Buyer Basics Contract to Closing Congratulations! You just went under contract on your future new home. It’s an exciting time that can also be stressful due the many steps standing between you and the closing date. This is meant to be an outline of those steps,...
Negotiating the Home Price – Practical Tips Buyers have two primary opportunities to negotiate the purchase price for their new home. The first is at the onset in between making the initial offer until settling on the price under contract. The second price...
A Common Fee and Deposit in Home Buying Earnest and Due Diligence NC There are lots of costs that may be unfamiliar to first-time home buyers. Earnest and due diligence money in NC are two costs that are likely, but not mandatory since both are negotiable with the...
Hooking up Utilities Unless your goal is to live “off-the-grid”, your new home will need to be setup with local utility providers. Some providers are for profit companies and some may be services offered by the town. Rates for utilities can vary greatly in the same...
New Construction or Existing Homes? When buying a home, you have two basic choices – buy one that someone else has lived in or buy new construction. In some parts of the U.S., there are far more existing homes than new construction like the Northeast. Most of us like...
Boost Your Credit Score Banks, lenders, and many other businesses use your credit score to determine the likelihood that you will be able and are likely to pay back any money loaned. It’s a simple way to rank risks associated with you. The most common is the FICO®...
Is it better to Rent or Buy in Hendersonville NC? First and foremost, renting an apartment or home versus buying a home is a highly personal choice! Ultimately, each person must way the pros and cons of each against their unique situation to determine which is the...
Your Easy Home Buying Budget For most people creating a budget is like going to the dentist – generally good for your health but never fun. Getting started is the hardest part but the good news is that there are free online tools that help get the job done quickly and...
Home Buying Ratios and Costs There are many costs that come with buying a home beyond the sale price listed. Each of these costs can vary greatly by location, type of loan, and strength of negotiations, just to name a few. Conservatively, the minimum upfront costs...
What Type of Home is Right for You? A condo, townhome, or single family home? Home buying is a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You must weigh the pros and cons and test which one is the best fit for you. The price, amount of control, and what is owned are the...
Anyone can buy a home on their own simply by negotiating an agreement with a seller. Why, though, would you leave your biggest purchase to chance? That’s just asking for trouble either now or in the future. Buying real estate requires professionals who, in most cases,...
The mortgage application process, even for pre-approval, requires a lot of financial and background information. Remember the lender will also ask you to authorize a “hard” credit check which will temporarily reduce your credit score which won’t have an impact unless...
