Category Archives: Home Buyers

Buy-and-Hold or Fix-and-Flip…What’s the Right Investment for You?

When it comes to real estate investing, is it better to buy-and-hold or fix-and-flip? The answer depends on your investment goals, your personal preferences, and your local market. Let’s looks at each strategy and figure out which is the better fit for you.

What is Buy-and-Hold?

Buy-and-hold is when you purchase an investment property for the long-term. Most investors start with a single-family home or small multi-family property (2-4 units).

You simply find a property where the rent will exceed all your expenses (as a general rule of thumb, investors like to see the monthly rent be more than 1% of the purchase price), then find reliable renters for the property.

The rents collected will pay down your mortgage debt, pay all your investment-related expenses (like taxes, insurance, and maintenance), and put money in your pocket every month for decades to come!

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Financing Basics for First-Time Home Buyers

 

The world of mortgage financing can be a little overwhelming for first-time home buyers.  

The good news is that there are professionals to guide you through the process of qualifying for a home loan. Lenders are happy to educate buyers on the different mortgage options. You just need to know a few basics so you can have a productive conversation with your lender.   

Here are finance basics for first-time buyers:

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Five Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Lawyer

 

When dealing with real estate transactions, finding a reliable lawyer presents valuable advantages especially in protecting your personal and business interests.

The practice of real estate law encompasses a variety of fields. Real estate attorneys are able to deal with more complex issues such as zoning problems and ordinances, environmental issues, or contracts and lease agreements. However, they can also offer indispensable advice and assistance to more common commercial and residential transactions.

Whether you’re buying and selling a house, investing in real estate properties, or in the middle of a simple legal issue, having a lawyer by your side makes the process easier. However, before you embark on the search for the best real estate lawyer to handle your businesses, you might want to take note of a few questions that will help you land the right attorney for the job.

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What BUYERS Need to Know About the Closing Process

So you’ve made an offer on your dream home, and the seller has accepted…what are the next steps?

Several things still need to happen before the deal can close, and the house can officially become your home.

The closing process (also called the escrow process) generally takes 30-60 days to complete. Much of the work is done behind the scenes by the team of real estate professionals handling your transaction. But you’ll also be involved in several of the upcoming steps.

Here’s an outline of what buyers can expect during the closing process.

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Smart Homes are the Next Big Thing

Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the homes its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care. Continue reading

Six Ways to Keep Your Home Safe When Traveling for the Holidays

With the holiday season approaching, it is highly important to not skimp on security. And if you’re planning on traveling during the holidays, you should feel some peace of mind knowing your home is safe while you’re away. Here are our top tips for keeping your home safe as you travel for the holiday season.

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Realty Executives International Partners With Zillow To Include Canadian Property Listings

Realty Executives International announced today that it has expanded its partnership with Zillow, Inc., the leading real estate and rental marketplace in the U.S., to include listings from their Canadian franchises. The Canadian listings from Realty Executives will drive unprecedented global exposure to Canadian homes for sale to the millions of home shoppers that visit Zillow every month.

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