Home Buying

Everyone has at least experienced how to move once in our life. And in such a case, planning every aspect of the relocation seems to be a daunting task. With all the scheduling, coordinating, and packing you’ll need to accomplish over the next few weeks, it can be easy to get overly stressed and anxious. If you’re a starter, you may not know where to start and what to do precisely.

 To get all things done without losing your mind, here are the things to prepare when you’re planning your first move.

1. Calculation of moving costs

First thing in your checklist should be the calculation of moving costs and the setting up of your budget. While most people who are moving don’t really feel like creating a budget, you should understand that not

Moving all your possessions from your old house to a new one can be emotionally and physically stressful. From deciding which item should be put in one box to ensuring all valuable items are safe and secured, everything involves careful planning and preparation. When it comes to your belongings’ security, steps should also be taken throughout the move.

If you want to guarantee the safety and integrity of your belongings during your move, here are a few tips to consider from the get-go. 

1.          Make an inventory of your items

 The first step is to come up with a detailed inventory of all the things you currently own. Prepare a spreadsheet and list down the quantity, description, and photos of all your valuables. Having an inventory will

As we begin another year, everyone wants to know: “Where is the housing market headed in 2019?”

It’s not only buyers, sellers, and homeowners who are impacted. The real estate market plays an integral role in the overall U.S. economy.  Fortunately, key indicators point toward a stable housing market in 2019 with signs of modest growth. However, shifting conditions could impact you if you plan to buy, sell, or refinance this year.

HOME VALUES WILL INCREASE

The value of real estate will continue to rise. Freddie Mac predicts housing prices will increase by 4.3 percent in 2019.  While the rapid price appreciation we witnessed earlier in the decade has slowed, the combination of a strong economy, low unemployment, and a lack of inventory in many

There are rules on what a seller and their agent need to disclose to prospective buyers about their home for sale.  In Northern IL, we use a comprehensive disclosure form that the seller needs to fill out.  There are separate Lead Based Paint forms for homes built prior to 1978 and a Radon Disclosure Form that everyone has to fill out.

There is nothing on the Seller Disclosure Form, called Illinois REALTORS® RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURE REPORT, that asks the seller if they are aware that their house is haunted.  In the 35 years I've been selling homes in Orland Park, Homer Glen and surrounding areas, I've never come across a supposed haunted house.  At least no one has disclosed it and I've never heard back from buyers telling me that a

Don’t wait until you’re ready to move to start preparing financially to buy a home. If you’re like the vast majority of home buyers, you will choose to finance your purchase with a mortgage loan. By preparing in advance, you can avoid the common delays and roadblocks many buyers face when applying for a mortgage.

The requirements to secure a mortgage may seem overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But we’ve outlined three simple steps to get you started on your path to homeownership. Even if you’re a current homeowner, it’s a good idea to prepare in advance so you don’t encounter any surprises along the way.

Lending requirements have become more rigorous in recent years, and changes to your credit history, debt levels, job type,

As we head into a new year, the most common question we receive is, “What’s the outlook for real estate in 2018?”

It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners also want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is that a strong U.S. economy, coupled with low unemployment rates, is expected to drive continued real estate growth in 2018. However, changes on the horizon could significantly impact you if you plan to buy, sell or refinance this year.

HOME VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE

Get ready for another strong year! U.S. home values and sales volume will continue to rise in 2018.  

Experts agree that home prices will increase in 2018, but predict a slower rate of appreciation than 2017, which clocked

Following is a guest post written by Lance Mohr, a Tampa, Florida REALTOR

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting feelings anyone can dream of. However, it is not as easy as you might think. Having a lot of money is not all that matters. There are other factors to look into when buying a new home. Even the most luxurious property has its own drawbacks because there’s no such thing as a “perfect home”. Nevertheless, through several years of real estate experience, we have come up with various tips to guide you in choosing the home that adequately fits your style, needs and financial resources, may it be brand new or pre-owned.

Come up with a clear description of your ideal home. This way you have a clear understanding before you and your

If you’re in the market for a new home or investment property, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “What can we afford?” Many buyers become so caught up in how much they can afford that they don’t realize their total buying power—that is, the total amount of purchasing potential they actually have.

Buying Power Defined

Your buying power is comprised of the total amount of money you have available each month for a mortgage payment. This means the money you have each month after fixed bills and expenses. Any money you’ve saved for a down payment, the proceeds from the sale of your current home, if applicable, and the amount of money you’re qualified to borrow all impact your buying power as well. When you take all of this into account,

You can usually spot new design trends by looking at new construction, especially new subdivision models.  Most builders keep themselves up-to-date with current decorating styles.  One builder I met said they will build one spec home using a cool tone (grey) and the next one with a warm tone (beige).

The current trends are all about utilizing rich color, maximizing texture and creating comfortable interiors you can’t wait to relax in. Use these trends to get inspired to makeover your home’s interiors and create spaces you love that also appeal to your personal style. Remember, if you plan to sell in the next few years, you may want to avoid doing anything dramatic and instead incorporate small changes that would appeal to buyers.  We plan on moving

I read several years ago that we should only have our sellers sign disclosures that were mandated by law.  Required disclosures are our Property Disclosures (Residential Real Property Disclosure Report), Lead Based Paint Disclosure for homes built prior to 1978  and the Radon Report.  Some lenders require the Lead Based Paint form for all homes, which I think is ridiculous as the form explicitly states that it is for properties built "prior to 1978", so I don't understand why some lenders don't accept the date as lead was removed from paint in 1978.  I do not have my sellers sign that one if their home was built after 1978.  If a buyer's lender requires it we can argue the fact or sign one at that point.

Some years back a Mold Disclosure was created