Real Estate Blog
The Benefits of Hiring a Buyer’s Agent When Buying a New-Construction Home
When Carlos Gonzalez bought a house in Katy, Texas, in 2020, he admits it was a challenge. “The negotiation process was lengthy, multiple inspections were necessary, and settling on a final price proved to be quite challenging,” he explains. Two years later, in 2022,...
What Is a Contingent Offer? What It Means When Buying a Home
A contingent offer means that an offer on a new home has been made and the seller has accepted it, but that the final sale is contingent upon certain criteria that have to be met. These criteria, or types of contingencies, are clauses in a sales contract that...
Should You Ever Pay Off a Low-Interest Mortgage Early? The Pros and Cons
Practically every homeowner fantasizes about the day their house is finally paid off, and they can kiss those mortgage payments goodbye. However, a whopping 56.2% of Americans have an outstanding mortgage with a rate of 4% or lower. When your mortgage rate is so low,...
The Home Renovations That Will Boost Your Listing Price the Most
When it comes time to sell your home, some renovation projects can provide a bigger price bump than others. Using a statistical analysis of listings on Realtor.com®, our economic research team identified the price premium associated with certain renovation-related...
How To Set Yourself Up To Buy Your First Home the Moment Mortgage Rates Drop
If you’ve been saving for a first home but have been sitting on the sidelines because of high interest rates, get ready: It’s just about “go” time. In case you haven’t heard, the Federal Reserve recently let slip that it will likely cut interest rates in September....
Home Buying Etiquette 101
“Very demure, very mindful, very cutesy.” If you’ve felt like this phrase is popping up in every corner of the internet—and even in your daily life—in recent weeks, you’re not alone. It is a TikTok trend that has exploded, ever since social media sensation Jools...