Going the Distance for You

Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers and the “Instant Cash Offer” Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes. iBuyer startups like Opendoor, Offerpad, and Properly are rapidly expanding into new territories, and now established players, like Zillow, are starting to get in on the action. Also known as Direct Buyers, these companies use computer algorithms to provide sellers with a quick cash offer to buy their home. While the actual market share of iBuyers remains small, their big advertising budgets have helped create a noticeable buzz in the industry. This has left many of our clients curious about them and how they work. In this article, we explain their business model, weigh the pros and cons of working with an iBuyer, and share strategies you can use to protect yourself if you choose to explore this new opti

5 Steps to Finding Your Next Home Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, shopping for a new home can feel daunting. In fact, 56% of buyers said that “finding the right property” was the most difficult step in the home buying process. 1 Buying a home is a significant commitment of both time and money. And a home purchase has the power to improve both your current quality of life and your future financial security, so the stakes are high. Follow these five steps—and complete the corresponding worksheet offered below—to assess your priorities, streamline your search, and choose your next home with confidence. STEP 1: Set Your Goals and Priorities The first step to finding your ideal home is determining WHY you want to move. Do you need more space? Access to better schools? Less maintenance? Or are you tired of throwing money away on rent when you could be building equity? Pinpointing the reasons why you want to move can help you assess your priorities for yo

Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers and the “Instant Cash Offer” Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes. iBuyer startups like Opendoor, Offerpad, and Properly are rapidly expanding into new territories, and now established players, like Zillow, are starting to get in on the action. Also known as Direct Buyers, these companies use computer algorithms to provide sellers with a quick cash offer to buy their home. While the actual market share of iBuyers remains small, their big advertising budgets have helped create a noticeable buzz in the industry. This has left many of our clients curious about them and how they work. In this article, we explain their business model, weigh the pros and cons of working with an iBuyer, and share strategies you can use to protect yourself if you choose to explore this new option to buy or

National Snapshot: How’s the Real Estate Market? The U.S. unemployment rate is at a 50-year low , and consumer confidence remains high. In fact, the University of Michigan’s latest Surveys of Consumers found that Americans have their most positive personal finance outlook since 2003. 1 However, if you follow national news, you’ve probably heard speculation that we could be headed toward a recession. Global trade tensions and a slow down in the GDP growth rate have sparked volatility in the stock market, leading to economic uncertainty. Given these differing signals, you may be wondering: How has the U.S. housing market been impacted? Where is it headed? And more importantly … what does it mean for me? MORTGAGE RATES ARE NEAR HISTORIC LOWS In August, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit its lowest level since November 2016, falling to 3.6%, down a full percentage point from a year earlier. 2 Variable mortgage r

The 4 requirements for a room to be considered a bedroom. Is it a bedroom or not. Let's talk about what makes a bedroom a bedroom. Four things a room MUST have to be considered a bedroom: 1.  Entrance: A bedroom needs a least two methods of egress, so it should be accessible from the house (commonly through a door ), and then have one other exit (window or door) 2.  Ceiling Height: A bedroom ceiling needs to be at least 7 ft. tall. It's okay if some portions of the ceiling are below this level,  but at least 50% of the ceiling needs to be a minimum of 7 ft. in height. Most ceilings tend to be at least 8 ft. tall, so ceiling height is not usually an issue. (R305.1) 3.   Escape: A bedroom must have one other method of egress behond the entrance point. A door to the exterior works as an exit point, and so does a window. According to the International Residence Code, a bedroom window can be between 24 and 44 inches from the floor, it needs at least 5.7 square feet for the