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Helpful real estate info from the pros.
Latest Trend: Bamboo in the Home
Bamboo in your home? Believe it or not, many homes now have been opting bamboo in the home as a design element or material. Why use bamboo? Bamboo is an eco-friendly, sustainable material great for building structures and it’s cheaper than wood. Here...
Is your home outdated and unwanted?
Does your home have outdated and unwanted features? We all want the latest design trends in the next property we buy, but 70% of homeowners admit they have outdated features in their homes. Will you sell with an outdated feature or update the house to...
Who’s buying homes these days?
Are you buying homes? Who do you think are buying homes nowadays? Buying your house is both a financial and emotional decision that involves many factors. For most home buyers purchasing a home is one of the largest financial transactions they will make. We...
Wire Transfer Fraud Warning
Everything in your real estate transaction is going smoothly and you are ready to send your money to escrow. Just a few steps in the transactions and you will have your dream house. Even though everything seems to be going well, you’ll need to be very aware...
California Real Estate Market Update
The California real estate market is sizzling and continues to sizzle… As we all see with the influx of tech companies in the area, low inventory is prevalent and prices continue to increase. Prices are increasing, which makes it challenging for...
How Will a Short Sale Affect My Credit Score?
Borrowers often ask, “How Will a Short Sale Affect My Credit?” An individual’s credit rating affects their ability to obtain financing and obtains favorable rates. FICO, the Fair Isaac Corporation, is the most widely used credit scoring system in the world....
What are the Tax Implications from a Short Sale
Tax Implications Borrowers are often concerned about the tax consequences of a short sale. This is because, up until fairly recently, mortgage debt on a primary residence that was forgiven from a Short Sale or Foreclosure could be counted...
Do You Qualify for a Short Sale Transaction
Many people wonder why the bank would allow them to participate in a short sale transaction.Can anyone short sale their property? In all short sales, the bank must assure that the borrower qualifies for the transaction. Most mortgage lenders...
Frequently Asked Questions about Short Sales
Frequently Asked Questions about Short Sales Here are the answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about Short Sales: 1. I can’t make my house payments, but I do have an ability to pay back all or part of the negative equity. Also, I want...
On Trend: What is a Housiversary?
Nowadays, people celebrate almost about anything – from Pizza Day to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. It’s no surprise that we humans came up with the idea of Housiversary too – where homeowners celebrate annually the day they officially owned their...
Why Now Is A Good Time To Buy A Home
If you’re looking for a sign, this is it – now is a great time to make a home purchase. If you have been renting for some time, you may want to consider buying a house instead, because the money you pay your property owner is basically paying someone else’s mortgage!...
Ways To Be More Effective While You Work From Home
If you’re one of the many people who’s just getting the hang of work-from-home lifestyle, we’re guessing that sometimes, you find yourself lacking motivation, feeling like you’re in a slump and prone to procrastination, especially when Netflix is a little too...
Tips To Sell a Home Safely During the Coronavirus
Good news for home sellers: You are in a good position right now as there is little supply of homes for sale and there are quite a large number of buyers shopping around. The coronavirus has definitely reshaped the way we do real estate. Aside from observing social...
How to Save $100k To Buy Your New Home
Buying a home is often the largest purchase one will make in a lifetime. And saving $100K on your next home sounds crazy, right? While saving up for a whopping six-figure milestone down payment may be a challenge for some, it is not actually impossible. How to save...
Considering a Fixer-Upper? Signs to Avoid a Money Pit
There are times when buyers can score a great deal on fixer-uppers. Sometimes, when a property just requires too much TLC, it eventually turns out to be not a good investment after all. Before making an offer, keep a keen eye on some signs of a money pit property:...
How to Know if You Can Really Afford to Buy a Home
If you’ve decided to buy a home and want to learn more about the financials, then you’re in the right place. You’re probably wondering how much you can afford. The following items are the most important money matters to consider. Know Your Debt-To-Income (DTI) Ratio...
Your Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
Experts recommend an annual check-up to make sure your home is in tip-top shape and will be less prone to surprise repairs. Wrap up the year neatly and get your home ready for the coming year with the following to-dos: Ensure Main Water Shutoff Functions as Expected...
Housekeeping Tips from Grandma
Next time you’re cleaning, remember what you or other’s grandmas do to keep the house in order. Cut Dish Sponges in Half A practical grandma knows how to make the most of their items at home. Not only are you getting two sponges for the price of one, but...