Posts with tag 'Home'

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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With home sales playing a big part of our economic recovery, especially here in Southwest Michigan, more people than ever are curious about the real estate market and what to expect in the coming year. With all the uncertainty, a lot of people remain on the fence about putting their homes up for sale. Here, I address four questions which have come up again and again:

1. IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO SELL?

In short, yes. Housing inventory is still at record lows. Buyer demand is still at a record high. And sales prices on existing homes are also high. Many people want or need to move. Putting your home on the market now will maximize your chances of selling quickly and for a higher price.

2. WHAT IF I SELL MY HOME BUT CAN'T FIND A NEW ONE T...

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How do you know which real estate professional you should choose when putting your home up for sale? Most people already know several Realtors, and if you ask around you'll likely receive a variety of recommendations. But are they right for you?

When doing your research, you should look beyond the number of sales. Have they received any awards? Special designations – all those initials after their name – show they have invested time and money into their professional development and growth. Have they earned their broker's license? These are all indicators of drive and initiative.

If you want a better picture of how they will perform, take the time to read through their reviews. Dig deeper than Zillow – check other sites like Google, Realtor.com, Facebook and LinkedIn. Also check their website, as s...

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