What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®? Or a buyer’s agent and a listing agent? Having a glossary of real estate professionals to refer to as you navigate the home buying or selling process should come in handy.
Here’s a list of professionals that you’re likely to encounter:
According to the National Association of REALTORS® Research Division, 48% of homebuyers in 2015 purchased a home because it was the right time and they were ready to buy a house. But how do you know when you’re ready to buy a home? Take our quiz to find out.
Working with families as a professional organizer, I’ve learned that needs are different for a family with teens. With little ones, you want a bedroom close by your own room and a big yard where they can run and play. With older kids, your shopping list becomes an interesting combination. You want and need space to be together and interact. And at the same time, your teen needs space to be alone and to grow.
Here are some different factors to consider if you’re house hunting with teens or soon-to-be teens.
Hiring the wrong real estate agent could significantly impact your experience as a buyer or a seller. The right real estate agent will not only have a great resume and be genuinely committed to helping you meet your needs, but he/she will “click” with you too.
“Real estate is a people business. You have to like and understand people if you want to succeed in real estate,” says Matt Williams, Broker/Owner of Realty Executives Williams Sykes Realty.
What should you be looking for when you start your real estate search and are trying to decide on an agent to represent you as a buyer or seller? And how can you tell which real estate agent will do the best job? Here are the five things to look for when deciding:
During the home buying process, you’ll be working with a range of professionals, including a real estate agent, loan officer, home inspector, appraiser, and a lawyer or representative from a title company. And while you may need to divulge some very personal information, like your annual income and debt history, not all of these people need to know the intricate details of your life.
Moving from one house to another is exciting and stressful at the same time. But planning ahead and having some sound advice can make the process a whole lot easier.
Here are some helpful tips that you can take advantage of:
Prospective buyers often have strong feelings about whether their next home must or must not include a homeowners’ association (HOA). However, the majority of people who live in managed subdivisions and developments are happy with their associations. According to the Community Associations Institute (CAI), 64% of Americans who reside in community associations rate their experience positively.
Moving into a new house can be a stressful life event for the whole family, particularly young children who rely on predictability and find comfort in familiar routines. Other than talking to them about the move and including them in the decision-making process, what can you do to make the experience positive and as stress-free as possible?
According to comScore, Google Maps is one of the top 10 smartphone apps in the country. Globally, approximately one billion people use Google Maps to perform one billion searches every day. It’s a popular and useful tool, but how can you use it in your search for a new home?
Explore the neighborhood
Go for a virtual walk around your target suburb with Street View. This feature allows you to take a virtual tour of the city streets, even letting you to step into local businesses like restaurants and stores that have indoor maps available.