Some people may find the idea odd—why would someone want to hire a gay or lesbian Realtor?  That doesn’t really have any bearing on how good of a real estate agent they are.  But there are many reasons why you might want to hire a gay realtor.  Of course, you do want to make sure they’re a competent agent before you do so.  Here are a few of the things an LGBT real estate agent can do for you. If […]

Just like many areas of life, the housing market is subject to trends.  If your home happens to have a feature that’s one of the hottest trends, it’s likely to sell very easily and for your asking price or even higher.  If it has a trend that’s out, it may be more difficult to sell.  Here are a few different home features that were hot for a time but have now cooled off.  Many are seen as luxuries in a […]

There are many lending institutions out there that will provide you with a loan that meets your needs, your budget, and your timetable.  However, there are also some unscrupulous lenders out there who will try to take advantage of you.  These lenders will target the elderly, those with credit problems, and those who don’t make a lot of money by tempting them with the prospect of home ownership.  However, as with anything that’s sounds too good, these loans always come […]

When many people think of buying a luxury home, they picture a mansion with a huge swimming pool and dozens of bathrooms. They may also hire a shower installation company to put an elegant shower in their bathroom. Today, luxury real estate has been redefined. Yes, many people still want the large mansion, but more and more people are looking at smaller properties that have specific appeal to them. To ensure that your new frameless glass shower remains in top […]

Selling your home is just the first part of the battle.  Now you’ve got to move!  But moving is more than just putting things in boxes and driving them to your new home.  To move with the least amount of stress and work, you need a plan.  Here are a few tips to help make your move easier. Ask your Realtor for Information – While your realtor may not be able to help you pack up your things, he or […]

As a seller, one of the most exciting things you can hear is that someone has made an offer on your house.  This is especially true if you’ve been on the market for several months without a lot of interest.  But once you’ve finished letting out that sigh of relief or jumping up and down, it’s time to actually take a look at the offer. Your agent will most likely want to meet in person to discuss the offer because […]

Renting to own, also called a lease option or lease purchase, can be perfect for those who want to own their own home, but simply can’t get financing or are unable to come up with a down payment.  A portion of the monthly rent is applied against the price of the home.  Often, homeowners have covered their down payment within a year of renting the property.  In that case, they may be able to go ahead and get permanent financing […]

In a perfect world, you’d put a bid out on your dream house, the seller would accept, and everything would be great.  Even if you and the seller had to go back and forth a bit, you’d still end up with a great house.  But more and more, especially when it’s a seller’s market, people end up in bidding wars with other potential buyers.  What can you do if you get caught up fighting for a property?  Here are a […]

When shopping for a house, you may come across a few properties that your Realtor tells you have contingency offers on them.  What does that mean?  Basically, it means that a buyer has made an offer on the property and the seller has accepted it, but before everything is finalized and the sale actually takes place, certain criteria have to be met. Contingencies are generally to allow the prospective purchaser to get their home sold, the buyers mortgage hasn’t officially […]

You’ve found a great realtor. You’ve fixed all those little nagging issues you’ve put off for months. You’ve even done some great lawn maintenance and put on a new coat of paint. But for some reason, your house is still sitting on the market. It’s just not moving. Why? There can be a number of reasons. While the ones listed here may be common issues, they by no means will apply to every seller or every situation. Your realtor can […]