Mortgage rates continue to remain elevated causing buyers and sellers to think twice about whether they want to take the next step and make/take an offer.  The amount of active listings is still low but many home sellers are sitting on the sidelines not wanting to sell because they would then have to buy with much higher mortgage interest rate than they currently have.  There are also many vacant homes out there that if they start coming to market could change things quickly.  Be sure to check out the great real estate reads in this month’s roundup.

Smart Tips to Stay Safe When Selling Your Home

When selling a home, the home seller is inviting people into the home as part of that process.  Not everyone has good intentions so having some plans in place to keep the home and occupants secure is a good idea.  In this article by Bill Gassett he provides tips for home sellers to secure their home when listing it for sale.  Things like open houses, leaving out personal information, credit cards, keys and more can lead to problems.  Simply just putting those out of sight may not be the best strategy either.

Why Did Your Home Sell

It a challenging real estate market getting a home sold the first time can be an important thing to do. There are some common reasons why a home did not sell and understanding the reasons can help prevent a home from not selling or can help the home seller recover from a non-sale as Paul Sian explores. Any of these pitfalls can be traced to the home owner or the listing agent. Finger pointing is the last thing that should be done, instead the home seller needs to know what needs to be done to make sure an offer is received.

Home Downsizing Tips

When the kids have moved out on their own and suddenly the house is too big to really use downsizing may be an option.  In this article by Kevin Vitali he provides the benefits of a smaller simplified living space.  From retiring, empty nesters, reducing expenses, health reasons and more all work as reasons why would want to downsize.  On the other side of the issue he also covers reasons it may not be the best idea to downsize and instead stay where you are at providing for a well-balanced article.

Picking a Real Estate Agent for Selling Your Home

When it comes to selling your home choosing the right agent can mean the difference between having a successful sale and having to relist the property again due to not getting any offers.  In this article from Luke Skar he provides tips for interviewing and selecting the right agent to help list your home for sale.  In the article he looks at things that listing agents should know about and the ways to tell the good agents from the inexperienced agents.

Investing in Real Estate through REITS

A REIT, or Real Estate Investment Trust, is a different way to invest in real estate without the direct exposure to actually getting ones hands in the mud so to speak.  Typically shares of REITs can be bought and sold through your stock broker as Karen Highland explores.  The big advantage of REITs is the ability to buy and sell pretty quick as compared to traditionally buying real estate can take much more time.  With REITs there are also specialists who are doing the research on what to invest into.

Buying Out Siblings with an Inherited Property

Sometimes when real estate is inherited not everyone wants to own the property together and instead prefer it to be sold outright.  When one or more of the siblings want to hold onto the property then there are options to be explored as Eric Jeanette explains.  By refinancing the inherited property the person or persons who want to keep the property can get funds to pay off those who want the cash instead.  Eric explores the pros and cons of the process and what needs to be done.

Open House Safety Tips

When hosting an open house the homeowner needs to make sure certain things are put away from prying eyes and quick fingers.  Unfortunately, not everyone coming to an open house is there to see the house for potentially making an offer on it.  In this article by Michelle Gibson she lists seven things that need to be put away during an open house.  Simply hiding these items like cash, jewelry, personal documents and more is not enough.  Securing them outside of the house would be an even better option.

Online Home Valuators

When figuring out the current price of a home sometimes the homeowner will use online tools.  Not all of those tools are accurate and provide a realistic pricing as Kyle Hiscock explains.  In the article Kyle looks at the pros and cons of online home valuators as well as how to get the best results.  He also looks at what is the best way to get one’s home value.  An inaccurate valuation can lead to trouble when it comes time to sell a home.

Getting Ready for an Appraisal

Just as a home seller needs to get ready for home buyers and a home inspection getting a home ready for when a home appraiser is also important too.  A low appraisal can result in a failed deal as Vicki Moore explores.  The appraisal is an important part of the home buying process and the mortgage lender can deny a mortgage due to appraisal issues.  In the article she discusses what an appraiser typically looks for when reviewing a home.

What other real estate articles did you find helpful?  Feel free to share in the comments below.

Real Estate Roundup for March 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!