Mortgage rates remain in the high six to mid seven percent range and as a result many buyers are waiting on the sidelines either in hopes of lower rates or lower home prices.  Home sellers facing the prospect of selling a home that currently has a low mortgage rate to then buy a home with a high rate are also taking a wait and see approach.  Investment real estate has been seeing stress in the commercial office space and commercial real estate in general is slowly pricing downward in order to attract buyers.  This month’s roundup has plenty of knowledge for the individual home buyer/sell as well as real estate investor.

Special Assessment Taxes

Taxes are one of those things that when the increases come due it can cause many to strain their budget. Often times buyers go in buying real estate with taxes set at a certain level and may not consider that taxes can and do rise.  In this article by Bill Gassett explores special assessment taxes, what they are and how they can be assessed and even go up.  There are different reasons why special assessment taxes will be assessed or even go up and understanding how the process works can prepare homeowners.

Smart Home Technology in 2024

For those homeowners looking to update their home with new smart home tech this article from Paul Sian looks at some of the hot smart home technology that is in demand for 2024.  Whether the homeowner wants to upgrade to make better use of their home or they are looking for a competitive edge when selling their home in today’s market this article covers what is out there today in terms of smart home technology.  Many features of the home (like smart heating/cooling, security, cleaning and more) can be controlled anywhere there is an internet connection and a smart phone.

Home Buying Tips to Help Score a Home

Looking to buy a home, be sure to check out this article from Karen Highland who explains how a real estate agent can help buyers secure the home of their dreams.  The whole process of buying a home can be challenging and trying to do it without the right understanding and knowledge can raise the stress levels even higher.  There is a lot of information to know and one needs to understand how all the moving parts fit together.  A great real estate agent can help buyers meet their real estate buying goals with less stress.

Removing a Name from a Mortgage

Whether due to divorce, separating ways from a significant other or investment partnership dissolving removing a name from a mortgage is not as easy as it would appear at first glance to do.  In this article by Alex Capozzolo he covers the process property owners have in order to have a name removed from a mortgage.  Whatever the reason may be for removing a name from a mortgage one needs to expect it will take some time and effort to get it done.

Using Gift Money to buy a Home

Sometimes when buying a home the buyer wants to have a larger down payment in order to reduce the monthly payment.  Where the buyers have their own funds and are able to use it as a down payment that is one usable source for the down payment.  Another usable source for down payment are gift funds as Kevin Vitali explains.  There are certain rules that both the gift giver and the borrower need to consider before being able to close on a mortgage.  Running afoul of any of these rules can delay the mortgage process or result in mortgage denial.

Septic Inspection When Buying a House

For those homes that do not have a sewer line connection the home then has to rely on a septic system to handle household waste water.  With the septic system being underground on the property where the home is located if there are any issues not only can the septic system impact the land where the house is it will impact the homeowners use of their plumbing systems.  In this article by Joe Boylan he explains the importance of the septic system inspection when buying a home and what home buyers need to fully investigate before closing on a home with a septic system.

“I Have a Buyer for Your Home” Letters

Are those letters from real estate agents claiming to have a buyer for a home real?  In some cases they can be real in other cases those letters are simply a tool for real estate agents to get more listings.  In this article by Vicki Moore she explains why agents send “I have a buyer for your home” letters and how to tell the difference between legitimate letters from real estate agents to scam letters.  Especially if the homeowner is considering selling their home soon talking with a licensed real estate agent could help with selling a home.

Elevate Curb Appeal When Selling a Home

The saying goes there is only one chance to make a good first impression.  When selling a home the first impression usually happens online (the first picture of the home is usually the front of the home) or when a buyer first drives up to the home when seeing it listed for sale.  Curb appeal is what buyers will want to see.  A lack of curb appeal can sour the buyer’s opinion of the home regardless of how beautiful the inside is as Michelle Gibson explains.  When the goal of selling a home is getting it front of the most buyers possible elevating curb appeal is an essential task for the home seller.

What other articles have you found helpful for this month?  Are you sitting on the sidelines waiting to buy or sell based on current mortgage rates?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Real Estate Roundup for April 2024 was provided by Greater Cincinnati Area Luxury Realtor Paul Sian of United Real Estate Home Connections. Paul is a licensed real estate agent in the states of Ohio and Kentucky and has over 17 years of experience. Do you have a home you are ready to sell now in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky? Be sure to contact me now!