Sharing some important information about appraisals to prepare sellers. What should sellers know about appraisals? It’s a common question we receive, and today, we want to share some insights with you. An appraisal is essentially an opinion of the value of your home. Appraisers compare your property to similar homes in the neighborhood, typically within a mile or two in suburban areas, and up to five or ten miles in rural areas. In addition to location, appraisers also consider the condition of your home. It’s crucial to ensure that your property meets certain criteria before the app ..read more

All about the transition of agents and the upcoming retirement party. Today, we are very excited to introduce ourselves to all of you! Our names are Maic and Renee Friedrich, and we are taking over the database of the wonderful Anne Daily and Joe Herbert. They are getting the pleasure of retiring and are looking forward to traveling more, and we are honored that they entrusted all of their clients to us!  You should have received your invitation to Anne and Joe’s retirement party, but just in case you haven’t, click here to see more information about it. The awesome event will be on ..read more

These are the many loan programs that are available to buyers today. What types of loans and loan programs are available? Recently, we’ve experienced the short-lived Dream For All program, an incredibly hyped loan program that ended up being available for less than a few weeks. We made a video about it, and within 24 hours after posting it on Youtube, the program was no longer available. Its abrupt end has led many to ask, “What other options do I have?” One option you have are traditional loan programs. These include conventional loans, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, and Vet ..read more

An important disclaimer about the trend of tanking your credit score. Today, we’re here to address a concerning question that has been circulating: “Should I purposely lower my credit score to get better pricing on a mortgage?” This is a loaded question, and we’d like to clarify some facts about recent changes in guidelines and rules set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In short, the answer is no, you should not tank your credit. Yes, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aim to make homeownership more accessible to people across the US by improving pricing for those with lower credit scores. However, whil ..read more

Here’s what you need to know about our agent referral program. Today’s question is, “I’m moving out of the area, and I want a great agent like you guys. What should I do?” This is a loaded question but a great one.  Recently, we’ve had a couple of clients and friends looking to buy investment properties or move out of the area. We’ve received calls from frustrated clients who are not being listened to or experiencing other frustrating situations. We typically ask permission to connect these clients with agents we know personally and have vetted. We attend a lot of events and network with ..read more

Three of the biggest things inspectors check during home inspections. Do you know what a home inspector looks for when they visit a property? Inspectors will investigate every nook and cranny from the foundation to the roof to find anything that might affect the property’s value. If possible, it’s best to fix issues before listing your home to avoid them becoming a negotiation tactic for a potential buyer. To help you prepare, here are the top three things inspectors will look for:  1. The mechanical systems. This includes the big items like your HVAC and water heater. In our experie ..read more

Sharing four reasons why buying an imperfect home could be great. Is HGTV ruining real estate for buyers? What we mean by that is, should you consider buying a house that isn’t as pretty and HGTV-ready? Many buyers let the small details hold them back, like not enjoying the wall color, but the truth is that paint is cheap and easy to change!  Features like paint, flooring, and countertops are easy to fix and can add a lot of value to your home, so don’t let them stop you from choosing a certain house. To help you understand this, here are four reasons why it might benefit you to choose th ..read more

Three things you should do to successfully sell a fixer-upper. If you’re thinking about selling your house, but it’s not quite ready to go on the market, what should you do? The answer to that question depends on the state of your house. Is it in disrepair, or does it just need an update? Are you looking to sell quickly, or are you willing to wait? There are a few options available to you, and each one has its pros and cons. Here are three things you can do when selling a fixer-upper: 1. Sell your house to an investor. They will make a cash offer and do the necessary repairs and renovatio ..read more

Should you sell your primary residence or turn it into a rental property? If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you know that inflation is high and the cost of living is increasing almost everywhere. At the same time, home values are increasing, and property taxes are rising with them. If you want to make a wise real estate decision in this environment, what should you do?  There are two main ways for homeowners to get value out of their current properties. First, you can sell the home and get your equity out of it. However, a less conventional strategy is becoming more popular in ..read more

Whose mortgage do you want to be paying, anyway? “Should you keep renting, or should you finally buy?” It may seem like a loaded question. After all, we’re in real estate and want you to buy. However, we also want what is best for you and your situation.  So the No. 1 thing we always say when confronted with this question is: when you are paying for housing, whose mortgage do you want to be paying for, yours or your landlord’s? The fact is that, no matter what, you’re going to be paying on a mortgage. The only question is whose you’re paying. You might be leery of paying a rate as high as ..read more