Answers by Alexis McKenzie

This is a great thing to be looking into before buying a condo. When purchasing a condo the seller is required to supply the buyer with the most recent year financial statement, declaration of condominium, bylaws, and rules of the association, articles of incorporation, FAQ’s, and recent financial statement. The buyer has three days to review these documents with the ability to cancel if not satisfied. I would also ask your Realtor to request the monthly meeting notes to see if there are any current pending or upcoming increases being discussed. Once you’re under contract an HOA estopple will be obtained which will return the results of any current pending upcoming assessment as well allowing you to review prior to closing.

This is a hard question to answer without details. However, any issues affecting the property do need to be disclosed. If it creates a safety, structural concern for the buyer I would definitely discuss it with your realtor.

I usually suggest to meet up with the inspector towards the end of the inspection. Allow them the time and space to do their job. Once they have reviewed the Home as a whole, they can sit down with you and point out areas of concern. Most inspectors will also allow you to call and discuss any issues you notice later after getting home when looking at the report. Always ask questions and make sure you’re comfortable before purchasing with repairs that will need to be done later and or negotiated during contract.

If you love the home and it does not bother you than I would consider it. I agree it could be an issue with children or pets in the future if there is no way to fence in the backyard to keep them from getting near the busy street. The biggest advantage is usually price. Homes on busy roads often sell for less than similar homes in quieter spots, which can mean: Lower purchase price Potentially better value per square foot Opportunity to get into a neighborhood you otherwise couldn’t afford Smart things to check before buying Visit at different times of day (morning, rush hour, night) Sit in the house with windows closed and open Check how easy it is to enter/exit the driveway Look at comparable sales on similar busy roads See if there are future road expansion plans They can also be more visible, which can help in a sale later on.

Great question with homeschooling becoming a popular choice for many families. Schools in \"good districts\" tend to draw more families which then increases the appeal of the community as a family oriented area. However if the home you have found has other community features that make it desirable I would still consider it.

They can be helpful and if offered as an incentive by the seller why not accept. If the home is older and you spent most of your saved funds on the purchase it may be helpful to have a warranty to help cover unexpected repairs that pop up. However I always encourage to read the fine print. They usually have a call out fee and do not cover everything. In the end they will make repairs less expensive but may not cover it all. I do not personally have a home warranty on my home.

If you want easy and predictable. No immediate repairs or projects, faster move-in (or rent-ready if investing), easier financing and insurance, less stress and fewer surprises than move in ready is for you even if it costs more to start. When buying a fixer upper you’re buying potential and equity. Lower purchase price, ability to customize, opportunity to force appreciation (especially if done right) Each client I work with has a different tolerance for repairs, remodeling and renovations. After viewing a few homes we get a sense of their true desires and narrow in on that type of home.

When rates drop, sidelined buyers typically flood the market. This surge in demand often leads to an increase in home prices, potentially erasing any savings you would have gained from a lower rate. Better to have more choices and negotiating power in a buyers market than wait for rates to change and potentially end up in a sellers market. You can always refinance and get the lower rate in the future, you cannot buy the home at todays prices in the future.

That is a great question but one that has a lot of variables to consider. Overall if the offer is good and satisfies what you wanted/needed and expected to get for the home than take it. The current market conditions in your area will play a large part in this answer.

I recommend this option, when I was paid biweekly I would set it up to pay my mortgage on the same scheduled. By paying 26, 1/2 payments a year every two weeks (13 full payments) instead of 12 full payments once a month it allowed me to pay more towards the principal. I have since switched and opted to pay one extra full payment a year. However you decide to pay, as long as you pay one thhe equivalent of one months mortgage towards the principal each year you will save and pay it off sooner. It works because you’re paying extra toward principal consistently, not because of any special magic in the schedule.

Some of these issues with your neighbor classify as a nuisance or disputes or offense. These most likely will need to be documented and addressed with your Realtor. Personal feelings about them or them towards your family are most likely not an issue you need to disclose as they will not follow the sale. Issues that could affect the buyer should be known.

I feel AI staging is worth it. It\'s quickly becoming the norm and most vacant homes have a few staged photos in the listing. Virtual staging should be noted by the agent and the buyer should understand when they see only 3-4 main rooms staged and the rest of the rooms vacant that the home is not furnished. I have not had it lead to any issues when we view in person. They allow a buyer to visualize what is possible within the space.

Canceling a listing agreement is usually a straightforward process and is outlined in the listing document. If you have a Florida Exclusive right of sale listing agreement make sure to check out section 8 and section 12. Both contain information about fees and terms in relation to cancellation of contract.

If you are looking to remodel and gain a higher sale price the kitchen is a great place to spend the money. However how much to spend is specific to the home and the market. Agree with most responses no more than 15% of the value however keep in mind even small items make an impact. A lot of times there is no need to do a full remodel. Have a Realtor visit the home to guide where to best spend your money and give feedback on what improvements will create the most gain in a sale.