The National Association of Home Builders just surveyed 4,000 recent or likely future homebuyers about a wide variety of home features and upgrades. Laundry rooms scored at the very top in terms of what features people found desirable, because people don’t want to see or navigate around laundry piles. Respondents also liked the wide panoply of energy-saving features available. Hardwood floors, center islands, engineered quartz and double sinks were also considered desirable, but buyers were not impressed by things like cork flooring, wine cellars, elevators or dual toilets.

Key Takeaways:

• This article is focused on a survey carried out that ranked the features home buyers most want using home buyers that have bought a home three years ago.
• One game changer in buying a home is a laundry room. Many persons prefer to have the laundry room in a conveniently located space.
• Second on the list are energy-saving features. Buyers give more prominence to these when buying a home include Energy Star-rated appliances, ceiling fans, and programmable thermostats.

“From hardwood floors to energy-efficient appliances, certain features in a home have the power to win over potential home buyers.”

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendarichardson/2019/03/10/buyer-survey-reveals-whats-hot-and-whats-not-in-home-features-for-2019/

If you are selling your house, there are some key steps you should take. Among the first is to hire a home inspector. This is something buyers typically do, but sellers should do so as well as a way of proactively identifying and repairing anything that might be a problem. Also, be sure to take the time to spruce up your home by making small upgrades and removing clutter. Of course, you will need to find a real estate agent, and you should also hire a professional photographer to take pictures for your listing. These are just some of the steps you should take to get the most out of your house sale.

Key Takeaways:

• When a buyer has made an offer for a house which has been accepted by the seller, the buyer most probably will hire a home inspector.
• Sellers need to also hire a home inspector because a home inspector can spot some issues with the house like repairs for the seller to fix.
• A pre-listing home inspection before negotiating with buyers has the advantage of your finding out the exact condition of your property and focusing on getting your home sold fast.

“As you may already be aware, since you’ve already bought a home yourself, buyers often use their home inspection as a way of getting concessions from sellers, such as asking you to drop your list price.”

Read more: https://www.redfin.com/blog/2019/03/how-to-sell-your-house.html

Buying a home is a dream come true for any buyer, but for those in the market for a home for the very first time might find it the process abit petrifying. Rather than deal with headaches when buying a home, keep these five pieces of information in mind. The small things, like knowing how much you can afford to spend and having a great agent around, can make a big difference in your experience.

Key Takeaways:

• You must figure out exactly how much you can afford to pay for your new home.
• You want to work with a real estate agent you can trust to walk you through the process.
• Be prepared to compromise, since you are highly unlikely to find a home that is perfect in every way.

“Whether it’s getting a mortgage, choosing a real estate agent, shopping for a home, or making a down payment, we lay out the must-knows of buying for the first time below.”

Read more: https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/what-every-first-time-home-buyer-needs-to-know/

There are a few key differences when it comes to comparing standard and stated income loans, even though both of them require a source of steady and reliable income. Stated income loans typically require a high credit score, and they also need a large down payment that standard loans do not always require. You’re also going to need to provide the loan officer with proof of assets. Standard income loans typically only require your previous tax return, two-years worth of employment proof, asset statements, and pay stubs.

Key Takeaways:

• A standard loan requires document verification for every part of the borrower’s stated fiscal data.
• To that end, borrowers will need to furnish pay stubs, going back a month.
• Borrowers must also provide W2s, detailing the last two years of employment, or tax returns if self-employed.

“They have to make sure that you make enough money to cover not only the housing payment, but also any other monthly debts, such as your credit cards, car payments, or student loans.”

Read more: https://www.blownmortgage.com/standard-stated-income-loans-whats-difference-guidelines/

I-buying programs such as RedfinNow give homeowners the ability to sell their home without the need for a real estate broker that can result in hefty fees of up to 6%. There are many reasons in which these digital platforms are beneficial to home sellers and buyers, including if their home needs any exterior or interior renovations. When a home needs several cosmetic repairs, i-buying programs can be beneficial due to the ability to reach a closing price without rolling over any extra renovation costs.

Key Takeaways:

• One plus of selling a home to an I buyer is that it removes the necessity of putting in money for cosmetic repairs, generally required before placing a house on the market.
• To decide if such a sale is sensible for you compare the 7% Redfin charge attached to guarantee sale, against the commission fees and cosmetic improvement dollars you would spend otherwise.
• One Redfin user was able to sell the family home and then rent it back until a new home was purchased.

“RedfinNow is Redfin’s instant offer program that makes a cash offer on your home, and closes within days, without any listings or showings.”

Read more: https://www.redfin.com/blog/2019/02/faq-how-to-sell-your-home-to-ibuyer.html

Being a homeowner is something that requires thought and planning. One set of questions that needs to be considered is why buying a house should be considered or not. If you need space both inside and outside of your living space where you can keep to yourself if desired, then a house may be a preferable option. On the other hand, houses are more expensive in terms of the property itself and the taxes. In addition, most property maintenance is the homeowners responsibility. Condos may be another thing to consider. If you prefer close neighbors, less maintenance, or cost, then a condo might be a good decision. That said, fees can be high, you don’t have much freedom to make exterior changes, and you may lose outside space that you might otherwise need depending on your lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

• A house provides you with more space — including a backyard — and more control over what you do with and in that space.
• Condo are considerably less expensive, they often come with amenities, and external maintenance is usually someone else’s job.
• On the other hand, condo owners have to pay potentially significant condo fees, have less control over what they do with their property, and don’t have much outdoor space.

“We recommend deciding the type of property you want to purchase before you even get pre-approved for a loan.”

Read more: https://www.blownmortgage.com/house-condo-buy/

Taxes, a topic almost every single American views as cringeworthy. When selling something expensive, especially a home, there are a few different sets of taxes you’ll need to be educated in. In a recent article sponsored by Blown Mortgage, JMcHood outlines what tax exclusions are present when buying a home, when to ask for an exclusion and how to tell if you have any capital gain. In case you have any further questions regarding taxes and selling your home, this article has provided a few additional resources such as live help and tax simulation calculators.

Key Takeaways:

• If you meet certain criteria, the IRS will exclude you from paying capital gains taxes on the sale of a home.
• You may be eligible for a reduced exclusion if you are selling the home due to reasons beyond your control, such as a health issue or a divorce.
• If you do have to pay capital gains, you can still deduct certain expenses, such as depreciation, energy credits, and losses that you have claimed on your insurance.

“If you made more than the allowed exclusion, you will have to pay taxes on the difference.”

Read more: https://www.blownmortgage.com/taxes-sell-home/

Securing a loan is critical step in the home-buying process. For those who are engaged and considering the VA’s home loan as an option, considering when to buy is just as important as choosing the home itself. The VA has strict rules that consider spouses and only spouses to be equal partners to veterans in the home-buying process. This means that fiancee’s will only be able to secure a 50% guarantee on their loan from a lender. In order to avoid this, home buyers can either ensure they are married before actually closing on the loan, or consider other loan options.

Key Takeaways:

• If you buy a home with a fiance, you will not get the full guaranty where you don’t have to put money down because you aren’t yet married, so you would need 25% of the down payment.
• TO get around the rules, you can apply for the loan on your house when engaged, but closing on the house must wait until you are married for the full guaranty.
• If you aren’t interested in getting married, you may want to look into another type of loan such as and FHA, which will allow for a smaller down payment.

“The best way to go about buying a home with your fiancé and VA financing is to wait until you are about to get married.”

Read more: https://www.blownmortgage.com/can-buy-home-fiance-using-va-loan/

Make sure you have the very latest advice about buy a home because things change fast! Now, there’s no need to wait for spring because of weather. Buy and sell a home, whenever the time is right for your situation. Don’t wait for it to become a buyers market. While you wait, you will be paying higher rent prices too. Just try to find the best deal on a home that will be a good investment in the long run. Find the neighborhood you want to live in first. Then find a house in that neighborhood. With the new home construction slowing down, an older home, that just needs a little work may be a better choice. Make your offer quick and base the price on comparable deals. And finally be ready to think outside the box for what type of house is best for you.

Key Takeaways:

• The advice, oft-given, to wait for spring and its higher inventory can now be ignored.
• Spring house-buying options may be more, but competition is up as well, so waiting is out.
• Waiting for seller prices to deflate is also passe advice, because rents are rising too.

“The problem is that when you’re talking about something as fluid as the housing market, the rules change quickly.”

Read more: https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/outdated-home-buying-advice-to-ignore/

At the start of 2019 mortgage rates are on average pretty low. Mortgage rates had climbed to an average of 5.0% near the end of 2018, but in the last month had fallen to 4.5%. The difference in half a percentage could save different borrowers different amounts of money depending on the size of the loan. For a the average borrower it would save them about 72 dollars per month according to a study conducted by Nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

• Within the past month, mortgage rates have dropped from 5 percent to 4.5 percent.
• Lower interest rates allow people to buy more expensive homes, because they are spending less money paying off interest.
• Homebuyers are more likely to benefit from lower interest rates in high-end parts of the country.

“Stock market volatility, global trade worries and the government shutdown are pushing rates down to their lowest levels since August.”

Read more: http://economistsoutlook.blogs.realtor.org/2019/01/09/planning-to-buy-a-home-in-2019/