Did you know house fires pose one of the greatest risks to your family’s safety at home? Fortunately, there’s a simple and cost-effective solution that can help mitigate this risk: smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends installing at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside of each sleeping area, and on …
You’ve likely seen the headlines about house prices and rents going up. These increases have slowed somewhat, but it seems these higher prices are here to stay. Renters in the Kansas City Metro have seen the same thing. Landlords are raising rents, and/or deciding to sell their rental properties, making tenants move with uncomfortably short …
Realtors sometimes get a bad name. The barrier to entry is relatively low in this industry. And in any profession, there’s a wide range of skill levels, personalities and such. There are plenty of great real estate agents out there. In fact, most agents I work with are great people. When choosing an agent, it’s important …
In a hot market, houses are often selling for more than the asking price. Often, sellers will receive offers above their asking price. However, is the highest offer the best? Not always. Most buyers need a mortgage to purchase a house, which will most likely require an appraisal. As a seller, you should know if …
Having a good understanding of home buyers and sellers is a very important part of the real estate business. Learning about buyers and sellers has plenty of obvious advantages. Here are a few highlights from the National Association of Realtors® latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:
Believe it or not, when selling your home, no one makes more of an impact on a successful sale than you. A great Realtor will have a solid plan for attracting buyers, but without your cooperation, those showings won’t translate into offers written. Here are some important home showing tips that will contribute to a …
What is Rent-To-Own? If you’re having trouble finding a house to buy, or even getting a mortgage, you might be wondering if “rent-to-own” is a good option. Rent-to-own, or lease-purchase, is where a tenant agrees to lease a home and eventually purchase it from their landlord. Usually, the tenant pays a large down payment at …
Whether you’re buying or selling real estate, how do you know what’s included in the sale of a house? Presumably, you’re buying or selling the house itself and the land on which it sits. But what about the fancy refrigerator, home theater, or smart thermostat? It depends. Typically, anything “permanently attached” should stay. However, it …
What’s An Escalation Clause? The greater Kansas City metro is still a seller’s market. Currently, it’s still very common for sellers to receive multiple offers on their house. When that happens, it’s common to see offers that include an Escalation Clause, also known as an Escalatory Addendum. Simply put, an escalation clause states a buyer …
The Bureau of Labor Statics says that Americans across all income levels spend between 25-30% of their income on housing. That’s a massive portion of your income, no matter who you are. What if you were able to invest that money instead, or take an extra vacation each year? It’s actually possible. It requires a …