In today’s sagging real estate market — where homes often remain unsold for months on end — sellers sometimes have no choice but to move and leave their properties vacant for a time. If you’re one of those owners, you might be surprised to learn that an insurance provider could drop your homeowner’s policy coverage. That’s because empty [...]
With interest rates dropping, many people are rushing to get new mortgages. But mortgage lenders warn there are still a lot of desperate lenders out there, so buyer beware. Don’t just call asking for rates. Ask questions, and find out what is the best deal. Make sure you get a referral on a mortgage lender [...]
Foreclosures, as has been mentioned can buy you a great deal, but there are always things to consider even after buying a foreclosure property. First off, what do you plan to do with it? Resell or keep it? When scouting for bank foreclosure properties, decide whether it is something you will resell or something you would [...]
If you are buying a home, whether for yourself or as an investment property, you might want to consider a foreclosure home. Though you often can’t choose your location, foreclosure homes can be bought at a fraction of the appraisal price. Foreclosed houses are real estate properties that have been foreclosed by the lending companies [...]
When you invest in real estate, money is made or lost behind the scenes, not when the final deal is made. For example, you may have turned a $10,000 profit on the sale price after one month, but if you paid an attorney $1,000, your contractors $5,000, and your real estate agent $5,000, you lost [...]
I’m posting this for some friends of mine who are a really nice couple. They are renting out their condo in Ponce Inlet, FL. It is a great place to get away if you’re looking for something on the beach. The price is pretty good also. Check out their website for more info, or to [...]
You’ve seen them, as we all have: Foreclosure homes that are being sold for a fraction of the cost of market price. Who doesn’t want to hit on a good deal and get their future home or future rental property for 1/3 or less the price it would cost on the traditional market? But this [...]
Right now, the housing market is less than perfect. This is known knowledge. However, what if you are sitting on some real estate you no longer need to own? Do you sell and take your chances in the market, possibly losing money? Or do you become a landlord and rent the property out until the [...]
Home buying is a big and stressful ordeal. A bad outcome can be right around the corner, unless you are diligent and watch your step – every step – along the way. One of the keys to ensuring that your real estate venture will have a happy ending is to make a commitment to stay [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Are you selling your real estate? Value is in the eye of the beholder and while some real estate modifications won’t necessarily boost the property’s price significantly, in today’s market they may help a property sell faster and and achieve a higher settlement value. There is a big difference today to what a property is [...]
When it comes to real estate, what is a ‘great deal’? In a way it all comes down to meeting needs. If you think a ‘great deal’ is a home that is discounted by 20%-30% then forget it – investors and others in the industry will snap these properties up the moment they come on [...]
Buying real estate in Washington DC is a little different to buying real estate in many other areas. To begin with, there are no suburbs to search. Some search services let you search by district or quadrant. We have compiled a short list of tips for newcomers to the DC district. Search by zip code [...]
Having a real estate that is available at any time can be reassuring to both sellers and buyers. You would be surprised how many times someone suddenly has a panic attack when they don’t know the answer to a simple question regarding the sale or purchase of real estate. I don’t necessarily encourage you to [...]
The finance sector is believed to be holding a lot of real estate that has been acquired through the foreclosure process. This is real estate that is sitting as a cost to these business houses and over time, if they are not sold through REO sales, they are offered for auction. Private auction houses auction [...]
We live in a busy world and this can be seen in the way many buyers approach their house hunting. The internet is often one of their first stops, searching through the MLS. Once they find a home that appeals to them they will view the photos, perhaps even check out the area using Google [...]
Selling real estate in today’s market is fairly tough since there are far more sellers than there are buyers. To sell your property, you need every advantage you can gain. The question is, can a professional real estate stager help you get a better price? First, for those who are not familiar with what a [...]
We live in an age where technology is all around us, even in the real estate industry. If you are considering entering the market to buy (or sell) a property, then it makes sense to use every tool available. This includes technology and the internet can be a great source of information on what you [...]
Negotiating the purchase (or sale) of real estate can be a real dance at times and sometimes the best way to invite a seller onto the dance floor is by making a lowball offer. There are some dos and don’ts when it comes to making a lowball offer and if you really want to win [...]
As property prices slowly start to rise, many buyers are looking for bargains that could and should almost immediate gain equity. This occurs when a buyer can find real estate that is selling for below its current market value. Where do you find those properties? In the foreclosure market. There are three areas that are [...]
When dealing with real estate, a ratified contract can mean different things to different people. For some people, it can be when both parties have signed off on the contract document while for others it may be when all contingencies have been removed. It really comes down to the sales contract itself and whether or [...]
If you are trying to sell your real estate, whether it is land, a home or a commercial property, you are competing against a lot of other sellers. You need to treat the process almost like running a business. Good businesses are always watching the competition in an effort to provide better products or services. [...]
