Your home is under contract, what’s next?
by Rochelle Dolan

Your home is under contract, what’s next? Great news, you’ve put your dream home under contract and you’re excited to move in one day soon. That said, there’s a lot that has to happen before you can take occupancy: home inspection, appraisal, financing paperwork, contingencies and other requirements necessary to close. Here’s what you can expect to happen over the coming weeks. Due Diligence Now that the home is yours to negotiate...
Read MoreWhat will be your payment on your new home?
by Rochelle Dolan
What Will Be Your Payment on Your New Home? Taking Charge of Your Financial Fitness Buying a new home can feel overwhelming—much like starting a new fitness regimen. Between understanding the financial aspects of your mortgage and navigating the paperwork, it's easy to feel lost. But just as you wouldn't embark on a fitness journey without a plan, you shouldn't dive into homeownership without understanding the key components that will affect your financial health. Understanding...
Read MoreHow to Beat Other Buyers to Hot, New Listings (Before They Even Know About Them)
by Rochelle Dolan
How to Beat Other Buyers to Hot, New Listings (Before They Even Know About Them) In today’s competitive real estate market, timing is everything. The best homes sell quickly, and in many cases, they’re already under contract before buyers even have a chance to schedule a showing. If you’re tired of missing out on the hottest listings, here’s how to gain an edge over the competition and secure the home of your dreams before other buyers even know about it. 1. Partner...
Read MoreHow much you should put down to purchase your new home?
by Rochelle Dolan

How much should you put down to purchase your new home? Historically, home buyers seek to put down 20% when they purchase a home. However, according to a recent survey by The National Association of Realtors (NAR), the actual national average is much closer to 10%. When it comes to first-time homebuyers, the average down payment is at 4% as per the same survey. While down payment requirements vary based on the lender you choose to work with, the amount required will usually depend...
Read MoreWhy You Should Get a Home Warranty When You List Your Home
by Rochelle Dolan

Why You Should Get a Home Warranty When You List Your Home Home warranties aren’t just for buyers anymore. In the past, buyers have asked sellers to pay for a home warranty to give them a year of protection after it sells on roughly 16 major systems in the house including things like the electrical system, appliances, hot water heater, furnace, etc. Overall, it makes sense because the first time claim on a home warranty for most buyers runs around $1,500 to 1,600 plus a deductible...
Read MoreHow to Qualify for a No Money Down Home Purchase
by Rochelle Dolan
How to Qualify for a No Money Down Home Purchase Unlocking the Door to Homeownership In today's ever-evolving real estate market, the dream of owning a home might feel just out of reach—especially when faced with the challenge of saving for a down payment. But here's some uplifting news: even in today’s climate, there are exceptional loan programs that can help you purchase a home with little to no money down. Let's explore the best options available and guide you...
Read MoreHow much money will go into your pocket after your home is sold?
by Rochelle Dolan

How much money will go into your pocket after your home is sold? It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep that matters. This holds especially true when it comes to the sale of your home. The sales price you see at the top of the closing paperwork is rarely, if ever, the amount of money that ends up in your pocket as the seller. There are often a variety of costs and fees associated with getting a home sold, so it’s important that you understand exactly what you’re...
Read More10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home
by Rochelle Dolan

10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home Currently, there are over 1.61 million Realtors in the United States alone. The number of people that have joined the real estate sales force over the last 10 years is more than a half a million.. No two agents are the same and less than 10% of the total number of Realtors to 90% of the business. In fact, the average agent has sold roughly 4.2 homes for more than five years now. In addition to that, not all agents are created equally....
Read MoreProperty tax assessment too high...what you can do about it?
by Cody Milholen

Property tax assessment too high...what can you do about it? An increase in home values is great because it increases the equity in your home without you having to invest more money in making it happen. Unfortunately, as the price of your home increases, so does the perceived value of your home in the eyes of your local tax assessor. When that happens, your taxes also go up. The bad news is that your tax rate - the annual percentage of your home’s value that you pay - is fixed...
Read MoreHow to sell a home that didn't sell
by Cody Milholen

How to sell a home that didn't sell The real estate market has been a little crazy lately. Despite that, we’re still looking at homes selling for a great price when they are priced properly based on current market conditions. So, if your "for sale" sign has been sitting on your front lawn a lot longer than you expected, you might be wondering how to sell your home that didn’t sell when you thought it would. As a best practice, it is ideal to consult your real...
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