Grand Entry Homes

In most cases, sellers will ask for a good faith deposit which is also called earnest money. This safeguards the interests of both the seller and the buyer. Earnest money shows the seller you’re serious about buying the home, which can be reassuring to them if they agree to take the house off of the market while awaiting the appraisal and inspection results.

Fair market value is usually determined by taking the average of three or more comparable homes in the area. The FMV helps both buyers and sellers get a sense of how much a home is worth. Real estate agents typically use this number to figure out a price or price range in which a home will sell. Are you interested in the fair market value of your home? Let’s talk today!

Depending on your needs, hiring a moving company may or may not be the right move for you. If you’ve moved before, did you hire movers? How was your experience if so? For those of you who moved yourselves, do you wish you would’ve hired movers? Let’s chat in the comments!

Pre-approval is as close as you can get to confirming your creditworthiness without having a purchase contract in place. You will complete a mortgage application and the lender will verify the information you provide. They’ll also perform a credit check. If you’re pre-approved, you’ll receive a pre-approval letter, which is an offer to lend you a specific amount, good for typically 90 days.

What’s keeping you away from homeownership? If you're going to pay monthly for your housing expenses, why not pay towards something you own? Somewhere you can make renovations, and potentially increase the value of your home over time. If you're ready to buy, contact me today!

If you’re a homeowner, think back to your experience being a first-time buyer. What do you wish you would’ve known? What would you tell first-time buyers before they enter the world of homeownership? We would love to hear from you!

When buying a home, it pays to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. During the due diligence stage, you'll want to give every aspect of the transaction a once-over before closing. Among other things, you will want to review your appraisal and inspection before the due diligence period ends.

What are you in the market for? Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, we can help. Our role in the process can look different depending on what your needs are. For some clients, an agent may be the listing agent for the home you are selling as well as your buyer’s agent if you are purchasing a different home. No matter what you need, we are here to help. Let’s chat!

When you start considering a property, there are a few key things you should always try to look at before making your decision. While some factors, like size, can potentially be adjusted in the future, others, like location, cannot. Here are 5 factors you should consider when buying a property.

Do you know the difference? Assessed value is the amount your local government thinks your home is worth - this is what is used to determine property taxes. Appraised value is the amount a professional home appraiser thinks your home is worth. This amount is typically used by lenders when considering a mortgage application.

Today’s home buyers are looking for move-in ready homes. Ensure your home is in top condition to get the most attention and the highest possible price. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, focus on features that most home buyers really want to see. Over 80% of buyers are looking for homes with exterior lighting, energy saving windows, and ceiling fans. These can be a low cost investment that buyers would love and that you can enjoy for as long as you live in the home.

If you’re in the market for a new home, there is plenty you can do ahead of time to make the process go a little smoother. A major step in the home-buying process is securing your home loan with a lender. Here is a brief list of items your lender will likely ask for to determine how much buying power you will have. Getting these documents ready now will help to streamline the process!

The first step is to find the right real estate agent to help you market and price your home. You will work with your agent – who will study the sales of homes similar to yours – to set the right asking price. You should give your home a deep cleaning before listing it and reduce clutter by getting rid of extra furniture, décor and personal items. After discussion with your agent, you may consider investing in any minor repairs they recommend to maximize profits. If you are ready today, let’s talk!

Character and charm, or fresh and modern...what is your style? Would you rather live in a historic neighborhood or a new development? When it comes to choosing your next home, what part of the style means the most to you? Let’s chat in the comments!

Wondering what costs you will need to consider when becoming a homeowner? Here is a brief list of what to expect once you purchase a home. While you may have an idea of what your mortgage payments will look like, it is important to know what is included in that payment and what else you need to prepare for.

A house title denotes ownership rights: It is the bundle of rights that dictates who has legal or equitable interest in the property. It also details the limitations on ownership. When you purchase a home, a title company conducts a title search to ensure that the seller is the sole owner of the home and no one else has any legal claim to or against the property.

Are you considering stepping into the world of homeownership? Before you start browsing the internet for available homes in your area, ask yourself these questions! This will help give you the best starting point and help you get into the home of your dreams that much faster. Once you’ve done that, we are here to help!

Contract contingencies are quite common in real estate transactions and are put in place to allow prospective homeowners to cancel a contract without penalty. Contingencies reduce risks for buyers, and what is allowable varies from state to state. However, many contingencies are common to every state.

Buying a home can seem intimidating, especially if it is your first time. We are here to help walk you through every step of the process and would love to hear what concerns you have about buying a home. Share your questions in the comments or send us a message today.

Mortgage rates are constantly changing, but do you know what dropping rates could mean for you? Whether you are looking to buy or looking to sell, a drop in interest rates can impact what the market will look like for you. Here are some ways the market is impacted!

Worried about getting a mortgage if you work for yourself? If you’re self-employed, the loan approval process will be somewhat similar to that of a W-2 salaried applicant. You’ll need to provide certain documentation to verify your employment income and prove to the lender that you’re a creditworthy fit for a mortgage in general and a certain sum. We can recommend a lender today and get you one step closer to homeownership!

Today’s home buyers want convenient house plan designs that help them stay organized, allow them to live comfortably through all stages in life, and keep utility costs low. More importantly, buyers are looking for homes that don’t require much work on their end. What are your top 2 must haves in a new home from this list?

Have you heard this phrase before? Marrying the house means that you should focus more on finding the right property rather than trying to time your purchase to get the lowest interest rate. You are not committed to your mortgage loan interest rate for life—as long as you can refinance it down the road. Don’t lose out on time building your equity waiting for a rate. If you’re ready to buy today, let’s chat!

You can change the cosmetics of a house, but you can’t change location. Don’t ignore a home you love in a neighborhood you have been dreaming about just because it requires a change of paint or other cosmetic updates. While we always want to find you a home that checks as many of your boxes as possible, it’s important to prioritize finding a home that you can adjust to fit your requirements.

Are you in the market to buy land? Maybe you aren’t finding the home of your dreams and you’ve decided to start from the ground up - literally. Once you’ve evaluated your finances and have some land you want to purchase, be sure to do these five important things before you buy.

There are few situations more frustrating than struggling to sell your home after you put in on the market, especially when you may have expected a quick turnaround. If you tried to do everything right but something still isn’t clicking, check out these common reasons homes aren't selling.

The first thing to know is you’re not alone: 71% of buyers are also, simultaneously, sellers. The key to success on both ends of the deal is having a realtor to guide you through:⁣
-Prepping & pricing your current home⁣
-Market assessment for your current and prospective home⁣
-Offers and contingencies clauses⁣
-Financing options and lender referrals
-Securing short-term housing if needed⁣
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, the best thing to do is to talk to a pro!

Here are 3 common mistakes sellers make, and how to avoid them:
1. Pricing too high - the key to getting the best price and terms for your property is to price accurately.
2. Not prepping your home to sell - you will net the most money by preparing and staging your home to showcase it in the best possible light.
3. Hiring the wrong agent - who you work with matters! Hiring an agent that has your best interests in mind should be a top priority of your journey.

Did you choose D? Remember that you can still be denied a mortgage even after being pre-approved. Lenders check your credit during pre-approval and again just before closing before giving you the final green light. This means that opening new lines of credit or closing existing lines of credit during this process can lower your credit score and increase your debt-to-income ratio—both key reasons for a lender to deny final approval.

Where are you moving if money isn’t an issue? Would you stay in the same city, state, even country? Let us know in the comments where you would end up!