Buying and selling a home is often the biggest financial transaction of your entire life, and there’s so much more to the overall cost than the asking price. It’s important to understand ALL of the costs associated with the transaction, whether you’re on the buying or selling end of it. Many people do not understand what they are actually paying for. You are sitting at the closing table sipping your coffee and reviewing the closing statement with your attorney before you sign it and you encounter so many different line items. Let’s talk the ones that will cost you the …

You have been searching for the right home for yourself and nothing seems to be meeting your needs. Many homebuyers will see roughly 10 homes prior to making an offer on one, but if you are on your 40th home, you may be paying attention to the wrong things when previewing a property. Paint colors can turn anyone off when entering a home and the same goes for wallpaper. Even if the paint color is on the outside of the home, that can easily be changed and could give you the opportunity to personalize the property to your likes by …

You have been saving for years and now it’s time for you to purchase your first home, but where do you begin? The process can be drawn out and at times excruciating but with the right team in place, it can be smooth sailing. The first step, unless you’re paying in cash, is too find out exactly what a mortgage company or bank will approve you for. This is crucial since there are many different factors in determining if you’re approved and how much you’re approved for. Even an 800 credit score, doesn’t give you an automatic approval like many …

So you find your dream home and the seller accepts your offer. Congratulations! After that, you have a short period of time to get your property inspected. There are many different types of inspectors such as a general home inspector, a radon inspector, and a lead based paint inspector to name a few. Each inspector has specialized training in their area of expertise. The best approach is to start with a general home inspector. He can then make recommendations for additional inspectors based on his findings. From there you can sit down with your attorney and real estate agent to …

  When you’re looking to make your next big move, renting can be easier than purchasing, especially when it comes to issues like maintenance and long-term commitments. But while there are benefits to renting, there definitely are disadvantages, too. So you move into your new rental property and you are ready to decorate! Many times, though, landlords will prevent tenants from painting any walls or putting nails into the walls. You also may not be able to change out any worn-out carpeting. If you have pets, you may have a problem finding a rental unit that permits them. And if …

  You’ve travelled a long road and you’ve finally closed on your home, but your journey has just begun. While you’re making plans to decorate your house, renovate your kitchen or plant your garden, there are a few items I suggest you add to your to-do list. Start out my by making sure your important documents are protected. They should be kept inside of a fireproof safe or a safety deposit box. For example, a packet was given to you at your closing that includes all your mortgage documents. Before you put them away, you may want to contact the …

  Congratulations on purchasing a home and no longer having to pay rent! Now the fun begins, though it won’t always be inexpensive. Regardless of the cost, here are some items to handle right off the bat to prevent problems down the road. Did your home inspector go into the attic? How is the insulation up there? Is it damaged or insufficient to meet your needs? If so, the Department of Energy has a wonderful guide on attic insulation. After you’ve checked out the guide, contact your accountant since occasionally there are government incentives to reinsulate your attic. While we’re …

  Many homes are under-marketed not as a result of insufficient advertising or lack of effort on the part of the broker. The main reason is the absence of additional details on the listing sheet, and those are missing mainly because the seller doesn’t think the buyer would be interested. Most listing sheets focus on the same standard items. What you fail to mention might just give your home a leg up over the one down the street. A lot of homeowners have “gone green” in recent years. Do you clean your home using only natural or hypoallergenic products? What …

As children, when our parents asked us to clean up our room, we would stuff everything into a toy box, drawer or closet, deferring actual tidying for another day. Many of us have a similar approach to home maintenance, putting off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. But as you gear up to list your house, it’s important to set your lands in order. The best way to do that is with a home inspection. Issues with your home will drive down the price, whether you know about them or not. A presale inspection can add thousands of …

You have some extra funds and decide you’re going to invest it in the real estate market and become a landlord, but who actually pays when items break and your tenant is calling you to fix it? As the owner of the property, you are usually responsible for major repairs, especially when it comes to health and safety issues. Let’s start with one of the most expensive items on your property: your heating and cooling systems, also known as HVAC. This is an area that landlords must watch like a hawk. Almost all towns have ordinances regarding heat that favor …