There are several things that determine how much house someone can afford. Salary, savings, and credit history paint part of the picture. Add to that the buyer’s wish list for a house, the neighborhood, and the real estate market, and the answer comes further into focus.
People can have bad credit for all kinds of reasons. Does that mean they can’t own a home of their own? A bad credit score will make the process more challenging, but getting a loan and becoming a homeowner can happen.
A stat cited in a 2018 Washington Post article estimated that 73% of homebuyers place a great deal of importance on schools when searching for a home. Education options often outweighed other items on a buyer’s wishlist, such as a garage, updated kitchen/bath, a certain number of bedrooms, or a large yard.
A month into the second half of 2021 and the hot housing market is showing no signs of cooling down anytime soon. This is great news for sellers. A lot of buyers, however, are feeling exhausted and frustrated.
Like most industries, the world of real estate has a language all its own. Sometimes the terms used can be confusing, especially for first-time homebuyers. If you find a house for sale with a status listed as “sale pending,” “contingent,” or “under contract,” what does that mean, exactly? Is the house off the market, or can you still take a tour or make an offer?
Anyone can use a search engine to find a real estate agent. You’re also sure to find a lot of articles online with general advice on how to pick one. What is often missing, however, are actionable, insider tips for tracking down the absolute best agents, and more importantly, the best real estate agent for you.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 41% of home sellers who used an agent found their realtor through a friend’s or family’s recommendation. Another 26% used the same realtor as they had previously. Needless to say, word-of-mouth and a positive experience play big roles in a real estate agent’s success.
Two years ago, we posted an article with 5 tips for staging your home before showing. Those tips are still valuable advice:
The Mississippi River might seem like a huge barrier between Missouri and Illinois, but it’s actually less than a mile wide. The two states share a lot of traits, especially in terms of real estate. If you have ever considered buying a home across the river—whether that means going east into Illinois or west into Missouri—the real estate process is mostly the same. But there are a few differences worth noting.
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