By Investopedia
While real estate agents often exclusively service those in the market to buy or sell a home, some can also be excellent resources for assisting renters in finding their dream apartments, condos or rental homes. In fact, having a real estate agent in a large, highly competitive market such as New York, Los Angeles or Chicago can give a renter a huge advantage in his or her search. In addition to listings that can easily be uncovered in simple Internet searches, these agents also have access to rental listings included in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database, as well as unlisted units coming on the market.
Beyond giving renters a leg up in their search, real estate agents can also be a powerful asset when negotiating terms with future landlords. Agents can work with you to ensure that you're getting the best price for your rental, as well as help you obtain better terms, including reduced security deposits or credits for work that may need to be completed prior to your move-in.
The easiest way to find a real estate agent who also services renters is to check local rental listings online or in your community newspaper. Keep an eye out for listings posted by real estate firms rather than property management companies or individual landlords. Once you find a real estate agent who has posted a listing that appeals to you, get in touch with him or her via phone or email, and ask about the listing that you've found, as well as comparable listings that they may also be aware of. From there you can have your agent set up showings for you just as you would for a sale property.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Home Buyers: Why Use a Real Estate Agent?
At first, you may be able to convince yourself that you don’t need a real estate agent to buy a home. When you find yourself sifting through papers you don’t understand, you may begin to reconsider. There are many reasons to hire a real estate agent when house hunting – here are a few provided by the experts at In-House Realty associated with Quicken Loans.
No Direct Cost to You! – One misconception in real estate is that a home buyer pays commission. Not so! The seller pays the commission, and if two agents are involved in the transaction, that same commission will be split between them. If it ever becomes an issue, keep in mind you have the upper hand in all negotiations in today’s buyer’s market.
Multiple Listing Service – The Multiple Listing Service (or MLS) is a database which allows real estate agents to share information about houses for sale. Your real estate agent, who is licensed with the state, will have access to these listings. After learning of your criteria for your new home, your real estate agent will get to work by whittling down the long list of potential homes. Without a real estate agent, you’ll be limited in your searches, which could make your home search difficult and tedious.
Negotiation – Your initial offer on any given property can significantly help or hurt your chances of acquiring that home. Rather than take on a new full-time job researching home values, an experienced real estate agent will have already done the work and will be able to negotiate the best possible purchase price for you. Real estate agents know when to stop and when to keep adjusting the purchase price in negotiations. The seller has a real estate agent representing them – you should too!
Legal Protection – When making an important financial transaction such as buying a home, it’s important to know that you are legally protected in case things don’t go as planned. When your real estate agent drafts a purchase agreement, they will include certain contingencies that protect you from issues, such as a loss of financing, failed inspection or unfulfilled promises. If the situation warrants, you may be able to recoup your earnest money deposit or void your offer completely.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! – Scaling the mountains of paperwork associated with buying a home is your real estate agent’s job! A real estate agent can prevent you from losing and forgetting paperwork or from signing on the wrong line. Without their help, you could miss things that may delay the process and push back your closing date.
No Direct Cost to You! – One misconception in real estate is that a home buyer pays commission. Not so! The seller pays the commission, and if two agents are involved in the transaction, that same commission will be split between them. If it ever becomes an issue, keep in mind you have the upper hand in all negotiations in today’s buyer’s market.
Multiple Listing Service – The Multiple Listing Service (or MLS) is a database which allows real estate agents to share information about houses for sale. Your real estate agent, who is licensed with the state, will have access to these listings. After learning of your criteria for your new home, your real estate agent will get to work by whittling down the long list of potential homes. Without a real estate agent, you’ll be limited in your searches, which could make your home search difficult and tedious.
Negotiation – Your initial offer on any given property can significantly help or hurt your chances of acquiring that home. Rather than take on a new full-time job researching home values, an experienced real estate agent will have already done the work and will be able to negotiate the best possible purchase price for you. Real estate agents know when to stop and when to keep adjusting the purchase price in negotiations. The seller has a real estate agent representing them – you should too!
Legal Protection – When making an important financial transaction such as buying a home, it’s important to know that you are legally protected in case things don’t go as planned. When your real estate agent drafts a purchase agreement, they will include certain contingencies that protect you from issues, such as a loss of financing, failed inspection or unfulfilled promises. If the situation warrants, you may be able to recoup your earnest money deposit or void your offer completely.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! – Scaling the mountains of paperwork associated with buying a home is your real estate agent’s job! A real estate agent can prevent you from losing and forgetting paperwork or from signing on the wrong line. Without their help, you could miss things that may delay the process and push back your closing date.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
10 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home
Get the most out of your money with these handy home-buying tips from HGTV
Buying Secret #10: Keep Your Money Where It Is
It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they want a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best loan possible. If you open new credit cards, amass too much debt or buy a lot of big-ticket items, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan.
Buying Secret #9: Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan
There’s a big difference between a buyer being pre-qualified and a buyer who has a pre-approved mortgage. Anybody can get pre-qualified for a loan. Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at all of your financial information and they’ve let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend you. Being pre-approved will save you a lot of time and energy so you are not running around looking at houses you can't afford. It also gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates. Do your research: Learn about junk fees, processing fees or points and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs in the loan.
Buying Secret #8: Avoid a Border Dispute
It’s absolutely essential to get a survey done on your property so you know exactly what you’re buying. Knowing precisely where your property lines are may save you from a potential dispute with your neighbors. Also, your property tax is likely based on how much property you have, so it is best to have an accurate map drawn up.
Buying Secret # 7: Don’t Try to Time the Market
Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. The best time to buy is when you find your perfect house and you can afford it. Real estate is cyclical, it goes up and it goes down and it goes back up again. So, if you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out.
Buying Secret # 6: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Everyone’s drawn to the biggest, most beautiful house on the block. But bigger is usually not better when it comes to houses. There’s an old adage in real estate that says don’t buy the biggest, best house on the block. The largest house only appeals to a very small audience and you never want to limit potential buyers when you go to re-sell. Your home is only going to go up in value as much as the other houses around you. If you pay $500,000 for a home and your neighbors pay $250,000 to $300,000, your appreciation is going to be limited. Sometimes it is best to is buy the worst house on the block, because the worst house per square foot always trades for more than the biggest house.
Buying Secret #5: Avoid Sleeper Costs
The difference between renting and home ownership is the sleeper costs. Most people just focus on their mortgage payment, but they also need to be aware of the other expenses such as property taxes, utilities and homeowner-association dues. New homeowners also need to be prepared to pay for repairs, maintenance and potential property-tax increases. Make sure you budget for sleeper costs so you’ll be covered and won’t risk losing your house.
Buying Secret #4: You’re Buying a House – Not Dating It
Buying a house based on emotions is just going to break your heart. If you fall in love with something, you might end up making some pretty bad financial decisions. There’s a big difference between your emotions and your instincts. Going with your instincts means that you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard. It’s an investment, so stay calm and be wise.
Buying Secret #3: Give Your House a Physical
Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. Hire a home inspector. It’ll cost about $200 but could end up saving you thousands. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information so that you can make a decision as to whether or not to buy. It’s really the only way to get an unbiased third-party opinion. If the inspector does find any issues with the home, you can use it as a bargaining tool for lowering the price of the home. It’s better to spend the money up front on an inspector than to find out later you have to spend a fortune.
Buying Secret #2: The Secret Science of Bidding
Your opening bid should be based on two things: what you can afford (because you don’t want to outbid yourself), and what you really believe the property is worth. Make your opening bid something that’s fair and reasonable and isn’t going to totally offend the seller. A lot of people think they should go lower the first time they make a bid. It all depends on what the market is doing at the time. You need to look at what other homes have gone for in that neighborhood and you want to get an average price per square foot. Sizing up a house on a price-per-square-foot basis is a great equalizer. Also, see if the neighbors have plans to put up a new addition or a basketball court or tennis court, something that might detract from the property’s value down the road.
Today, so many sellers are behind in their property taxes and if you have that valuable information it gives you a great card to negotiate a good deal. To find out, go to the county clerk’s office.
Sellers respect a bid that is an oddball number and are more likely to take it more seriously. A nice round number sounds like every other bid out there. When you get more specific the sellers will think you've given the offer careful thought.
Buying Secret #1: Stalk the Neighborhood
Before you buy, get the lay of the land – drop by morning noon and night. Many homebuyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. Do your regular commute from the house to make sure it is something you can deal with on a daily basis. Find out how far it is to the nearest grocery store and other services. Even if you don’t have kids, research the schools because it affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus bad school district even in the same town, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent.
Buying Secret #10: Keep Your Money Where It Is
It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they want a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best loan possible. If you open new credit cards, amass too much debt or buy a lot of big-ticket items, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan.
Buying Secret #9: Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan
There’s a big difference between a buyer being pre-qualified and a buyer who has a pre-approved mortgage. Anybody can get pre-qualified for a loan. Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at all of your financial information and they’ve let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend you. Being pre-approved will save you a lot of time and energy so you are not running around looking at houses you can't afford. It also gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates. Do your research: Learn about junk fees, processing fees or points and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs in the loan.
Buying Secret #8: Avoid a Border Dispute
It’s absolutely essential to get a survey done on your property so you know exactly what you’re buying. Knowing precisely where your property lines are may save you from a potential dispute with your neighbors. Also, your property tax is likely based on how much property you have, so it is best to have an accurate map drawn up.
Buying Secret # 7: Don’t Try to Time the Market
Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. The best time to buy is when you find your perfect house and you can afford it. Real estate is cyclical, it goes up and it goes down and it goes back up again. So, if you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out.
Buying Secret # 6: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Everyone’s drawn to the biggest, most beautiful house on the block. But bigger is usually not better when it comes to houses. There’s an old adage in real estate that says don’t buy the biggest, best house on the block. The largest house only appeals to a very small audience and you never want to limit potential buyers when you go to re-sell. Your home is only going to go up in value as much as the other houses around you. If you pay $500,000 for a home and your neighbors pay $250,000 to $300,000, your appreciation is going to be limited. Sometimes it is best to is buy the worst house on the block, because the worst house per square foot always trades for more than the biggest house.
Buying Secret #5: Avoid Sleeper Costs
The difference between renting and home ownership is the sleeper costs. Most people just focus on their mortgage payment, but they also need to be aware of the other expenses such as property taxes, utilities and homeowner-association dues. New homeowners also need to be prepared to pay for repairs, maintenance and potential property-tax increases. Make sure you budget for sleeper costs so you’ll be covered and won’t risk losing your house.
Buying Secret #4: You’re Buying a House – Not Dating It
Buying a house based on emotions is just going to break your heart. If you fall in love with something, you might end up making some pretty bad financial decisions. There’s a big difference between your emotions and your instincts. Going with your instincts means that you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard. It’s an investment, so stay calm and be wise.
Buying Secret #3: Give Your House a Physical
Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. Hire a home inspector. It’ll cost about $200 but could end up saving you thousands. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information so that you can make a decision as to whether or not to buy. It’s really the only way to get an unbiased third-party opinion. If the inspector does find any issues with the home, you can use it as a bargaining tool for lowering the price of the home. It’s better to spend the money up front on an inspector than to find out later you have to spend a fortune.
Buying Secret #2: The Secret Science of Bidding
Your opening bid should be based on two things: what you can afford (because you don’t want to outbid yourself), and what you really believe the property is worth. Make your opening bid something that’s fair and reasonable and isn’t going to totally offend the seller. A lot of people think they should go lower the first time they make a bid. It all depends on what the market is doing at the time. You need to look at what other homes have gone for in that neighborhood and you want to get an average price per square foot. Sizing up a house on a price-per-square-foot basis is a great equalizer. Also, see if the neighbors have plans to put up a new addition or a basketball court or tennis court, something that might detract from the property’s value down the road.
Today, so many sellers are behind in their property taxes and if you have that valuable information it gives you a great card to negotiate a good deal. To find out, go to the county clerk’s office.
Sellers respect a bid that is an oddball number and are more likely to take it more seriously. A nice round number sounds like every other bid out there. When you get more specific the sellers will think you've given the offer careful thought.
Buying Secret #1: Stalk the Neighborhood
Before you buy, get the lay of the land – drop by morning noon and night. Many homebuyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. Do your regular commute from the house to make sure it is something you can deal with on a daily basis. Find out how far it is to the nearest grocery store and other services. Even if you don’t have kids, research the schools because it affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus bad school district even in the same town, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent.
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