Whether you’re moving down the street or to a new city or state, the physical act of moving can be stressful and, at times, overwhelming. So before you embark on the big move, do a little homework to ensure it’s as seamless as possible. When looking for movers, choose carefully, and remember that the best deal might not be the cheapest. Relocation.com often cautions against signing with the least expensive movers as unexpected costs tend to pop up on move-in day. Keep a close eye on moving expenses by creating a budget. Budget for gas money and even pit stops that might be needed along the way ..read more

Have you sat down and had “the talk” yet with your parents? No, not the talk about the birds and the bees. This conversation — with an aging parent or parents — focuses on their changing needs and the possibility of moving on from the family home. At one point in time, the family home was perfect for raising a house full of children, but now those children have moved on and are raising families of their own. Perhaps mom or dad has passed, and the remaining parent is now living alone in a house that’s much larger than their current needs. As we age, maintaining the old homestead can also become ..read more

A VA (Veterans Administration) mortgage allows active service members, veterans and surviving spouses to receive backing for home financing that takes the form of guarantees by the Veterans Administration. Benefits can include a more favorable mortgage term, zero downpayment and more! Olear Makes It Clear Video Series… Watch All Videos In Series The post Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 23 – VA Mortgage appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

Rights of Survivorship: This is used when two or more people purchase a property together in their individual names, creating a legal relationship also known as “tenancy in common.” When one owner dies, the property automatically transfers to the other individuals on the title of the property. Olear Makes It Clear Video Series… Watch All Videos In Series The post Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 21 – Rights of Survivorship appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

The rate local allows the mortgage borrower to secure a guaranteed interest rate for a set period of time so they know what the actual rate will be when they complete the purchase of a property. When you lock a rate, you’re not subject to any increases in borrowing costs. The rate lock is typically good for a 60-day period. Olear Makes It Clear Video Series… Watch All Videos In Series The post Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 20 – Rate Lock appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

The post Take a good look — inside and out — before buying appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

Quitclaim Deed: A quitclaim deed is a legal instrument used to remove someone from ownership of a specific property while leaving other existing owners in place. This action is frequently taken when one owner buys out another, which could be part of a divorce or to settle an estate, and is handled by attorneys for both parties. Olear Makes It Clear Video Series… Watch All Videos In Series The post Olear Makes It Clear – Episode 19 – Quitclaim Deed appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

Homeowner’s Association: Also referred to as an HOA, the homeowner’s association provides organizational structure and sets rules for a specific community. The HOA is typically governed by a board of directors elected by all of the property owners. The HOA also collects and utilizes funds to properly maintain common areas such as driveways, recreational facilities and green space. Olear Makes It Clear Video Series… Watch All Videos In Series The post Olear Makes it Clear – Episode 18 – Homeowner’s Association appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more

In this business, we often run across people who use the words condo and townhouse interchangeably. Well, that would be incorrect. Basically, a condo is the interior space of a housing unit that may also include a porch, while a townhouse includes exterior surfaces and the land the dwelling is built on. When purchasing a condo or a townhouse, you also become part of a group called a homeowner’s association, or HOA in its abbreviated form. The HOA is made up of all individuals who own units within a specific development. An elected, executive board comprised of owners hold regular meetings to a ..read more

Planned Unit Development: This refers to a housing community made up of a variety of styles such as condos, townhouses, patio homes and/or detached single family structures. It’s possible that some commercial units may be included as well. And, there are alway common areas maintained by the HOA, and various amenities including recreational facilities. Olear Make It Clear Video Series View All Episodes The post Olear Makes It Clear Episode 17 – Planned Unit Development appeared first on The Olear Team ..read more