This is one of my favorite home inspector experiences of the year. It started at the house visit. At that tour, there was an insulation that looked different than I am used to. My client was concerned that it was vermiculite. I didn’t think so. I’ve seen vermiculite and it is more rock-like than this.
Finding houses for sale before a listing agent adds on their commission is an advantage to our client for two reasons: Commissions are included in the sale price of all MLS listings. The seller pays it at closing; the buyer pays it as a cost of buying the house in their monthly mortgage. Finding a
More data is not better data. I advise my clients to look for indications of negotiation points, like comparable sales, the seller buying another property, and neighborhood issues that are chasing the seller from their property (this is common if a building project is nearby or the taxes just went up… that kind of thing.)
First, remember that I am looking at this from the buyer’s side; that’s what I do. I don’t know the minds of sellers. I only know the history of past seasons and the gossip of listing agents about what is coming up. Here’s a quick and easy analogy: seasonal house buying is like seasonal clothes
Here is something for everyone who is about to sign a lease and is thinking “should I be buying?” Unlike most Realtors® my answer is not, “Hell, yes! Right now! Hurry!” The economic decision: Owning: For most people, owning a house or condo involves paying down a mortgage, but never owning outright. In previous generations,
The Boston area runs on an academic schedule. Whether you have anything to do with schools or universities or not, it still affects you. In June, you’ll notice the lighter traffic due to the student exodus. It definitely affects me in the car, and also at work. I work only as a buyer’s agent, helping
I look forward to two nights and three days on the Cape –mid-week – every July. I get time off in the winter, so these summer days off are rare and special. This year, I had a lousy time. When I deconstruct what bothered me most, it made me a better buyer’s agent. I meet
Any reader of real estate data must pay attention to sleight-of-hand tricks caused by changes in topic from real estate volume (the number of sales) and real estate prices. Any buyer should stop reading whenever they see fear-mongering statements that predict that buying will become impossible if you don’t buy right now. (see blue text
The last thing that my clients do before heading to closing is to go back to the house for a final walk-through. Some sellers find it a matter of pride that they deliver their homes sparkling clean to the next owner. But they don’t have to. In most Purchase and Sales Agreements, the sellers agree
There are some houses that never should have been built. They cannot be leveled and another house put on that lot. Either the lot is too small to build on --- by current standards -- or the land is not fit to hold a house. I have seen both. They have an infinite problem.