When you live in a home for such a significant amount of time, it’s natural for you to experience changes in your life while you’re in that house. As those life changes and milestones happen, your needs may change. And if your current home no longer meets them, you may have better options waiting for you.
Consider the Equity You’ve Gained
And, if you’ve been in your home for more than a few years, you’ve likely built-up substantial equity that can fuel your next move. That’s because you gain equity as you pay down your loan and as home prices appreciate. And, the longer you’ve been in your home, the more you may have gained.
Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
3 Reasons Why You Should Not Trust Your Zillow Estimates
If you are looking to sell and are basing the price of your home off what you see on Zillow, you are going to want to reconsider. Here are three VERY important reasons why you should not trust that Zillow estimate.
Zillow is NOT Local - Zillow takes a general price of homes in your town/city and generates a home value from there.
Missing Home Features - This one is BIG! Zillow has never been inside your home or around your neighborhood. Zillow is missing some MAJOR details, features or updates that can contribute to the price of your home.
It is Computer Generated - Zillow is taking the very basic information and generating a price from there. When attractive details
Many homeowners thinking about selling have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these obstacles.
Challenge #1: The Reluctance to Take on a Higher Mortgage Rate
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the average interest rate for current homeowners with mortgages is less than 4% (see graph below):
But today, the typical 30-year fixed mortgage rate offered to buyers is closer to 7%. As a result, many homeowners are opting to stay put
Crossing the Finish Line. What You Can Expect When Closing on Your Home and Conducting the Final Walk-Through
You are almost there! After you accept an offer on your home, the closing process begins. Your agent will start the process of obtaining the abstract to your home and making sure that all documents needed for closing have been prepared.
The Final Walk-Through
The buyer and the buyer’s agent will conduct a final walk-through of your home. Prior to closing, they’ll coordinate a time to perform the final inspection of the home.
What buyers will be looking for?
Buyers want to see that the repairs they requested have been made and that the home is in the same condition it was when their offer was accepted. Though you aren’t
Selling your house is no simple task. While some homeowners opt to sell their homes on their own, known as a FSBO (For Sale by Owner), they often encounter various challenges without the guidance of a real estate agent. If you’re currently considering selling your house on your own, here’s what you should know.
The most recent Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) surveyed homeowners who’d recently sold their own homes and asked what difficulties they faced. Those sellers say some of the greatest challenges were prepping their home for sale, pricing it right, and properly managing the required paperwork, just to name a few.
Market value and appraised value are both important factors to consider when buying or selling a home. The market value is the estimated price that a buyer would be willing to pay for the property, based on current market conditions. The appraised value is the estimated value of the property as determined by a licensed appraiser. Lenders use the appraised value to determine how much they are willing to lend for the purchase of the home. Both values can impact the price negotiations during a home sale, and it's important to take both into consideration when making a decision.
Market Value: The price a buyer is will to pay for a property.
Appraised Value: The professional opinion of an appraiser on
Why You Should be Timing Your Life & Not the Housing Marketing
When it comes to buying or selling a home, it's easy to get caught up in the fluctuations of the housing market. But it's important to remember that the most valuable commodity in life is time. Time spent with loved ones, pursuing passions, and making memories is priceless.
When making decisions about buying or selling a home, it's important to consider how the transaction will impact your time and overall quality of life. For example, if you're selling a home, consider whether the process will be stressful and time-consuming, taking away from other important aspects of your life. On the other hand, if you're buying a home, think about whether the location and size of
Why Downsizing is Not Just for Those Looking to Retire
Article from Keep Current Matters
Downsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age. But there are plenty of other life changes that could make downsizing worthwhile. Homeowners who have experienced a change in their lives or no longer feel like their house fits their needs may benefit from downsizing too. U.S. News explains:
“Downsizing is somewhat common among older people and retirees who no longer have children living at home. But these days, younger people are also looking to downsize to save money on housing . . .”
And when inflation has made most things significantly more expensive, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. So, if you’re
Preparing Your Home to Sell - Tips for Making a Good First Impression
There is a lot that goes into getting your home ready to sell. If you are feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to start this is the place for you! In today's blog post we divided the home into each room and a checklist for what to do in each area of your home. First impressions are importation to potential buyers. Cleaning your home, making necessary repairs, and creating a welcoming space will bring top dollar and help your home sell faster. It’s hard work, but we promise it will be worth it in the end! Here are some tips when it comes to preparing the inside and outside of your home for buyers! Pro Tip from our own Bethany Benner is, "If you know moving is in your future
5 Tips For Preparing the Outside of Your Home for Sale
As outside temperatures start to increase in Iowa it has many of us heading outside to show our home some love. If you are looking to sell your home, here are 5 tips to help prepare the outside of your home! The exterior of your home is the first impression potential buyers will make. These five items can make a big difference attracting buyers when selling.
Front Entry: Make sure woodwork is freshly & neatly painted, including the door. Replace worn or broken doorbell plates & buttons, & polish door brass. Add a new or clean doormat.
Siding & Gutters: Power wash vinyl siding to remove dirt, moss, & mildew. For wood siding, scrape or water blast any blistered or peeling paint before
