When we work with clients who are downsizing to a smaller home, one of the hardest chores they face is letting go of sentimental belongings they no longer have room for. Souvenirs collected during travels, family heirlooms, and your children’s keepsakes can be quite stressful to part with. It doesn’t matter whether the items have monetary value or not; in fact, often the most difficult items to let go of are worthless in terms of money, but priceless in sentimental value. Here are some tips to help you part with belongings you are attached to but no longer want to keep. 1. Remember that our me ..read more

Both buying and selling a home are equally stressful, but what about when you are trying to coordinate both at the same time? There are a lot of moving parts, and the agents involved work together to insure the smoothest possible transactions for our clients. If you are selling your home and want to close on a new home purchase at the same time, here are some things to think about to make your move as smooth as possible. Truly simultaneous closings are rare these days, especially when financing is involved. Regulations put in place to protect consumers have made simultaneous, or double, closin ..read more

Even in this market, the highest offer doesn’t always win. ⁣⁣ True story. ⁣ ⁣ Sounds crazy, I know, but here are 6 reasons the highest offer doesn’t always wow the sellers and win the house.⁣ ⁣ Buyers are inflexible on the selling timeline.⁣ Buyers aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage prior to making an offer.⁣ The highest offer has too many contingencies.⁣ Buyers ask for things sellers made clear weren’t for sale.⁣ Another offer is 100% cash with fewer contingencies.⁣ Buyers don’t seem personable. ⁣ ⁣ Most of the time, the highest offer wins the house…but not always. In fact, sellers are free ..read more

Questions to ask at your Listing Appointment Selling your home is a big deal, and you need the right people around you. Take it from me, It’s OK to be picky!⁣ ⁣ Enter the listing appointment. ⁣ ⁣ A listing appointment is YOUR chance to get the info you need to feel confident about selling. Plus, it allows you to make sure you feel GREAT about the realtor you’ve chosen. ⁣ ⁣ Before the appointment, brainstorm questions you’d like to ask. Questions like:⁣ ⁣ What kind of response time can I expect to calls, emails, and texts? Not just messages from me, but also questions from buyer’s agents and ..read more

When Should I Refinance? Low-interest rates have many homeowners wondering if it’s a good time to refinance. Refinancing can save you a lot of money in the long term when done correctly. It’s important to consider the drawbacks as well. Here are some reasons why you might want to refinance, and a few things to be cautious of. Reasons you may want to refinance: 1. To lower your monthly payment. If today’s interest rates are lower than when you purchased your home, refinancing to a lower rate will reduce your monthly payment down, freeing up cash to help with other bills, your children’s educati ..read more

When we work with clients who are downsizing to a smaller home, one of the hardest chores they face is letting go of sentimental belongings they no longer have room for. Souvenirs collected during travels, family heirlooms, and your children’s keepsakes can be quite stressful to part with. It doesn’t matter whether the items have monetary value or not; in fact, often the most difficult items to let go of are worthless in terms of money, but priceless in sentimental value. Here are some tips to help you part with belongings you are attached to but no longer want to keep. 1. Remember that our me ..read more

Both buying and selling a home are equally stressful, but what about when you are trying to coordinate both at the same time? There are a lot of moving parts, and the agents involved work together to insure the smoothest possible transactions for our clients. If you are selling your home and want to close on a new home purchase at the same time, here are some things to think about to make your move as smooth as possible. Truly simultaneous closings are rare these days, especially when financing is involved. Regulations put in place to protect consumers have made simultaneous, or double, closin ..read more

Home equity…Everybody wants it, but what exactly is it, and how do you get it? Equity represents the degree of ownership an individual or entity has in an asset after subtracting any debts against the asset. To say someone shares equity in a company means they would share in any assets remaining after all debts are accounted for. For example, if your business has sold $500,000 worth of product this year, but you have rent, operating expenses, and a business loan payment totaling $400,000 for the year, you have $100,000 of equity in your business. Equity changes as the value of your assets and ..read more

Even in this market, the highest offer doesn’t always win. ⁣⁣ True story. ⁣ ⁣ Sounds crazy, I know, but here are 6 reasons the highest offer doesn’t always wow the sellers and win the house.⁣ ⁣ Buyers are inflexible on the selling timeline.⁣ Buyers aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage prior to making an offer.⁣ The highest offer has too many contingencies.⁣ Buyers ask for things sellers made clear weren’t for sale.⁣ Another offer is 100% cash with fewer contingencies.⁣ Buyers don’t seem personable. ⁣ ⁣ Most of the time, the highest offer wins the house…but not always. In fact, sellers are free ..read more

Questions to ask at your Listing Appointment Selling your home is a big deal, and you need the right people around you. Take it from me, It’s OK to be picky!⁣ ⁣ Enter the listing appointment. ⁣ ⁣ A listing appointment is YOUR chance to get the info you need to feel confident about selling. Plus, it allows you to make sure you feel GREAT about the realtor you’ve chosen. ⁣ ⁣ Before the appointment, brainstorm questions you’d like to ask. Questions like:⁣ ⁣ What kind of response time can I expect to calls, emails, and texts? Not just messages from me, but also questions from buyer’s agents and ..read more