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The Best Time to Buy a Home to Get the Best Deal

by Andrea ONeal


The Best Time to Buy a Home to Get the Best Deal

When's the Best Time to Buy a Home to Get the Best Deal? The U.S. housing market has experienced significant changes over the past few years. Home prices have surged dramatically, and while the pace of price growth has slowed, the market remains competitive. With fluctuating interest rates and shifting economic conditions, many homebuyers are asking, “When is the best time to buy a home to secure the best deal?” Here’s what you need to know about timing your home purchase...

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Top deal breakers for a home under contract and how to fix them

by Andrea ONeal


Top deal breakers for a home under contract and how to fix them

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 exclusively with...

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Understanding Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Why It Matters More Than Ever

by Andrea ONeal


Understanding Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Understanding Your Debt-to-Income Ratio: Why It Matters More Than Ever Striking the Balance Between Debt and Income In today's fast-paced financial landscape, maintaining a healthy balance between your income and debt is crucial—especially if you're considering a major purchase like a home. Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) isn't just a number; it's a snapshot of your financial health that lenders scrutinize when deciding whether to approve you for a loan. What...

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Why you should wait to buy that car until after your home purchase?

by Andrea ONeal


Why you should wait to buy that car until after your home purchase?

Why you should wait to buy that car until after your home purchase Getting preapproved for a mortgage is a major step in buying a home. In fact, it’s a virtual necessity to secure a home in this market environment if you’re not paying cash. The great news is, when done properly, it’s like having cash in your hands so you can negotiate effectively with a seller to buy a home. It’s easily one of the most important things you can do in order to buy the home of your...

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What does a real estate agent actually do?

by Andrea ONeal


What does a real estate agent actually do?

What Does a Real Estate Agent Actually Do? If you’ve ever wondered what a real estate agent actually does all day, you’re not alone. It’s easy to think agents just show homes and sign deals, but there’s so much more that goes into the job. Real estate agents wear a lot of different hats and are involved in pretty much every part of the buying or selling process. The truth is, being a real estate agent isn’t just about opening doors and giving tours. It’s...

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What happens when you overprice your home?

by Andrea ONeal


What happens when you overprice your home?

What happens when you overprice your home? When the real estate market favors sellers, it’s almost like there’s a feeding frenzy among buyers trying to secure listings that seem to get snapped up within hours of being put on the market. Such demand drives the prices of homes up rapidly, which only feeds into the perception that the good times will last forever. Unfortunately, trees don’t grow to the sky and there will always be a top of the market. What this means is...

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10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home

by Andrea ONeal


10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home

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....

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How to Beat Other Buyers to Hot, New Listings (Before They Even Know About Them)

by Andrea ONeal


How to Beat Other Buyers to Hot, New Listings (Before They Even Know About Them)

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...

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How much you should put down to purchase your new home?

by Andrea ONeal


How much you should put down to purchase your new home?

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...

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Why You Should Get a Home Warranty When You List Your Home

by Andrea ONeal


Why You Should Get a Home Warranty When You List Your Home

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...

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