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how can i become a first time home buyer
low income housing rent to own
Is it legal to skip the subject-to-sell clause like my realtor suggested?
Were selling our place and buying a new one, and our realtor suggested we skip putting in a subject to sell clause since it makes our offer less competitive. Their reasoning is that we can just rely on the subject to finance clause instead, since the financing would fall through anyway if we cant sell our current home in time. It sounded a little too convenient to me and I want to know if this is actually a legitimate strategy or just a shady way around protecting ourselves.
What non-monetary terms can I offer to make my bid more attractive to a seller?
We are in a competitive market where we cannot necessarily outbid everyone on the purchase price alone. We want to know what kind of contingencies or closing date flexibility usually appeals to sellers in this situation. Are there specific leaseback options or timeline adjustments that people commonly use to win a negotiation when the price is already at our maximum limit?
Is Zillow actually giving buyers the full picture, or are we missing better tools?
Ive been house hunting in the east bay for about four months now, mostly leaning on Zillow, but Im starting to think im not seeing the full market. Ive heard Redfin pulls MLS updates faster and that Compass has private listings that never even hit the public sites. A few people also mentioned that some counties have public record search tools that show more than any portal does. Whats the actual stack of sites and tools a serious buyer should be checking regularly?
Asked by Nina P. | Oakland, CA | 07-30-2026 | 96 Views | Buying | Updated 2 months ago
Is my deposit safe if I buy a pre-construction condo? Signing next week and getting cold feet
We're about to sign on a pre-construction condo in Fort Lauderdale, around $1.1M, with a deposit schedule that hits 10% at signing, another 10% at groundbreaking, and 10% more at a construction milestone. That's $330k tied up before we ever close.nnI know the first 10% has to sit in escrow, but the contract has some bolded language about the developer using the rest for construction. So really, how safe is my deposit if I buy a pre-construction condo and the thing stalls out? I keep thinking about that Boca project that's been dragging on since 2015.nnAlso, how much digging into the developer is actually reasonable here? They're a name I've heard of, but that's about it.
Are you considered 1st time home buyer after many years?
I bought a home about 10 years ago and am curious if after so many years I would be considered a first time home buyer again?
Asked by Jessica | El Cajon, CA | 07-30-2026 | 146 Views | Buying | Updated 2 months ago
How long can the seller take to respond to my offer?
I made an offer, but have not heard back. Do they have a certain time to respond or can they decide to not respond to me?
Asked by Stella K | Ellicott City, MD | 07-29-2026 | 92 Views | Buying | Updated 2 months ago
How many homes should I view before buying one?
And what's a good way to decide which one when you like multiple?
How can I accurately gauge the 'vibe' of a neighborhood before making an offer?
We’ve found a few houses we like, but we are worried about what it is actually like to live on those specific streets day-to-day. We have tried driving by at different times of the week, but we want to know if there are other effective ways to check for things like noise levels, neighborly atmosphere, or local traffic patterns. What are some common strategies for vetting a community beyond just looking at the house itself?
Is it appropriate to negotiate for the seller's patio furniture and riding mower to be included in the sale?
During the open house, we noticed the backyard set and the high-end lawn equipment fit the space perfectly, and we know the sellers are downsizing to a condo where they won't need these items. We are preparing our initial offer and wonder if including these personal property items in the contract is a good idea or if it complicates the mortgage process. Should we negotiate these items separately from the home price to keep the real estate deal clean?
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Contributing Real Estate Professionals
Zoltan Peresztegi
SellWithZoli
Keith Jean Pierre
REMAX First Realty
Juan Picos
JohnHart
Michael Atkinson
RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Loodmy Jacques
Keller Williams Reserve
Kevin Neely
Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners
Amanda Courtney
REP Realty Group
Jonathan Claudio
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Alla Novytska
JohnHart Real Estate
Barrett Henry
RE/MAX Collective
Austin Moore
Austin Moore & Company Real Estate
Becky Groe
Coldwell Banker Realty, Colorado Springs