Considering purchasing a home in the coming months or considering selling? There is great advice from top Real Estate bloggers from across the country and they continue to share important real estate related articles which provide knowledge for consumers as the home selling season is in full swing. This article is packed with sound advice about purchasing a home, selling a home and home ownership. Check out the articles of some of the best real estate related content for the month of February 2019.
Design a Contemporary Kitchen in Your Home
Considering remodeling your kitchen and prefer a contemporary design? Danny Margagliano has shared advice about how to design a contemporary kitchen. When you move into a new home, you will want to put your own touch on it, and the kitchen is generally considered the heart of the home. The kitchen may be the first room that you will want to re-design. There is information on kitchen lighting and paint color as well. You will want to utilize appliances that are energy efficient as well. Countertops and backsplash are important choices as well when designing a kitchen.
Selling Your Home in the Winter
Depending on what part of the country you live in, the extreme weather can fluctuate. However, wherever you are located, there is still inclement weather and it is important to plan ahead when selling your home during the winter months. Sharon Paxson has shared tips for selling your home during the winter months. You will want to make sure any leaks have been repaired, as water intrusion can cause significant damage. Other tips include cleaning out the rain gutters and ensuring that rainwater drains are clear of debris and can flow freely so water does not back up. Additionally, pricing the home at market value is crucial to selling the home as close to the market in the shortest amount of time.
How to Proceed if Your Home Has Not Sold
There are many factors to consider when selling your home and if it is sitting on the market and there is not any activity with showings or offers you may want to consider these questions to ask before firing your real estate agent shared by Michelle Gibson. How does the home show? When a buyer walks in the home, you want to make sure that it shows well. Is the home easy to show, because if it is difficult a buyer may just move on to the next property? Consider how the home is being marketed and is there a strong social media campaign to showcase the listing.
Tips for Selling a Home with Tenants
Paul Sian has provided excellent information about selling a home with tenants. When you are selling a home with tenants in place, it is difficult to control the presentation of the home. Also, it is imperative to price the home correctly to generate interest and showings. Paul recommends working with the tenants to obtain their cooperation with selling the home. Provide them with advance notice and work with them to accommodate their schedule.
The Best Blue Gray Interior Home Colors
When decorating your home, you may want to consider blue-gray paint colors as they have gotten very popular. Debbie Gartner has provided a definition of the blue-gray color which is more blue with gray undertones. She has provided with actual paint colors with recommendations for which room they would the best. Debbie recommends a lighter gray-blue in the bedroom as it creates a more sophisticated look.
Why Buyers Should Get Sewer Inspections
One of the most common causes of sewer line blockage is tree roots. And having a sewer line blockage can be expensive and should be considered before purchasing a home. This is especially important in an area where the homes are older and there are mature trees. Joe Boylan has written an excellent article about the importance of getting sewer inspections. He provides information on the different types of material that sewer lines are made of and the issues that have arisen with the different materials.
15 Mistakes Home Buyers Make
Eileen Anderson has written a very informative article about mistakes to avoid when purchasing a home. When purchasing a home it is important to pick the right lender as having the right person in place can make or break the deal. Other factors to consider are not selecting the right Realtor to guide you through the home buying process, shopping for a home before meeting with a lender as you may be shopping outside of your price point! Also, ensuring that you don't spend all your money and have an emergency fund for the future.
How Mortgage Rates Affect Buying a Home
Interest rates are determined by the Federal Reserve and the interest percentage is what determines the mortgage rate money can be borrowed. Petra Norris has put together an excellent article mortgage rates and how they impact the real estate market. Homeowners who have high-interest rates on their mortgage may try to refinance when the interest rates drop. Also, when rates are low, you will see more homes being built, more buyers getting into the market because it is more affordable. The lower the interest rates provides a buyer with more buying power.
Due Diligence for Home Buyers
It is imperative for a buyer to perform all their due diligence before purchasing a home. Bill Gassett has written another informative post about the importance of due diligence in the home buying process. There is information in this post about the importance of having a home inspection as it can uncover items which a buyer may not want to proceed with the purchase such as elevated levels of radon. It is also important to read the seller disclosures about the property. Another item is to Google the address to see if anything unusual comes up. A very informative post about the importance of due diligence.
Mortgage Scams
The last thing you want to be involved in is a mortgage scam. Paul Sian shares some great insight into mortgage scams and how to avoid them. Be sure to look out for fake mortgage lenders as you are disclosing all of your personal financial information. Be cautious about private money lending schemes as they are generally for short term such as one or two years. Most traditional mortgage lenders will not ask for fees up front to take an application. However, buyers are required to pay for their appraisal on the property.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you are considering purchasing a home, there is some great insight here to help you to go through the home buying process. Meeting with a lender initially is one of the most important steps. There are other factors to consider during a real estate transaction, including the importance of due diligence. Be sure to check out these articles which provide you with sound advice for real estate.
About the Author
The above real estate article “Top Real Estate Articles for February 2019” was written by Sharon Paxson of Newport Beach Real Estate. With experience since 2005 representing sellers, buyers, and landlords with their real estate transactions, we welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise and guide you through the home buying or selling process. We specialize in internet marketing to ensure that a listing receives maximum exposure.
We service the following Orange County CA areas: Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Orange, Santa Ana, Sunset Beach, Tustin and more! If you are considering selling your home, we welcome the opportunity to work with you and list your home with a top Newport Beach CA Realtor.
