When the housing market collapsed in 2008, cities and metro areas across the country turned into buyers’ markets. Inventory levels skyrocketed as homes were foreclosed on in record numbers. Meanwhile, there were very few buyers willing to purchase a home in such troubled times. Sellers had to slash their prices to make a sale. It […]
Home Buying
The home buying process can seem overwhelming to a first-time buyer. But it doesn’t have to be. With proper research and planning, you can navigate the home buying process with relative ease. And that’s where we come in. This website offers a wealth of tips and tutorials to help you understand the process of buying a house. We add new lessons on a weekly basis. Here are the latest tutorials on this subject:
How to Negotiate the House Price With a Seller
When buying a home, there’s a good chance you’ll have to negotiate the house price with the seller. Why? Because many homes are overpriced when they first come onto the market. It’s a common pricing “strategy” among real estate agents and homeowners. It goes something like this: “We’ll come onto the market a bit high, […]
8 Helpful Home-Buying Checklists for First-Time Buyers
There is a lot of information on this website, but it’s spread over hundreds of pages. So we thought it might be helpful to create a series of short but informative checklists for first-time home buyers. You’ll find them below, along with links to additional information. 8 Home Buying Checklists for First-Time Buyers The eight […]
What is a Home Appraisal? How Does the Process Work?
Most home buyers use mortgage loans when buying a house. That means most home buyers will have to go through the appraisal process at some point. There’s no way around it. It’s a standard requirement imposed by lenders. In this article, we will answer three of the most frequently asked questions on this subject: What […]
House Appraised Below the Purchase Price; Now What?
Reader question: “We just made an offer to buy a house, and our lender then had the property appraised. They said the house appraised for less than the purchase price. What should we do? What options do we have?” It’s a common scenario for home buyers: You find a house that meets all of your […]
How much should I offer below asking price, when buying a home?
Reader question: “I will be shopping for a home starting in the fall of 2014. I know the housing market has changed a lot since the last time I purchased a home, in 2002. How much should I offer below the asking price, when buying a home these days? Is there a certain rule of […]
How to Sell Your Home FSBO Style – Like a Pro
Summary: This article explains how to sell your home FSBO style, without the help of a listing agent. We will cover all of the important steps along the way, from home staging to negotiating. Over the years, I’ve sold two houses on my own (for sale by owner), and two with the help of a […]
Should I pay the buyer’s closing costs when selling?
Reader question: “We are about to list our home for sale. The housing market appears to be sluggish in our area. There are buyers out there, but houses still appear to be taking a long time to sell. We are doing everything we can to get a quick sale, including a lot of home staging. […]
Real Estate Asking Price vs Offer Amount vs Selling Price
Reader question: “I’ve been dipping my toe into my local housing market, planning to buy a home in the coming months. It seems like the asking and selling prices are all over the place, even though I’m looking at similar types of homes in the same zip code area. When I find a house I […]
How to Make an Offer On a House, Using Comps
First-time home buyers are often terrified with the notion of making an offer on a house. After all, there’s a lot of money on the line, not to mention the major life-change of becoming a homeowner. But you shouldn’t be afraid. You should be prepared. In this article, you’ll learn how to make an offer […]