While there are certain home improvements you can add to your home to boost its resale value, there are also many external factors that can devalue your greatest investment. This is why the real estate cliché saying “location, location, location” will never be debunked or even grow old. Many of

There are all sorts of questions that arise when you need to start seeking the help of a real estate professional, and one of the most common is: Who does what? The real estate industry is a complex system comprised of different key players, and the role of each person can sometimes be a little

When you're trying to sell your home, you have to be extra mindful about how you price it. Whether done intentionally or not, overpricing your home is a dangerous move that may cost you a great deal. If you want your home to sit on the market for the shortest time possible without compromising y

Congratulations, you just purchased a new house and are now ready to move. The hassle of the home buying process is over, but the settling-in process is not quite done yet. While the hassle of moving your things can sometimes be unnoticeable because of all the excitement, it wouldn't hurt to do

  First things first: you need to have a clear idea of what a lien is. A property lien, in simplest terms, is a legal claim a creditor can put against your property as a consequence of an unpaid debt. It is the creditor's way of collecting debts you owe to them by intending to f

In the 2018 Home Staging Resource Survey of over 4,200 homes, 85% of the staged homes sold for 6-25% more than the unstaged homes. It's proof that even if sellers might think it can cost them so much time, money, and effort to do home staging, it usually pays off in the end as it can give them m

Another complicated thing about selling a home is the issue of what you and your real estate agent need to disclose. You really want to sell your house and at the best possible price. But on the other hand, you don't want to be a sneaky seller and feel like you are deceiving anyone. It can be qu

Like moths attracted to flames, potential buyers can get riveted to a home with an excellent curb appeal. Buyers who will be drawn to your home's appearance will definitely want to discover more of what lies behind your front door. Fortunately, maximizing your home’s curb appeal doesn’t necessar

Tempting as it may seem, jacking up the listing price of your home to leave room for negotiations is a dangerous risk that a lot of sellers regret taking.If you are really serious about selling your home, it is best to take pricing seriously by listing your home at its fair market value. Otherwi

When looking for homes online, home buyers might chance upon a property with a “contingent offer” status. This means that an offer has been made and accepted, but the sale is still conditional while both parties work on meeting certain criteria. These criteria, or contingencies, are actions that

Buyer's remorse (the feeling of regret after making a huge purchase) is a common sentiment that a lot of people understand and sympathize with, given that the average person makes huge purchases more often than he/she gets to sell anything of substantial value. This is why the seller counterpart

What is escrow and how does it work? At some point in a real estate transaction, you will encounter the word “escrow.” If you're the buyer and you make an offer on a home you like, you’ll provide an earnest money deposit in the form of a check that will be placed in t

Much like any business venture, listing your home for sale is all about finding the best possible timing. The best case scenario would be one in which the sale happens while the market is at its best, at the same time you are prepared to leave, and to buyers that are motivated to pay more. Howe

For some people with enough funds and other houses to live in, selling a home and buying one at the same time can be relatively easy since there is not much pressure involved. But for those who need the equity from their old house to buy a new one, things can get quite stressful--especially so

luxury of living elsewhere while selling the house they do have. It's pretty common for home sellers to have to deal with the challenge of selling the same home in which they still have to eat, sleep, and bathe in -- so it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. However, it can be quite a challenging

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or a third-time home seller, the real estate transaction can be confusing and stressful enough even without the many terms and acronyms used during the process. But don't be overwhelmed — we’ve compiled a mini-glossary of the important terms you should kno

The kitchen is one of the most important areas in a house. If a potential buyer is someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, the condition of this area can make or break a sale. In fact, even if the buyer is not much of a cook, the kitchen is still a major consideration since this is wher

An appraisal is an integral part of the home buying process as it determines the objective value of a property. Lenders require an appraisal to help them evaluate a home before they issue a mortgage. Appraisals are done by trained and licensed appraisers, who will then give an unbiased report of

Time You may think that you're saving a lot of time by not going through the process of looking for and hiring a realtor. However, not having an expert to oversee all of your transactions can actually cost you more time in the long run. Even if you've sold one o

What is an appraisal? An appraisal is a professional estimate of the value of a home done by a certified appraiser. It is a critical process for buyers because lenders always require a home appraisal before they issue a mortgage. Meanwhile, for sellers, a good understanding of the appraisal pro