Real Estate Articles Worth Reading

Do you enjoy reading outstanding real estate content? If so you are in luck because Kevin Vitali has put together a wonderful round-up of outstanding real estate articles.

Each month over on Google Plus we hand select the best real estate articles. These are the posts that really help out buyers, sellers and real estate agents in a big way!

In the November compilation there are 13 awesome articles worth reading. Some of the topics include: mortgage tips for first time buyers, what to know about condo ownership, how does seller's agency work, what to know about buying an older home, and how accurate are real estate market reports.

There are just a few of the topics that are discussed in this round-up. You will find many more worth looking over.

When you are buying a home for the first time it is real easy to make mistakes. Buying a home after all can be a complicated process.

If you are not in the real estate or mortgage industry it is no surprise it is possible to make one of these 14 home buying mistakes.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure you will find a detailed look at fourteen things you should avoid doing before or during the purchase of a home.

Doing one of these things could end up costing you your dream home! Think I am kidding? Well I am not! Many buyers have made these mistakes and it has cost them dearly.

Do yourself a favor and review what you should not do before buying a home.

Having a real estate and mortgage pro in your corner will certainly help as they will more than likely warn you about these things.

If you enjoy the advice on what not to do when buying a house, please share the article socially or give it a Scoop!

In real estate there are essentially three common types of agency. Sellers agency where the real estate agent represents the seller, buyers agency where the agent represents the buyer and dual agency where the agent represents both.

Dual agency frankly is the worst thing they have every allowed in real estate sales. In fact a number of states have banned dual agency.

Why is it bad? When you agree to single agent dual agency the agent you initially hired to represent you no longer does!

Lets say you are selling your home and hire an agent because you think they are very knowledgeable and have given you great advice.

You hire this agent thinking when you get an offer you'll continue to get sound advice. When the home inspection happens and the buyer is asking for repairs on certain items the agent will be in your corner giving you more guidance.

Fat chance! Yes you read that correctly. If you agree to dual agency your agent will no longer be able to give you any guidance by law. This in a nut shell is why dual agency benefits no one but the agent.

Take a look at the detailed article that covers exactly why dual agency should be rejected.

if you enjoy the advice, give it a share or scoop.

When you are buying or selling a home the inspection can be a significant hurdle to getting to the closing table. Some homes are picture perfect and the home inspection reveals the same. Other properties can be major disaster areas.

For a buyer it is obviously important not to purchase a lemon. An exceptional home inspector can be a god send in a real estate transaction. There are some really good home inspectors out there. Unfortunately, there are also some bad apples as well.

From a real estate agents perspective delivering accurate facts is very important. A close second, however is how the information is delivered to a buyer.

Some inspectors understand that how they say something can have a major impact on a buyers decision process. The great inspectors will go out of their way to explain issues in a way that buyers understand exactly what they are getting themselves into.

There are some inspectors, however, that enjoy making small problems seem like the end of the world. You would call this being unprofessional.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I take a look at what real estate agents want from a home inspector.

Take a look and see if you agree with what a home inspector should be doing. The best inspectors are very clear in their delivery and have a strong knowledge base of common issues.

The best home inspectors are not drama queens.

In real estate there are always myths floating around that far too many people believe. One of the most common categories filled with myths is the real estate open house.

Far too many people believe that these are a necessary marketing activity to sell a home. In fact, that is far from the case.

What many home owners fail to understand is that they are actually putting their possessions in harms way. Most people have no idea how many thefts take place from an open house.

Lots of real estate agents don't want sellers to know this because the open house is a great place for a Realtor to prospect for business.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, you will see a detailed review of the most common real estate open house myths. If you are going to be selling a home what you need to know is that an open house is completely unnecessary.

Quite often the wrong people will be coming through your home. Keep in mind anyone is allowed through the door. There is no screening.

You might become one of the unfortunate ones who loses a treasured valuable. Don't let this happen to you. Discuss open houses with whoever you are going to be interviewing to sell your home.

Find out up front in the agent is going to hold an open house. Make sure you have a look at the above reference for all the reasons why you should skip having an open house.

If you enjoy the article, give it a scoop or share socially.

In the real estate industry there are myths that over the years have turned into reality in the minds of many buyers and sellers.

What happens when myth turns to reality? Bad decisions are made! These decisions of course can cost people money in their pocket!

You want a quick example - do you know how many people actually believe that Zillow home values are accurate? Far too many!

When people base decisions based on an algorithm, mistakes are made.

Want another? How about dual agency! Don't know what dual agency is? It's when one real estate agent works with both the buyer and the seller on the same house.

Neither party has representation. The only person who wins in the real estate agent!

One of my favorite myths is an open house being needed to sell a home - WRONG!

An open house is an invitation to get robbed. Real buyers schedule showings. The people who visit an open house are generally the unqualified, your neighbors and potential thieves!

In his latest article, Xavier De Buck covers many of the most common real estate myths that cost buyers and sellers.

Take a look at his excellent article and stop believing these myths!

Without a doubt real estate markets all around the country are favoring home sellers at the moment. In many locations home values have risen dramatically.

Pricing is going up due to a significant demand for housing coupled with low inventory. These two forces have come together to create the perfect storm for sellers.

Buyers on the other hand are being locked out of being able to purchase a home. In fact in numerous locations there are multiple offers and bidding wars on homes. Given this environment, sellers need to be cognizant of how to handle multiple offers and bidding wars.

There is no set rule of thumb which is why I have gone ahead and created a detailed article over at Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

In the article you will learn all the different scenarios on how to deal with multiple offers at the same time. As a seller you should be aware that the highest offer is not always the best offer for a number of reasons.

This can be especially useful information to have when a buyer is using an escalation clause. Believe it or not some homes can sell for more money than they should!

You will see quite a few tips on how to ensure the best outcome when dealing with multiple bidders.

By using these tips, you'll ensure that you actually end up having a closing. Some sellers make mistakes by choosing an offer than never successfully gets to conclusion.

If you enjoy the advice, please give the article a share on your social sites or Scoop.it here!

You list your home for sale and make preparations to move to your next place. The only problem is things are not going as you expected them to.

You have had countless showings and not a single bite. There has been quite a bit of feedback by numerous buyers. Some of the things they mention relate to the condition of the home. Other comments are more direct and say things like "the home is overpriced."

One of the things more sellers ask their real estate agent about is when to reduce the homes price. Knowing when to reduce the price of your property is obviously a key component in getting it sold.

There are usually some very clear signs when a home should be reduced. In the article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure you will see some clear indicators that will show you it's time for a price reduction.

It goes without saying that if your home has been on the market for much longer than all the homes that were your competition, it's time for a different way of thinking.

The longer a home sits on the market the greater the chance that there will be a bigger gap between the list and sale price.

When homes languish on the market buyers are far more likely to make lower offers. The number one question buyers ask real estate agents is "how long has the home been for sale?"

The answer gives a clear indicator to the buyer what they should offer.

Understand when the right time is to reduce your home price!

If you are going to be buying or selling a home it is quite likely you have used the home search site called Zillow. Zillow in fact is an excellent site for searching for properties for sale in your desired area.

They offer great information that is hard to find elsewhere. While there is usually good and bad with many online sites, Zillow is especially bad when it comes to their online evaluation tool.

Zillow calls this their Zestimate of value. People are constantly asking how accurate are Zillow estimates. The answer is putrid. They do an absolutely horrible job at evaluating property values.

This should not come as a shocker as it is just an algorithm. Zillow doesn't know if you just dumped $50,000 into home renovations. They don't know if you just added a gorgeous swimming pool or tons of landscaping.

When it comes to the details about your home or at least the ones that matter, they know very little.

What Zillow does is confuse the public with their inaccurate valuations.

Unfortunately, lots of people have no idea the information is downright horrible when it comes to evaluating market value.

Do yourself a favor and never trust a Zillow Zestimate. If you want to know the value of your home call a local real estate appraiser or real estate agent who know the market like the back of their hand.

When you do something else you are asking for trouble!

For quite a long time I have been expounding on the importance of pricing your home correctly. There is nothing that will stop a home sale dead in its tracks than being overpriced.

Unfortunately, getting the price right is as much of an art as it is a science. In his latest article, Tom Horn discuss ten appraisal mistakes new agents make and how to avoid them.

The first on Tom's list really resonates with me because I see it all the time - letting the seller dictate the price. One of the reasons why this happens is real estate agents inherently don't want to lose the opportunity to list a home.

The thinking is that if they don't agree to take the listing at the sellers price, someone else will. In many cases this is true, however, that doesn't mean it is a wise decision to take an overpricing listing. It isn't!

The second on Tom's list is using price per square foot to calculate value. Using price per square foot will cause one thing - the wrong price. It is an archaic means of arriving at value as there are far more things at play than the size of the home.

For example. price per square foot does not take into account location, the lot and a host of other variables that are important in calculating home values.

These are just two of the appraisal mistakes Tom discusses. Take a look at all of the others and if you find the information valuable give it a share!

Buying an older home can be an exciting adventure as these type of properties are usually filled with tremendous charm and character. While there are many upsides to owning an older home, there are also some downsides as well.

When purchasing a treasured part of history it is important to know the problems found in older homes. Buying an antique is nothing like purchasing a younger home. You need to be keenly aware of what you are getting yourself into.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I provide numerous tips on what to look out for when purchasing an older home or antique.

While the inspection will reveal if a number of these problems exist, it is also important to be educated beforehand.

Three of the most important issues you should know how to deal with up front include lead paint, asbestos and knob & tube wiring. These are three common problems that can quickly stop a home sale.

Each one of these items is very expensive to remove from an older home. They also present significant health concerns if not dealt with properly.

While buying an older home can be worthwhile, it makes sense to have a complete understanding of the property.

Getting the home inspected by a top notch inspector is paramount. Do yourself a favor and investigate the eleven potential issues found in the article.

If you enjoy the information and find it helpful, give it a share.

Buying and selling a home can be complicated enough without some fancy real estate jargon confusing things even further.

One of the most important things, however, that you need to understand when buying or selling a home is agency disclosure. Essentially who represents who in the sale.

What is dual agency? This is a question that lots of buyers and sellers don't understand. Frankly, there are quite a few real estate agents who don't understand it either.

Dual agency, depending on where you are located can mean one of two things.

In some states dual agency refers to when a single agent represents both the buyer and seller in one real estate transaction.

A good example would be a real estate agent having a listing for a house and a buyer calling that agent to view it. The agent listing the home could become a "dual agent" and work for both the buyer and seller.

In other states, dual agency is when two separate agents from the same firm each represent the buyer and seller. In this scenario the buyer and seller have representation from their own agent.

Dual agency when one agent represents both the buyer and seller should be outlawed. This kind of arrangement does nothing to help consumers. The only benefit goes to the real estate agent who essentially makes a double commission.

The agent is not allowed to perform the same services they would if they were a respective buyer's agent or seller's agent.

Both buyer and seller give up their right to have good solid counseling throughout the transaction.

If you are going to be buying or selling a home make sure you understand how agency law works in your state.

If dual agency is one agent representing both parties - STAY AWAY! There is nothing good that can come out of this situation.

One of the questions that lots of sellers will ask a real estate agent is "do open houses work to sell homes". Unfortunately, there are a lot of Realtors who will mislead homeowners into thinking that an open house is a necessary marketing activity.

The truth of the matter is that open houses are completely unnecessary to sell a home in the digital age.

Real buyers are on their computers and smart phones everyday looking at real estate. When they find something they really want to see they schedule an appointment with their Realtor.

There are a few reasons why real estate agents promote open houses so aggressively. They are as follows:

• Agents love to use a sellers home as an opportunity to prospect for future business. Open houses are a great way to meet people.
• The chance to double side a deal is possible if the agent gets real lucky.
• Branding - who wouldn't want to have their signs plastered all over the neighborhood on a weekend.

So why shouldn't a seller have an open house? There are a few simple answers. An open house brings anyone under the sun into someones home. There is no screening. People will be coming through the door who don't belong.

Open houses are a real security risk to homeowners. Unqualified buyers and the risk of theft are prevalent at open houses!

Does this sound like something you would be interested in? Lots of real estate agents will tell you an open house is great. They are saying that for their own interests NOT yours.

Sell your home without an open house by hiring a great agent and pricing your home correctly.

Buying a home for the first time can be exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. There is a huge learning curve when buying a home which makes it very easy to make mistakes.

In fact, without having a mortgage professional and a solid real estate agent in your corner the likelihood of making a financial mistake is high.

Of course nobody want to make a financial mistake! This is why you will see some great advice published online. The latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure is no exception.

Take a look as Luke Skar has share twelve mortgage tips for first time home buyers. You will see timely guidance on what you should and shouldn't do when buying a home for the first time.

Many of the tips focus in on the financial aspect of buying a home. When you follow these first time buyer tips you will be in a much better position to have a smooth purchase.

You will find many mortgage tips for first time buyers that you might never have considered. Luke has been in the mortgage business for quite a while so he knows a thing or two about providing solid guidance.

If you enjoy these first time home buyer tips, please consider sharing to your social media accounts or on Scoop.it.

As we approach retirement age there are lots of things to consider from a financial standpoint. Should we continue to live in the same home or purchase something smaller. Does buying a home that has all the living area on one floor make sense? Should I purchase a condo instead of a home? What about buying a second home does that make sense for me?

These are are the kinds of things retirees think about. The right answer can vary from person to person. In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I provide some guidance on what to think about as you approach retirement.

See the best tips for buying a retirement home. Use the advice to make sound decisions - ones that you won't regret later!

You will see lots of tips and advice centering on your living situation. Some of the items people never think about and end up making mistakes because of the lack of thought.

Take a look and if you enjoy the article give it a share on your social channels.

Having been in the real estate business for nearly thirty years, I see people making mistakes all the time. One of the more common mistakes that both buyers and sellers make is not understand different types of real estate values.

Quite often people use different terms and interchange them like they have the same meaning. Unfortunately, they do not.

I like to call these appraisal myths. For example, so many sellers think that assessed value, market value, appraised value and even a Zillow value are the same thing.

This could not be further from the truth. In fact these values are quite often VERY different from one another.

The assessed value of course is what the city of town uses as a basis for collecting taxes.

The market value is generally considered what a buyer and seller agree is a fair price - a meeting of the minds so to speak.

An appraised value is done by a professional appraiser who uses a certain method of calculating value either by using comparable sales approach or income approach (valuation methods).

A Zillow value is an algorithm that guesses at home value and is often considered one big joke by the the real estate industry.

Using these real estate terms interchangeably is just one real estate appraisal myth. In the article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure you will see five other examples of common appraisal myths.

Take a look at the article and if you enjoy the appraisal tips give it a Scoop or share it on your social media channels.

Like any other business you should be striving to hire the best person to represent your interests. If you are selling a home it becomes vital to choose an agent who will do what it takes to get the job done.

Unfortunately, lots of people make very poor choices when picking a real estate agent. It is actually not all that hard to do. Quality real estate agents are in fact out numbered by less skilled agents.

Why is this you might be thinking? The answer is simple. The barriers to getting into the real estate industry are far too low. This creates an environment where people who don't belong in the business are holding a license.

What this creates is a lot of disappointment, especially among those who have hired an agent to sell their home.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I cover the reasons why sellers will fire their real estate agent. Quite often a sellers disappointment starts as a minor problem and then blossoms into something bigger as the mistakes pile up.

Sellers always want their agent to communicate well and for whatever reason lots of agents lack this skill. The number one reason an agent gets fired will in fact be a lack of communication.

Most people understand that pricing a home correctly also is the #1 reason why a home will not sell.

If more agents paid attention to pricing their clients homes correctly there would be far less anguish.

Take a look and see all the rest of the reasons why a seller will want to fire their real estate agent. If you are new to the business this will be a great read.

If you enjoy the article, give it a share or scoop.

Writing real estate blog articles is something that has become more and more popular among Realtors as well as just about every other business.

As you can imagine there is a lot of competition to win business. In order to do so, your real estate blog must stand out from a crowd.

Unfortunately, many bloggers don't focus on quality and instead just pump out as many articles as they can. This is a big mistake and one that will probably not get you very far.

In order to win at blogging you need to have exceptional content that people really want to sink their teeth into.

Far too much content you see is just the same thing that has been regurgitated over and over again.

In my article at Contactually, I explain some of the things real estate agents should be doing. For example, I mention community pages as a must have for your blog.

This is the type of real estate content that converts into actual business.

Take a look at the article and if you enjoy the blogging tips, give it a scoop or share socially.

In real estate there are terms that get thrown around by real estate agents all the time. In many instances agents just assume that buyers and sellers know what they mean.

Quite often they have no idea what these real estate terms mean. In some instances real estate jargon can even be confusing to real estate agents.

The perfect example is the real estate term "dual agency". I cannot tell you the number of times real estate agents are confused as to what they can and cannot do when they become a dual agent working for both the buyer and seller.

The real estate term "Zillow estimate" has become quite popular over the years as it is Zillows online estimator tool. Too bad it is almost always inaccurate.  None the less people recognize this real estate terms.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I cover all of the important real estate terms buyers and sellers should have a strong grasp of when in a real estate transaction.

Unfortunately, in many circumstances they do not which can lead to problems.

You will see fifteen or so terms that are really vital to understand. They can all of some kind of influence on your real estate transaction before, during and after a sale.

Take a look at the article on key real estate terms and if you enjoy it, give it a scoop or share socially.

With real estate markets across the country having turned significantly in sellers favor, buyers are often locked out of the home they want to purchase.

Multiple offers and bidding wars have become the rule and not the exception in many places around the country.

Quite often buyers are up against numerous other buyers who want the same home that they do. Frustration mounts when buyers continuously make offers on homes only to lose out to someone else.

One great way to increase your odds of success as a buyer is to use an escalation clause in your offer. An escalation clause allows a buyer to increase their offer to a set amount over the next highest bidder.

By having an escalation clause you dramatically increase the chances of being able to land the home you want.

There is, however, a lot to know about how an escalation clause works. It is important to understand they are a legal part of a contract and you must honor the clause.

In my latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, I go over in-depth everything you need to know about how to make an escalation clause work for you in an offer.

Understanding the "cap price" and the "escalator" are important components to an escalation clause.

If you are a real estate agent reading this it is also important for you to understand how the escalator clause works. Whether you are using one for a buyer or advising the seller - you must understand this concept.

I am sure you have seen the open house signs around your neighborhood for as long as you can remember. Years ago open houses were effective. That was until the internet came along and allowed everyone to search for homes from the privacy of their living room.

Today an open house is nothing more than a real estate agents opportunity to prospect for new business.

Shaking hands with potential home sellers down the street or even a buyer who can only afford a home for $100,000 less than the asking price are what real estate agents do these days.

Rarely ever does an open house become the "reason" why a home sells. Serious buyers schedule showings with their Realtor. Kind of a simple thought process right?

Yet so many real estate agents promote open houses as a regular part of their marketing. Unfortunately, some Realtors don't know any other way of getting potential business.

There is also a significant portion of agents who don't have the backbone to tell a seller than an open house is completely unnecessary to sell their home. They fear if they say no someone else will do it.

Great real estate agents think differently - the educate their clients on what is important. In his article over at Planet Info Wars, Kevin Vitali does a great job explaining the open house conundrum.

What real estate agents do when they promote open houses is create a false sense of hope for home sellers. Quite often the agents manning an open house every weekend are saddled with an overpriced property and terrible marketing.

The next time a real estate agent suggests you need to do an open house - think twice about opening your home up to strangers!

Selling a home without the services of a real estate agent is never easy. Trying to do it on your own in the summertime can be even worse. What many homeowners don't realize is the time and effort that goes into selling a home.

So many people think that putting a for sale sign in the lawn will attract the buyer. In fact it will be easy peazy as the first couple buyers in the door will more than likely submit offers.

If selling as a for sale by owner in the summer was this easy lots more people would be jumping on the bandwagon. Selling as a FSBO unfortunately is far more difficult!

There is a reason why real estate agents get paid so handsomely. It is also the why Realtors have not gone the way of travel agents.

Until you actually try to sell your home as a for sale by owner, you will never truly appreciate how difficult it really is.

One of the most common things people don't realize is the time suck involved. With a FSBO you need to be available at all hours for the buyers schedule, NOT yours. You need to plan on being around at times that can be most inconvenient. If you have little kids you'll quickly understand exactly what I am talking about.

Planning a vacation this summer? Forget about it unless you can stand the thought of putting your home sale on hold as well!

In the article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure you will see all of the drawbacks of selling on your own laid out in detail.

You can then decide if selling as a for sale by owner is really worth it to you. Be sure to check out all of the home selling tips for the summer if this is the route you decide to take.

Most people have had public water as drinking and cooking source in their homes. Far less people have ever had a well for their home.

When buying a home with well water it is vital to understand the difference between these two water sources.

Purchasing a home with a well has different concerns than a public water source. You should have both the well quality and quantity checked when buying a home with a well.

Not having enough water obviously should be a major concern but so should the potential health hazards that can be found in well water.

Both of these issues are discussed in-depth, including what is considered a passing test and what is not.

In the latest article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, you will see comprehensive tips for buying a house that is serviced via well water.

By reading the article you will get a complete understanding of everything that should be of concern when purchasing with an underground water source.

These tips could save you a tremendous amount of money, time and aggravation. Don't underestimate the importance of checking the well. Many buyers skip this vital part of a home inspection.

If you enjoy the tips for buying a home with a well water source, please consider sharing the article socially.

One of the more popular questions real estate agents get all the time from home sellers is why isn't my home selling?

In many situations the answer is pretty clear cut and dry. The seller, however, just doesn't really want to here it.

In fact, one of the most common reasons why a home isn't selling is an improper asking price. Everyday real estate agents see homes being reduced because the initial listing price was clearly wrong.

Pricing a home can be very difficult when you don't have a lot of experience doing it. Consumers rely on Realtors to be accurate with pricing but quite often they aren't. This can create major problems with a home not selling.

Additionally, pricing a home and picking the wrong real estate agent go hand in hand. If you pick a lousy real estate agent you can expect lousy results.

In the article over at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, you will see the most likely causes of why your house isn't selling. It could be more than one thing.

It might not be just the price. For example it could be horrible marketing or photos that don't do your property justice.

You will see the most likely causes and if you are smart will take action. Selling a home doesn't have to be difficult. Unfortunately, some owners make it that way. They are their own worst enemies.

Dual agency can be a confusing term for consumers. Heck there are a lot of real estate agents who can't really explain dual agency well.

In a nutshell dual agency is when a real estate agent works with both the seller and the buyer in a real estate transaction.

Both home buyers and sellers often wonder how dual agency works in a real estate transaction. The answer, unfortunately, is not well for either party!

In dual agency the real estate agent represents both sides in the transaction. A similar analogy would be a lawyer representing both the plaintiff and the defendant. If that doesn't sound completely moronic then I don't know what does.

The fact of the matter is this is exactly how dual agency works in real estate. There is very little benefit for a buyer or seller to use the same real estate agent in a real estate transaction.

One of the biggest benefits of working with a particular agent is to get their counseling and advice. This is why it is highly recommended to interview a number of agents to begin with.

When a Realtor becomes a dual agent they are trying to serve two masters which is impossible to do.

Do you want to know what you should offer on a home? If you are a buyer in a dual agency situation a real estate agent cannot give you any advice on pricing.

The same can be said for the seller. The agent cannot guide them on what to counter offer. All parties in this arrangement lose big except one - THE REAL ESTATE AGENT!

The agent is the only one who benefits from dual agency. It is the exact reason you see some agents arguing that it is perfectly acceptable.

There is one word for this kind of agent and it is GREEDY. Consumers do not benefit from dual agency. It should be outlawed in every state!

If you find the advice here helpful on dual agency, please consider sharing it. There are a lot of consumers that can be helped by reading this article.