7 Essential Tips for Home Sellers

Selling your home may appear deceptively easy, but it’s filled with complexities. Your home will not sell itself, no matter how great of a gem it is; it will take a significant investment of time, knowledge, and ability to market effectively. A skilled agent can make the process much easier and can help you get the most money for your home, so you can move on to other things in your life.

Owning a Home Is Still Cheaper Than Renting

Home prices have gone up considerably. But buying a home is still more affordable than renting one. Main reason: low mortgage rates.

Inventory Steady, Home Prices Up in 2020

Contrary to casual observations, the inventory of homes remains steady. The median price of a home in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens in September 2020 was more than 10% higher than it was in September of the previous year.

Is Buying a Home Really Better than Renting?

Is buying a house better than renting? As an economist, I will walk you through a few factors when it comes to deciding between buying a house vs renting.

4 Essential Tips for Home Buyers

Home buying can be an exciting experience. Who doesn’t like shopping for a house? But sometimes it can be very stressful, especially if you are a first-time home buyer. Read these four tips to avoid getting caught off guard with surprise expenses and other unfavorable circumstances.

Is This a Good Time to Buy a Home?

Mortgage rates are ultra-low. Should I jump at the opportunity to buy a house?

For Sale by Owner or Hire an Agent? Key Things You Should Know.

Are you thinking about selling your home by yourself? Before you do, let me give you a few pros and cons of going solo vs hiring an agent, so you can make a better decision.

Homebuyer and Agent as One Team

The lack of cooperation and trust between a homebuyer and their agent can be very costly.

Which Down Payment Strategy Is Right for You?

The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.

Are We Headed for a Crash in the Housing Market?

According to Bloomberg News, James Stack, a money manager, who predicted the last housing crash is getting nervous again. Should we be worried?

6-Step Guide to Obtaining a Mortgage Loan

If you are a first-time home buyer or if it’s been a while since you’ve shopped for a house, you may not know or remember what’s involved in one of the most important steps in the process of house hunting: obtaining a mortgage loan. Here is a quick summary of the main steps...

What Does a Title Company Do?

When you purchase a home, a title company will research the property to ensure that you are the rightful owner. They’ll look through records for anything that might cause problems—ownership disputes, restrictions, unpaid taxes, liens, and more. Their goal is to document the chain of title and identify any issues that could become major problems down the road.

5 Negotiating Tactics that Can Kill a Deal

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid...

Buying a Home Soon? First, Get Your Credit in Order

Improving your credit can save you a ton of money—we’re talking about tens thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here are the actions you can take that will have a notable impact on your score.

Dispelling Refinancing Myths

“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

Short Sale and Foreclosure: How Are They Different?

As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner.

5 Tips for a Better Closing Day

Buying a home can be a long process. The last thing you want after all your time spent searching for homes and getting the best mortgage rate is to have everything go wrong on closing day. Here are five tips that will help ensure it goes smoothly.

Open House Alternative: Broker's Open House

You’re probably familiar with the traditional open house, where your real estate agent hosts an open house at your property for a few hours on the weekend, allowing prospective buyers and passersby to see the place in person. But there’s a different kind of open house, and it can be a valuable tool for selling your home: The Broker’s Open House.

Before You Fall in Love with a Home...

It’s easy to be wowed by a house. You’re anxious to discover your dream home and accomplish a big goal. You can’t wait to cook in the brand new kitchen or relax in the spa-style tub. All that excitement can also make it easy to dismiss some minor issues that can become major annoyances down the road. Rather than letting your excitement get the best of you, take the time to analyze smaller details properly.

Is This a Good Time to Buy a Home?

Mortgage rates are ultra-low. Should I jump at the opportunity to buy a house?

For Sale by Owner or Hire an Agent? Key Things You Should Know.

Are you thinking about selling your home by yourself? Before you do, let me give you a few pros and cons of going solo vs hiring an agent, so you can make a better decision.

Homebuyer and Agent as One Team

The lack of cooperation and trust between a homebuyer and their agent can be very costly.

Which Down Payment Strategy Is Right for You?

The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.

Are We Headed for a Crash in the Housing Market?

According to Bloomberg News, James Stack, a money manager, who predicted the last housing crash is getting nervous again. Should we be worried?

6-Step Guide to Obtaining a Mortgage Loan

If you are a first-time home buyer or if it’s been a while since you’ve shopped for a house, you may not know or remember what’s involved in one of the most important steps in the process of house hunting: obtaining a mortgage loan. Here is a quick summary of the main steps...

What Does a Title Company Do?

When you purchase a home, a title company will research the property to ensure that you are the rightful owner. They’ll look through records for anything that might cause problems—ownership disputes, restrictions, unpaid taxes, liens, and more. Their goal is to document the chain of title and identify any issues that could become major problems down the road.

5 Negotiating Tactics that Can Kill a Deal

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid...

Buying a Home Soon? First, Get Your Credit in Order

Improving your credit can save you a ton of money—we’re talking about tens thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here are the actions you can take that will have a notable impact on your score.

Dispelling Refinancing Myths

“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

Short Sale and Foreclosure: How Are They Different?

As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner.

5 Tips for a Better Closing Day

Buying a home can be a long process. The last thing you want after all your time spent searching for homes and getting the best mortgage rate is to have everything go wrong on closing day. Here are five tips that will help ensure it goes smoothly.

Open House Alternative: Broker's Open House

You’re probably familiar with the traditional open house, where your real estate agent hosts an open house at your property for a few hours on the weekend, allowing prospective buyers and passersby to see the place in person. But there’s a different kind of open house, and it can be a valuable tool for selling your home: The Broker’s Open House.

Before You Fall in Love with a Home...

It’s easy to be wowed by a house. You’re anxious to discover your dream home and accomplish a big goal. You can’t wait to cook in the brand new kitchen or relax in the spa-style tub. All that excitement can also make it easy to dismiss some minor issues that can become major annoyances down the road. Rather than letting your excitement get the best of you, take the time to analyze smaller details properly.

6-Step Guide to Obtaining a Mortgage Loan

If you are a first-time home buyer or if it’s been a while since you’ve shopped for a house, you may not know or remember what’s involved in one of the most important steps in the process of house hunting: obtaining a mortgage loan. Here is a quick summary of the main steps...

What Does a Title Company Do?

When you purchase a home, a title company will research the property to ensure that you are the rightful owner. They’ll look through records for anything that might cause problems—ownership disputes, restrictions, unpaid taxes, liens, and more. Their goal is to document the chain of title and identify any issues that could become major problems down the road.

5 Negotiating Tactics that Can Kill a Deal

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid...

Buying a Home Soon? First, Get Your Credit in Order

Improving your credit can save you a ton of money—we’re talking about tens thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here are the actions you can take that will have a notable impact on your score.

Dispelling Refinancing Myths

“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

Short Sale and Foreclosure: How Are They Different?

As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner.

5 Tips for a Better Closing Day

Buying a home can be a long process. The last thing you want after all your time spent searching for homes and getting the best mortgage rate is to have everything go wrong on closing day. Here are five tips that will help ensure it goes smoothly.

Open House Alternative: Broker's Open House

You’re probably familiar with the traditional open house, where your real estate agent hosts an open house at your property for a few hours on the weekend, allowing prospective buyers and passersby to see the place in person. But there’s a different kind of open house, and it can be a valuable tool for selling your home: The Broker’s Open House.

Before You Fall in Love with a Home...

It’s easy to be wowed by a house. You’re anxious to discover your dream home and accomplish a big goal. You can’t wait to cook in the brand new kitchen or relax in the spa-style tub. All that excitement can also make it easy to dismiss some minor issues that can become major annoyances down the road. Rather than letting your excitement get the best of you, take the time to analyze smaller details properly.