Monthly Archives: January 2017
Proof of Purchase
People who experience a property loss are usually asked by their insurance company for proof of purchase which can come in the form of a receipt or current inventory of their personal belongings. Even the most organized people might find it challenging to find receipts for all the valuables in their home. If the inventory... Read More
Friday HOME MATTERS
The Mike Parker Team’s weekly round-up of real estate-related news & advice and homeowner tips from around the web… Sales in the Snow: 5 Home Staging Tips for Wintertime While winter isn’t traditionally considered the best time to sell your home, there’s no reason you can’t get an offer during the colder months with the... Read More
Boomers Are Staying in Place
There seems to have been an accepted progression for homeowners going from starter home, to gradually moving into one’s dream home, then, downsizing after becoming an empty nester and finally, into a retirement home. However, Marianne Cusato’s 2016 Aging-in-Place Report indicates that many older Americans don’t plan on following that pattern. 61% of homeowners above... Read More
Attracting Buyers
There is a common body of knowledge among real estate professionals that indicates that the longer a home is on the market, the lower the price will be. Many sellers discount this belief in the beginning because they feel confident their home will sell quickly. Lowering the price is the most obvious thing that can... Read More
Rent or Buy – You Pay for the House You Occupy
The ironic thing about people who think they can’t afford to buy a home for themselves, end up buying the home for their landlord. There are several facts that support this notion. Mortgages, whether held by an owner-occupant or an investor, are usually amortized so that each payment reduces the principal amount owed so that... Read More
Facts or Myths
“It’s impossible to get low down payment loans.” – FACT! FHA down payments are 3.5% and VA is 0%. In some areas, there may be some 0% down payment USDA loans available. FNMA and Freddie Mac have 3% down payment programs. “It takes perfect credit to get a loan.” – FACT! There is a relationship of better rates to... Read More