Category: General

A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods, Rachel Carson said. But it’s not the best time to live at the base of a downward slope. And while homes built near water are popular and picturesque, buyers longing for a river view are wise to look closely and ask questions…

Home shopping and investment property buying are rapidly joining the digital arena. Can technology offer new models to alleviate bias in lending practices? The expanding property tech trend offers convenience in mortgage and property shopping. It offers effective ways to market properties for property owners and managers, now that marketing messages can be placed online…

How Do Professional Ethics Come Into Play in the Real Estate Deal? When you sign a contract to have an agent represent you in a real estate transaction, your agent agrees to a set of fiduciary duties. Essentially this means the agent you hire must act in your best interest. This is only the case…

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 led to a rise in unemployment. Many hopeful home buyers watched the derailing of their plans — if not a full-fledged train wreck. Some have been forced to wait until they’re employed again before applying for a mortgage. But not everybody is in a position to wait. Some will still…

Subtle signals can point to hidden damage in a house. Finding these indicators early is important. A closer inspection might be necessary, to inform the buyer of possible costs to restore the damaged areas. Whether you’re planning to sell or buy, here are four types of damages that buyers and their agents typically look for.

If you’re self-employed, or earning at least some of your money through contract or gig work, you might wonder if you’ll be able to get a mortgage loan. If a gig is just a side income stream, there’s no issue. Under the current rules, borrowers who apply for a conventional mortgage based on W2 income…

These days, with firms allowing commission-free trading, the retail market for stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is brisk. Some of our readers might be thinking of investing in real estate stocks. This is simpler than ever to do. Many people have retirement funds, but don’t know they allow for self-directed investing. Investors can reduce their…

We’ve talked about smart home technology for homeowners. Now, in this article, we explore the advancement of smart apartments — when somebody other than the home’s resident puts the devices in place. Some of the products mentioned here, including entrance access technology and online financial portals, are also relevant to condominiums. Of course, Wi-Fi thermostats…

The fully digital real estate closing is coming. The technology is here. The mortgage industry is exploring its potential — with retail demand leading the way.  Remember your first encounter with the mortgage world? If you’re like many people, yours was a nerve-wracking paper chase in slow motion. Each mortgage can generate hundreds of pieces of…

The Top Nine Home Buyer Stresses. Here’s How to Deal With Them Like a Boss For most people, shopping for a new home is a very big deal and an intensely stressful undertaking. Moving from one place to another is disruptive enough — especially if precious possessions, pets, elders or kids are part of the…

Appealing to work-from-home buyers can boost your home’s profile. How much? To get an idea of the value placed on the work-from-home economy today, note that Apple, in September 2020, introduced its holiday subscription sets of TV shows, games, news, music and home workouts — all designed to cater to the work-at-home set. The office…

Know what’s in your stash of papers — and how to store them all for safekeeping. Congrats! You’ve bought a home. You walk away from the closing table in triumph, a pile of documents in your arms. OK, so what are the key documents, how do you keep them, and when will you need them?…