Real Estate Articles Worth Reading

When you set out to buy your first home it can be pretty daunting. You are making the largest investment of your life so those butterflies in your stomach can easily get in the way of making sound decisions.

When you have never done something before there will always be a learning curve. This certainly fits the description of buying your first home.

In this exceptional guide put together by @Raleigh Realty Ryan Fitzgerald explains the first time home buying process in depth. Some of the important considerations for buying a first home is getting your financial house in order before you even start looking at homes.

Meeting with a qualified mortgage professional who can get you pre-approved is an important consideration and a smart place to start. Being prepared is half the battle when buying for the first time.

Finding an exceptional real estate agent to work with is another smart consideration. Real Estate agents are a dime a dozen. You should find someone that knows the local area well and specializes in working with buyers.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to home buying tips. This is truly a mega guide that you will surely get something out of.

After selling real estate for close to thirty years one of the things that often times amuses me is how bent out of shape a seller will get when a buyer asks for a closing cost credit.

The usual reaction is why in the world should I pay for the buyers closing costs. They will typically tell me I should tell the buyer to pay for their own darn closing costs!

This is where my rational explanation of what closing cost credits are and how they work in a home sale. Sellers need to understand that giving a closing cost credit is often times the only way to put a sale together. When a buyer asks for a closing credit it is usually for a specific purpose surrounding their financing.

What sellers need to realize is that the only thing they should be focuses on is what they are netting from the sale not the fact a buyer has asked for a credit.

For example if a home is on the market for $300,000 and the buyer asks for a credit of $5000 at closing this is no different than a seller getting an offer for $295,000. The seller nets the same exact thing.

You don't know how often a seller will not think I got a great offer but I wish there was no closing cost credit. It is illogical but usually once explained the seller will come to their senses.

Sometimes seller concessions or closing cost credits help buyers make repairs for things they otherwise would not have the money to complete without the sellers financial assistance.

Maybe carpets need replacing or rooms need to be painted. Buyers can be strapped for cash and don't have the funds to do these things. Offers can be structured in a way a buyer can have cash on hand to make these improvements.

In the article you will see a complete explanation of how closing cost credits work.

Are you looking to purchase a home in the Metrowest Massachusetts area but have certain expectations of what you need in a home? Maybe you have been searching for a home closer to Boston and realize that you will be living in a little shack if anything.

Many home buyers start their search and have the goal of living as close to Boston as possible. They don't necessarily want to be in the city but want a suburb just outside of the city.

What happens next is a dose of reality. The word affordable does not go hand in hand with living just outside the city. It is just not possible.

One of the areas however that many buyers are flocking to is known as Metrowest. There are many excellent choices in and around the Metrowest area. You can see the real estate review for Grafton and Northbridge here where I share my local expertise. Both of these towns have become popular destinations spots west of route 495.

You can get a nice house but don't have to have a wad of cash as compared to what you will look at closer to the city. Both Grafton and Northbridge are excellent choices that offer a wide variety of housing styles.

One of the questions that some potential home buyers or renters will ask themselves is whether or not renting to own makes sense or not?

If you are in this position do you know what you should be thinking about to make a smart financial decision? Many people do not when it comes to this type of real estate transaction.

Typically those who are considering rent to own have some kind of financial constraint that is stopping them from making a straight purchase. It could be that the credit scores are not up to snuff to get a decent mortgage rate or to even qualify to buy at all.

Renting to own a home in this scenario could be a smart alternative. One of the other common reasons to engage in a rent to own scenario is when a buyer does not have enough down payment funds saved.

A rent to own property allows a person to take a portion of the agreed upon rent each month and have it applied to the purchase price. It is almost like building equity in a property you don't own.

There can be some downsides however when renting to own. For example lets say you lock yourself into purchasing a home for a certain price and a date by which you will purchase and the real estate market takes a dive. Under this circumstance you could be buying into a poor situation.

Another would be your life circumstances changing where by purchasing the home no longer makes sense.

These are things you should consider when entering into a rent to own contract.

Determining the exact value of a home is not easy - in fact it is impossible. There is no such thing as an absolute value. The saying one mans trash is another mans treasure can certainly be applied to the value of a home.

One buyer can see the beauty is a certain property and be willing to pay a lot of money for it while another buyer could have no interest whatsoever.

In real estate however you can establish a range in which a home should sell for based upon what other like properties have closed at. This is the most popular method used for establishing value and one banks rely on to lend money.

In the article you will see an excellent explanation of how to answer the question "how much is my home worth'?.

Chris Severn does a terrific job reaching out to a few real estate experts to share their thoughts on valuing real estate including an appraiser and a few Realtors including myself who have been in the business for quite a few years.

Take a look and see if "market value" in the article meets your definition.

The Metrowest Massachusetts belt is officially compromised of nine different towns that are located about 30 to 40 miles west of Boston. Although there are only nine officially towns there are a number of other communities in close proximity.

I am not sure that most people actually know what the towns are but that Metrowest is considered a general area near Framingham - Hopkinton.

If you are considering buying a home in the Metrowest region make sure you check out this comprehensive guide I have put together.

Reviews of quite a few towns have been provided. Some of the towns are part of the official nine and others are within a 10 mile radius of the area.

One of the unique things about our area is that towns can vary from one another quite a bit. Real Estate values fluctuate substantially from one community to the next. A large part of the real estate values depend on the towns school system and proximity to major highways.

You will see community reviews for Franklin, Framingham, Milford and Southborough in this review at Hulique News. Within the article however you will see quite a few other references to these other communities featured in a real estate guide at Bundlr and another at Storify. These two content sharing tools do the perfect job of showcasing numerous towns in the area.

If you have considered moving to this area of Massachusetts to purchase a home make sure you check out this information!

The subject of whether to remodel your home and stay put or sell and find something different is a popular topic. Frankly there is no right or wrong answer for most people.

What you have to do is analyze your personal situation and really look hard at what is best. In a situation like this it is often helpful to make a checklist. Put together the pro's and con's of both selling and renovating.

Use your checklist as a guide and rank each item in terms of importance.

In her informative article @Anita Clark looks at remodeling vs selling and gives us some things that should really be considered. If you find this is something you will be tackling in the near future make sure you have a peak at Anita's advice.

While nothing is cast in stone for every individual, Anita will give you some smart things to consider when deciding between a remodel or sale.

Are you thinking about buying real estate in Southborough Massachusetts? Maybe you are relocating in from out of state? Some buyers who live in the area actually strive to get into the town. Whatever the case may be Southborough is a great place to be!

It is considered one of the finer communities to live in when looking into the Metrowest Massachusetts area. Be prepared however because Southborugh is a bit pricy when compared to other towns.

The housing stock and turnover ratio is also a lot less. Once people move into Southborough they end up staying for a while!

Take a look at the guide which will be helpful in educating you on what you need to know about the town and the real estate market. The picture above is Fitzgerald's store which is a famous town landmark. It is adjacent to the train which takes commuters into Boston daily.

Feel free to reach out with any question you may have on Southborough or any other the other local towns.

This may sound harsh but being in the real estate industry for the past twenty eight years I can tell you with certainty that Realtors are a dime a dozen!

What may come as shocking is the fact that 94% of the business is done by 6% of the agents. While most businesses follow an 80/20 rule that is certainly not the case in real estate.

It is easy to get a real estate license. In fact it is far too easy! Take a course and get your license - that is about it. Does not seem right when you think about the fact you are dealing with most peoples largest asset.

This makes it critical for consumers to do a good job picking a real estate agent to work with. Far too many do not take the necessary steps to ensure making a wise choice.

When choosing an agent to work with you need to do your homework or you could very easily get caught with a DOLT! So how do you go about making a wise choice?

Ask the right questions! In the article you will see 27 excellent interview questions to ask a Realtor. When you ask good questions the odds go up considerably in working with a half decent agent. Don't want to take the time? The don't complain when you have a bad experience. It really is that simple folks.

One of the biggest criteria that many first time home buyers have if they have school age children or are planning a family is to have a good school system for their kids. What many don't realize is just how much a school system can impact real estate values. Like it or not a good school system in a town can raise the values of homes quite a bit. Buyers who are looking to get into creme of the crop locations often times can get priced out of the market.

One of the things buyers are constantly faced with is balancing their expectations in a home purchase with delivering a great education for their children. This can sometimes be a daunting task as a buyer can get left out in the cold when it comes to housing selections when their budget does not meet their expectations.

In the article I take a look at how schools can have a dramatic affect on home values. How much more are people willing to pay to have a good school system? Does the proximity to a school make any difference in the minds of a home buyer?

What are buyers willing to give up in order to get their children into a stellar school system.

These are some of the questions I take a look at in the article. After reading you will learn just how important schools are to not only this with kids but buyers who don't have them.

Lastly what about seniors that could care less about schools? How do they fit into the schooling equation?

Have you been hearing how real estate markets have been taking a breather? While all real estate is local there are some areas where market activity has decreased by a pretty sizable margin. Do you have any idea why this is occurring?

I am here to shed some light and let you know the reason! It is largely attributable to the fact that first time buyers are not buying homes like they once were. The natural assumption is to believe it is because mortgages are harder to come by. While this is in fact on of the reasons it is not the only one. In fact far from it!

There are quite a few reasons why the younger generation is not purchasing homes. In the article I take an in depth look as to why this is happening.

Take a look and see if you agree with the reasons why first time home buyers are not purchasing homes. Do you think this is going to change anytime soon or is something more lasting?

What are the costs associated with buying a home? This is a popular question among first time home buyers who have never gone through the process before. There are in fact numerous expenses that a home buyer is faced with. Many of these expenses are a normal part of a real estate transaction.

While many of the home buying fees are mandatory and can't be avoided there are also quite a few that would be considered optional.

Many of the costs associated with buying a home are tied to the buyers mortgage financing. The costs start with the mortgage application process and don't end until the buyer is sitting at a closing signing all the financial documents. Along the way a buyer will pay for all sorts of things from checking out the structural integrity of the home they are purchasing to checking on things like radon, mold, water quality, lead paint and others.

In the article you will see a complete break down of expenses that a buyer is faced with from start to finish. Even if you are not a first time buyer many of these expenses you may not even remember unless you routinely are buying real estate.

Take a look and enjoy this comprehensive guide to the costs of buying a home!

When you are buying and selling a home there is bound to be lingo used that you have never heard before. In fact it is quite possible your real estate agent will be bringing up terms that they just assume you already know.

Of course we all know that assuming anything is never a good thing! In the article Paul Sian runs us through some of the more common real estate jargon that every buyer and seller should be familiar with.

Take a look and see if there are any terms in his excellent article that you are not familiar with. Having a good understanding of each of these terms is super important especially when you are involved with a real estate transaction!

One of the biggest issues that many consumers face when considering a move is how to time selling their existing home and then buying another. Unless you have boat loads of cash and are able to buy another home without selling this can become a major issue. Unfortunately most people are in the same boat when it comes to buying and selling a home at the same time. Most people do not have the financial means to buy a second home without selling their first.

This makes timing during the process critical. In the article you will see a discussion and important considerations on how to make the process go as smooth as possible.

Most people should plan on listing their home and getting it under agreement before they consider purchasing another. This often comes as a shock to many people.

So many consumers instead try to beat the system with things they think can work, like having a home sale contingency or setting up the sale of their home to include a contingency that says the sale is "subject to finding suitable housing."

While these things are tried every so often, they typically do not work out so well for a number of reasons. You will see why doing either one of these things can lead to getting far less money in your pocket and the real potential in failing to meet your goals all together.

Those who have been through this process before understand that getting their home sold first is the critical component to having success when trying to buy and sell a home at the same time!

When you are buying a home for the first time it can certainly be overwhelming. Many first time home buyers get so caught up in the excitement of buying their first place they lose sight of some things that are really important.

Of course when buying a first home the financial aspect is super critical. Most people love to have an opportunity to save money which is exactly what you will find in this super article put together by @Jacob Grant Property Management

These guys have put together a whole boat load of tips designed for first time home buyers to save some cash as well making sound financial decisions.

Some of the tips you will find include:

1.) Having contingency clauses in your real estate contract that protect your interests as  buyer.

2.) Considering taxes where you are purchasing. Taxes can vary quite a bit from city or town. Make sure you are buying into a community that is worth the taxes for your particular needs.

3.) Have a home inspection! Home inspections are the #1 place where real estate sales fall apart. It is wise to make sure the home you are buying is rock solid.

4.) Shop the mortgage - when buying a home there are tons of types of home loans. Make sure you get the one that fits your financial needs.

5.) Consider all expenses - buying a home involves more than paying the principle, insurance and taxes. Understand all the expenses surrounding your home purchase.

6.) Avoid PMI if possible. PMI stands for private mortgage insurance. This is typically required unless you have a 20% down payment. If you can come up with the 20 percent it will usually make sense to do so.

7.) Are you buying into an HOA? Make sure if you are buying into an HOA you understand exactly what you are getting. Do you like the rules you will be governed by?

8.) Don't over spend on your home - some buyers stretch themselves thin. Make sure you have a reserve fund put aside in case of emergencies.

9.) Bundle your insurance - when buying a home it makes sense to bundle your insurance with your car and anything else you have insurance for. This can save you some serious money!

Take a look at all of these tips and more. While reading the article make sure you check out some of the other excellent resources as well including those from @Kyle Hiscock, @Andrew Fortune, and a few others.

In every industry there are good and bad apples. Real Estate unfortunately is no different. Have you ever felt like you were trying to be up sold when buying a home? The term "up sold" means being coerced into buying a more expensive home.

It seems kind of silly but as @Debbie Drummond explains in her article there are some real estate agents that only think of one thing - the almighty dollar.

I can't even imagine trying to talk a buyer into spending more money than they are comfortable spending just to make a little more money. The difference of what you make by selling a more expensive home is miniscule when thinking about the hit you can take to your reputation.

These kind of tactics are disgusting and there is no place for it in the business. Most people that act this was don't last long in the business.

Take a look at Debbie's article and make sure you have a look at some of her references including those of @Kyle Hiscock @Lynn Pineda @Karen Highland  @Andrew Fortune  and @madisonmortgage.

Making mistakes in real estate is fairly common for those who don't have good guidance from a real estate professional. The best real estate agents will look a seller right in the eye and tell them the truth. They don't sugar coat things because in the end who does that benefit. The answer is nobody!

@Kyle Hiscock  does a nice job of laying out some of the more common perils that plague home owners who do not listed to good advice and end up with home sale failure.

Some of these offenses include:

1.) Overpricing your home - this is the #1 mistake that prevents homes from selling. It is all too common!

2.) Poor photography - one of the most important aspects of selling a home is your photos. Don't blow it!

3.) Poor curb appeal - this goes without saying. Make the outside look as good as the inside.

4.) Over-personalized - having some family photos is fine - having 100 of them is not!

5.) Cluttered - having too much stuff is never good because a buyer cannot get a good sense of space.

6.) Dirty and smelly - This should be a no-brainer but some people live differently than others.

7.) Mold - this one will scare away most buyers. If you got fungus growing in your home don't you think it would be smart to get rid of it?

8.) Choosing a bad agent - look all Realtors are not the same. Some are great and others not so much. If you want to have success in selling your home pick a winner.

Have a look as Kyle discusses these things and more in his excellent article.

When you are buying a home it really is who you listen to that matters. Good advice can make or break a real estate transaction. This is why having the right professional in your corner is an important facet of purchasing a home.

In her fantastic article @Karen Highland puts together a massive guide explaining the home buying process in detail.

Karen tackles as number of prominent issues surrounding the real estate industry at the moment including affordability, interest rates, buyer qualification and pricing among many others.

If you are going to be buying a home in the near future this is well worth the read. There are some who are staying on the sidelines and not purchasing homes which could be a mistake given the historical low interest rates.

Will these low rates last forever? Of course not! At some point rates will rise and while this will not affect tons of buyers from purchasing a home it will cost them money out of their pocket in the long run.

See all of the myths that Karen has presented and count how many of them you believe were true. It just may surprise you.

There comes a point in time when you have owned a home and realize that it is too large for your needs. Usually life circumstances change and the need for a castle is no longer necessary.

It is at this time that downsizing starts to become a very important topic in your household. Downsizing is not easy. We all get accustomed to our surroundings and going backwards is sometimes not all that easy!

It can be done however if you have a proper plan in place. @Debbie Drummond  writes an excellent article about how to downsize. She provides actionable tips along with all the things you should be considering in your move.

Does it make sense just to go into a smaller home? What about condo living? Is owning a condo something I could do? Will I not like being under other peoples rules?

On the other hand owning a condo could free up more of my time as I will no longer have to think about maintaining a home.

These are all the things Debbie discusses and more in her terrific article. If you are thinking about heading to a small place or have thought about buying a condo, make sure you read Debbie's sound advice

Are you thinking about a move to Massachusetts? Are you going to be relocated into the Metrowest Massachusetts area? Make sure you check out this excellent guide which previews a number of popular communities for buying real estate.

Some of the featured towns for buying a home include Hopkinton, Framingham. Holliston, Franklin, Bellingham. Ashland, Franklin, Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Milford, Northbridge and others.

All of these towns have similarities as well as vast differences among one another. Take a look to find out about demographics, schools, entertainment, prices and more.

Within the Spunge sharing tool you will find numerous links to other articles that have been written about these fine communities. If you are interested in learning more about the real estate market this information will surely help.

One of the most important things when buying a home is choosing the location. The location of a home can have a huge impact on the market value. Most buyers will initially begin their search by finding a few cities and towns that may be of interest. From there the search is typically narrowed down to more specific areas.

There are so many factors in choosing a desired neighborhood. One of the problems however is that many buyers do not consider them enough before starting their search.

They may find a property that they find so appealing that they forget about the surroundings. This can often lead to foolish buying decisions.

In the article you will see some of the most important factors in choosing a neighborhood. These are things that should always be considered when purchasing a home. Some of these considerations include the school system, highway access, crime rate, sidewalks and lighting along with many others.

Take a look at the article and you will be enlightened by just how many things you should be thinking about when picking an appropriate neighborhood.

Over at Rebel Mouse I have put together another guide for those who are being moved into the Metrowest Massachusetts area and are going to be purchasing a home.

The guide at Rebel Mouse goes through a number of different towns that are worth considering for a real real estate purchase.

Take a look at the Metrowest realty guide and if you have any questions about any of these towns please let me know.

If you have  never been to Rebel Mouse it is an excellent platform for your real estate marketing or any other business for that matter.

Being a real estate agent you meet all kinds of people. I am sure just like any other profession you encounter some really good down to earth folks and others that you just can't trust.

What is abundantly clear is there are many people who don't know much about the real estate business. The problem is many Realtors assume that buyers should know things they often don't.

In the article you will see things that home buyers do that real estate agents hate. If more Realtors spent extra time at an initial consultation many of these things could be avoided. Of course there are times when a real estate agent will do all of these things and still get burned.

Take a look and see what not to do to get on the bad side of a Realtor!