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Reviving a Hill Country Tradition
August 23, 2011 by blanco_real_estate_agent · Leave a Comment
Water means everything to us. We drink it, cook with it, bathe in it and take it for granted. According to several water conservation websites, since 1990, water stress conditions are increasing in the U.S. That means that our duties to take good care of our precious water supply must begin now. As we search [...]
The Top ‘Lifestyle Factors’ When Home Shopping
July 11, 2011 by Melissa Tracey · Leave a Comment
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
If you want to make a sale, selling the lifestyle in a community or neighborhood is becoming an important piece of the presentation of a home, according to a new survey. One in five home owners have moved or would like to move because they don’t think their neighborhood or [...]
What is a Notice to Perform?
January 18, 2010 by About.com Home Buying / Selling · Leave a Comment
You may never care about a notice to perform until you receive it.
I routinely close dozens of escrows in which I never prepare a Notice to Perform for either party. But sometimes, either a buyer or a seller is slow to perform or refuses to adhere to elements of the purchase contract. In California, for example, buyers have 17 days by contract default to remove contingencies. If the 17th day arrives and the buyer has not submitted a release of contingencies, the seller might have no choice but to give the buyer a Notice to Perform.
Sometimes I advise my buyers to submit a Notice to Perform to sellers to try to force sellers to meet the contractual obligations of the purchase contract. That doesn’t make me a mean person, though . . . read more about Notice to Perform.
More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:
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What is a Notice to Perform? originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 05:00:28.
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Buying Fixer Uppers Are a Low-Cost Way to Buy That First Home
January 6, 2010 by About.com Home Buying / Selling · Leave a Comment
Plenty of real estate investors specialize in buying fixer uppers, but a little bit of sweat equity goes a long way for first-time home buyers, too.
See, one of the problems with buying a fixer upper as an investor is not every investor has the ability to pay all cash for these homes. Many take out mortgage loans to finance the purchase. So while they are making repairs, they are also making mortgage payments on an empty house.
Home buyers, on the other hand, have the option of living in the house while they are fixing it up. Owner occupants can take their time doing repairs; not everything needs to be completed at once, and rooms can be tackled one by one until the home is finished. A great benefit is the fact that home buyers can create living environments just the way they want it — painting the walls in colors of their own choosing, selecting their own grade of floor coverings and types of appliances — the home can be customized to suit their individual needs and tastes.
The caveat emptor in this situation is the fact that remodeling can become addictive. Lots of home buyers find when they are finished and there is nothing left to do, they feel like they must sell and buy another home to fix up
. . . read more about Fixer Uppers.
More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:
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Buying Fixer Uppers Are a Low-Cost Way to Buy That First Home originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 05:00:34.
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Give Your Listing the “Sniff” Test
January 5, 2010 by Melissa Tracey · Leave a Comment
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
When you step into a home, one of the first things you often notice is the smell. Does it smell new or clean? Or does it reek of the family’s pets or yesterday’s dinner?
How have you handled these not-so-pleasant aromas in your listings? I’m working on an article for REALTOR® Magazine about the [...]
