March 2017 Real Estate Roundup

Once again we are bringing you the best of the best information when it comes to buying and selling a home. The topics covered by our collection touch on several items and aim to help people make sound decisions for their real estate needs. Whether you are a pet owner in the market for a home, a fan of golf considering a place on a top course, or someone considering their first purchase, we have great information for you. The articles are detailed enough to cover each topic but not so long that you will feel like it is a chore to finish the info. Enjoy!

Home Buying:

Pet Owners Guide to Buying a Home

It is no secret that pet owners consider their animals as another member of the family. From specific food to a designated sleeping area and, in some cases, clothes for special days, it makes sense to consider how the pet will adjust to the new living arrangements.

Paul Sian goes into detail explaining the various factors that need to be considered when buying a home with pets in mind. Having a yard and an easy access door are just the beginning steps for most people. These guidelines will help potential home buyers consider multiple things that can affect their furry little friends.

Who Gets the Absolute Best Home on the Street?

Everyone that buys a home should be proud of their achievement and proud of their new place. However, that does not necessarily mean that we should all strive for the ABSOLUTE best home in the neighborhood.

An old expression states “we should live each day like it is our last, but plan as if we will live forever.” To this end, the best home on the block does not fit with most plans. Luke Skar points out what can happen if the buyer’s situation changes in a few years, typical appreciation issues and the overall impact on the neighborhood’s value.

Should You Hold an Open House Viewing?

For anyone that has even thought about buying a home, it is likely that they have seen signs advertising an open house near their home. Real estate agents ask their clients to get a home in tip top shape and then open the property up to the public for a couple of hours, normally on Sunday. But there is one question: do homes sell due to an open house viewing?

The answer, along with verified stats from Kevin Vitali, will blow you away. You will come away with a new opinion of the work that agents do to sell a home as well as what happens at a typical open house showing.

Ideas for Golf Fans

Several years ago a few ingenious builders and real estate agents came up with a very profitable idea; build luxury homes at key locations on beautiful golf courses. The trend has taken hold all over the country, with some celebrities choosing to call luxurious courses their home.

Kyle Hiscock offers some great advice, both for and against, the idea of buying a home located on a golf course. Some people may think this type of arrangement would be ideal while others may shy away from the idea. Kyle does a good job of playing devil’s advocate for both sides so the reader can make their own choice.

Common Items Revealed by Home Inspections

It is always a good idea to order a home inspection if you are purchasing a previously owned home. Due to the simple fact that a home purchase is so expensive, you want to make sure that you are starting off on the right foot.

David O’Doherty has some advice about common repair issues in a home inspection and what to expect. It is safe to say that no home will be perfect and some minor repairs are to be expected. David discusses some of the more prominent issues and what to expect in very specific areas of the home.

What Do New Home Buyers Need to Ask?

The process of buying a home involves financial aspects, legal aspects, emotional parts and lots of people. From the mortgage lender to the real estate agent to the home appraiser to the legal attorney that closes the loan and the actual seller of the home, it can get overwhelming rather quickly.

That is why Debbie Drummond put together an article that covers not only the questions that new buyers actually ask but also the most important items that SHOULD be asked.

Home Selling:

Why a Walk Through Is Necessary Before Purchase

Buying a home requires signing a legally binding contract. The contract to buy the home along with the mortgage is enforceable by a court of law. For this reason, it makes sense for a buyer to do one last walk through before signing the closing papers.

For the seller, this is the time to make sure any repair items have been completed and to reinforce the best-selling points of the place to the buyer. Joe Samson covers all of these points, and more, in greater detail in his article about the purpose of the final walkthrough. He also covers some contingencies for both the buyer and seller to consider.

How to Sell Your Place By the Water

Lots of people enjoy living near the water. Check out a map of the United States that shows population, and you will find that people congregate around bodies of water. Whether it is a river, lake or ocean, a home that has a view of water is always popular.

However, popularity does not always translate to an easy sell. That is why Bill Gassett put together some recommendations for people preparing to sell your waterfront property. There are special considerations that need to be observed and Bill has some best practices to help, regardless of the climate or body of water.

Avoid These Flooring Mistakes When Preparing to Sell

Besides the outside color of a home, the floors make a quick first impression of a property. Sometimes, in order to save a few dollars, a seller will make some minor improvements to their flooring in order to attract a buyer. However, cutting corners in this area is a bad idea and can cost the seller money.

The article by The Flooring Girl, that was written with heavy input from Realtors, will help home sellers make the best decision about their floors in order to get the most out of their property. Avoid these seller flooring mistakes at all costs!

A Bit of Real Estate Humor to Close

The last entry in this article round up is a piece of humor. Andrew Fortune offers funny observations about working as a real estate agent and combines it with relevant GIF’s found on the internet. The topic of his collection of gifs is discerning when you are no longer a rookie at selling real estate.

Whether you have been in the business for a few months or a few years, these images and quotes are sure to bring a smile to your face.

This article was written by Luke Skar of Inlanta Mortgage – Madison which serves Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida. Since 1993 Inlanta Mortgage has provided award winning customer service to clients who need to purchase a home or refinance an existing mortgage.

Luke serves as the Social Media Strategist for Inlanta Mortgage. His role is to provide original content for all of their social media profiles as well as generating new leads from his website, MadisonMortgageGuys.com NMLS ID #1016