Tag Archives: home buyers

Health & Safety, Home Buyers, Home Design

7 Features Senior Buyers Should Look for in a House

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An older man looking out the window of his home that includes the features senior buyers should look for.

Before 1960, when urban development began, senior homebuyers had a difficult time locating builders that could meet their unique requirements or build to suit. Today, there are still plenty of retirees looking to find their forever home. Seeing how more and more people choose to grow older in their own homes, it’s imperative that these homes meet their particular needs. Luckily, the market offers many options to help senior homeowners to live a quality life. With that said, let’s discuss the 7 features senior homebuyers should look for in a house.

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Family Home, Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate

Buying a Condo vs. Buying a House: Key Differences

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a condo building next to a single family home, representing buying a condo vs. buying a house

Buying your first home is an exciting time. You’ve decided to step out of the comfort of renting or staying somewhere rent-free and step into a place you can truly call your own. But if you’re not interested in a large space, is owning a condo the same thing as owning a house?

Both options have their benefits and drawbacks, but it ultimately comes down to what you value in a home. You must choose which option fits you correctly, or you might find yourself thinking the grass is greener on your neighbor’s lawn.

We’ll walk you through the process and differences of buying a condo vs. buying a house.

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Family Home, Home Buyers, Homeowners

How to Resuscitate Your Bank Account After Buying a Home

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A piggy bank symbolizing the need to boost your bank account after buying a home.

Buying property is a huge investment, and it often comes with additional, unplanned expenses. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself in a less than desirable financial position. Before you realize it, your budget is forgotten, you’ve spent money on all sorts of things you’d never imagined needing, and you’re feeling somewhat out of pocket. For this reason, it’s important to know how to balance homeownership and breathe new life into your bank balance. To help you out, we’ve compiled eight handy tips to boost your bank account.

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Home Buyers, Real Estate

Monitoring the Latest Mortgage Rates

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calculator for determining your monthly payment with the current mortgage rate

Mortgage rates have been at their historic lows since the pandemic started last year and many have taken advantage of this to buy a home. Will the rates keep going down or will they go back up? This is one of the most frequent questions. People want to buy at the moment but in some parts of the country, there is a shortage of homes. As we all know, there are many factors that go into the performance of the real estate market which impacts the supply & demand. 

Whether you’re buying a property now or at a later time, checking the latest mortgage rates can help you to make the best decision for yourself and your family. In addition, you can plan and estimate how rates can impact your budget (when it comes to the monthly payment) with a mortgage calculator. Being prepared and equipped with the correct information can save you time and money when the time comes to buy your home.

Visit Money.com and speak to your local real estate agent and mortgage lender for more information.

Family Home, Home Buyers, Home Sellers

Home Warranty Plans: Reasons You Should Have One

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A red pen ready to sign a home warranty plan.

When buying an old home, it is common to check that all appliances and systems still work as intended. Having one or a few of them broken simply will not do. But what if there is concern that these aging appliances and systems will break down in the near future? You can maintain, repair, and replace, but the costs are not cheap. You should have a home warranty plan.

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Homeowners

Common Questions About Property Taxes

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The journey in buying a new home is what many individuals dream of but, buying a home is not always easy and many long time homeowners can attest to that feeling. Owning your own home does come with extra duties and responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is property tax.

How much do you know about property taxes? What does it do, and what do you need to know about it when buying a home? If you’re a first-time homebuyer, budgeting the property tax cost is an important first step in knowing what you can afford. 

So, let’s cut to the chase, clarify some things about property taxes and answer some common questions.

What Is a Property Tax? 

Let’s identify first what a property tax is. A property tax is one of the long lists of government-issued tax to all its constituents who own a property, whether it be a house, a rental property or a building. Individuals and other legal entities, such as corporations, are charged with property tax. 

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Home Sellers

Best Ways to Make Your Home Appeal to Potential Buyers

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When the time comes to sell your home, there’s a lot that needs to be done. Many people get too overwhelmed and scared by the whole process. However, trying to make your home more appealing to potential buyers isn’t as complicated as it sounds at first. Here are some suggestions that might help take the edge off.

Don’t be subjective

The number one rule when trying to make your home more appealing to potential buyers is to avoid being biased. Try to objectively view the situation and understand the market and what sells. Don’t let your personal taste interfere with what the potential buyers will see.

A great way to do this is to ask someone who’s been in the business for a while. Taking advice from your real estate agent or broker is a good route to take. And there are surely some ways that you can let your own style shine through without it being overpowering. Balance is key.

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Real Estate

Pro and Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper

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Buying a home can seem long and at times, tedious, but you want to make sure you make the right choice when it comes to your new home! With so many options on the market, you may want to decide a few big decisions first, before diving into smaller and vast options for homes. One of the “big-picture” choices you can make is whether to buy a place in need of remodeling because it may be more affordable. With that in mind, there are also some cons to purchasing a fixer upper rather than a move-in ready place. Let’s go through the pros and cons so that you can make the best decision for you!

Pros of buying a fixer upper

Before we get into any details, let’s explain the definition of a fixer upper. In simple words, it is a cheaper apartment, condo or home, requires some or a lot of remodeling. This option is not appealing to everyone, as spending your money on a property that does not promise much does not sound very appealing. However, there are some advantages to choosing this option.

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Home Buyers

Finding an Accessible Home

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There are many reasons to search for an accessible home. Whether you have a need for more mobility, are caring for an aging parent or plan on aging in place one day yourself, it is crucial to have a home that is barrier-free. Some homes will already be perfectly suited to accommodate homeowners, of all abilities, but others will need a little improvement before they get there. Below, find out what features you should keep an eye out for when searching and discover what can be changed in a house to make it more accessible. 

Finding a Move-In Ready Home 

Some homes already incorporate elements of universal design, which has fewer barriers for people who use a wheelchair or other mobility devices. An accessible home may have features such as wider hallways and doors, low-threshold doors, hard floors and low storage space that’s easy to access. Even features such as a front-load washing machine, rocker-style light switches, and lever-style doorknobs make a home more accessible. 

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Home Design

Upgrading Your Loft for Resale

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When you are trying to sell your home, there are a great many factors that you need to have in mind. A lot of things will influence the buyers’ decision, as well as the price you can get. One of the things that can increase the appeal of your home is – the shape your loft is in. With that in mind, we’ve prepared this article on loft upgrades that will help you sell your property faster and at a better price. Consider implementing them, as doing so will certainly work in your favor.

Bringing in Natural Light

As lofts usually come with sloping ceilings and unusual angles, bathing them in natural light can be tricky. Still, this is an essential thing to do, as a loft without natural light will be much less attractive to buyers. Dormer windows are a good solution to this problem. Not only do they allow for natural light to break in, but they also provide additional headroom. Unfortunately, you may need to get planning permission before installing these windows. Because they change the way your property’s exterior looks like, you could be instructed, for example, that you will have to use sash windows instead of sliding ones, or that the windows can only cover a certain part of your property’s width.

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