By Ted Gilmour If your inspector is only spending a max 2-4hrs (“depending on size and age”) get another inspection by an inspector who will do a thorough investigation and who is not dependent on agent referrals; an unspoken cozy relationship of tit-for-tat reciprocity exists between agents and inspectors. Often when you interview inspectors they [...]
Condos used to be the inexpensive entry into real estate ownership. In Virginia, condo prices were relatively low, monthly fees low, and life was virtually worry free – you didn’t even have to worry about mowing lawns. These days, condo ownership is not so trouble free. In fact, while prices are low, acquiring a condo can [...]
Buying a home is not a simple process. You cannot walk up to a seller, make an offer and exchange the keys for cash. At times we wish it was that simple. However, from the time you make an offer to the time you get the keys in your hot little hand could be as [...]
The MLS is a service that is provided to both real estate agents and real estate buyers. Agents have long understood its value and you will see many of them starting the day by searching the database for the latest properties for sale in their area. For those looking to buy real estate, the MLS [...]
Do you know what a ‘digital signature’ is? It should not be confused with digital certificates. Digital signatures are also not scanned images of your written signature. Real estate technology is such now that special digital signatures can be used to ‘sign’ documents and these digital signatures are legally binding – in fact, they can [...]
Okay – so a home you are interested in is going to have an open house this weekend. Naturally, you’re interested in the property so you’re going to give it a thorough look over. But what are you actually looking for? There are some things you should be looking for, areas that can often be [...]
If you’re a buyer in the real estate market, particularly a first time buyer, then engaging a real estate agent is really a must do. In the majority of cases, engaging an agent is free, yet their assistance can help you save a lot of time and a lot of money. Buying real estate may [...]
If you’re selling your home then you need it to look its best. For most buyers, the last thing they want to do when they move is to start redecorating or landscaping. Of course, there are some bargain hunters around that are looking for homes that need a little TLC. Where does your home fall [...]
There have been several reports around of late that seem to indicate that real estate in Maryland is approaching neutral territory – or an equilibrium. In layman terms, this is a point where there is less than six months worth of stock on the market (real estate for sale) and where demand is relatively flat, [...]
Technology has proven to be a wonderful boon to those looking to buy a home. You can fire up the laptop (or desktop), load up your favorite browser, and spend hours sifting your way through the MLS. For some, this is great – they do spend hours and often it’s as much curiosity as it [...]
If you’re buying a home in Maryland and the sales price is lower than the official valuation used for taxation, you can lodge an appeal. However, it must be lodged between January 1 and June 30 so you don’t have much time. If you are in the final stages of settling, don’t delay that settlement [...]
Although we are currently faced with a buyers market, there’s no reason why you can’t place your home on the market and gain a quick sale. It’s not easy, admittedly, but it’s certainly not impossible. To gain a quick sale, you need a number of factors running for you, many of which you can heavily [...]
There seems to be a trend over the last few years of buyers, and builders, downsizing. If you are one of those considering a move to a small property, there are a few things you need to be aware of first. The most important is the market in general. We often quote the phrase, ‘it’s [...]
If you’re new to home buying then I have no doubts you are filled with both excitement and apprehension. It’s only natural. After all, you are about to make the biggest commitment of your life, buy the most expensive item in your life (unless you’re into expensive collectibles) and join millions of others as property [...]
Real estate used to be the backbone of any investment strategy. As a long term investment, it was secure, could be insured for damages, and if rented out, could produce a small income. For many, the events of recent years has soured this investment channel. Should it, and is real estate still a worth while [...]
If you’re currently leasing your commercial premises and the property becomes available for sale, should you buy or remain a leaseholder? It’s a difficult question yet in the current environment, it is one that is being seen on a daily basis. Like all issues related to real estate ownership, there is no simple answer. There [...]
Finding real estate in Washington DC can be difficult, especially if you have been used to searching by city and suburb. DC, of course, is comprised of neighborhoods rather than suburbs and some search tools are not equipped to handle this. Never fear, there are always solutions to problems. One solution is to find a [...]
A contingency is something that has to be done before another act can proceed. When buying a home, for instance, you have a home inspection contingency as a right – it’s also a form of protection for the buyer. The sales process cannot proceed until the home inspection has been done and the report acted [...]
How can you tell a seller is desperate? It’s not easy but there are some indications. The questions is, as a buyer, should you look for those desperate sellers? A cautious approach is always a good idea and desperate sellers can be ideal for finding homes below market value. Some indications of a desperate seller [...]
Whether you are a seller or buyer, your real estate agent is there to act on your behalf and to help you achieve the best possible outcome. This doesn’t always mean the best possible price since there are other variables that need to be taken into consideration. These include how quickly it takes to sell [...]
So you’re looking for real estate to buy – or perhaps even considering selling. Where is the best place to find information? The MLS? The MLS is certainly the most comprehensive database when it comes to real estate listings. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best place to start looking. Often, a trip to your [...]
There are some real estate commentators who advise that knowing the market is an essential part of home buying. Is it really? The answer really depends on why you’re in the market and whether you are looking for a particular suburb or just a city or town. Knowing the market is obviously important if you’re [...]
Home buying in a buyers market should be fairly straightforward and, generally speaking, it is. However, there are some traps that home buyers could fall into if they are not careful and one of those is aggressive pricing. This is the reverse of overpricing. Why is aggressive pricing a possible trap? Properties that look good [...]
Maryland has the highest costs related to real estate sales out of any of the states in the US. They are not only higher than elsewhere, they are a long way higher. This could put buyers off, especially considering the current tough economic conditions. It can be hard enough saving for a decent deposit let [...]
Part of the home buying process is the negotiation phase where buyers make offers and sellers make counter offers. It doesn’t always follow that trend, of course. There are times when a seller will reduce the advertised price hoping to attract interest and then be unwilling to negotiate any further reductions. When it comes to [...]
Is it cheaper to buy real estate in Maryland than rent? According Trulia, Baltimore is on the list of cities where buying is better value than renting. Baltimore isn’t the only place in the region to score well either with Washington DC and Virginia Beach also sneaking in. It bodes well for those looking to [...]
The MLS is one of those tools that had to be added to the web. Let’s face it, the web already brings millions of people together every day and search engines like Google and Yahoo have been a part of everyone’s online life for many years. A searchable real estate database fits into this environment [...]
There are a lot of home buyers in the market at present and along with them are probably ten times as many home sellers. As a home buyer, is it worth the cost of engaging a buying agent? It’s a good question yet as a question it is factually incorrect. Let me explain. Real estate [...]
The tax credit that was available for real estate purchases has gone and, apart from those still trying to conclude everything by the end of this month, a memory now to many. However, the tax credit, while bringing buyers into the market and helping to stabilize home prices, may just have had one other welcome [...]
Real estate in Washington DC is no different to any other part of the country. There are high priced homes, low priced homes, homes in high demand areas and homes in low demand areas. You can get a feel for what is happening real estate wise by searching through the MLS. You can get an [...]
