For many homes and markets, professional help from someone in “staging” makes good financial sense. Like this video say, check your staging options first. If you are doing it yourself, here are 5 key tips. One – Depersonalize. You want the buyer to envision this house being their home? Remove the things that make it YOUR […]
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Which Square Footage Figure Should I Use?
Home size is one of the key figures used in comparisons. But you may have different measurements to choose from, as you’ll learn in this video, including builder, appraiser, tax records and possibly owner records. Which one is right, and which one is best? The official figure is the one in tax records – typically, […]
6 Selling Mistakes
If you’re selling, don’t do these things – take some notes from the video! 1. Don’t Sell Before The House Is Ready. If it doesn’t present well, it won’t sell well. 2. Don’t Over-Improve People buy houses in neighborhoods. If yours is so “improved” that it sticks out you’re hurting your chances at selling. 3. […]
What Is An Appraisal?
Every house is unique; appraisers are trained and licensed for expertise in putting a value on properties. Appraisers don’t work for the buyer or the seller; their primary mission is actually to protect the lender who’s risking money against the home’s value. Appraisers have to weigh factors about the property and location – including […]
What Does The Closing Process Involve When I Sell?
As this video explains, a signed sales contract doesn’t mean your house is sold. There are still financial, contractual and legal steps for both sides. The buyer has to get financing to meet the contract terms – which includes credit checks. The property is inspected and appraised; title insurance and escrow accounts are set […]
What Are Discount Points?
Discount points allow you to lower your interest rate. While this video simplifies things to help you remember, “points” are essentially prepaid interest with each point equaling 1% of the total loan amount. Generally, for each point paid on a 30-year mortgage the interest rate is reduced by 1/8 (or.125) of a percentage point. […]
What Steps Need To Be Taken To Secure A Loan?
You’ll see some pictures in this video to help you remember later, but the first step in securing a loan is to complete a loan application. To do so, you’ll need the following information. Pay stubs for the past 2-3 months. W-2 forms for the past 2 years. Information on long-term debts. Recent bank […]
What Is An Escrow Account? Do I Need One?
As we show you in this video, an escrow account is an account, established by your lender, to set aside a portion of your monthly mortgage payment to cover annual charges for homeowner’s insurance mortgage insurance (if applicable), and property taxes. Escrow accounts are a good idea because they assure money will always be […]
How Does The Interest Rate Factor In Securing A Mortgage Loan?
As you’ll see in the video, a lower interest rate allows you to borrow more money than a high rate with the some monthly payment. Interest rates can fluctuate as you shop for a loan so ask lenders if they offer a rate “lock-in” which guarantees a specific interest rate for a certain period […]
Can I Pay Off My Loan Ahead Of Schedule?
Usually, Yes. Like the guy in the video says, by sending in extra money each month or making an extra payment at the end of the year you can accelerate the process of paying off the loan. When you send extra money, be sure to indicate that the excess payment is to be applied […]