Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Mortgage interest rates still remain high compared to the past few years.  Those sellers with listing on the market this time of year are serious sellers.  For those few serious buyers who are out there now might be the time to negotiate with these sellers.  Work with an agent you can trust and who knows how to send offers without offending anyone.  If you want to buy or sell real estate these articles below are great reads for you.

What to Know About Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is required when one owns or purchases a home with a mortgage.  There are many benefits to having a homeowners insurance policy and in this article by Paul Sian he explores homeowners insurance and the coverage it provides.  Homeowners insurance can protect the money the homeowner has put into the home in case of a major catastrophe.  That does not mean a homeowner should file a claim for any little thing that may be covered as that could result in the policy getting cancelled.

Tips For Selling Your Home in the Winter

Winter time home sellers are listing during a more challenging time as there are fewer buyers.  One advantage of selling in the winter is that the buyers who do come to look at the home are more serious.  In this article by Bill Gassett he provides some great tips for getting a home sold in the winter.  He looks at the pros and cons of selling in the winter as well as provide some tips for home sellers to use to help have a successful wintertime home sale.  Home sellers need to understand how to best position their home so that buyers take notice and want to visit in person.

Capital Gains Tax on Real Estate

When it comes time to sell a home some homeowners may have a tax due bill at the close of the sale on the capital gains.  In this great read by Kevin Vitali he takes a look at what capital gains are, what type of taxes the home seller could be facing, as well as certain deductions and exemptions from the capital gains tax.  As the taxes can be substantial it is wise to work with tax professionals to make sure the home seller is not overpaying on their taxes.  Home sellers would be wise to set aside funds from the sale of their home to cover those taxes as well when it comes time to pay.

How a Cash Sale Can Lead to a Quick Close

When it comes to buying or selling a home the overall process can take some time.  Skipping the mortgage process when buying a home as a result can save quite a bit of time.  There is quite a bit of paperwork associated with a mortgage and multiple milestones along the way that need to be met.  In this article by Chris Highland he explores how a cash offer can save time when buying a home.  With a cash deal the home buyer can close as fast as the seller is able to and as fast as the title company can process the behind the scenes paperwork.

Understanding the Rental Application Process

In this article Joy Boylan looks at the rental application process in which he provides information and insights for both the tenant as well as the rental property owner.  Processing tenant applications involve complying with laws which usually can help protect the property owner from lawsuits involving discrimination claims. Using third party software helps save a lot of time and expense as multiple tenants can be screened through one platform which performs the screening process on a neutral basis.

Real Estate Appraisal Myths Debunked

An appraisal is usually required when buying a home with a mortgage.  The mortgage lender will order the appraisal and use the value as part of their mortgage approval process.  In this article by appraiser Tom Horn he debunks some of the common real estate appraisal myths and provides the truth.  Myths like the appraiser works for the buyer, appraisals are the same as a Zestimate, agents and appraisers can’t talk and more.  Both home buyers and sellers should know about these myths and what the reality is.

MLS Terms Defined    

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is where homes are listed for sale for your local market.  Real estate agents, appraisers, home inspectors and some other professionals usually have access to the MLS to review agent only information and real estate agents are able to make updates/input to their listings.  Home buyers can see the homes listed for sale on listing sites like Realtor.com, Zillow.com, RealCincy.com, local agent sites and more.  In this article by Michelle Gibson she explains some of the common MLS terms home buyers will find associated with MLS listings and what them mean.  Both home buyers and sellers should understand the terms while browsing MLS listings so they can understand the current state of the home.

What other real estate articles did you find to be helpful from November 2024?  Feel free to share in the comments below.