At Home in Southwest Michigan

If "BUY A HOUSE!" tops your list of New Year's resolutions, then you are probably aware of the fierce competition facing buyers today. Are you prepared to do what it takes to stick to that resolution? Here are 7 Dos and Don'ts to help you reach your goal.

• DO know your buying power. This starts by having an in-depth conversation with a lender to obtain your pre-approval. They should be aware of not only your current financial status, but also your history. The more they know, the better they can help you, so choosing the right person to work with is extremely important.

• DON'T buy anything major until after the keys are in your hand. The underwriters will watch for changes to your account bala...

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It seems like homes are selling themselves these days! In a hot seller's market like we've experienced lately, it's easy to think that you can snap your fingers and fetch top dollar. With so many buyers competing for so few available homes, that could be the case.  But will it? Not necessarily!

Getting your property sold depends on a variety of factors. Buyers can tell immediately if it's in a good location, been priced properly, has desirable features, and looks attractive. But what they usually cannot tell right awa...

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With the housing market in Southwest Michigan (and elsewhere) starting to settle down, buyer and seller behaviors are also returning to normal. For the past year plus, sellers unequivocally had the upper hand, and everyone knew it. Low interest rates and a shortage of homes for sale resulted in multiple offers within days of listing, driving prices well above asking, and causing buyers to resort to desperate measures in order to secure their purchases.

Escalation clauses. Bridging the appraisal gap. Seller rent-back agreements. Waiving inspections. These tools became commonplace as buyers had to fall all over themselves to get their offers accepted. Sellers expected top dollar for every property and were usually able t...

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Are you ready for the holidays? They'll be here before you know it, and they just might bring you a house full of guests. Undoubtedly you'll dash around cleaning the house and shopping for extra food before company arrives, but don't overlook these basic maintenance tasks. Checking them off your to-do list ahead of time will add to your guests' comfort and allow you to relax a bit more, knowing you won't need to tackle them later.

• Air Quality: Changing your furnace filter and having your ducts cleaned will improve the quality of the air in your home, helping everyone to breathe – and probably sleep – better. If it's been a few years since you've had this done, and especia...

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This sizzling seller's market heavily favors homeowners, but is not without its challenges, too. Knowing how to leverage the advantages while avoiding potential problems is the best way to reach your goals.  To help you be prepared, here are four advantages and three challenges you might face when selling your home this year:

ADVANTAGES AND HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEM

1. Higher sales price. It's no secret that the shortage of homes nationwide has created a feeding frenzy-like atmosphere among buyers. Locally, sales prices continue to trend upward as buyers compete f...

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