By Jamie Birdwell-Branson on 11 Jul 2016 Originally posted on http://www.zillow.com/blog/prepare-home-for-appraisal-200936/ What you need to know about the process, from a veteran certified appraiser. Getting your home appraised can often be a nerve-wracking experience. Your home and your handy work will be on display to be judged and valued so that you can move forward with selling your home. But it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. With the right tools, tricks and savvy, the appraisal process can not only go smoothly, it can also help you make a giant financial leap toward a future in a new home. Do your homework “Just like anything else — for example, if you’re going to select a doctor, dentist, or lawyer — you do your homework to find out the appraiser’s market knowledge of the area,” says Rick Singh, a property appraiser in Orange County, FL. Ideally, your appraiser will be a local who knows the area well and who has been around long enough to see changes in the market. It’s also crucial to hire an appraiser who is state certified. Check your maintenance Whether it’s a loose shingle, chipped paint or dirty carpet, be sure to take care of it before the appraiser comes. Anything obvious that needs work could potentially eat away at your home’s value. Also, keep a list of maintenance work that has been done on the home. Have a running list of what you have fixed and upgraded in your home as well as the amount of money you have spent. Courtesy of Zillow Digs. Maximize curb appeal When you’re getting your home appraised, remember that your house should look like the nicest one on the block. “Landscaping plays so much into making a good first impression,” Singh says. “And remember that a first impression is a lasting impression. Make sure [your yard] is tidy and up-to-date. Trim or replace dead plants, and make sure it’s nice and green.” Ensure appliances work Do you have a dishwasher that only works when you give it a little kick, or a refrigerator that doesn’t keep your food as cool as it used to? These malfunctioning big-ticket items in a home could be a huge disadvantage to your home’s appraisal value. Show pride in ownership Although your home isn’t necessarily valued on the interior decor, it doesn’t hurt to show that it’s well cared for. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to trade in your T.J.Maxx finds for a pricey interior makeover, but make sure your home is neat, tidy, and exhibits that you generally have an interest in keeping your home looking its best. Courtesy of Zillow Digs. Know your neighborhood Before you get your home appraised, be sure you know what comparable nearby homes are going...

By Brendon DeSimone on 23 Aug 2013 (an oldie but a goodie!) Originally posted on http://www.zillow.com/blog/why-you-should-have-your-home-inspected-before-selling-132363/ Here are three reasons why a pre-inspection may be a good idea. Ordinarily, a serious buyer would pay to have a home formally inspected. The goal is to uncover any potential problems before signing on the dotted line, while there’s still time to negotiate. But sometimes, sellers will have their homes inspected before they even put them on the market. Here are three reasons why a pre-inspection may be a good idea. 1. It shows your home is ‘an open book’ A pre-inspection is a goodwill gesture. It demonstrates a willingness to go beyond what’s expected, and that sets you apart from other sellers. You’re sending a signal that your house is an “open book,” and that you’re being upfront about the property. All of this can give potential buyers peace of mind and confidence. 2. It can save you money in the long run A pre-inspection gives you, the seller, a heads-up if there are problems that a potential buyer will likely want repaired. Once you know what’s wrong, you can have those issues fixed before you list. The cleaner and more problem-free you can make your home, the faster it’s likely to sell. Because a pre-inspection lets buyers know what they’re getting from the beginning, they can factor any needed repairs into an offer. And by disclosing all known issues upfront, you’re protecting yourself against claims the buyer might make later — which sometimes result in lawsuits. On the other hand, let’s say you don’t have a pre-inspection. During escrow, the buyer’s inspector discovers problems you didn’t know about. You can be sure the buyer will try to negotiate a lower price, which will cost you money and can delay the sale. The buyer might even cancel the contract. 3. It can highlight your home’s assets Assuming you’re not trying to sell a fixer-upper, a pre-inspection can shine a spotlight on your home’s selling points, such as any electrical upgrades you might have had made. When not to have a pre-inspection If you’re trying to offload a fixer-upper that would give even the Munsters reason for concern, there’s no point in paying for a pre-inspection. But if you’ve maintained your home and want to sell it as quickly, and as profitably, as possible, a pre-inspection is almost always a good idea. Related: 5 Options for Staging Your Home How to Avoid Seller’s Remorse 5 Home Renovations That Could Hurt Resale Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor and one of the nation’s leading real estate experts.  His practical advice is regularly sought out by print, online and television media outlets including FOX News, CNBC, Good Morning America...

By Avvo on 23 Mar 2015 Originally posted on http://www.zillow.com/blog/selling-a-home-legal-checklist-172292/ Selling a Home: Your Legal Checklist By Avvo on 23 Mar 2015 Know-How Blog Topics Celebrity Real Estate Market Trends Home Improvement First Person Unique Homes Tips & Advice Featured Post Home Improvement / story 5 Home Projects You Can Finish During Your Staycation By BobVila.com on 7 Jul 2016 Balance R&R with a little DIY for total staycation satisfaction. Read Full Story Zillow Tools Find homes for sale Search for rentals Check the latest mortgage rates Get home design inspiration Connect with a local agent Blog Topics Celebrity Real Estate Market Trends Home Improvement First Person Unique Homes Tips & Advice Featured Post Home Improvement / story 5 Home Projects You Can Finish During Your Staycation By BobVila.com on 7 Jul 2016 Balance R&R with a little DIY for total staycation satisfaction. Read Full Story Zillow Tools Find homes for sale Search for rentals Check the latest mortgage rates Get home design inspiration Connect with a local agent There’s more to getting your house in order than boosting curb appeal and finding a real estate agent. By Stephanie Reid, Avvo attorney and NakedLaw contributor If you’re thinking it’s time to sell your home, there are a few legal issues to consider before posting that “For Sale” sign. Whether you are parting ways with your spouse, planning to upgrade or downsize, or selling out of financial necessity, you should protect yourself from pitfalls awaiting the unsavvy seller. Here are four steps you can take to avoid common issues that pop up during the residential home sale process. Resolve debts, encumbrances and liens If your property has incurred any sort of debt, encumbrance or lien, you will need to take care of this prior to settling with your buyer. This obstacle can arise in any number of ways, including through: Federal, state or local tax liens Civil court judgments Child support or spousal support missed payments General unpaid debts Failure to pay homeowners association dues Of course, the outstanding amount will vary greatly from homeowner to homeowner, but one thing is certain: The lienholder will get paid. If you are facing a major tax lien or civil judgment attached to your property, selling your home will not get you out of trouble, especially if you try to hide the debt or defraud the buyer. The lien will, without question, appear on a title search ordered by the buyer and will become a deduction from your sale proceeds on the day of closing. Get joint tenants on the same page The ownership structure of your property may impact your ability to sell, especially if you inherited the property with several family members as joint tenants. If this...

By Natalie Wise on 7/5/2016   Originally posted on http://www.zillow.com/digs/guides/living-rooms/splurge-save-furnish-space-budget/ Furnishing a new house or apartment can be a challenge, especially if you’re working with a small budget. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to spend your hard-earned money. We put together this guide so you know what to splurge on, and what you can get at a lower price — without sacrificing quality. Here are eight pieces of furniture to get you started. Splurge: Couch It’s time to get rid of that couch you “inherited” from your mom’s basement. A good quality couch is the first investment you should make as you collect furniture for your new space; a sturdy, comfortable couch is worth the money. You can Scotch Guard upholstery to give it extra life and protect the fabric from stains and spills. If it’s in your budget. real leather is preferable to faux leather, as faux leather will split and crack. A sectional couch is a great option for entertaining, if you have the space. Save: Coffee Table Coffee tables run the gamut from sleek and slim to heavy double-duty storage pieces. Regardless of the style you choose, look for one that is made of real wood or thick glass, stable and able to withstand some wear and tear. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box: instead of a traditional coffee table you can use an old trunk or crate, or a large tufted ottoman that can also serve as seating. Thrift and vintage stores are great places to find unique and durable coffee tables at low price points. Splurge: Loveseat A loveseat is a small, two-person couch. The loveseat is traditional in a living room to create the classic “L” shaped furniture arrangement. This shape allows for easy conversation and lets everyone see the focal point of the room, be it a television or fireplace. Loveseats generally match the couch, but could also be a surprise decorative element in more contemporary or eclectic spaces. If loveseats are out of your price range, or simply don’t fit in your space, consider purchasing an armchair or two to create a similar living room feel. Save: Dining Table and Chairs A dining table and chairs may not be a top priority investment for you right away. Still, it’s nice to have a place to eat, so a small table (square or round) and at least two chairs will be a good place to start, even if they’re inexpensive. A table that folds down on both sides is a smart space-saving option if you don’t have a lot of room. As you accumulate more furniture over the years you can prioritize saving up to get a nice dining set...

Posted in Commercial Real Estate, Consumers, Economics, Mortgage Financing, Technology, by Robert Freedman on February 29, 2016 36 One of the side effects of digital communication is it can make people slow to get out from behind their screens to talk to someone face-to-face. Maybe you’ve noticed it with people you know, particularly young people who’ve grown up with technology. Research conducted for NAR last year found that young people experience a high level of anxiety when it comes time to move from online home shopping to talking to a real estate professional. As long as they’re gathering information on their phone, tablet, or laptop, they’re fine. But as soon as they want to talk to someone in the business, they find themselves outside of their comfort zone. That’s an interesting finding from a sociological standpoint, but from a business standout, it’s a problem. That’s why NAR did something different this year with its national ad campaign. Instead of focusing on the benefits of home ownership or why now is a good time to buy, it focused on this tension-point for young people. It did this in two ways: First, it designed content that speaks directly to people who are comfortable gathering information online but less so picking up the phone. Second, it designed a digital-first strategy for placing ads. That means focusing on what people see on their phones, tablets, and laptop and putting less emphasis on what they see on their TVs. Traditional media like TV, radio, and print remain important, but because young people live their lives online, the campaign places a new emphasis on the digital side. NAR’s ideas behind the ad campaign are explored in The Voice for Real Estate, NAR’s news video. The video also looks at an effort that is gaining ground to let veterans using federally backed, zero-down financing buy their house without having to worry about loan caps. Right now, VA loans are capped based on market area. That makes it hard for veterans to buy a house that costs more than $417,000. That amount goes far in many markets but there are also markets where that doesn’t even reach the median home price. In good news, the House passed a bill that would eliminate loan caps for VA loans. That’s a move NAR supports, and now the Senate needs to act on it. NAR played a role in getting the House to pass the bill. A REALTOR® from the Orlando area in Florida recommended changes to the loan caps in testimony before a VA subcommittee, and lawmakers heard the recommendations loud and clear. The video also looks at an interesting development in commercial real estate finance. Real estate professionals say...

Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, March 29, 2016 For the majority of home buyers, they want a home with about 9 percent more space than they currently have. A new study translates that to a median of 2,020 square feet. Read more: New Homes Are Getting Bigger and Pricier But the amount of desired square footage can vary quite a bit among the different age groups, according to findings from the National Association of Home Builders’ “Housing Preferences of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare to Other Home Buyers.” For example, millennial and Gen X buyers desire the most space, at more than 2,300 square feet. Baby boomers and seniors, on the other hand, mostly would be happy with homes that are under 1,900 square feet. Take a look at this chart below from NAHB that shows the gap between current and desired home sizes among the various age segments:   NAHB’s study also found that more than half of all home buyers across all age groups would like to have a home with three bedrooms. Thirty percent of respondents say they’d prefer four bedrooms or more. Millennials and Gen X’ers are most likely to want a home with at least four bedrooms. Source: “Housing Preferences Across Generations (Part II),” National Association of Home Builders’ Eye on Housing (March 17,...