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Scoop.it!
See how to show a home for maximum results. Use these house viewing tips to ensure you sell your home fast and for the most money possible. 
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What first time home buyers need to know about home insurance. See tips and advice about getting insurance including coverage and cost.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Buying a home is one of the most exciting things someone can do in their lifetime. The thrill of accomplishment can be immeasurable for some folks. The excitement of home ownership can cause some to make hasty decisions however. Decisions that are later regretted.
One area of importance when buying a home is getting the proper insurance policy, especially as a first time home buyer. There are numerous things a buyer should be aware of when purchasing a home and getting an insurance policy.
Some of the questions a buyer should be asking themselves is whether or not home insurance is necessary or not. Unless you are paying cash the lender will surely say it is mandatory.
So how do you determine the type of policy you will need? How do you know how much the home insurance will cost? What is the best way to go about finding a good local insurance provider?
These are all the kind of questions first time buyers should be thinking about well in advance of their closing. In the article you will find the answer to all of these questions and many more.
There are also some excellent home buying resources from other top experts from around the country including @kyle hiscock @teresa cowart, @anita clark and @ryan fitzgerald.
Take a look at the article and if you find it helpful please consider either scooping it or sharing it across your social media channels.
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Here are 20 things to do before buying a house to ensure the process goes smoothly. See numerous tips for a pleasant home buying experience.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Buying a home is one of the most exciting adventures in ones life. Often the chance for home ownership is one of the biggest steps in a persons life.
With this bold move comes tremendous responsibility especially when it comes to ones finances. Most buyers of course think about this but maybe not as much as they should.
Being well prepared for a home purchase is super smart as the consequences for not doing so can be devastating. In the article you will see things to do before buying a home. Many of these items center around your finances as a buyer.
One of the most important things you can do as a new buyer is get your financial house in order. Checking on your credit report before you ever set foot in a home is important. Once you have verified your report is accurate getting pre-approved by a reputable lender should be your next consideration.
Buyers who don't have a pre-approval are not taken seriously by home sellers. The third important step is finding a fantastic local real estate agent who knows the area well.
These are just three of the tips for buying a home you will see in the article. There are seventeen more valuable tips worth knowing.
Take a look and you will also see some valuable resources from other top real estate experts as well.
If you find the article enjoyable please give it a Scoop and socially share it!
Laura Trimmer's curator insight,
June 13, 2017 8:22 AM
Checklist to complete before purchasing your home!
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Bill Gassett's insight:
Do you enjoy reading exceptional real estate content? One of the great things about real estate round-ups it the fact it highlights numerous outstanding real estate bloggers all in one place! This post is actually a best of the best real estate round-ups. There are quite a few round-ups found online showcased here on Scoopit. Whether you are a home buyer, seller, or a real estate agent, the content featured here has something to offer for everyone. So many top real estate bloggers are highlighted here so you will see a bunch of different writing styles. Take a look and if you enjoy any of the article and if you find this helpful please consider giving it a scoop.
Scoop.it!
Excellent re-cap of some of the best real estate content found on the web for December 2015.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Are you someone who likes reading excellent real estate content? The month of December already has some outstanding content that has been published. In fact in this real estate round-up you will see six exceptional articles from top bloggers all around the country. Featured authors in this compilations of posts include @Kyle Hiscock @Debbie Drummondand @Paul Sian In Kyle's article he discusses the value a real estate agent adds to a sale for those who are considering selling for sale by owner. After reading Kyle's article you may question whether going FSBO is the right move for you after all. Debbie takes a look at those people who drive you nuts as a real estate agent. We have all had that one client who will drive us to drink. In the article Debbie explorers when the right time will be to fire a client. Paul Sian takes a look at some of the best advice for selling your home in the winter time. This is appropriate for those who live in a cold weather climate. Lastly there are two very helpful financial based articles for first time home buyers. There is one at Mortgages.com that sheds some light on what all first time buyers should be doing prior to their first purchase. There is also an article on Creditsesame on how a mortgage pre-approval can be re-voked prior to closing. This is one you will not want to miss. Obviously getting ready to close and finding out you have lost your mortgage commitment would not be a pleasant experience. Take a look at all six of these excellent real estate articles and scoop them if you enjoy!
Kyle Hiscock's comment,
December 15, 2015 10:29 AM
Excellent selection of articles @Bill Gassett! Appreciate the inclusion!
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There are several home buying contingencies that a home buyer can choose to include in their purchase offer or not. Here are some highly suggested ones!
Bill Gassett's insight:
When purchasing a home it is good business to craft your offer such that you are able to do a thorough examination of the home. This of course includes a general home inspection. Not doing a home inspection when purchasing a property could put yourself into deep trouble somewhere down the line. Nearly every home has some kind of problem, some more major than others. As buyer you should always find out what those issues are. In his latest article @Kyle Hiscock takes a look at some of the most common home buying contingencies that should be in your offer to purchase contract. For example some of the more common things you will want to check when buying a home are the following: 1.) Are radon levels within acceptable limits? 2.) Is there any mold in the home? 3.) Is there any lead paint? 4.) Is there any asbestos? 5.) If the home has a well how does the quality and quantity look? 6. If the home has a septic system you will absolutely want to check that is functioning property. These are just a few examples of things that should be checked when buying a home. Take a look at Kyle's article for a more in-depth look into purchasing a home.
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Do sex offenders have to be disclosed? The answer depends on where you are located and if you are asked a direct question for which you have knowledge.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Do you understand the disclosure laws in your area when it comes to sexual deviants? This is a question that real estate agents often get from a home owner who is contemplating selling their property. As a Realtor you better know the laws surrounding the disclosure of a sex offender when selling a home. If you don't understand the laws you could easily end up getting sued! In the article you will see an in-depth discussion surrounding disclosure laws of sexual offenders. Obviously this could be a concern to anyone but especially those who have kids. In every state there are ways to find out who lives in a specific neighborhood. You will see some specific references that are excellent for getting to the bottom of the areas safety. If you suspect a sexual offender could live nearby a home you are considering buying ask your real estate agent what they know. If the agent is not aware then make an appointment to visit the local police department. Have a look at the article and you will see a number of helpful resources as well for finding out about sexual predators. When buying a home, selecting a neighborhood is critical. Make sure you see some of the top shelf references on selecting a neighborhood from Kyle Hiscock and Anita Clark, two veteran real estate agents.
Scoop.it!
Getting a mortgage today than it used to be ten years ago. Lenders are much more vigilant on lending to those who are the best candidates for a mortgage. Does this mean that it is impossible to get a loan? No of course not! It is however possible to get rejected for a mortgage when you really shouldn't be.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Getting a mortgage today is far more difficult than in years past and with good reason. When the real estate markets melted down 7-10 years ago their were a lot of lenders left holding the bag with borrowers who defaulted on their loans. The banks lots millions of dollars. Much of this problem was created by lenders themselves by giving money to buyers who had no business having it. All of that has changed with more lenders having different lending standards. It is however possible that you have the ability to take on a mortgage but for whatever reason the lender decides they don't want you as part of their lending portfolio. So what do you do when a lender rejects your mortgage application? Is the ball game over? Are you left with continuing to rent instead of buying? The answer is NO! There are other means of securing financing. In the article you will see a detailed explanation of how you can get a mortgage when your preferred lender says no. You will also see some excellent resources from other top real estate and mortgage experts including @madisonmortgage @madisonmortgageand @Anita Clark Take a look and if you find the article helpful please consider scooping it to your audience!
madisonmortgage's curator insight,
October 22, 2015 1:11 PM
If you're wondering what to do next after you have been turned down for a mortgage, this article by @Bill Gassett will give you a ton of insight into your options!
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In the U.S., new mortgage disclosure rules went into effect October 3rd. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know.
Bill Gassett's insight:
As a real estate agent it is important to stay on top of all real estate laws or anything that can have an impact on the industry. One of the most important laws to come into affect in quite a while is the TRID mortgage disclosure. Buyers will now have a complete understanding of their loan costs in advance. There will also be a three day window in which a borrower can review these costs prior to closing. This could in fact have quite an impact on the timeliness of closings. All real estate agents should understand the need for having a grasp of the ins and outs of TRID. In their latest article @SeaWrite Mediadoes a great job of outlining these changes. If you are going to be buying a home in the near future or are a real estate agent be sure to read this informative article.
Shannon Slater's curator insight,
October 7, 2015 9:43 AM
Are you familiar with the new TRID rules that went into effect October 3rd? The disclosure rules are to assist borrowers in determining the costs and terms associated with a loan. Here is a nice summary of the new TRID rules. 
SeaWrite Media's curator insight,
October 7, 2015 10:38 AM
A short guide on the TRID for real estate agents.
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In a home sale what's a fixture vs personal property? Buyers and sellers often get confused on what needs to be excluded and what doesn't in a home sale.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Over the years one of the things I have learned is that very few people understand the difference between what is considered personal property and what is considered "real estate" or part of the property. These lines of distinction are often blurred because some real estate agents make it even more confusing for buyers and sellers. How so you ask? When a Realtor excludes personal property both buyers and sellers start to question what stays and what goes! The only thing that should be excluded in a real estate transaction is something the seller is taking that is part of the home. The definition of part of the home is things that are attached or bolted. These things become a permanent part of the structure. Often times you will see real estate agents excluding things like washers and dryers. This is just plain dumb as these things are not permanently affixed. In the article you will see a comprehensive explanation of what is a fixture and what is personal property in home sales You will see concrete examples of items that cause the most troubles for everyone. You will see a clear explanation so you never have any doubts on what needs to be an exclusion or inclusion. While you are taking a look at the article be sure to see some of the excellent references to content from @Kyle Hiscock and @Anita Clarkwho have top shelf posts.
Bob Gordon's curator insight,
September 18, 2015 8:19 PM
Boulder Colorado contracts do a good job of explaining what is attached and what is not. I like this article because it takes a few moments to delve into "attached." I have seen owners take mirrors, draperies, even one that wanted to take a tree.
When representing the Boulder Home Buyer, I feel it is important to let the sellers know, if they are removing an item, the house needs to be professionally repaired. For instance, if a seller is removing television wall mounts, they'll need to patch, texture and paint to hide the holes. Frequently, sellers realize it is less expensive to leave a wall mount and buy a new one for the next house.
Similarly, when working with home sellers in Boulder Co I'll suggest removing a beloved item before the home goes on the market. Then it never becomes an issue. Taking down a beloved relative's special gift - say a light fixture or window covering and putting up something generic might reduce the selling feature, but allows my client to keep the special feature for their next home. 
Bill Gassett's comment,
September 19, 2015 7:35 AM
Thanks for sharing @Bob Gordon. You are the first person in the real estate industry I have seen use Scoop.it properly. Most just copy and paste links and don't interject any of their own thoughts. Nice work!
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There are many reasons why a real estate closing can be delayed. Check out these top 10 reasons a real estate closing is delayed.
Bill Gassett's insight:
In real estate sales anything can happen and probably will if you let it! What I mean by that is this - there are certain things you should and should not be doing if you want your home sale or purchase to go smoothly. Mistakes are easily made in real estate especially when you are a first timer at either buying or selling a home. In his excellent article @Kyle Hiscock of The Rochester Real Estate Blog explains how to avoid the things in a transaction that could end up giving you a major headache! Kyle explains what most real estate agents already know - follow sound advice from your agent! Kyle's guidance provides some of the most common pitfalls that must be avoided in order to keep your sale from becoming a super stressful experience. You will see the a list of the top reasons home sales are delayed including not finishing necessary work to the property.
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Exceptional tips for millennial home buyers. Are you considering buying a home or condo? See some of the most important considerations for home ownership.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Have you been renting a home for the last few years and are now starting to consider whether you should get off the fence and purchase your first home? This is the thought process of many potential first time home buyers. The cost of rent has gotten out of sight in most places around the country. In fact in many areas it is now cheaper to buy than it is to rent. This has left a lot of millennial home buyers re-thinking their plans to continue to rent. Are you one of these folks? If so there are some really great tips for millennial home buyers that I have covered in detail in this comprehensive article. There is a lot to know as a first time home buyer. You should make absolutely certain when you begin looking at homes that you find a real estate professional you are comfortable with. Keep in mind that real estate agents are a dime a dozen. You want someone who has experience and skills. One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to lean on others who already own a home themselves. It could even be a family member such as a brother or sister. Above all else make certain that you are ready for home ownership financially. Many buyers don't think about all the additional expenses that come with owning a home besides paying the mortgage. These expenses can add up very quickly. Have money in reserve in case you run into a period of financial difficulty. Take these home buying tips and you will be well on your way to being a successful home owner.
Scoop.it!
It is important to know the pros and cons of owning a condo versus owning a home. Each housing choice has its advantages and disadvantages.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Buying a condo vs a house can be radically different from one another. On the surface if you have never owned either before you may be thinking that they are not so different. This could not be further from the truth. This is in fact a subject that not a lot of first time home buyers give a lot of thought to which is a big mistakes. In the article you will see a comprehensive discussion on the pro's and con's of owning a home vs a condo. You will see an in-depth look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of these housing choices. It is easy to assume that the only real difference is that in the case of a condo you pay a maintenance fee and everything is taken for you outside of your unit. The opposite of course is true of home ownership where you are usually responsible for everything. This really just scratches the surface of how a condo and a home differ from one another. Can you imagine moving into a condo only to find out you are not able to plant flowers in your front yard or put out your favorite flag? This happens quite a bit with buyers who do not know any better. This is why as a real estate agent we always recommend going over condo docs with a fine tooth comb. The last thing you want is to buy into a place where there are rules that you can't stand. While some condo associations are well run and have rules that makes sense - other places are run like a prison. Make sure you do your research when trying to decide between a condo and a home. While you are looking through the article make sure you also look at the references to the quality work done by @Kyle Hiscock, @Karen Highland and @Debbie Drummond. I have included some terrific articles they have written on purchasing a condo.
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See the home inspection repair requests a buyer shouldn't make. What issues are reasonable to ask a seller to fix when buying a home?
Bill Gassett's insight:
When purchasing a home it is a critical practice for a buyer to get a home inspection. Unless you get a professional home inspection by a licensed inspector you'll never know if you are buying a lemon or not!
A great inspector will do a thorough investigation of the property checking for all types of flaws. The most important of these flaws being structural or mechanical in nature.
It stands to reason that you want to be purchasing a home that does not have any major flaws. In the process of buying a home there are times when buyers and their respective real estate agent lose sight of the fact that this is why you do a home inspection.
A home inspection is NOT for the purpose submitting a list of things to make the home perfect before the buyer moves in! Over the years it seems like it has become more and more common for a buyer to submit unreasonable home inspection requests. In the article you will see all of the home inspection items that a buyer should not be looking for a seller to fix.
These include some fairly obvious things like issues you saw BEFORE making your offer like a fogged window or a stain in the carpet. It is silly when buyers request things to be fixed that the clearly knew about and did not have a problem with before making an offer.
The home inspection should NOT be an opportunity to try to renegotiate the contract. In a sellers market you are really setting yourself up for failure and could lose the house to someone else.
Buyers should always consult with their Realtor on what is a reasonable inspection request and what is not. Agents that don't help buyers make these decisions are not quality agents! This is part of a good real estate agents job.
Take some sound advice from someone who has been selling homes for thirty years. Read the article and think twice before you start making unreasonable demands.
If you find the article helpful please consider sharing it with your social networks or giving it a scoop.
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Make sure you understand the 4 important mortgage documents buyers must sign as part of TRID regulations.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Buying a home today is a lot different than years ago. Buyers are expected to sign a ton of mortgage documents that they were not required to in years past. Every year it seems like there is something added to the stack of papers buyers sign.
One of the complaints over the years from buyers purchasing homes and getting a mortgage was the disclosed costs. Many felt the amount of fees and costs they were required to spend was not spelled out well enough.
This led to mortgage reform which is now known as TRID. TRID was put in place to protect buyers from paying undisclosed fees associated with purchasing a home.
As part of TRID buyers are expected to sign 4 mortgage documents. These four mortgage documents are known as the loan estimate, closing disclosure, promissory note and security instruement.
In the article you will learn about each of the TRID mortage documents buyers must sign. Each of these documents are explained in detail. With TRID in place buyers have a much better handle on the fees they will be paying.
The one downside to TRID, however, has been the increased time it takes to close a loan. Nobody wants delays when it comes to something as important as a closing. When buying a home this is a major date you plan your life around.
Buyers however have learned the hard way how unkind TRID can be to there plans of closing on time. Take a look and see all there is to know about TRID as well as the documents buyers will be required to sign when taking out a mortgage.
If you find the article helpful please consider sharing it socially or giving it a scoop.
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A pretty common question from home buyers is how much does it cost to buy a home. Find out what costs are associated with buying a home here! Via Kyle Hiscock
Bill Gassett's insight:
When many home buyers think about purchasing a home they forget many of the details that they should! In fact many contemplating purchasing a home for the first time will think about their mortgage payment and not much else. Of course this line of thinking can lead to major final issues and quite a big surprise! In his latest article @Kyle Hiscock discusses the costs you need to be aware of before, during and after a home purchase. The costs can add up quickly and if you are not prepared can easily wide up in a financial hole that will be hard to climb out of. You may find yourself eating spaghetti or TV dinners every night. Have a look at Kyle's article and you will learn about all of the most common expenses when purchasing a home along with the costs of ownership that go along with it!
madisonmortgage's curator insight,
March 17, 2016 3:07 PM
One of the most common questions from buyers is how much does it cost to buy a home. 
Susan Crush's curator insight,
March 19, 2016 9:17 AM
One of the most common questions from buyers is how much does it cost to buy a home.
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See 6 outstanding tips for making your home buying experience a pleasant one.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Buying a home for the first time can be both exciting and scary at the same time. Searching for your dream home and everything that comes with it is of course the fun part. It is all the rest of the baggage that comes with buying a home that keeps people up at night. One of the greatest fears with buying a first home is whether or not a buyer will be able to afford the payments. This is a natural fear most people have. In the article you will see some great tips on getting your financial house in order before ever setting foot in a home. This includes checking your credit report for any errors and getting pre-approved for a mortgage. One of the other recommended steps in purchasing a first home is hooking up with a local real estate professional. The agent you work with should have a good understanding of the local market, neighborhoods, schools, real estate values, etc. These are just a few of the home buying tips you will see in the article. Take a look at all the rest in order to be well armed with knowledge for buying a first home. The more you know the better off you will be in your journey towards home ownership. If you find the article to be useful please consider sharing it.
Scoop.it!
Waterfront homes are naturally appealing to buyers. Who wouldn't want to live right on the water? But although waterfront homes are of interest to most buy
Bill Gassett's insight:
Many buyers love the thought of purchasing a waterfront home. Who wouldn't? Most places that are afforded of having a lake or other body in their backyard are usually pretty sweet! Having a waterfront property gives you the opportunity to experience things right in your backyard that you might otherwise not be able to do including fishing, boating, jet skiing and snowmobiling. Buying a waterfront home however can come with some unexpected surprises as well. This is something all buyers should be aware of. You are buying a lifestyle as much as a home when purchasing a waterfront property. If there are homes in close proximity to one another it is very plausible that you could find yourself in a situation where you are living next door to a person you have no interest in being near. This is just one consideration. In the article I discuss numerous questions that should be asked when buying a waterfront home. The answers to these questions will go a long way to determining if you will truly be happy in your surroundings. In the article you will see some of my best tips when you are ready to pull the trigger in considering a waterfront home. There are also some excellent resources in the article for specifically purchasing a waterfront property in Massachusetts, as well as a nifty resource from top real estate blogger @Kyle Hiscock Have a look and if you find the article useful please consider scooping it.
Bill Gassett's comment,
December 1, 2015 8:07 PM
Appreciate the scoop @Larry Matthews and @Interealty !Exchange
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What to know about shared driveways when buying a home. Will having a shared driveway hurt my resale value or be a problem to deal with?
Bill Gassett's insight:
If you are out looking for your dream home the possibility exists you will find one that has a shared driveway. The property may have exactly everything you are looking for with the exception of a common drive. Is this something you should be concerned about? In the article you will see a comprehensive discussion on everything you need to know about how a shared driveway works. Some of the more common questions that buyers have to are answered in the article include how will having a shared driveway affect my re-sale value and will having a common driveway make my property more difficult to sell. There are of course advantages and disadvantages of having a common drive. We cover all of these in depth. Probably one of the biggest drawbacks of owning a home with a shared drive is if you have a dispute with your neighbor regarding the driveway or anything else for that matter. When you are sharing with someone else the possibility exists there will be disagreements that become a stress factor in your life. Common drives are something you should enter into only with all of the fact. Take a look at the article along with other great home buying tips from @Kyle Hiscock @Kyle Hiscockand @Raleigh Realty If you find the article helpful please consider scooping it.
Bill Gassett's comment,
November 17, 2015 7:12 AM
Appreciate the share @Angela Duong. Just a heads up for you on sccop it. In order to get any value out of it you should always do the following - change the article title to something different and write your own summary of what makes the article a good one. Without doing so this is just duplicate info with no additional valu.
Kyle Hiscock's comment,
November 17, 2015 11:29 AM
Thanks for the mention @Bill Gassett! Great job with this article!
Angela Duong's comment,
November 17, 2015 11:54 AM
Thanks for the heads up @Bill Gassett. Not quite sure what I am doing on scoop.it yet. Better read into how to use it more.
Scoop.it!
IsWhen figuring out the market value of a home price per square foot is a poor value indicator in most circumstances. Use a top local Realtor to figure value.
Bill Gassett's insight:
One of the things I see all the time as a real estate agent who has been working in the industry for the past twenty eight years is Realtor's and consumers placing stock in price per square foot. When I say placing stock I mean using it as a viable means to calculate the accurate value of a home. Folks rarely does this ever work! Price per square foot is rarely ever a good means of calculating the value of real estate! There are far too many variables that go into coming up with a homes value to use one broad metric such as price per square foot. In the article you will see a detailed explanation of why price per square foot is such a poor value indicator. When someone asks me is price per square foot useful my answer is always RARELY. The only exception of when price per square foot is when you have properties that are extremely uniform. In other words they are located in the same place, have nearly identical features and amenities and were built by the same person. In this circumstance you can use price per square foot for calculating value and you will come close. Reading the article you will see why this rarely happens. Homes have so many different variables that effect the ultimate value. Have a look and be sure to check out some of the exceptional references to other home pricing articles from @Kyle Hiscock These guys have put together articles that are helpful for anyone who is selling a home.
Scoop.it!
Thinking about buying a home? Check out the top Real Estate articles about buying a home. From first time home buyer tips to Buying and Selling a home at the same time.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Are you going to be setting out to buy your first home? While being a first time home buyer can be very exciting it can quickly turn into a big hassle as well if you make a poor decision! When you have never bought a home before making a big mistake is fairly easy to do. Kind of like riding a bike for the first time and not knowing what you are getting yourself into. Fortunately for many first time home buyers there is a ton of great advice on the internet that comes from battle tested warriors known as real estate agents! Yes having a great real estate agent in your corner is always a smart idea when purchasing your first home! In this compilation of eight great real estate home buying articles you will see some truly great advice passed along from some of the best Realtor's at the top of their game. Each article is filled with some great advice about the home buying process. Top real estate contributors include @Kyle Hiscock @Raleigh Realty@Andrew Fortune Each of these real estate agents have been selling homes for quite a while and have the expertise behind them that allows buyers to make sound financial decisions. Have a look at each of their articles and share if you find helpful
Lynn Pineda's curator insight,
October 9, 2015 8:06 AM
Buying a Home is a complicated, ever-important process when a home Buyer sets out to buy a home whether it's their first home purchase or repeat. Planning and preparing is the best way in which to have success at buying a home. In fact, planning and preparing for anything in life is the best way to tackle just about everything. Here Nathan Garrett pulls together many top Real Estate articles to educate yourself on the home buying process. Amongst the Real Estate professionals ready to guide you with their articles are @Bill Gassett@Raleigh Realty@Andrew Fortune@Anita Clark@Karen Highland@Debbie Drummondand myself.
Scoop.it!
How to avoid overpaying for a mortgage. Getting the best mortgage terms is usually a goal of most borrowers. See how to get the best loan terms possible.
Bill Gassett's insight:
When buying a home most people need to get some type of mortgage loan. Only the very rich are typically making an all cash purchase when buying property. The terms and conditions you get for your mortgage will play a large role in the overall costs of purchasing a home. Given this it makes sense to spend time researching the ways to get the best mortgage loan terms and conditions. Lot of folks do not take the necessary time and energy to seek out the best rates. The obvious thing you can do to increase your chances of getting the best loan terms is to shop the mortgage to multiple lenders. What is really important is understanding how various terms can affect the overall cost of what you are actually paying. For example one lender may have the best interest rate but if that same lender charges significantly higher closing costs it defeats what you have gained in a lower rate. You really need to understand the overall costs in a loan to truly appreciate what you are actually getting. Remember the longer you stay in a home the more the terms and conditions you get matter. Over the life of the loan the mortgage conditions you settle on can really make a difference. In the article I share of all my best tips on how to get the best terms for your particular financing needs. You will also see some other very helpful financing articles from @madisonmortgage and others. If you find the article helpful please consider re-scooping the article to your followers!
madisonmortgage's curator insight,
October 22, 2015 1:13 PM
How to Shop For a Mortgage and What to Look For With so many lenders and mortgage programs to choose from, this guide will help you shop smarter
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What is a use and occupancy Agreement and how are they used. See a detailed explanation of a use and occupancy and how they differ from a rental contract.
Bill Gassett's insight:
In real estate sales if something can happen it will and often does. Despite everyone's best efforts there are times when a closing gets delayed. There are numerous reasons why this can happen but in nearly every circumstance nobody is happy about it! This can become a major problem in some circumstances especially when a buyer is purchasing a new property and is selling an existing home in which they need to vacate. As you can imagine finding yourself out on the street with a house full of furniture with no where to go is not a pleasant experience! Can you imagine the stress level involved when something like this comes up in a real estate transaction? Fortunately there is something called a use and occupancy agreement that can bridge the gap between when a buyer closes on a property and where they can live in the interim. A use and occupancy agreement is not a lease or even a tenancy at will agreement. What it allows is temporary occupancy without creating a tenancy relationship. They are a great stop gap measure until a problem is solved that will allow the buyer to take possession of the home. In the article you will see a detailed explanation of how, when and where you can have a use and occupancy agreement in a real estate transaction. It is important to note that this type of arrangement does not come without risks to an owner. This is something that should always be discussed with a professional real estate attorney who can explain the risks involved with such an arrangement. While reading the article make sure you also check out the home selling resources from @Kyle Hiscock @Paul Sianand @Debbie Drummond who have written excellent complimentary articles.
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How do I go about breaking a real estate contract and what will be the ramifications for doing so? See breaking a contract from the buyers and sellers side.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Over the last twenty eight years selling real estate there has been an occasion or two where either a buyer or seller has signed a contract but has decided they no longer want to proceed. For both parties this can become really problematic. Obviously when one of the parties wants out of the sale the other is going to become very distraught. Nobody in their right mind wants to see their transaction unravel before their very eyes. Depending on whether you are a buyer or seller breaking a contract can mean different things. There have been a few seller clients over the years who have gotten sellers remorse. They have signed an offer to purchase contract and then changed their mind about selling. What most sellers don't realize is that an offer to purchase is a binding real estate contract. In other words you can't just change your mind about selling. Some sellers are completely amazed when they ask me how to break the real estate contract and I tell them they can't unless the buyer lets them. The look on their face is often times puzzling. It is a fact that some just think they can change their mind. A buyer of course can sue for performance if a seller does not complete their obligations with the sale. In the article you will see all the ramifications of what can happen. For a buyer wishing to back out of the sale it can often times be less cumbersome. In many real estate contracts the damages for backing out of a sale are just limited to the buyers escrow funds. In the article you will also see a discussion about breaking a contract with a real estate agent. This is a topic that comes up quite a bit as numerous people become disenchanted with their Realtor. It is not surprising this happens as the barriers to becoming a real estate agent are far lower than they should be. Real Estate agents are often times representing someones largest asset. The skill level often times does not match the expectation of what is required to do the job well.
Scoop.it!
See the tax advantages of owning a home. The tax benefits of owning a home are numerous. See why home ownership has financial benefits over renting.
Bill Gassett's insight:
Are you on the fence about whether or not you should rent or purchase a home? For many this is often a huge debate. There are many reasons for choosing one or the other. When it comes to buying a home there are many financial tax advantages that come with home ownership. Do you know what all of the tax benefits are when it comes to owning a home? If you are shaking your head you are not alone. There are many who don't have the slightest idea there are so many financial benefits that come with owning a home. In the article I offer some comprehensive discussion of the major home ownership advantages including the capital gains exclusion clause. the ability to deduct mortgage points, deductions for home improvements and quite a few others. When you look at all of the tax benefits of owning a home it can add up to thousands of dollars. Many people often only think about the emotional aspect of buying a home and not the tax perks. This is understandable as we have many years of making great memories in our homes. Be sure however to know that there are some real advantages when it comes to your financial well being with owning a home vs renting. Take a look you may be surprised!
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When you are going to be selling a home, your showings will be the most essential aspects of the sale. Your home showings can make or break whether a buyer becomes interested or not.
In the article at Active Rain, you will see some of the best home showing tips to increase your chances of home sale success. See what you need to know and follow the advice.