Buying a house is a big decision and a big step. We don’t want to make the wrong choice, so we wind up looking at countless houses and agonizing over the decision. With all the possibilities out there, it’s just difficult to be sure which house is the one. So the frustration builds, and the … Continued
You’ve probably heard it many times before, but it’s still just as true as it’s ever been: spring is the best time to try to sell a house. There are the obvious reasons, of course. Winter’s inclement weather is gone, the sun is out, and people are more inclined to be out house hunting. There … Continued
Most of us know that to buy a house we need to get financing and look at a number of homes to find just the right one. Actually, though, there’s a lot more to it than that, and, unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of everything involved. As a result, they go into the process pretty … Continued
Buying a home is a big investment, most likely the largest purchase of your entire life. So you will definitely want to know that a prospective home doesn’t have any major problems. And that’s why home inspections are so important. Home inspectors are trained professionals and can usually find any flaws or defects in a … Continued
Many people with the dream of homeownership have all but given up on that dream because they can’t come up with a down payment or get a home loan from conventional lenders. But they really shouldn’t give up. They still have options to help them realize their dream. One of the best of these is … Continued
Most of the time home buyers and sellers have different agents, but not always. About 10% to 20% of the time, they both use the same agent. This arrangement called dual agency – when a buyer and a seller both have the same agent – is known as “intermediary” in Texas as dual agency in … Continued
The two most popular mortgage loan options are FHA loans and conventional loans. The basic difference between the two is that an FHA loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and a conventional mortgage isn’t. Each has its own set of pros and cons, as well as different qualification requirements. So how do you … Continued
There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re buying a new home. Unfortunately, there’s one that often gets overlooked in all the excitement and busyness. And that is the homeowners association rules, especially the covenants. You have to play by the HOA rules, and that means (usually) there will be a lot of … Continued
Whether you’re an investor or buying a home as a primary residence, finding a deal isn’t as easy as it was just a few short years ago. During the real estate downturn of 2009 to 2012, finding great deals was pretty easy: you just had to take a look at the MLS, make an offer, … Continued
During the process of buying (or selling) a home, there are typically two nail-biting stages or milestones. For buyers, these are getting pre-approved for a mortgage and closing, both involving not a little anticipation and anxiety. Here we want to examine the closing process because there is so much confusion and misinformation surrounding it. Let’s … Continued
