Moving Guides

Buying & Selling

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, serial renter, or real estate veteran, here are the questions you should ask—and the answers you should look for—to help you purchase the perfect home at the perfect price. Happy hunting!

How to Negotiate Inspection Repairs

Most residential real estate contracts today include a clause that gives the buyer a chance to hire a home inspector before closing the deal. A home inspector is a licensed professional who will evaluate the subject property from top-to-bottom and identify any parts of the home that are out of code, or in need of repair or replacement.

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How to Prepare For a Home Inspection in 6 Easy Steps

Hiring a home inspector is a must for any buyer before they sign contracts or make deals. The typical real estate contract includes a contingency clause that permits the buyer to back out of the deal without losing their earnest money if, for any reason, the home inspection uncovers problems. Buyers can also choose to renegotiate the terms of the contract based on the findings of the home inspection. That’s why, as a seller, it’s essential to learn how to pass a home inspection so that the closing process can go off without a hitch.

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The Top Reasons Home Sales Fall Through

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, uncertainty hangs over every contract: Will the other party uphold their obligations? Will they change their mind? There are many reasons real estate deals fall through, but with a little knowledge and insight, you can increase the chances that your contract leads to a successful closing. Many variables […]

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What You Should Expect from a Home Inspection

If you’re buying a new home, then sooner or later you’ll need to have a home inspection done. While not usually required, obtaining a home inspection is common practice in real estate and is almost entirely done for the benefit of the purchaser, even if they’re paying for it out of their own pocket. A […]

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Buying a Mobile Home: Everything You Need to Know

In some ways, buying a mobile home is just like buying a house, with a few key differences. For example, do you buy a mobile home and land parcels together? Or will you be buying a trailer home only and placing it on land you own or lease? These factors are important to take into […]

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10 Things That Fail a Home Inspection And How to Prevent Them

A home inspection is a top-to-bottom evaluation of a home, completed by a licensed inspector. Home inspections are usually paid for by the buyer when purchasing a home. The role of the home inspector is to provide the buyer with a comprehensive report detailing problems with the home — both big and small. A buyer […]

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DIY Home-Staging Tips Every Seller Can Use

Thinking about selling your home? You’ve probably heard of the standard home-staging “must-dos”: give your walls a fresh coat of paint, remove family photographs, fix obvious flaws, declutter. But beyond that, what makes a home look and feel fantastic, and — even more important — sell quickly? Whether your home is decorated to perfection or you need […]

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4 Apartment Hunting Red Flags That Should Have You Running the Other Way

Apartment hunting, especially online, is easy – maybe a little bit too easy. While the internet and print ads can be great sources for connecting people with housing that fits their needs, they can also be a breeding ground for scammers who are looking to take your hard-earned money. Read on to learn about some […]

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What You Need to Know Before Buying A Beach House

It’s everyone’s dream… to have a house on the beach… to wake up to the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore… to see the ocean as she changes hues throughout the day, throughout the seasons, throughout the year. It’s everyone’s dream to have a place to go as an escape from the mad […]

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Home-Buying Timeline: 5 Steps All First-Time Home Buyers Should Take

The fun part of buying a home? Touring properties and picturing yourself taking a bath in updated master bathrooms, cooking a homemade meal…

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How to Get the Best Price When Buying a New Build

Buying an existing home is all about the art of the deal. A new home, on the other hand, is set in stone, right? Not exactly. While the materials might have a set cost when a builder is estimating your home, you can still negotiate a better price when buying a new build. Even if […]

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How Much House Can I Afford? Here’s a Breakdown by State and Major City

Are you planning a move or a relocation? You probably have questions like, “How much house can I afford? or “Should I rent or buy?” We’ve taken data from websites like Zillow, How Much and Unison to break it down for you. First off, these figures were calculated by taking data from Zillow about each state’s […]

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10 Things You Should Know Before Buying an Apartment

After spending some time in renting business you’ll realise that you should stop throwing away money on rent month after month, and buy a house or an apartment. If you are going to buy your first apartment ever, then in this article will show you a checklist of things that you should verify before buying. […]

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A DACA Recipient’s Guide to Buying a Home

There are over 643,000 people currently enrolled in DACA, the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals. The program was created by President Obama in 2012 to provide a stop-gap to deportations. Obama issued DACA as an executive order after the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act failed to pass in Congress. Although the […]

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How to Find a Realtor When Selling Your Home

No matter the reason, making the decision to sell your home is stressful, emotional, and overwhelming. Choosing the right real estate agent can make all the difference in your selling experience. Equipped with our seller’s guide, you will learn the essential steps in how to find a realtor that is an expert in their line of work, can meet your needs, and successfully sell your home.

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Townhome or House: 8 Factors You Need to Know to Decide

Congratulations! You’ve decided to send the rental life packing and settle down in a place of your own. The next thing to decide: which…

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What are Cash for Homes Companies?

You’ve probably seen the signs around your neighborhood: “Cash for houses” or “We buy houses for cash.” If you’re in a hurry to sell, you might be tempted to call and get a cash offer. But can you really sell a house for cash? Who pays cash for houses? Is it a legitimate way to […]

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Guía de un Beneficiario de DACA para Comprar una Casa

Actualmente hay más de 643,000 personas inscritas en DACA, la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia. El programa fue creado por el presidente Obama en 2012 para ofrecer una solución temporal a las deportaciones. Obama inició DACA como una orden ejecutiva después de que la ley DREAM (Desarrollo, Alivio y Educación para Menores […]

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What is the Difference Between Condo and Apartment?

Are you interested in buying an apartment or a condo? Investing in a property like this can be a great way to build some equity and have an asset for later in life, all while paying for the roof over your head. But, when you start looking for a home, you may be looking at […]

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The 4 Most Common Contingencies Every Home Buyer Needs To Know About

bauhaus1000 / Getty Images If you’ve thought about buying a home, odds are you’ve seen the phrase “contingencies” pop up once or twice in your research. While the term can be a little intimidating at first glance, contingencies are there to protect you. These clauses indicate that certain events need to occur in order for […]

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How Much Are Closing Costs?

When you are about to purchase a new home, one looming question might be “how much are closing costs?” While these costs vary depending on your location, it is still possible to determine the average closing costs on your home. Closing costs cover a wide variety of fees that your lender is going to go […]

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10 Easily Avoidable Factors Real Estate Professionals Say Devalue A Home

Buyers have an upper hand when purchasing a home in a down market with limited inventory.  As they survey the market, it’s important, as sellers to have the best possible product available.  In order do to that, you need to avoid factors that will devalue your home.  Many times, it is the buyer’s perception that […]

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What to Expect During Your New Home Walkthrough

Home inspections are usually part of the process when you’re buying an existing home. If you’re building your home, however, your builder will coordinate any necessary inspections with the city, then schedule a walkthrough with you. The walkthrough is a vital part of the building process, so it helps to come prepared. As you tour […]

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How Do I Fire My Real Estate Agent?

Though it’s always best to work things out if possible, there are times when it may become necessary to fire a real estate agent. Whether your agent is grossly incompetent, or you simply don’t see eye to eye, firing a realtor is a delicate process. Here’s how to fire a realtor with minimal drama or […]

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