Real Living Suburban Lifestyle Real Estate
258 Main Street Unit F, Medfield, MA 02052
508-944-1967 | [email protected]
258 Main Street Unit F, Medfield, MA 02052
508-944-1967 | [email protected]
Your real estate agent can have a lot to do with your home purchase. Some buyers may think they do little more than fill out a few standard forms, but the reality is more complicated than that. If you're planning on buying a new construction home, the rules of working with a real estate agent get even more complex. Learn more about how to work with a real estate agent, so you can have the best possible outcome.
The agent you choose should have direct experience working with new construction homes. Because new construction homes present a unique set of challenges, it takes a certain expertise to work through each problem. Buyers often choose new construction homes because they want to start fresh and have full control over their environment. Your agent should understand this and help you choose a property that will live up to your expectations.
An agent is there to explain the industry to you, but there's value in learning about new construction purchases before you even contact them. This will not only help you define your standards, but it can give you the confidence you need to buy a new home. The good news is that you're getting ready to buy a home without having to worry about the seller's emotional connection to the property. Instead you'll be working with someone who is primarily motivated by practicality.
So what does it mean to work with a pragmatic seller? The bad news is that they're unlikely to come down on price. Unless it's a one-off project, they know that coming down in price for you might mean lowering prices for everyone in the future. When you're working with your agent, be sure to ask about what can be negotiated. Builders might be more likely to throw in perks, such as better appliances or closing costs, as a way to offset the bottom-line. A good agent will push the seller to do more without overstepping boundaries.
Your home purchase comes down to the inspection and the contract. A common assumption for new homes is that they are structurally sound. After all, they haven't known wear and tear, soil shifts or homeowner blunders that can damage a property. These are all potential hazards that only come into play after someone has already had the property for a while. However, this is very misleading logic, one that could put you at a disadvantage.
While your real estate agent should be pointing out these potential perils, it helps to stay involved as much as possible. Make sure you're working with an inspector who can spot the flaws of new construction homes. From cheap materials to poor design, a professional can give you more context as to the true value of the home in relation to the price you're paying. The right agent can also pick up on anomalies in a new construction home that you might not have noticed.
As the client, your agent should be working for you, and not the other way around. However, it's clear that new construction homes are different enough that it helps to come in with the right attitude. If you're expecting the agent to negotiate $25,000 off the purchase price, you might be disappointed.
The best thing that you can do is find an agent who understands what's at stake for the seller. Whether you're working directly with the builder, developer or a third party, the goal is to find your leverage as a buyer and then work with that as much as possible.
As the buyer, it's your job to be involved with the process. As you ask questions and clarify your needs, it will give the agent more data to work with. So whether you're buying a starter home or a vacation condo, you end up with a quality home that will retain its resale value.
During home decoration, it is natural to have one or more blank walls that leave you asking yourself: "What am I going to do with that?" You may get frustrated, but don't worry, you are not alone — barren walls are likely driving other homeowners crazy, too. What’s the solution? A fresh coat of ideas.
Below are some blank wall ideas that don't just cover the space but do so with a touch of beauty.
A blank wall in any room can be annoying, especially in a bedroom. Rather than waking up every morning to a bare wall, you can put a map on it. You can use the map of the United States, the world or any other destination you find inviting. If you place the map over cork, you can put pins in all the locations you’ve been to or the ones you want to see next. Have kids? Try putting a map on the blank wall in their room. It not only makes it beautiful but also provides a fun way to learn.
Don't allow your beautiful accessories to hide behind the closet doors. Show off your cloches, skimmers, berets, and trilbies on decorative hooks on your blank wall of choice. If you aren’t a hat-lover, you can hang a statement necklace for a dazzling effect.
Do you have limited storage in your home? Those blank walls could be the answer. Use your imagination to make an impressive design with floating shelves to store extra dishware in the kitchen or a favorite collection in the living area. If you get stuck on your design, there are plenty of DIY articles across the Internet, or you can get a consult from a home staging expert.
An easy DIY wall project is using graffiti. If you are the creative type, take the opportunity to show off your artistic skills. You could also hire someone to sketch a design on your blank wall. Another way to achieve the graffiti look is to buy graffiti mural wallpaper or wall decals. The decals are easily removable for when you’re ready to sell your home.
If you’re looking for a simpler way to make use of the wall, try creating an accent wall. Consider painting it with a geometric design, horizontal stripes or a bold, contrasting color. Painting is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to make a blank wall fun.
A blank wall in a bathroom may be less of a worry, but you can use that opportunity to cultivate a mini-garden. A mini-garden in the bathroom? Absolutely. Hanging plants on the wall of your bathroom will help purify the air while steam from the shower keeps them hydrated.
Any season is an excellent opportunity to do an easy DIY wall project. Check out popular home design blogs or speak to an interior designer for more ideas on how to beautify your home.
You’ve finally found the perfect home. It’s got the number of bedrooms you wanted, a spacious kitchen, updated bathrooms, and even a beautiful vegetable garden out back. Now comes the tricky part—how to pay for it.
Numerous home buyers find financing their mortgages through a credit union to be a good option. According to Magnify Money, approximately nine percent of mortgages are held by credit unions. These non-profit organizations essentially operate like banks, but are more laid back, less aggressive, and easy to work with. Here are some of the top benefits you’ll find when financing your mortgage through a credit union.
As a part of their philosophy, credit unions put a higher priority on customer service than they do profits. They don’t have to answer to external stockholders and put priority on profits the way traditional for-profit banks do. As a result, credit unions are equipped to offer easier loan approvals and decent mortgage rates. Even if you have a lower credit score or have saved a smaller down payment than traditionally required, you can usually find a credit union willing to work with you.
Credit unions are known to offer fewer origination fees and lower processing costs because they don’t have the same requirements banks do. For instance, credit unions don’t have to pay federal taxes and need to break every year due to their non-profit status. These savings are usually passed onto their members.
Many mortgage seekers find they enjoy working with an entity that strives to treat them as a person, not as a distant account number. Since many credit unions are smaller entities than their for-profit banking counterparts, they typically offer a “small-town” feel, even if they are a large credit union. This is because their memberships are limited to specific affiliations.
Also, a consideration you might find of value is the fact credit unions don’t typically sell out to other entities. Chances are you’ll have one lender to deal with through the lifetime of your mortgage (although not a 100% guarantee). If you borrow from a bank, chances increase for your loan to change hands many times over the years.
There are many benefits to knowing who services your loan. If a problem or other issue arises, you’ll almost always know who you can turn to and where to send your payment.
Ideally, you’ll want to be preapproved before starting your home search so you know how much you qualify for and don’t waste time looking at homes out of your price range—this is no matter what lender you ultimately decide to take out a mortgage with. But if you’re looking for low maintenance and high- quality lenders, a credit union might suit your needs.
If you’re not sure you can join one, be sure to consider all of your personal and professional affiliations, be they your college alumni, employer, HOA or church, to name a few. You can find out which ones you are eligible to join by checking your affiliations at CUlookup.com.
Real estate market data is readily available to home sellers across the United States. With this information at your disposal, you should have no trouble maximizing the profits from your home sale.
Now, let's take a look at three real estate market data that every home seller needs to check out before listing a residence.
1. Prices of Comparable Houses
Let's face it – determining a competitive price for your house may prove to be difficult, regardless of your home's age or condition. Fortunately, if you analyze the prices of comparable residences in your city or town, you can better understand how your house stacks up against the competition and price it appropriately.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to conduct a home appraisal prior to listing your house. This appraisal enables a home expert to assess your house both inside and out. Then, you'll receive an appraisal report that contains a property valuation, which may help you determine a competitive price for your house.
2. Prices of Recently Sold Houses
Are you preparing to enter a buyer's or seller's market? Review the prices of recently sold houses in your area, and you can find out whether the current housing market favors buyers or sellers.
If home sellers are receiving offers at or above their initial home asking prices, now may be an ideal time to list your residence. Thus, you may want to add your house to the real estate market sooner rather than later to capitalize on a housing sector that likely favors sellers.
Conversely, if home sellers are receiving offers below their initial home asking prices, you may want to allocate significant time and resources to find ways to improve your house. Because if you enhance your house's exterior and interior, you may be able to help your house stand out from the competition and increase the likelihood of a profitable home sale.
3. Average Amount of Time That a House Is Listed
Check out how long houses stay on the real estate market before they are sold – you'll be glad you did. With this housing market data in hand, you can assess the pulse of the real estate market and map out your home selling journey accordingly.
If you need help collecting or analyzing real estate market data, there is no need to worry. Hire a real estate agent today, and you can gain the insights that you need to make informed decisions throughout the home selling journey.
A real estate agent is a housing market expert who is happy to help you in any way possible. He or she will provide recommendations about how to price your house and improve your home's interior and exterior. Plus, a real estate agent is available to respond to any of your home selling concerns or questions, at any time.
Ready to list your home? Review the aforementioned housing market data, and you can obtain deep insights into the real estate sector prior to selling your house.
