For Buyers & Sellers

Economics 101 The Housing Market in 2019 Posted in Market News by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate  The last time we saw a balanced market was late 1990s, meaning many sellers and buyers have never seen a normal housing market.  Windermere Real Estate’s Chief Economist Matthew Gardner looks at more longer-term averages, what does he see for the future of the housing market?
For Buyers & Sellers How Reliable Are Home Valuation Tools? Posted in Selling by Kenady Swan    What’s your home worth?   It seems like a simple question, but finding that answer is more complicated than it might seem. Sites like Zillow, Redfin, Appraisal, and others have built-in home valuation tools that make it seem easy, but how accurate are they? And which one do you believe if […]
Blog Find a New Home in Four Steps Posted in Buying by Kenady Swan    Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a current owner looking for a bigger home, the ideas below will help you better navigate that all-important first step: Finding a property that you like (and can afford).   The search for a new home always starts out with a lot of excitement. But […]
Blog Should I Move or Remodel? Posted in Buying, Selling, and Living by Kenady Swan  There are a number of things that can trigger the decision to remodel or move to a new home. Perhaps you have outgrown your current space, you might be tired of struggling with ancient plumbing or wiring systems, or maybe your home just feels out of date. The question is: Should […]
Blog Moving on up! Posted in Buying by Tara Sharp    Moving is stressful, whether it is across town or cross-country.  Once you have closed on your house, the reality of packing, moving, and setting up a new home can become overwhelming. While no list can make a move “stress-free”, planning ahead and staying organized can help make your move a little […]
Blog Top 3 Reasons Short Sales Fail Posted in Selling by Richard Eastern    Short sales are complicated. With all the variables that need to be juggled, it’s easy to make mistakes that end up derailing a transaction. Here are the most common reasons that short sales fail. 1) Failure to understand and justify market value. Setting a price for a short sale is the delicate […]
Blog An Agent in Seller’s Clothing   Posted in Selling by Windermere Guest Author  By Michael Doyle Have you ever wondered if your real estate agent understands what you are going through? They come into your house speaking confidently about your neighborhood and market trends. They have vendors ready to help you prepare your home for sale. But do they really think it’s that […]
Blog Are You Better Off Paying Your Mortgage Earlier or Investing Your Money? Posted in Buying, Selling, and Living by Guest Author  Photo Credit: Rawpixel via Unsplash Few topics cause more division among economists than the age-old debate of whether you’re better off paying off your mortgage earlier, or investing that money instead. And there’s a good reason why that debate continues; both sides make compelling arguments. For many people, their mortgage is […]
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Blog Home Warranties Provide Buyers and Sellers With A Peace Of Mind Posted by Windermere Guest Author  If you are a homeowner, you probably know all-too-well how costly home repairs can be. And, thanks to Murphy’s Law, appliance break-downs seem to happen at the worst possible time—like when you are selling your home. For this reason, it is in the best interest of all home sellers to consider […]
Blog Top 10 qualities to look for in an agent Posted in Uncategorized by Tara Sharp  Buying a home is one of the most significant financial and emotional purchases of a person’s life. That’s why it is so important to find an agent that can not only help you navigate the home search process, but one who can also answer your questions and represent your needs from start […]
Blog The Reality of Home Improvement: HGTV installment Posted in Buying, Selling, and Living by Justin Waskow  On any given weekend in my house, at least a couple of hours will be spent watching the designers, craftspeople and entertainers on HGTV or its spunky sister station, the DIY Network.  The premise of these home-centered television networks is that somewhere, sandwiched between long commercial breaks for paint, faucets, flooring warehouses and something […]
Blog What You Need To Know About Buying a Bank Owned Home Posted in Uncategorized by Windermere Guest Author  Recently, news about how to purchase a real-estate owned (REO/bank owned) home, foreclosure property or short sale is everywhere. Bank owned homes are sold directly from the lender after the foreclosure process is complete, and while you may save quite a bit of money by choosing to go for this type […]
Blog 5 Deal Breakers that can blindside home buyers Posted in Uncategorized by Justin Waskow  Purchasing a home can be a complex endeavor for even the most well prepared home buyer.  You’ve diligently saved for your down payment, followed the market, researched agents and now you are ready to make an offer on your dream home.  Don’t let these 5 “Deal Breakers” come between you and your […]
Blog Questions to ask your home inspector Posted in Buying and Selling by Noelle Bortfeld  To get a quality home inspection, ask the right questions before you put your inspector to work. Here are some of the basics. What does your inspection cover?  Insist that you get it in writing. Then make sure that it’s in compliance with state requirements and includes the items you want inspected. […]
Blog 8 Ways to Make the Most of the Home You Have “Staying Put” by architect and writer Duo Dickinson is not your typical architect’s book about design. There’s no obscure language nor design-for-design’s-sake ideas. It is a practical, down-to-earth guide that walks anyone through the rational process of how to remodel your house to get the home you want, from how to think about your house […]
Blog What’s in a Condo? The In-Between Style of Home That Might Be the Right Fit for You Condominium homes are a great, low-maintenance choice for a primary residence, second home, or investment property. This alternative to the traditional single-family home has unique issues to consider before buying, as well as unique benefits. Here’s some background information to help you decide whether purchasing a condo is a good match for you. Increasingly, condos […]
Blog The Risks and Rewards of Purchasing a Bank-Owned Home The process of purchasing a home directly from a lender can be long and arduous, but could very well be worth it in the end. If you have your sights on a particular home or are looking to find a deal on your first, working directly with the lender may be your only option. Purchasing […]
Blog 10 Steps to Get Your Home Clean and Ready for Spring Warmer months are ahead, so now is the time to plan for spring cleaning and maintenance. A clean home offers a fresh start for the year, and a checklist of tasks guides your efforts towards efficiency. For many homeowners, spring cleaning can be a personal challenge. It can also be one accomplished with the help […]
Blog 2019 Economic and Housing Forecast What a year it has been for both the U.S. economy and the national housing market. After several years of above-average economic and home price growth, 2018 marked the start of a slowdown in the residential real estate market. As the year comes to a close, it’s time for me to dust off my crystal […]
Blog How to Stay Safe During the Holidays With Design and Planning While many people look forward to the arrival of a jolly red-suited visitor one night this winter, for all of us the holidays are a gift and a danger. All of us want to stay safe from burglary, and there’s nothing paranoid about taking a bit of extra time to stay safe. The holidays are […]