Answers by Jennifer Davidheiser

Hi Eric. I am in a different state but I may be able to help. What is your question?

Hi Bill. Ohio, like my neighboring state of Pennsylvania has a seasonal real estate market. Things tend to slow a bit in the winter time. The seasonal market slow paired with the increased mortgage rates are making home sales a little different than they were six months to a year ago. I would ask your listing agent what the feedback is from the showings. If you are having a good amount of showings but no offers, buyers may be finding other homes that they prefer over yours for the price. For whatever reason. You may need to price even more competitively or be patient until the market picks up. Best of luck.

Hello Mark. This is a very common question in Real Estate. The previous answer has to do more with the care of an individual. Here is the best link I could find which explains the definition of a bedroom as it pertains to real estate. It has to do with size and egress mainly. Closets have no bearing on a bedroom as many people think. https://riverfrontappraisals.com/what-makes-a-room-a-bedroom/

To piggy back off of what Steven said, talk to friends and family to find out who they used both for a lender and a Realtor. Do your research. Look how long the Realtor has been doing real estate. Do they know the area you are interested in. Do they work full time or part time. Are they good with communication and answer/return calls. Make sure both the lender and Realtor are local. In my PA area, we shy away from lenders who are not known and local. It may be the difference between an accepted offer and a passed over offer. Have that preapproval ready to go before you start seeing homes in person. Good luck!

Seller’s disclosures are to be completed to the best of your knowledge. It is assumed that you may not know the exact date something was updated. Perhaps you know the year but not the exact date. You may always mark “unknown” however I have seen this overused and it throws up a red flag to me as an agent. Just keep in mind, to the best of your knowledge. If you truly don’t know, mark unknown. Good luck with your sale!

Hello Javier. This answer can change locally. I would contact a few local Realtors and see who you feel comfortable with. Ask friends and family. Do your research on the Realtor. How long have they been in business? Do they know the area you are looking in? Are they full time or part time? Are they good with communication? Don’t sign a buyer contract until you are comfortable with your choice. A local Realtor can explain the entire process to you at no cost. They can also help you find a local lender who can further explain the financial part of the sale. Closing costs and commissions vary by location and also the current real estate market. Here in PA we aren’t seeing sellers paying buyer’s closing costs however when the market shifts we do. Also, here in PA the seller typically pays the sales commission.

Hi Susie. There is no right answer for your question. I can tell you I have had several buyers over the years kick themselves for not jumping on one of the first homes they looked at. Nothing else compared. I think it is normal to wonder “will I like something else more?” My best advice is do some searching online beforehand to get a feel for what you are looking for in a home and what area you want. Also, the going price for the style of home you are looking for. Then, make an offer on what you can see yourself in for the foreseeable future. Good luck!

Hi Natalie. It is a week since your post and I am hoping that you have resolved your issue. I can say that here in PA, it would be the buyer who would have to agree to challenge the appraisal as it is their lender and appraisal. First I look for errors in the appraisal. This is your best argument for a reevaluation of value. If buyer and seller agree to dispute, the agents can submit more appropriate comparable sales in hopes that the appraiser will reconsider. There is usually a form that needs to be completed. Best of luck with your transaction.

Additionally, the type of financing you are considering may factor in. If you are buying a property cash it is completely up to you. If you are financing your purchase, the type of loan you are utilizing may prevent you from buying certain “fixer uppers” based on their condition.

Hi Alpa. I always ask my clients what their priority is. If it is timing, perhaps an “as-is” sale is appropriate. If it is maximizing your profit, then doing a few repairs/upgrades may be in order. An experienced local Realtor will be able to advise you best on the current market and what to do. Best of luck!

Hi Kim. How many Realtors did you interview before choosing this one? Is this something typical for your area? I usually recommend interviewing 3 agents before choosing one. Here in PA we all adhere to standard practices but each agent handles things a little differently. Best of luck with your sale!

Your assessed value is not your market value. Your assessed value is typically a fraction of your market value used for calculating your property tax amount.

Hello Robert! I am from PA myself. No one has a crystal ball BUT many say the interest rates will begin to fall a little by late winter/early spring. Here in PA we have a seasonal real estate market to contend with. I personally do not see values going down. More so a plateau of values. If you are looking to potentially sell for more, I would consider waiting until March/April/May. That is of course if you have the time. Best of luck!

Hi Andrew. I personally suggest finding a local lender. Perhaps someone that a friend or family member used. In my area, sellers and listing agents like to see local lenders involved in the sale. Find a lender who is familiar with your local taxes and other pertinent sale info. Most of the preapproval and application process can be done online. They will need initial information such as income, credit card bills, car loans, rent payments, school loans, bank account balances, etc. Best of luck with your purchase!