Continue reading »]]>  

This article is probably going to sound like I am biased towards real estate agents and I am.  Home buyers can avoid falling prey to common mistakes that could interfere with their ability to find the right Weston home by finding a Realtor to help guide them through the process, which can be time consuming and fraught with problems.

Buy a Weston home will likely be the largest monetary decision you make in your lifetime.  Everyone wants a good deal, but if the Weston residence is not one in which the residents are happy then it was not a great deal regardless of the price. Realtors are invaluable due to their ability to provide a more objective viewpoint, since they are not going to live in the home in question.

Focusing on price alone is a mistake

We all think that buying in the suburbs means better prices than in cities. While this can be true in some cases, there are factors sometimes overlooked. For example, life in the Weston suburbs means having a car, paying for gas, and a different lifestyle in terms of the convenience of reaching entertainment, restaurants and recreational destinations.

Imperfect properties

Investopedia says that home buyers often become discouraged if a home requires minor repairs to turn that Weston home into their dream home. Many homes require a small amount of work, especially as years go by and they age. This does not necessarily mean they are in poor condition over all. And it could turn into a better deal that one that needs no repairs of any kind.  In many cases, a minor investment of time into a home, once purchased, can be much more convenient than spending months looking for the “perfect” home.

Remember, your time is valuable, so if you find a home that needs cosmetics only and you don’t mind overseeing the repairs yours our with a licensed contractor then to for it, remember to have a written agreement with your contractor & very importantly on your offer to the seller of the Weston house put a clause in there that you may have any and all inspections done(at your expense) and if you don’t like the results you can cancel without penalty.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Continue reading »]]>  

There are hundreds of families who aspire to become homeowners but who are taking a “wait-and-see” approach. They obviously are trying to wait until the market gets to the absolute bottom and I understand that. But when you are considering buying a home in Weston, there are some other factors to consider.

But forget about everything else that you are waiting for and just look at the facts below. The bottom line is that while many parts of America are still experiencing a downward trend in property values, Weston Florida isn’t. The numbers don’t lie, go to zillow or Trulia yourself and verify it to your heart’s content, but you are in all likehood not going to see lower prices than today, hell you already missed the bottom by over 2 years.

So let’s bottom line this, you have missed the bottom & the longer you wait the more you will probably pay, so why wait??

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

1. Which Type of Loan is Best?

If we hadn’t already done this for you, this article gives you some tips on finding a good mortgage
broker. Remember that a reputable lender will find out more about you before throwing out loan options. You wouldn’t expect a doctor to suggest surgery before she assessed your medical situation, would you? Choose a lender who gathers enough information from you before she suggests a certain type of loan and make sure you tell them the truth. Don’t be afraid to ask a lender to explain the pros and cons about:

• Fixed-rate loans.
• Adjustable-rate loans.
• Interest-only loans.
• Negative-amortization loans.

2. What is the Interest Rate & Annual Percentage Rate

On most loan documents you are going to see the letters APR, it is derived by a complex calculation that includes the interest rate and all the other related lender fees divided by the loan’s term. However, bear in mind that:

• Many lenders do not compute APR correctly.
• There is no way to accurately compute an APR rate for an adjustable loan.
• It does not account for early payoffs.

If you are considering an adjustable loan, ask your mortgage broker

• Adjustment frequency( monthly, quarterly, yearly, every 3 years)
• Maximum annual adjustment
• Highest rate (Cap)
• Index
• Margin

3. What are the Discount Points and Origination Fees?

 
Points are equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. Therefore, 2 points on a $100,000 loan cost $2,000, pretty easy right. And they need to be discussed and will be with a good mortgage broker in the very beginning of discussing different loans that are available to you.
 
 

4. What Are All the Costs?

 
Federal law makes it mandatory that a lender provide for you a GFE(more below) It will include the costs of a loan include not only fees that go into the lender’s pocket but also related third-party vendor fees such as:

• Appraisal
• Credit report
• Lender’s title policy
• Pest inspection reports
• Escrow (where applicable)
• Recording fees
• Taxes

An estimate of these fees constitutes the Good Faith Estimate or GFE, which the lender is required by federal law to give to you.

5. Will the Lender Guarantee the GFE?

According to the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA), lenders have three days after you’ve applied for a loan to give you the Good Faith Estimate, containing all the costs of your loan. They call this a GFE and it had better be almost exactly the same as the actual HUD statement that they produce for the loan closing, if it isn’t there are some questions that need to be asked and answered and your good mortgage broker will handle them for you.(Go to resources and select mortgage broker)

6. Do You Offer Loan Rate Locks?

All interest rates can fluctuate and change daily. If you have reason to believe that interest rates are moving up, you might want to lock your loan. Lenders typically charge zero to one point to lock a loan rate and points. A good mortgage broker will let you know if you are in jeopardy of losing a good rate and may suggest tying it up.

7. Is There a Prepayment Penalty?

In some states, prepayment penalties are no longer allowed or legal. Typically, prepayment penalties let the lender collect an additional six months or more of “unearned interest” if you pay the loan off early through a refinance of sale of the property.

8. Are You Equipped to Approve Loans In-House?(Most mortgage brokers aren’t)

 
Underwriters review loans and issue conditions before approving or rejecting a loan.

9. How Much Time Do You Need to Fund?

 
Most loan processing time periods fall between 21 and 45 days. To properly write a purchase contract, you will need to include a closing date, and that date should be coordinated with your lender.

10. What is the Yield Spread Premium?

 
If your mortgage broker is receiving a yield spread premium (YSP), a commission paid directly by the lender to your representative, this fee will be disclosed on your settlement statement at closing. YSPs are a controversial matter because it is a little known fact that they even exist.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

OK, you have found a Weston home that meets all your needs, the next step is to structure an offer.  One common difficulty is knowing what kind of initial offer to make without making the seller angry because it’s so low.  You want to pay as little as possible, but there is a limit on what sort of bid home sellers might reasonably be expected to accept, or is there?

Many Realtors will tell you to offer as much as you feel you are willing to pay, and to them I say “Hog Wash”.  If you offer the most you are willing to pay and they counter back at something higher, then you will either pass on the home or pay more than you wanted to.  Now, if you using our Realtor(see resources link) they will suggest making an extremely low offer even if you feel it may make the seller angry, hell, what do you think you are paying your Realtor for, let them earn their money.

They will couch the offer in such a way as to explain the reasons it is a reasonable offer & even if the seller was upset in the beginning, after your Realtor works their magic, the home owner will settle down and consider the offer.  I am not saying that they will accept it, but I am saying that you can always offer more but never less, so start low and work your way up to a number you feel good about.

Tip #1

There are a number of factors that might cause home sellers to consider accepting a lower offer.  The main one is “can the buyer close?” For this reason I highly recommend you sit down with our mortgage broker before you ever go see a home and determine what types of loans you are eligible for.

This is extremely powerful when your Realtor is presenting the offer. It removes one of the main issues that is bouncing around in their head “Can the buyer qualify and close?”  This proves to them that you are real and that you have the financial wherewithal to back up your offer and close the deal. And many times for this simple reason alone they will accept an offer that they may not if you had to go out and try to get qualified.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

Given all the tools the Internet and modern innovation make available to consumers in general, some may wonder whether they truly need an agent to help sell their home. If having doubts, homeowners looking to sell should consider what a professional brings to the table.

For starters, MSN Real Estate notes real estate agents are familiar with all the federal, state and local laws, regulations and codes which can affect the sales process. While it is possible for consumers to learn this information, it is time-consuming and difficult. If a mistake creeps into the transaction, it can result in serious legal consequences and financial costs.

Contacts and price

Homes are the most expensive asset most people ever own, and the process of selling one involves a number of professionals. If the home buyer has an agent but the seller does not, then the seller may find himself at a disadvantage due to his or her relative lack of experience. Sellers may have to deal with lenders, contractors, inspectors, appraisers, lawyers and more, depending on the specific location and circumstances. Real estate agents know where to find competent professionals and how to deal with them.

According to U.S. News and World Report, professionals can help by sorting potential home buyers and ensuring they are qualified and able to afford a home to avoid wasting the sellers’ time. While some home sellers think there is a potential for profit by avoiding the agent’s fee, the truth is that many end up signing with a broker after months of searching for a home buyer. Those who do sell may find their price lowered to the point that they have gained nothing.

What agents can do

An agent knows not only real estate in general, but the local market in

particular. He or she can access and interpret data on current market trends, recent sales nearby and all the other factors which affect price.

This allows a competitive price to be set, and means having an experienced, informed advisor on hand during negotiations later.

Of course, advertising and negotiation are the beginning and end of the process, and the middle is also important. An agent can provide tips on how to prepare a home for prospective buyer walk-throughs, decorations, repairs and any other steps that should be taken. It may be wisest to perform some actions before putting the home on the market, before a buyer visit, or before closing. Agents are professional guides who can help sellers determine who to contact, what to do. They can also explain when and how to execute steps of the process, which are difficult details for the inexperienced to fill in.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>

Make sure that your Weston house is always available for showings, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent put a lock box on the outside, so that if they have a hot prospect and you aren’t there, they can get in.

Your Weston Realtor will always call and give you at least a couple of hours notice before showing your Weston residence.

Try Not to be Home

A person who is consider buying your Weston home is going to feel like an intruder if you are home when they visit, and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home. If you don’t like the idea of leaving your home, then go outside and let the Realtor do their thing.  Do not volunteer any information, but answer any questions the agent may ask.

Lighting

When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the inside and outside lights – even during the day. In the evening, a lit house gives a “homey” impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas.

Fragrances

We have already talked about scented candles and I happen to like them, some don’t, if you want to have a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or something natural. Another trick is to put a drop of vanilla extract on a burner and turn it on briefly.   One of my all time favorites is get the bread at the grocery store that you just pop in the oven and bake it just before the showing.  Two bennies, one your home smells wonderful to everyone and you’ve got fresh baked bread for dinner.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

Windows & Doors

Make sure to check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily. If they don’t a little WD40 often helps. Make sure there are no cracked or broken window panes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.

Do the same things with the doors including the sliders – make sure they open and close properly, without creaking. If they do, a shot of WD40 on the hinges usually makes the creak go away. Check door knobs to be sure the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp.

Odor Control

If you are a smoker, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Actually, it is best to move smoking outside.  You could also purchase an ozone spray that helps to remove odors and creating a masking odor.  Or try scented candles, they are cheap and hide odors very effectively.

Apologies to pet owners, I am a pet owner, but pets come with odors.  You may have become used to them, but they are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses, especially if you have cats who have had accidents.  If your cat has urinated on your carpet, the bad news is you are simply have to replace the carpet & pad.  No service on the planet is going to remove the smell period.

For those with cats, be sure to empty your kitty litter boxes daily and use plenty of baking soda.  For dog owners, keep your dog much as possible, even those adorable lovable little dogs. Sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis and especially before a showing is a good idea.

And I hope you all know that you must make sure that your animals are not present at showings ever.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>

The kitchen is the most important room in your home for several reasons, the biggest of which is the immutable fact that women buy homes and guys simply pay for them(mostly). In most households the lady of the home will be spending a lot of time there and it better be spotless, with no clutter and well lit.

Weston Home Kitchen

First, get everything off the kitchen counters. Everything. Even the toaster. Put the toaster in a cabinet or under the sink and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers and we mean everything. If you are like most of us you don’t have much room in your drawers or cabinets.  Clean them out. The dishes, pots and pans that rarely get used? Put them in a box and put that box in storage not in the garage.

You see, homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their “stuff. If your pantries, and drawers are jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of abundant storage space. The best way to do that is to have as much “empty space” as possible.

For that reason, if you have a “junk drawer,” get rid of the junk. If you have a rarely used crock pot, put it in storage. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space and lots of it.

If your pantry looks jammed full with large amount of foodstuffs crammed into the shelves or pantry, begin using them – especially your canned goods. Canned goods are heavy and you don’t want to be lugging them to a new house, anyway – or paying a mover to do so. Let what you have on the shelves determine your menus and use up as much as you can as quickly as you can, if you have a showing and your full, put them in a box and put it in your trunk until after your showing.

Beneath the sink is critical, too. Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible, even removing extra cleaning supplies. You should scrub the area down as well, and if there are any tell-tale signs of water leaks that may cause a homebuyer to hesitate in buying your home, and if there are leaks get them fixed and make sure the former leaks leave no tell tale traces.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

Selling your house or condo in Weston involves many facets, some of which you control and many you don’t.  When preparing to sell a home and move on, you must consider the following:

1. How much time will the repairs take
2. How much will they cost
3. Will I recoup the expense & sell more quickly
4. Will it increase the value of my home

All of these are valid concerns and fair questions to ask your Realtor.

RISMedia recently was quoted as saying “that while there is no perfect method to follow duringthe process of selling your Weston home, some affordable improvements can increase the probability of a sale at a fair price and in a reasonable amount of time.  One of the examples they gave was to consider replacing windows, many homeowners and home buyers feel that new windows are a valuable feature on several level, making it a worthwhile investment to improve buyer perception of the property.

RISMedia has been quotes as saying that updating garage doors may be a worthwhile improvement to consider when selling your Weston property.  While they seem unimportant, they’re commonly one of the first things a prospective buyer sees and as a result can have a major impact on his or her opinion of the house.

 

Your floors are another important feature which are easy to forget because homeowners rarely look at them closely. Hardwood floors can be refinished for a reasonable price if necessary, and homeowners may wish to consider shampooing any stained or worn carpets.  If you have cats and have accidents that have occurred inside, you better remove the carpet and no cleaning process known to man will remove the smell of cat urine.  You may be used to it, but I assure you the prospective buyer will be turned cold by it and not make an offer at any price regardless how nice the rest of you home may be.

 

 

Fixtures

 

Old lighting fixtures can make a room or house seem significantly older and more worn, according to experts. Updating these fixtures, particularly in the bathroom and kitchen, can have a significant impact. Remember that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes and that ladies buy homes, the guys just pay for them(mostly).

 

Similarly, plumbing and hardware fixtures are so common that it’s easy to forget about them when preparing a Weston home but for the same reason may be noticeable to home buyers. These items may be available at a discount through contractor supply websites or your local Home Depot and any handyman can install them with little trouble or expense.

 

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

 

Continue reading »]]>

OK, you live in Weston and you are selling your home and wondering what to do in the way of repairs or improvements. Since Florida has nice weather year round you may think that you really don’t need insulation, well if you think that you are mistaken.

Homes may lack sufficient insulation for several reasons. It may have settled over time, and older homes may not have had enough in the first place. In such cases, heating and cooling costs are typically high, and the source notes improving wall insulation can save money over time. While the issues that necessitate changing or adding insulation may take a few years, but for a homeowner who intends to sell their Weston home waiting may be a problem.

Insulation comes in many different types, some of which resist heat more effectively. Adding more insulation or replacing what is already present with a more effective alternative may each be beneficial, depending on the specifics of your Weston property.

Attics and walls

There really isn’t much to be done with the insulation in the exterior walls that was used when you Weston home was built, it is what it is and changing it would be a monumental task. The ceiling however, is a horse of a different color. There is insulation that can be blown in place and there are roles of insulation that can simply be laid down. The blowing of insulation will need to be done by a service that does it for you. The roles of insulation can be done by you, make sure you wear gloves if you choose to do it yourself.

Having freshly laid insulation is definitely a plus when a couple thinking about buying your Weston house is looking around. It isn’t cheap, but if it makes the difference in selling you Weston property or not, it isn’t that expensive.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

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OK you have done any necessary repairs, cleaning, and completing many other activities. As a Weston home owner wishing to sell their house you reach the stage where they receive an offer and that is the idea right? The fortunate may find themselves entertaining more than one at a time, or with an ideal offer dropped in their lap. Knowing how to judge and deal with these offers is necessary and sometimes difficult.

You’re selling you Weston home and as a seller you need to remember that what you paid for a property probably has little to do with what someone will offer you.  While appreciating a good property is wise, home sellers should allow their real estate agents to guide them to a better understanding of the area and current market in order to determine what a fair price for your Weston house is.

The things that determine a fair price are mainly what Weston properties have sold in the past 90 days in your area that are similar to your home.  Another consideration that appraisers will consider is what other Weston homes are you competing against. Remember that if the bank has a REO like yours at a huge discount, that it will affect the amount someone will pay for your Weston property.

Once you have an offer naturally the price is the key factor, but not the only one. For example, a prospective buyer who offers a great price but couldn’t borrow $.10 without a gun may not be able to follow through and get a mortgage. MSN Real Estate notes such cases can and do waste a significant amount of seller time and effort. If a buyer’s financial situation is unclear but the sellers are interested, this is a perfect time to say “No problem” I’ll have my mortgage broker contact you to let you know exactly what types of loans you would be eligible for.

Two Tips

TIP #1   Make sure that you have in your contract that the buyer must apply and receive approval for the loan within a short period of time, say 7 days. This lets you know quickly whether or not you have a real buyer or not so you can entertain other offers.

TIP #2   Accept back-up offers during the time while you are determining whether your initial offer is going to be able to qualify and close.  In order to do this it should be included in the contract that you and the initial buyer sign.  This does a couple of things, it lets the first buyer know they better get their act together quickly or they could lose the Weston dream home they are hoping to buy.  Secondly, it allows you to have a back up offer in the wings if the first offer falls apart.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

Buyers and sellers each face their own challenges, but for many the two processes go together. Most families, even Weston home owners cannot afford to hold multiple homes, so the decision to move generally means both buying a new one and selling the current property.

buying and selling at the same time

Those attempting to both sell their Weston home and buy a new one may feel overwhelmed by the combination, and can benefit from turning to their Realtor for help. While some Realtors work only with home sellers or home buyers, others may be prepared to help with both tasks. If not, their Weston real estate firm may still serve both needs, or they may recommend an experienced colleague.

Buying first

Many experts note it may be impossible to perform the closings for both deals on the same day for any number of reasons. For example, when moving to another state, or even a shorter distance, simple travel time may render such an arrangement impossible or impractical for all parties. Even if the two deals are closed on dates very close together, it still can be problematic.

If you are buying first, Weston homeowners must be prepared to temporarily cover the cost of two households. If the first home does not yet have a buyer, or the deal is not yet finalized, the owner must be certain to maintain the property in good condition.  This can be difficult with the distractions of moving into a new home, but it is an absolute necessity for a sale.

Selling first

When selling your Weston home first, the most immediate problem becomes the need for a place to live between the two transactions. Those fortunate enough may have relatives or friends living near their destination, and can try staying with them briefly.

Another option, however, is to rent the home. Home buyers may be willing to rent their new purchase back to the previous owners for a short period of time while the other side of the process goes through.

As an advantage, owning only one Weston home at a time means coping with fewer overlapping responsibilities, as well as providing the financial advantages of making the proceeds of the sale available for the purchase immediately.

The National Association of Realtors recommends taking some time at the beginning of the process to determine whether it will be easier to buy or sell. A real estate agent can help with this, clarifying the market conditions in both relevant neighborhoods to figure out which aspect will be more difficult.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buyer’s Agents vs. Seller’s Agents

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process

Continue reading »]]>  

Our entire site has been built with the belief that a good Realtor makes a huge difference when selling a Weston property. Home buyers and sellers all can benefit greatly from the services of a real estate agent. While most agents work exclusively with sellers, some serve only buyers.  And a few Weston Realtors may assist both. Homeowners planning a move may find one agent willing to help sell their current home and shop for a new one.

One thing an agent does in either case is help negotiate the sale. This may include improvements or repairs to make to your Weston home as well as proposing modifications to a deal, such as one side agreeing to pay the majority or all of the closing costs in exchange for another concession. They also will ensure that the deal agreed to is the same one written in the official, legal and binding contract.

Buyers’ agents

A buyer’s agent is typically responsible for helping his or her clients find, evaluate and negotiate for a new Weston home. To make the best use of an agent’s services, home buyers need to communicate their needs effectively. If they need to live close to a certain area, have access to commuter transportation or want room for a garden, their agent needs to know, and good ones will ask, they know all of the right questions to ask so as not to waste your time or theirs.

Home buyers should know that the legal status of agents varies somewhat by state, so they can perform some functions in one region that might require a real estate attorney or other professional in another.  If you have any questions as to the legality of using a buyer’s agent to help you find and buy a home in Weston, just go to the Department of Professional Regulations and search for buyers agent and read up on it.

Sellers’ agents

When selling your Weston home we always recommend using Realtor and we have a great one right her on our site, just click any of the links at the top of the page for buying, selling or renting a home and you will go directly to their information page.

Many Weston agents will want to list your home for at least 90 days. Their reasoning is it takes a little while for the marketing dollars they will spend to develop traction and start to get results. Remember, you only need one buyer not a hundred.  The length of time that the listing agreement is for is totally negotiable and I feel that 6 months is adequate.

After the listing agreement is signed your agent will discuss showings, repairs and acceptable offers and start to work for you.  Remember  that they spend their money to attract buyers for you & they earn zero if they can’t produce one in the listing time period.

Buying or Selling, you need a mortgage broker

Selling- Why you need a home inspector

Buying: Why you need a home inspector

What is a Corner to Corner paint job

Why you need to offer a home warranty

Fixed rate or variable, which is right for you

Should you attempt to sell your home yourself?

What is a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a short sale property?

Should I try to buy a REO property?

What should I fix in my home and what should I leave alone

Is painting necessary, inside and outside

How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

Should I consider selling my home to an investor

Should I consider a lease option (as seller)

Should I consider a lease option (as buyer)

Buying REOs good bad or ugly

Why you should use a Realtor

Updates to consider when selling your Weston home

Evaluating offers

Adding insulation

Buying and selling at the same time

The most important room in your Weston Home

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Don’t be home for showings

How a real estate agent helps home sellers

Placing an offer on a Weston home

Finding A Good Mortgage Broker

Are you sitting on the fence & waiting to buy?

Misunderstandings in the home buying process