Three Social Media Tips for Home Sellers

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If you are trying to sell your own home, finding buyers can be difficult. Homeowners trying to sell their home without a realtor have fewer resources to find and market to home buyers. One of the many ways that you can find potential buyers is to make use of social media. Here are three tips for using social media to sell your home.

YouTube Video Tour

Creating a video tour of your home will get your listing out there in more places, and it will generate more interest in your listing. You can easily create short videos with a number of apps such as Magisto. These apps are very user friendly. 

Once your video tour is complete, upload it on YouTube and use tags for your community. You can also share the video tour on other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. If anyone contacts you about the property, you can refer them to the YouTube video tour. Read more

Three Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home Faster

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When you make the decision to sell your home, you really want it to sell as quickly as possible. After all, most homeowners cannot afford to move until they sell the home they already have. If you did move before selling your home, you are likely in a hurry to take your budget down to one mortgage payment instead of two. Realtors and other professionals say that homes sell 90 percent faster when you stage your home. While staging can cost some money, there are some things you can do to sell your home faster that won’t cost you a dime.

Deep Cleaning

It probably goes without saying that you should clean your home before showing it. But how clean does it really need to be? You might be tempted to do just your normal weekend cleaning, but what you really need to do is deep cleaning. Pretend that it is spring and you are deep cleaning your home after a long winter of staying indoors. That is how clean you want your home to be for showings. Read more

The Three Stages of Selling a Home and What to Expect

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When you are getting ready to sell your home, you might be wondering what exactly to expect and how the process works. As a homeowner, you are already familiar with the process as a buyer. However, on the seller’s end, things look a little bit different. Here are the three stages of selling a home and what to expect at each crossing.

Listing and Offers

It only takes a few days for your home to be listed on the MLS and other systems for buyers and realtors to find. Whether you are selling your home through an agent or for sale by owner, it only takes about a week at the most to get your listing out there and circulating. You might be waiting up to two months on average for an offer, and the first offer may not be one you are willing to take. During this time you will need to be able to show the house and have open houses to bring in buyers and grab their interest. Eventually you will get an offer that is acceptable, and you will move on to the next stage. Read more

Selling Your Home Long Distance: Things to Consider

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Selling a home can be stressful, but when you are selling a home long distance it can be even more so. There are a lot of reasons you might be needing to sell your home long distance, such as relocation for a job or to be closer to family in an emergency. Whatever your reasons for needing to sell your home from another city or state, there are some additional things you need to consider before putting your home on the market.

Safety and Security

When you have a home sitting vacant, it can be a safety and security issue. You run the risk of vandals, drifters, or thieves coming into the home and destroying the property. While this is true even if you are in the area and selling your home after moving out, it is even more of a concern when you are not in the area to keep an eye on the property.

One of the best things you can do is team up with neighbors to keep an eye on the property. Enlisting the help of the neighbors ensures that any unusual activity at the house will be noted and reported to the police. Of course, if you send workmen over to make repairs you need to notify the neighbors so that they do not call the authorities unnecessarily. Read more

The 3 Ways You Can Title Your New Home

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One of the things you may not have considered when purchasing your home is how it will be titled. There are several different ways that you can title your new home. How you title it will affect ownership, how the property can be sold, and how the property is passed down in case of your death. There are several considerations to make when titling your home.

Sole Ownership

Sole ownership is usually the preferred method of title for someone who is single. You may also be able to title a home as a sole owner if you are married, but your spouse would likely need to file a quit claim deed to declare that they have no interest in the property. Sole ownership properties are the easiest to sell, because you don’t have to worry about another party to the sale. It can be problematic when you pass, however, and the property could wind up in probate. Read more

How to Determine a Budget for Buying a House

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Whether it’s your first or fifth time buying a house, the process is generally the same. It can be exciting when you are finally in the market for an upgrade and it seems like the possibilities are endless. But there are a lot of important pieces that go into buying a house, and one of the most important ones is determining a budget. A big mistake that some homebuyers make is not being realistic with what they can afford.

Debt to Income Ratio

If you are applying for a home loan, banks will look at your DTI, otherwise known as your debt to income ratio. A DTI considers the ratio of your total monthly debt and your pre-taxed monthly income. Some lenders might say you qualify for a high debt to income ratio, but many experts recommend not to exceed 36%. The 36% limit allows for a cushion in case something unfortunate happens and you are temporarily not bringing in income.

Affordability

When looking at affordability, you want to start by tracking all your monthly debts, including various types of loans such as your car or schooling. You will also need to consider your household income. If you are planning on purchasing a home with someone, you both should determine how your mortgage will be paid.  Next, you need to ensure that you have enough money in your savings account to cover a complete down payment and at least 3 months of housing payments. In case something happens, you want to make sure you have enough to pay your mortgage and various expenses. Read more

Help! I Want to Buy and Sell Simultaneously

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Buying a new home and selling your current home are both complex and time-consuming processes. So what happens if you want to do them both at the same time? As long as you have the right guidance from an experienced real estate agent, you can sell your home and buy a new one simultaneously. Here are the tips and tricks you need to know.

First, Study Your Local Market

According to Forbes, 2019 is the most important year for housing in 10 years. That’s a bold statement that can work well in your favor! Thanks to population growth and job growth, more people are searching for homes than ever before. This puts you in a great position to sell your current home. Low supply and high demand will allow you demand your full asking price.

On the other hand, this trend could make finding your new dream home more challenging. Start your search early, and don’t hesitate to make an offer.

Make a Schedule

Will you buy first, and then try to sell? Sell first and trust that you can buy quickly? Each plan has its own benefits and drawbacks. The ultimate decision should be based on your finances. If affording a second mortgage, even for a few months, is unrealistic, then work to sell your home first. If your budget isn’t an issue, talk to your real estate agent for guidance. Read more

Can You Sell Your Home Quickly in the Winter?

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Conventional wisdom tells you to sell your home in the spring or summer, but that doesn’t mean selling in the winter will be a disaster. In fact, selling your home during the holidays can actually be a wild success. Use these tips to guide yourself through a surprisingly easy and hassle-free winter home sale.

Enjoy Less Competition

It’s no secret that the spring real estate market is bursting with properties, many of which may be located right around the corner from your home. Rather than facing the competition of their beautiful inground pool or three-car garage, you can sell in the winter when your home will be one of the few on the market in your area. Homeowners will find you easier, and you may even have your choice of offers and buyers!

Stage Your Home With Some Holiday Magic

Nothing makes for a more inviting indoor atmosphere than the holiday season. Take advantage of the magic of the holidays by putting candles in the windows, lighting the fireplace, and making your kitchen smell like freshly baked gingerbread. Potential buyers will definitely remember your property and the welcoming, inviting environment you created. They will want that sense of home for themselves!

The Internet Is a Powerful Weapon Year Round

It might be winter outside your window, but the Internet has no seasons. In fact, if anything, buyers are even more likely to browse online listings in the winter when it’s too chilly to venture outside. You can trust that your real estate listing will receive plenty of views throughout the winter. Read more

Must-Have Documents Every Home Buyer Must Have

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Buying a home might seem overwhelming, but with the right preparation you can enjoy a smooth and stress-free process that helps you purchase the home of your dreams. Gathering all of your must-have documents is one of the most important components of home buying preparation. Make sure you have all of the following documents ready as you begin your search.

Current Pay Stubs and W2s

First and foremost, your mortgage lender needs to see your income in order to consider your application. If you receive pay stubs, you should have at least the past month to provide, but if you’re self-employed or use other sources of income, expect to show 1099 forms, direct deposits, and other means of proving your income amount.

Federal Tax Returns

Federal tax returns offer a full and uninhibited financial story. Expect to hand over the past one or two years’ worth of tax returns to your mortgage lender. Your tax returns will be cross-referenced with your other documents to ensure everything is accurate and that you do indeed have the resources needed to buy a home. Read more

3 Reasons You May Be Having Trouble Selling Your Home

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You activated your listing, put a For Sale sign in the yard, and hosted a few showings, but your home still hasn’t sold. You’re becoming frustrated and wondering if you should lower your listing price, start repainting the walls, hire a new realtor, or all of the above. Slow down and take a breath! It’s common to have trouble selling your home, especially if you can relate to any of the following three reasons. Just take our advice and you’ll be sitting at the closing table in no time.

Your Listing Needs a Facelift

This is the digital world, and a potential buyer’s very first impression of your home comes from its online listing. If your online listing is missing pictures, showing unflattering photographs, missing critical information, or poorly written, buyers will pass right over your property for the listings that appeal to them. This is true even if your home is truly beautiful and fairly priced. Take a close look at your listing and make a few of the following changes to encourage buyers: Read more