Earnest Money, And How Much Should I Set Aside?
Like the video shows, “earnest money” is money you put down to demonstrate your seriousness about buying a home. It must be substantial enough to demonstrate good faith and is usually between 1-5% of the purchase price though the amount can vary with local...
Is An Older Home A Better Value Than A New One?
Well, as this story shows, there isn't a definitive answer to this question. You should look at each home for its individual characteristics.
Generally, older homes may be in more established neighborhoods offer more ambiance and have lower property tax rates. People...
What Questions Should I Ask When Looking At Homes?
As you’ll see in this video, many of your questions should focus on potential problems and maintenance issues.
Does anything need to be replaced? What things require ongoing maintenance like paint, roof, heating and AC, appliances and carpet?
Also ask about the...
What Should I Look For When Walking Through A Home?
As we show you in this video, in addition to comparing the home to your minimum requirement and wish lists use the HUD Home Scorecard and consider the following:
Is there enough room for both the present and the future?
Are there enough bedrooms...
What Does A Home Inspector Do, And How Does An Inspection Figure In The Purchase Of A Home?
As we show you in this video, an inspector checks the safety of your potential new home.
Home Inspectors focus especially on the structure, construction and mechanical systems of the house and will make you aware of only repairs that are needed.
The Inspector does n...
How Can I Keep Track Of All The Homes I See?
There are some great tips in this video, like:
if possible, take photographs of each house: the outside, the major rooms, the yard and extra features that you like or ones you see as potential problems.
Write things down as you go. And don't hesitate to return for a...