Provided By Trulia
Looking for a real estate agent to help you with your search for a new home? Trulia offers these tips for finding an agent who'll best suit your needs.
Get recommendations
Family and friends who've recently purchased a home can be great sources of referrals of quality real estate agents.
Folks you know can give you the scoop on what it's like to really work with a particular agent, e.g., how knowledgeable that agent is, how well that agent knows the community and its homes, and how well he or she may be able to meet your needs -- in terms of the type of property you want to buy and its price.
You'll want to know whether the agent these people worked with sincerely tried to meet their needs, whether that agent did a good job in showing only homes that were in the buyer's price range and whether the agent was pleasant to work with and had enough time to devote to the buyer.
If you are looking to buy in a particular neighborhood or special class of home (e.g., historic Victorian) you'll want to get recommendations of agents who have an expertise and proven track record in that area.
Look for your type
When looking for an agent to assist you with your home search, search for one who specializes in buyers like you. Check their designations -- through training, agents can earn designations that show they have expertise in certain areas.
For example those with the "ABR" designation (Accredited Buyer Representative) are specifically trained to meet home buyers' (versus sellers') needs -- such as finding the right property, negotiating the best price and completing the purchase of a home. Exclusive buyer agents also make buyers (not sellers) their priority -- these agents don't list homes. (Go to the website for the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents to find a listing of these agents in your area.)
There are many designations an agent can earn. Agents with the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation have been trained to work with clients who are 50 years of age or older, while agents with the National Association of Realtors'® New Green designation have received education on energy efficiency, environmentally sound building practices and what makes a property "green." NAR has a list of NAR-accredited designations on its website.
It may be in your best interest to hire a real estate agent who is a Realtor® and is an NAR member. Realtors® must comply with NAR's Code of Ethics and meet a standard of conduct -- not all real estate agents are Realtors®.
Go online
On the Web, Google or search for local real estate agents on Yahoo. Check for agents' advertisements in the local newspaper. You can also search for an agent using Trulia's "Find a Real Estate Professional" search, which let's house hunters and homeowners search for real estate agents, lenders, appraisers, etc., by location or keyword.
Once you find a few agents who interest you, check out their websites -- on their sites you may be able to read up on their background, their business style and expertise -- whether it be first-time buyers or a particular neighborhood. The agents' websites no doubt will also provide you with several ways of contacting them -- e.g., via phone, text message or email.
Get face time
Once you narrow it down to a few agents who interest you, schedule meetings with them. Ask them about their years of experience, background, awards and designations and how long they've worked with their agency.
Talk about the type of home you're interested in purchasing, your price range and the neighborhoods you like and get their feedback on how they can assist your search.
Ask them how they'll keep in touch with you/update you on new homes on the market (e.g., by phone, email or text message), their hours and their current workload and availability. Keep notes so you can remember who said what when it comes time to make your decision.
Talk to buyers
When you meet with the agents, ask for the names of some current and past clients. Interview these buyers, and ask them about their experiences working with a particular agent -- pluses and minuses of working with that agent -- and if they'd recommend him or her. Talking with actual buyers should give you a firm idea of which agent will be the best one for you.
Looking for the best real estate agent for you? Call us at 972.772.7000 or frontdesk552@kw.com.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Foreclosures Slow but Delinquencies Rise
Provided By Realty Times
A new report indicates that the number of delinquent mortgage borrowers climbed in the second quarter. That's people who have missed at least one payment, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
There has been a steady improvement in the past couple of years, but this slight increase of 0.12 percentage points in the delinquency rate to bring the seasonally adjusted rate to 8.44% of all loans outstanding as of the end of the second quarter, 2011 breaks that gradually improving trend.
However, it's not so bad. The MBA also reports that the number of loans that are delinquent more than 90 days has declined. It's those mortgages that are often moved into a repossession process.
So how bad are the early delinquencies? Often what can happen when borrowers are late for a short period of time is they can get back on track with their payments. Sometimes it's a matter of getting hit with an unexpected medical bill or a temporary cut in work hours.
The MBA believes that delinquencies are mirroring what we are seeing in the employment market.
"Mortgage loans that are one payment, or 30 days, past due are very much driven by changes in the labor market, and the increase in these delinquencies clearly reflects the deterioration we saw in the labor market during the second quarter. Weekly first-time claims for unemployment insurance started the quarter at 385,000 but finished the quarter at 432,000. The unemployment rate started the quarter at 8.8 percent but climbed to 9.2 percent by the end of the quarter," said Jay Brinkmann, MBA's Chief Economist in a statement to the press.
Still, there's a silver lining. Foreclosures are back to levels that we saw in 2007. Not as many foreclosures, as in recent previous years, are being initiated, so more borrowers are finding ways to keep their homes.
"Looking across states, foreclosures continued to be highly concentrated in just a few states, with five states accounting for 52% of the foreclosure inventory in the second quarter. The single biggest factor determining whether or not a state has a large backlog of foreclosures is whether the state has a judicial foreclosure system, meaning whether or not a foreclosure needs to go through the courts. Of the 9 states whose percentage of loans in foreclosure is higher than the national average, only one, Nevada, does not have a judicial system of foreclosure."
There is more good news on the mortgage front. Loans since 2007 are performing better. The time period of 2005 to 2007 represented only 30% of all mortgages. But that same time period accounted for 65% of seriously delinquent loans.
ForeclosureResponse.org concurs in its findings and reports that serious delinquency rates for mortgages are stabilizing across the largest 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. The organization is quick to point out that our current levels have reached historic highs.
Are you behind on your mortgage? You have options. Call us at 972.772.7000 or frontdesk552@kw.com.
A new report indicates that the number of delinquent mortgage borrowers climbed in the second quarter. That's people who have missed at least one payment, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
There has been a steady improvement in the past couple of years, but this slight increase of 0.12 percentage points in the delinquency rate to bring the seasonally adjusted rate to 8.44% of all loans outstanding as of the end of the second quarter, 2011 breaks that gradually improving trend.
However, it's not so bad. The MBA also reports that the number of loans that are delinquent more than 90 days has declined. It's those mortgages that are often moved into a repossession process.
So how bad are the early delinquencies? Often what can happen when borrowers are late for a short period of time is they can get back on track with their payments. Sometimes it's a matter of getting hit with an unexpected medical bill or a temporary cut in work hours.
The MBA believes that delinquencies are mirroring what we are seeing in the employment market.
"Mortgage loans that are one payment, or 30 days, past due are very much driven by changes in the labor market, and the increase in these delinquencies clearly reflects the deterioration we saw in the labor market during the second quarter. Weekly first-time claims for unemployment insurance started the quarter at 385,000 but finished the quarter at 432,000. The unemployment rate started the quarter at 8.8 percent but climbed to 9.2 percent by the end of the quarter," said Jay Brinkmann, MBA's Chief Economist in a statement to the press.
Still, there's a silver lining. Foreclosures are back to levels that we saw in 2007. Not as many foreclosures, as in recent previous years, are being initiated, so more borrowers are finding ways to keep their homes.
"Looking across states, foreclosures continued to be highly concentrated in just a few states, with five states accounting for 52% of the foreclosure inventory in the second quarter. The single biggest factor determining whether or not a state has a large backlog of foreclosures is whether the state has a judicial foreclosure system, meaning whether or not a foreclosure needs to go through the courts. Of the 9 states whose percentage of loans in foreclosure is higher than the national average, only one, Nevada, does not have a judicial system of foreclosure."
There is more good news on the mortgage front. Loans since 2007 are performing better. The time period of 2005 to 2007 represented only 30% of all mortgages. But that same time period accounted for 65% of seriously delinquent loans.
ForeclosureResponse.org concurs in its findings and reports that serious delinquency rates for mortgages are stabilizing across the largest 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. The organization is quick to point out that our current levels have reached historic highs.
Are you behind on your mortgage? You have options. Call us at 972.772.7000 or frontdesk552@kw.com.
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Basics of Homeowners Insurance
Provided By Realty Times
Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. It's important to protect this investment. This is where homeowners insurance comes in.
As a renter you may have been required to carry "renter's insurance," which was likely a basic plan that covered property losses and damages in case of an accident at which you were at fault, such as fire.
A homeowners policy has to cover so much more. Your possessions now extend on past jewelry and electronics and must protect everything from shingles and flooring to your life savings.
According to Wells Fargo, "Homeowners insurance provides you with broad coverage for losses that can arise while owning or renting out your home – like damage to your personal property, theft and vandalism, and liability coverage for accidental injury to another person or property."
In the aftermath of disaster, whether from fire, tornado, theft, or liability lawsuits, repairs and replacement costs add up fast. The majority of Americans would be unable to come up with the cash needed to return life back to normal.
So, in response, you purchase insurance. Each year you pay a premium. The amount is based on numerous factors, including the value of your home and the location where you live in. Some areas have higher crime rates, greater risks of wildfire, or have multi-million dollar homes. These policy owners will likely pay more than others.
Be sure to ask your insurance provider for the specifics of what your policy covers. You want a policy that gives you the right amount of coverage. Ask about add-ons, such a flood and earthquake policies. According to Allstate Insurance, "Typically, floods and earthquakes are excluded from basic policies, but in some areas, you may be able to get supplemental insurance policies for those situations. A few other conditions most companies specifically exclude are mold, fungus, wet rot, dry rot and bacteria."
Accidents do happen, and with a battery of lawyers around every corner, you want to be sure you're protected if someone injures himself on your property. Guest medical policies also pay for medical expenses should a person injure himself on your land.
In the instance that you must file a claim, you will need to pay a "deductible." This amount ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Let's say, for example, that you have a fire. The total dollar amount of damage is $10,000. Your policy covers the fire, so you only pay the "deductible," say $500. This is much more manageable for most households.
To cover not only your property losses in this fire, but also your possession, you will need to have proof of what you had. A home has been recorded on the tax roll, but possessions are your own private property. Homeowners should create an itemized list, updated yearly, that gives evidence of what possessions they have and how much they're worth.
You want a policy that has replacement cost coverage, not just the present value. If you lose a mattress in the fire, it will cost you $1,000 to replace, not $50 (the price it might be worth now). In order to have proof of your possession, consider making a video or photo diary.
Most importantly, keep a copy of this diary and itemized list at a second location away from your home, such as at a trusted relative's house or in a safety deposit box.
If you have a mortgage on your home, you may be required to carry Homeowners Insurance. The reasoning behind this logic is simple. You are not the "owner" of your home until you have completed your loan obligations. Until that point, the bank or lender is the legal "owner." They want to be sure their investment is protected.
For those who own their home outright, homeowners insurance is not required by law, but it would be a crime not to carry it.
Do you have more questions about homeowners insurance? Call us at 972.772.7000 or email us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. It's important to protect this investment. This is where homeowners insurance comes in.
As a renter you may have been required to carry "renter's insurance," which was likely a basic plan that covered property losses and damages in case of an accident at which you were at fault, such as fire.
A homeowners policy has to cover so much more. Your possessions now extend on past jewelry and electronics and must protect everything from shingles and flooring to your life savings.
According to Wells Fargo, "Homeowners insurance provides you with broad coverage for losses that can arise while owning or renting out your home – like damage to your personal property, theft and vandalism, and liability coverage for accidental injury to another person or property."
In the aftermath of disaster, whether from fire, tornado, theft, or liability lawsuits, repairs and replacement costs add up fast. The majority of Americans would be unable to come up with the cash needed to return life back to normal.
So, in response, you purchase insurance. Each year you pay a premium. The amount is based on numerous factors, including the value of your home and the location where you live in. Some areas have higher crime rates, greater risks of wildfire, or have multi-million dollar homes. These policy owners will likely pay more than others.
Be sure to ask your insurance provider for the specifics of what your policy covers. You want a policy that gives you the right amount of coverage. Ask about add-ons, such a flood and earthquake policies. According to Allstate Insurance, "Typically, floods and earthquakes are excluded from basic policies, but in some areas, you may be able to get supplemental insurance policies for those situations. A few other conditions most companies specifically exclude are mold, fungus, wet rot, dry rot and bacteria."
Accidents do happen, and with a battery of lawyers around every corner, you want to be sure you're protected if someone injures himself on your property. Guest medical policies also pay for medical expenses should a person injure himself on your land.
In the instance that you must file a claim, you will need to pay a "deductible." This amount ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Let's say, for example, that you have a fire. The total dollar amount of damage is $10,000. Your policy covers the fire, so you only pay the "deductible," say $500. This is much more manageable for most households.
To cover not only your property losses in this fire, but also your possession, you will need to have proof of what you had. A home has been recorded on the tax roll, but possessions are your own private property. Homeowners should create an itemized list, updated yearly, that gives evidence of what possessions they have and how much they're worth.
You want a policy that has replacement cost coverage, not just the present value. If you lose a mattress in the fire, it will cost you $1,000 to replace, not $50 (the price it might be worth now). In order to have proof of your possession, consider making a video or photo diary.
Most importantly, keep a copy of this diary and itemized list at a second location away from your home, such as at a trusted relative's house or in a safety deposit box.
If you have a mortgage on your home, you may be required to carry Homeowners Insurance. The reasoning behind this logic is simple. You are not the "owner" of your home until you have completed your loan obligations. Until that point, the bank or lender is the legal "owner." They want to be sure their investment is protected.
For those who own their home outright, homeowners insurance is not required by law, but it would be a crime not to carry it.
Do you have more questions about homeowners insurance? Call us at 972.772.7000 or email us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
All about home inspections
Provided By Trulia
When you are looking to purchase a home, it's a good idea to get it inspected first. Think of it as a test drive before you plunk down your life savings and most likely, commit yourself to lengthy mortgage. You want to make sure you're getting a quality home. Below is everything you need to know about getting a home inspection.
Why get an inspection?
A home inspection is the examination of a home, from top to bottom. Just like a routine physical that will alert you to any hidden health problems, an inspection will reveal if a home's structure or if any of its systems are in need of significant repair. Purchasing a home is a big investment -- you're likely to be spending thousands of dollars to buy your new home -- so, you'll want to be sure that your purchase is a smart one. (And that you don't buy the real estate equivalent of a lemon.)
In fact, 99% of all agents counsel their clients to have a home inspection performed of homes they are looking to buy.
Hire a professional
When you hire an inspector, look to hire the best -- it only make sense, since buying a home can be an expensive endeavor.
Look to get a professional who's knowledgeable about a home's system -- that person is likely to be a licensed professional engineer (PE). You can search for a PE in your area on Nabie.org, the website for the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers. You may also want to check up on inspectors you're considering on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List.
What does a home inspector check?
A home inspector will conduct a visual inspection of the home, from the roof to the foundation. He will examine the roof, attic, insulation, the home's heating and air-conditioning systems, the plumbing and electrical systems, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, the basement and the foundation. The exterior of the home will also be inspected, taking into account factors like the condition of the driveway, fences, sidewalks, grading of the property, etc.
How long will it take?
The average inspection of a single-family home should take two to three hours, according to hud.gov, the website for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What is the cost?
The fee for a home inspection can vary widely, depending on your home's location, size, age and the services being performed -- e.g., if there is a septic system that needs to be inspected, or if the home is being checked for radon. Typically, a home inspection for a single-family house will fall within the range of $300 to $500, according to hud.gov.
How do I get the results?
A quality home inspector will provide a printed (not hand-written) copy of the results. Ask any inspector you're thinking of hiring about what kind of report he will provide and exactly what will be covered in the report. The report should note what systems in the home are defective and what needs repair. Also ask how long it will take for your inspector to get the report to you.
What should the results tell me?
Your inspection report should reveal the overall condition of the home, what repairs are needed, the severity of the needed fixes and their potential cost. You can then use the results of the inspection to determine your next step -- e.g., if you're happy with the home as it is, or if you want to negotiate with the seller to complete some fixes or lower the price on the property.
Do you have more questions about home inspection and the closing process? Give us a call at 972.772.7000 or call us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
When you are looking to purchase a home, it's a good idea to get it inspected first. Think of it as a test drive before you plunk down your life savings and most likely, commit yourself to lengthy mortgage. You want to make sure you're getting a quality home. Below is everything you need to know about getting a home inspection.
Why get an inspection?
A home inspection is the examination of a home, from top to bottom. Just like a routine physical that will alert you to any hidden health problems, an inspection will reveal if a home's structure or if any of its systems are in need of significant repair. Purchasing a home is a big investment -- you're likely to be spending thousands of dollars to buy your new home -- so, you'll want to be sure that your purchase is a smart one. (And that you don't buy the real estate equivalent of a lemon.)
In fact, 99% of all agents counsel their clients to have a home inspection performed of homes they are looking to buy.
Hire a professional
When you hire an inspector, look to hire the best -- it only make sense, since buying a home can be an expensive endeavor.
Look to get a professional who's knowledgeable about a home's system -- that person is likely to be a licensed professional engineer (PE). You can search for a PE in your area on Nabie.org, the website for the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers. You may also want to check up on inspectors you're considering on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List.
What does a home inspector check?
A home inspector will conduct a visual inspection of the home, from the roof to the foundation. He will examine the roof, attic, insulation, the home's heating and air-conditioning systems, the plumbing and electrical systems, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, the basement and the foundation. The exterior of the home will also be inspected, taking into account factors like the condition of the driveway, fences, sidewalks, grading of the property, etc.
How long will it take?
The average inspection of a single-family home should take two to three hours, according to hud.gov, the website for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What is the cost?
The fee for a home inspection can vary widely, depending on your home's location, size, age and the services being performed -- e.g., if there is a septic system that needs to be inspected, or if the home is being checked for radon. Typically, a home inspection for a single-family house will fall within the range of $300 to $500, according to hud.gov.
How do I get the results?
A quality home inspector will provide a printed (not hand-written) copy of the results. Ask any inspector you're thinking of hiring about what kind of report he will provide and exactly what will be covered in the report. The report should note what systems in the home are defective and what needs repair. Also ask how long it will take for your inspector to get the report to you.
What should the results tell me?
Your inspection report should reveal the overall condition of the home, what repairs are needed, the severity of the needed fixes and their potential cost. You can then use the results of the inspection to determine your next step -- e.g., if you're happy with the home as it is, or if you want to negotiate with the seller to complete some fixes or lower the price on the property.
Do you have more questions about home inspection and the closing process? Give us a call at 972.772.7000 or call us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Stop Renting and Buy While Homes are Most Affordable
Provided By Realty Times
If you're currently renting and have dreamed of owning a home, now may be the perfect time. Trulia.com is reporting that during the month of July, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities.
However, in 12% of the cities, such as New York, Seattle, and San Francisco, you could rent a place for less than you could buy one. And in the rest of the cities (14%), it was about even, with renting being only slightly less than the cost of buying.
What's tipping the scale to make buying cheaper than renting? Of course, it's the declining home prices and historically low interest rates are also helping to encourage home buying. Recently, interest rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed have been hovering near 4%. Also, the increased demand for rental units is pushing rents up, making now a good time to buy as purchasing a home is cheaper than renting one in most major U.S. cities.
This is making purchasing a home enticing for those who are planning to stay for several years and have the ability to put down a downpayment of about 20 percent.
Where are the hot buying markets? Las Vegas tops the list. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, as reported by CNNMoney.com, shows that prices "have plunged more than 59% from their August 2006 peak."
Other markets where buying beats renting include Detroit, Michigan; Mesa, Arizona; and Fresno, California. All of these are places where the cost of a median price condo/townhouse is approximately seven times annual rent.
And as reported by CNNMoney.com, Arlington, Texas; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida, "all had buy-rent ratios of eight," according to Trulia.
New York is the highest city to rent a home (of the 50 markets surveyed). And to buy in that city would cost about 36 times as much, pushing the purchase price to about a million dollars.
If you're renting now and wondering is this the right time, it really depends on your particular circumstances. Timing the real estate market is never a perfect science. However, the indicators are strong that if you can afford to buy, today's market certainly offers many good opportunities.
Here are a few things to consider to help you make your decision.
The first is the length of time you'll stay in the home. Moves are costly and purchasing a home requires extra cash for commissions and closing costs. So, if you're not sure you can stay for a while, postponing buying might be the right choice. However, if you've been in your rental for a long time and have roots in your city, there are great deals on homes. It might be the right time for you to start paying your own mortgage instead of paying your landlord's mortgage.
How much downpayment? This is a critical concern. With stricter lending requirements, having cash to put down is a make-or-break factor in purchasing a home. Buyers often have to come up with 20% and that can be a big chunk (or even all) of a person's savings. Also, note that the money usually has to be "seasoned". In other words, the downpayment money can't just suddenly appear in your savings account only days before you decide to buy a home. Ask your real estate agent and loan officer for more details.
The cost of owning a home. Part of the thrill of owning a home is the fact that you own it. That means you're responsible for everything inside and out. Of course, planned developments and Homeowner's Associations may cover some of the outside maintenance but then you'll be paying monthly fees. When considering whether to buy or rent, one of the things many first-time buyers neglect to think about is the cost of maintenance. When appliances break; you, the homeowner, will pay to fix them. No more landlord or apartment manager to the rescue. So, if you think things through and weigh the cost of rent versus the cost of buying, you may find the cost and the increased responsibility are well worth it because along with homeownership comes the pride of making your home yours exactly as you like it.
Are you interested in buying your dream home? Call us at 972.772.7000 or email us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
If you're currently renting and have dreamed of owning a home, now may be the perfect time. Trulia.com is reporting that during the month of July, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities.
However, in 12% of the cities, such as New York, Seattle, and San Francisco, you could rent a place for less than you could buy one. And in the rest of the cities (14%), it was about even, with renting being only slightly less than the cost of buying.
What's tipping the scale to make buying cheaper than renting? Of course, it's the declining home prices and historically low interest rates are also helping to encourage home buying. Recently, interest rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed have been hovering near 4%. Also, the increased demand for rental units is pushing rents up, making now a good time to buy as purchasing a home is cheaper than renting one in most major U.S. cities.
This is making purchasing a home enticing for those who are planning to stay for several years and have the ability to put down a downpayment of about 20 percent.
Where are the hot buying markets? Las Vegas tops the list. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, as reported by CNNMoney.com, shows that prices "have plunged more than 59% from their August 2006 peak."
Other markets where buying beats renting include Detroit, Michigan; Mesa, Arizona; and Fresno, California. All of these are places where the cost of a median price condo/townhouse is approximately seven times annual rent.
And as reported by CNNMoney.com, Arlington, Texas; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida, "all had buy-rent ratios of eight," according to Trulia.
New York is the highest city to rent a home (of the 50 markets surveyed). And to buy in that city would cost about 36 times as much, pushing the purchase price to about a million dollars.
If you're renting now and wondering is this the right time, it really depends on your particular circumstances. Timing the real estate market is never a perfect science. However, the indicators are strong that if you can afford to buy, today's market certainly offers many good opportunities.
Here are a few things to consider to help you make your decision.
The first is the length of time you'll stay in the home. Moves are costly and purchasing a home requires extra cash for commissions and closing costs. So, if you're not sure you can stay for a while, postponing buying might be the right choice. However, if you've been in your rental for a long time and have roots in your city, there are great deals on homes. It might be the right time for you to start paying your own mortgage instead of paying your landlord's mortgage.
How much downpayment? This is a critical concern. With stricter lending requirements, having cash to put down is a make-or-break factor in purchasing a home. Buyers often have to come up with 20% and that can be a big chunk (or even all) of a person's savings. Also, note that the money usually has to be "seasoned". In other words, the downpayment money can't just suddenly appear in your savings account only days before you decide to buy a home. Ask your real estate agent and loan officer for more details.
The cost of owning a home. Part of the thrill of owning a home is the fact that you own it. That means you're responsible for everything inside and out. Of course, planned developments and Homeowner's Associations may cover some of the outside maintenance but then you'll be paying monthly fees. When considering whether to buy or rent, one of the things many first-time buyers neglect to think about is the cost of maintenance. When appliances break; you, the homeowner, will pay to fix them. No more landlord or apartment manager to the rescue. So, if you think things through and weigh the cost of rent versus the cost of buying, you may find the cost and the increased responsibility are well worth it because along with homeownership comes the pride of making your home yours exactly as you like it.
Are you interested in buying your dream home? Call us at 972.772.7000 or email us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)