Tru Advantage Realty Podcast

Home inspections are useful, even though they can’t predict the future.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportToday I’m sharing a few things about home inspections. Home inspections help prevent issues and ensure you buy a home that’s up to standard. However, remember; inspectors don’t have crystal balls—they can’t predict what might go wrong in the future. For example, if you take your car in to get checked, and the mechanic says your brakes look great, but you do a ton of driving, and three months later they’d worn out—they couldn’t have predicted how fast they’d wear down. It’s the same thing for home inspections. Recently, we had a buyer purchase a house, and everything was in good condition, but three weeks later the furnace went out—the inspector had no way of knowing that would happen. The inspectors can only give a snapshot of what things look like at the time of inspection."Home inspections help prevent issues and ensure you buy a home that’s up to standard."While that may be the case, an inspector should provide maintenance tips that can help prolong the life of your mechanicals like the water heater, furnace, AC system, and more. That’s an indicator of a quality home inspection company.If you have more questions about home inspections or real estate in general, feel free to reach out via phone or email. We would love to help you.

In our low-inventory market, here’s how buyers and sellers stack up.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportWhat’s the latest news from our York County market?To answer that, we want to tell you the story of how one of our sellers sold their home for $35,000 over asking price. They listed the home for $280,000, which means the offer was for $315,000, and it included great terms that allowed them to settle whenever they wanted. They were looking at buying a new construction home next, but the agent for that home informed them she couldn’t accept an offer that was contingent on their current home selling first. She then told them to list their home as soon as they could and get an offer on it. Only then would she be able to accept an offer.Our clients loved this new construction home, so the next day they put a ‘for sale’ sign in their yard. They were able to keep their house very clean and were so efficient at letting people in for showings, and their effort was what led to their incredible offer. That’s the main takeaway from this story: Effort is what counts in this hot marketplace if you want to have the opportunity to accept an amazing offer and go after your next dream home. Once you put your home on the market, keep it clean and ready for as many showings as possible. With how low inventory is, it’s not hard to get an exceptional offer on your home.On the flipside, with how quickly homes are coming off the market, we know this can sound overwhelming if you’re a buyer. That’s why you must put in the same effort in buying a home as our sellers did in selling one. This means putting your best foot forward for your initial offer. Just like their buyer, you need to be willing to settle whenever the seller wants to settle. Being open and submitting your best offer up front will make it so much better than the other offers."It’s critical that you work with an agent who’ll put their whole effort into accomplishing your goals."A key to writing a good offer is getting a pre-approval letter before you start looking at homes and making offers. In this market, we’re sometimes writing offers for our clients right after attending showings, and having a pre-approval letter handy is vital to getting your offer accepted. This letter shows sellers you’re serious about buying.Whether you’re buying or selling in today’s market, it’s critical that you also work with an agent who’ll put their whole effort into accomplishing your goals. If you're a buyer, especially, there are plenty of bumps and bruises along the way a good agent can help you deal with.If you'd like our help in buying or selling a home or have questions about our York County market, call or email us anytime. We’d love to help you.

Today I’m sharing some helpful home financing tips for buyers out there.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportIf you’re a homebuyer, it’s essential that you at least have a pre-approval before you go out looking at homes. It’s one of the most important steps of the process.After you’ve saved up for your down payment and made sure your credit is straight, there are still a bunch of other factors that determine how much you’re approved for."A pre-approval is one of themost important steps of the process."The last thing you want to do is spend your valuable time out there looking at homes that aren’t in your price range. You may be looking at homes at or above your price range if you’re not pre-approved. This process will let you know what those monthly payments and taxes will look like so you can get a better idea of what you can afford versus what you’re comfortable with paying.You also need to work with a lender who knows the area. Those taxes can vary greatly depending on whether you’re looking in Maryland or Pennsylvania.If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’re selling, here are some financially efficient renovation tips.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportUnfortunately, home renovations don’t always bring a great return on investment; in most cases, you’ll actually lose money. For instance, if you do a major kitchen remodel, you can expect to get back around 70% of your money. A master suite edition will only get you back about 60% of your money. Decks are only slightly better; a wood deck will bring around a 70% return on your investment, and if you use a composite material like Trex, then you’ll only get back 60% to 65% of your money.When you sell your home, your goal is to make as much money as possible. The ways to do that are pretty simple, and you don’t even need to hire professional contractors to accomplish them:Painting. Paint your home in neutral colors like beige; this will better allow buyers to envision themselves living there.Depersonalization. Taking down and storing family photos will also help buyers imagine themselves in your home.Professional cleaning. If your home is nice and clean from top to bottom, that could easily add a few thousand dollars to your value, especially after COVID’s appearance on the scene."If you plan to sell in the short term,stick to simpler, cheaper projects."Replacing your siding. Alternatively, you could give your existing siding a good power wash to give the exterior of your home a whole new look. Be sure to check for holes in your siding too, so as not to let in any bugs or moisture.Updating your property’s landscaping. This may not be as important during the winter, but come the spring market, people want to see a prim and proper lawn.Decorating with a consistent theme. Be sure to keep your decorations fairly neutral and consistent throughout the home; that could include accenting your walls with curtains of a certain color, throw pillows, etc. This is an extension of the staging process, which helps you get the biggest bang for your buck.If you don’t plan to move out of your home for five or more years, then go ahead and make those larger renovations like in your kitchen and bathroom. You’ll gain equity over time that will make up for the costs. If you plan to sell in the short term, however, stick to the simpler fixes I’ve mentioned today.For any further questions you have about preparing your home for the market, don’t hesitate to reach out to Tru Advantage Realty. We’d love to help you.

At the moment, it’s better to sell your current home before buying.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportThe real estate market is still very competitive during the holidays, and one thing that’s been helping our buyers get their next home under contract is selling their current house first."It’s better to put your current homeunder contract before buying another."Put yourself in the seller’s shoes and imagine that you’ve received two similar offers on your property: One has no contingencies, the other has the contingency to sell their home before buying yours. Everything else is the same except for the contingency difference. You don’t know when that buyer’s house will sell. The market is hot, but we sometimes still see properties sit for a couple of months. Then, you could also run into issues with the buyer’s financing.This demonstrates why it’s better to put your current home under contract before buying another; it helps you make a stronger offer to the seller. They’ll be more willing to choose your offer if it doesn’t have extra “what ifs” attached.We’d love to walk alongside you during the process of selling and buying your next house. If you need anything or have questions, call or text us. We’d be glad to help you.

This is why the winter months are a smart time to sell a home.Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportAs the fall season begins to wind down and the holiday season ramps up, the number of available homes on the market can begin to dwindle. This comes from the common misconception that your home is worth more money in the spring and summer because of the increased curb appeal brought on by a well-groomed lawn and beautiful flowers.There are still plenty of active buyers out there searching for a home during the holiday season. This can be a great opportunity for savvy sellers to take advantage of their equity and capitalize on the lower inventory. With interest rates so low this year, buyers can stretch their dollars a bit further.Waiting until spring just means more competition, which could potentially drive down your asking price. That’s just the basic economic principle of supply and demand at work."Buyers can stretch their moneya bit further this year."Unfortunately, nobody has a crystal ball or knows what tomorrow will bring, especially after a year like this. The only thing we can tell you is that right now, home values are higher than they’ve been in a long time. We can almost guarantee there is someone out there looking for a home just like yours right at this very moment.If you’re interested in learning more about how much equity you’ve gained this past year and what kind of doors it can open for you, give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Data shows that you can afford a more expensive property in 2020 than in 2019. Want to buy a home? Search All Homes Want to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportWith housing prices so high and interest rates so low, will you still get a better deal on a home this year than you would have last year?According to the financial data experts from CoreLogic, home prices have increased by 6.6% on average, or $9,800, even more in some states. At the same time, interest rates have hit record lows for well-qualified buyers. The data from financial company NerdWallet says that in 2019 interest rates averaged 3.9%. As of November 9, 2020, interest rates are at 2.8% on a 30-year mortgage, which is 1.1% lower than in 2019. (Rates are as low as 2.5% for a 15-year mortgage.)"Though home prices have risen, the extremely lowinterest rates still give you more leverage."That 1.1% difference equates to 14% more buying power. For example, if you could only afford to finance a $270,000 house last year, making payments of $1,274 per month over 30 years, this year, you could afford to finance a $310,000 home for that same $1,274 payment. That’s an additional $40,000 in leverage compared to 2019. So even though home prices have risen, the extremely low interest rates still give you more leverage than last year.So, can you get a better deal in 2020 than in 2019? The answer in most cases is yes. We don’t know how long these great low interest rates will last, so if you’re considering a move, don’t wait too long.If you have more questions on this topic or any other real estate matter, text or call me. I’d love to be your real estate guide.

Here’s our pricing advice for today’s home sellers. Want to buy a home? Search All HomesWant to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportA few days ago, one of our clients was able to sell their home in just a few days for $10,000 more than the asking price because we had the right pricing strategy. When we initially discussed the price, we didn’t start at the very top. We started at a place where we knew it would grab a lot of buyers’ attention. We had four showing requests and four offers on the first day we listed it and, in this situation, we got more money by pricing here than we would have by pricing at the top of the market.This strategy doesn’t work for every seller, but we’re equipped to help you out no matter your situation. If you have questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you’re buying a home within the next three years. Want to buy a home? Search All HomesWant to sell your home? Receive a Home Value ReportIf you’re looking to buy a home within the next three years, there are three very important tips to remember:1. Understand your finances. You need to know what’s coming in, what’s coming out, and what you can afford. It’s important not to live beyond your means. Understanding your finances is also key to saving up for your down payment and anything else you’ll need once you close on your new home.2. Be mindful of your credit. A great way to stay on top of this is to check your FICO score, which is typically free if you use online banking.3. Get in touch with a local mortgage lender. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping for homes because you might be able to afford more than you think. Reaching out to a local lender is the best way to calculate your buying power.We’d love to connect with you to guide you through the preliminaries of buying a home. We also know plenty of great local lenders who can help you as well. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you.

Buyers and sellers need these tips for home maintenance during showings. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportToday I have a few home maintenance tips to share for both buyers and sellers during showings.If you’re selling your home, make sure your lawn is manicured and landscaped. The first impression is the best impression buyers will get. If you’re living in the house while you sell it, here’s a tip: If you keep items on top of your nightstand, put them in a bin under the bed before showings. Also, throw any dishes lying around into the dishwasher.Small things can make a difference. Try not to give buyers anything they need to overlook to see the property’s potential."If you keep items on top of your nightstand,put them in a bin under the bed before showings."Buyers: I know I just told sellers to manicure their lawn, but if you pull up to the house and see that the lawn isn’t manicured, don’t worry about it. You can mow the lawn when the property is yours. You can also landscape however you like, so try to see past that when you’re looking at homes. If you walk into a house and see that the sellers didn’t have time to tidy up, don’t get caught up in those details. You need to focus on whether the home has enough space for your family and the rooms you need; when it’s yours, you can personalize it.If you have any questions about what to do to get your house sold or are considering buying a property, call or email me! I have the answers you need.

Here’s why you should give some of the stranger numbers (1,3,7,9) some love. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportTypically, when you find yourself in a multiple-offer situation, the first increment by which you and your agent think to go above asking price is either $5,000 or $10,000. I see this strategy all the time from buyers bidding on one of our listings.Here’s the truth: Making your offer $5,000 or $10,000 above asking price won’t help it stand out; if thinking in 5s and 10s feels natural to you, that’s because it’s natural for everyone. Instead, consider increasing your offer by $1,000, $3,000, $7,000, $9,000, or even $11,000—all odd numbers that don’t come to us as natural increments.Still not convinced? Well, think about the impact on your monthly payment: If your offer price for a $200,000 listing is $209,000 but you have to raise again, jumping to $211,000 will only add $10 more to your monthly payment. Why doom yourself to bigger leaps of 5s and 10s?If you have questions about this or any other real estate-related tips, call me directly or shoot me an email. We’re always glad to have a more in-depth chat with you about these topics!

These seven improvements will have the biggest impact on your home sale. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportWhat are some simple and fairly inexpensive ways you can increase your home’s appeal so that it performs well online and woos buyers when they come to visit in person? Here are seven things that buyers respond to well:1. Neutral paint. It will give your home a fresh, crisp look at a low cost.2. Updated appliances. If yours are mismatched or getting up there in age, it’s a great idea to choose either a new matching black or stainless steel set for your kitchen.3. Fresh landscaping. Adding fresh flowers and mulch, removing dead plants, and neatly trimming bushes will give your home tremendous curb appeal.4. Updated kitchen and bathrooms. This, too, can easily be achieved with fresh paint and new knobs or handles.5. Power washed exterior. Get all of the cobwebs off and clear away any mystery grime on the siding.6. Replaced front door. Now, depending on the condition of the door, you may be able to grab buyers’ attention by simply painting it. If you don’t replace the door itself, then replace the other hardware and consider hanging a seasonal wreath for a nice touch.7. Stain and paint your deck or patio. After you power wash it, put some sealant on it for a polished look.I hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any questions about these quick and easy projects, or real estate in general, please feel free to reach out via phone or email. We’re happy to hear from you and be of assistance.

Don’t let a completely resolvable issue sink your home sale or purchase. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThe No. 1 reason why deals fall through: Not having the right agent and contacts. Here’s one of the most important things you should ask any agent you’re interviewing: “If we have a problem with our home during the inspection or appraisal process, do you have reliable contacts on standby?”For example, I have a client who’s buying here in York, Pennsylvania, and selling her home three hours away in a whole different county. It was discovered she had a problem with her home’s septic system, but the agent did not have a contact for her. Instead, the agent told her to reach out to anybody she can think of to help fix her septic system. Three weeks later, the problem still hasn’t been fixed, and no guidance has been given to the client (I wasn’t even made aware of the situation until recently). We were set to close two days from the recording of this video, but now that won’t happen—all because an agent did not have a contact.“ If you don't have go-to options for your home maintenance needs, you have to make sure you ask your agent if they do.”Unfortunately, situations like this are why hard-working and knowledgeable agents get a bad reputation. You have to build a relationship with contractors and maintain a list of people you can call on to address issues in your home. If you don't have go-to options for your home maintenance needs, you have to make sure you ask your agent if they do. If you have further questions on this topic or are gearing up to sell your home soon, reach out to me directly via phone or email.

If you find a home on the market you love, jump on it as soon as possible. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportSuppose you found a house that you loved and could see yourself living in. However, before you made an offer, you told your agent that you wanted to think about it. What if you woke up the next morning and found that someone else already submitted an offer? Would you be mad?If you love a house, make an offer on it quickly. I understand that you might want to sleep on certain big decisions before you make them, but doing so in real estate could mean missing your chance.“ If you love a house, make anoffer on it quickly.”Our market is hot right now, so be sure to put in your highest and best offer on a home you love as soon as possible. Once you do, your real estate agent can help you negotiate the rest on your behalf.If you’d like to learn more about making an offer on your dream home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.

I’m sharing the three basic things buyers need to do to be successful. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportAt TruAdvantage Realty, we know what it’s like to be a buyer in a competitive marketplace. We’ve helped plenty of buyer clients get into the home of their dreams. Unfortunately, we also see plenty of buyers who fail to prepare and end up leaving the market (or lingering around on it for longer than they’d like) with a sour taste in their mouths. Here are three tips for buyers that we’ve observed to be indispensable:1. Be available for showings. Right now, the market is red hot and homes are selling lightning quick. You need an agent who can get inside a home the same day—or, at the very latest, the day after—you stumble upon it.2. Get an agent who wins multiple-offer situations. Even if yours is one of the lower offers on a home, an agent with a proven track record of success will still be able to provide you with enough leverage to win out against the other buyers. We’re happy to have a conversation with you detailing all of the methods we employ to make our buyers’ offers as attractive as possible. We’ll even show you successful past examples of our strategy.3. Be able to communicate with your agent in a timely manner. Whether it’s an evening, weekend, or early morning, you need to be able to get a hold of your agent. Working with an accessible and timely agent is absolutely essential.As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate-related topic, reach out to us by phone or email. We’re here to help and look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re in the market to buy (or even sell) a home,here’s why you’ll want to get a home warranty. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportIf you’re a homeowner or are planning to be, you’ll want to educate yourself about home warranties. Not homeowners insurance—that’s completely different. Today I’ll share a few key points you need to know about what home warranties are and how they’ll protect your investment once you buy a home.How do they work? Well, if something that your warranty covers breaks down, you simply contact your home warranty provider to have them send someone out to fix it.Most of my first-time home buying clients get a home warranty because they’re so used to having to call a maintenance technician to take care of their repairs. Home warranties cover the costs of repairs for things like appliances, electrical, plumbing, and in some cases, the roof. Some home warranties will allow you to pick your own contractor to come and do your repairs.“ Sellers can purchase warranties for their homesto cover the property for the time that the home is listed.”Bear in mind that warranties are optional. You pay a set amount each year that can be paid monthly or annually, and you do have a deductible for each time you call them and for each item you have repaired.Home warranties aren’t just for buyers—sellers can purchase warranties for their homes to cover the property for the time that the home is listed.If you’d like to learn more about home warranties, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.

Here’s how to compete as a buyer in our pandemic-affected market. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportFor all you potential homebuyers out there, I know what some of you may be experiencing; you’re seeing all these new listings pop up, only to be sold in a matter of days. You're thinking, “How can this be possible in the middle of a pandemic? My agent told me we can’t go look at properties right now!”Understand that these properties are being sold to buyers who are absolutely committed to buying by going under contract and leveraging contingencies. There are protocols in place to protect buyers so that you can still have a physical walk-through once our restrictions are lifted.

I’m explaining the differences between a home inspection and an appraisal. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThis is a question I hear a lot: Is a home inspection the same as an appraisal? The quick answer is no, you’ll need both of these appointments.A home inspection is a complete inspection of the house. They’ll check the electrical, plumbing, roof, crawl spaces, appliances, and more. That home inspector works for you. You pay the inspector to do a thorough analysis, you’re there, you’ll learn a bit about your new property, and they’ll write a list of things that could improve your home.“ The appraiser works for the bank,even though you pay them.”You also have to get an appraisal. The appraiser works for the bank, even though you pay them. The appraisal is to determine value, not the condition of the house. The inspection and appraisal are two completely separate things.If you have further questions about this or real estate in general, give me a call or send an email. I would love to hear from you.

Here’s why potential buyers should think twice before counting themselves out. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportThe two most common home buying myths are that you need to have 20% down and a credit score of 750 or higher. The truth is, you don’t even need a credit score of 700, and there are a ton of financing options available to you, some requiring as little as 3% down (others require nothing down, so long as you meet certain criteria).I have plenty of clients who have less-than-perfect credit; we work with you and do what it takes to help you achieve homeownership. I would love to connect you with all of the resources you need to truly understand your capabilities as a homebuyer. If you have questions about down payments, credit scores, or whatever else is involved in the home buying process, feel free to reach out to me at any time.

I’m sharing an example of a recent client’s purchase to illustratejust what, exactly, low rates mean for a buyer today. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Receive a Home Value ReportRight now, you’re probably seeing mortgage lenders talk about low interest rates and that now is the time to buy.For you, as a buyer, what does this actually mean? You don’t want an interest rate, you want a house; in a sense, these guys are selling you on the drill, but you just want the hole.A low interest rate means that you’ll have a much lower monthly payment. For instance, I had a buyer yesterday get pre-approved for a USDA zero-down home loan, and their interest rate was 2.88%. The house was purchased for $150,000, so the payment, with a zero down loan, was $1,023. You can buy a home for $150,000 and pay less than what you’re paying in rent.Those who have been in the military can qualify for a VA loan and get a rate that will probably be very similar, and your payment will likely be less than $1,000 on that same $150,000 house.“ A lower interest rate means that you’ll havea much lower monthly payment.”So when you hear all this hype about interest rates, understand that it’s important for you to talk to a lender. If you guys need help with this, we have the best lenders in town, and we can connect you. They give you a free one-year home warranty and loads of knowledge; you won’t regret talking to Freedmont Mortgage.Buyers care about the down payment and the monthly payment. Interest rates are great, but only because they allow you to afford more home for your money. Quick disclaimer: I’m not a lender, and I can’t give you numbers on paper, but I can encourage you to start the financing process just so you’re able to see where you stand.If you have additional questions about this or any other real estate topic, you can reach out to me directly via phone or email. I’m always happy to help.

I’m answering the question of whether you should get ahome inspection done before you list your home. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportShould you get a home inspection before you list? Many clients have asked me this in the past. The truth is, there’s no right or wrong answer to that question. However, there are definite benefits to having a home inspection done before you put your house on the market.If you get a home inspection done first, it alerts you to some of the things you may not have known needed to be fixed. Then you have an opportunity to mend those issues before the buyer comes along with their own inspection. (Yes, they should do a home inspection even if they know you’ve already had one done.) Then, when you’ve repaired things from your home inspection, the buyer’s inspection will be pretty good. However, another home inspector could find something the first one didn’t.If you’d like to discuss home inspections further or have any other questions, call, text, or email me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I’m sharing why in 2020 buyers need to be interviewing real estate agents before hiring them. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportWe’re coming up on spring, and soon more homes will be for sale—the market will be booming. However, there will still be more buyers in the market than sellers. This means, as a buyer, you’ll be competing with all the others.Buyers: You need to be interviewing different agents before you hire one. You need to see with whom you work best and feel most comfortable. The main question you need to be asking the real estate agents as you interview them is: In a competitive buyer’s market, how do you help me compete in a multiple-offer situation? If they answer that you need to raise the price on your offer or need to do fewer inspections, that’s a generic answer most of them give.“ You need to be interviewing differentagents before you hire one.”You need to find an agent who can think outside the box. Last week I was able to help a buyer save $20,000 on a house by thinking outside the box when we weren’t the highest offer on the table. No matter when you’re buying a home in 2020, you’ll be competing with multiple offers. Make sure you have the right agent on your side who can think outside the norm and get you the property of your dreams.If you want to know exactly how I make offers in a multiple-offer situation or have any other questions, reach out via phone or email.

Here’s what we expect from our 2020 market. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportWhere’s our real estate market headed in 2020?In 2019, one out of every 10 offers was part of a multiple-offer situation. Next year, experts predict that ratio to increase to one out of every four offers. That is a huge difference, and it also demonstrates why it’s important for anyone buying a home next year to hire an agent who can handle multiple-offer situations and help you come out on top. If you plan on buying in 2020, you also need to prepare for more competition. Interest rates are expected to hover around 3.8%, which means more buyers will enter the market to take advantage of these low rates. “    We’re looking at a nationwide home price increaseof 6% over the first half of the year.”Inventory is expected to be low too, which means we’re looking at a nationwide home price increase of 6% over the first half of the year. Once this happens, more homeowners will want to list their properties, and more builders will want to start building. With this increase in sellers, we expect conditions to balance out toward the end of 2020.My team and I are experts when it comes to multiple-offer situations, and we’d love to help you achieve all of your real estate goals in 2020. If you have any more questions about our future market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Is it better to sell right now or wait until spring?Want to Buy a Home? Search All HomesWant to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportIf you’re thinking of selling, but aren’t sure whether you should wait for the spring or summer to do so, this message is for you. Though more homes, statistically, sell during this time of year, that doesn’t necessarily make these seasons the best time to do so. People are always looking for homes to buy, and the winter market offers several advantages.For one thing, competition is low, which means the demand for your home is high. Many serious buyers enter the market at this time of year, and this gives winter sellers the chance to capture a great deal. Why wait to sell when everyone else is doing so, too? If you’re ready to sell now, then it’s time to get off the fence and put your home on the market.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

As you prepare to sell your home, it’s crucial that youinterview multiple agents before partnering with one.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportIf you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you’re going to need an agent to help you do so. So how do you choose the right one?Well, first of all, don’t just pick the first agent you meet without considering other options. You should always interview multiple agents before making a decision. Even if the first agent you encounter turns out to be the best fit, it’s important that you meet with at least two more. You never know what another agent could offer you until you meet with them.For one thing, the list price different agents recommend often varies by tens of thousands of dollars. But, contrary to what you might assume, you shouldn’t always choose the agent who recommends the highest price. Rather, it’s best to work with an agent who is honest—someone who will use real market data to determine your home’s fair market value and who will help you earn top dollar accordingly.“You should always interview multiple agentsbefore making a decision.”The bottom line is that meeting with multiple agents will help you select a professional who is honest, knowledgeable, and experienced enough to bring you the best possible results for your home sale.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If your lease is expiring at the end of this yearand you have plans to buy a home, what are you waiting for?Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportSo imagine you’re a renter and your lease expires at the end of the year. That begs the question: When should you start looking to purchase a home?The answer, of course, is right now! Our team will be happy to connect you with a lender who will work with you to gather basic information about your situation and determine how much you’ll be required to put down. Some buyers are even qualifying for zero-down financing right now!You might be wondering, “If my lease isn’t up until December 31, why start the process now?” Well, it could take you weeks or even months to find the home that’s right for you, and when you do find that home, it’ll be at least a month before you’re able to close on it. Not to mention that our current market’s inventory remains low, which might also add more time to your home search.“Now’s the time to jump into the market as rentscontinue to rise and interest rates continue to fall.”Plus, if you buy a house in, say, October, your first payment won’t be due until December. If you’re a renter whose lease will soon expire, now’s the time to jump into the market as rents continue to rise and interest rates continue to fall.If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can contact me directly at (717) 654-3937 or by email at Zak@YorkHomeSale.com. Talk to you soon.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value reportWant to buy a home? Search all homes for saleWelcome to our YouTube channel! Here, you'll find great tips for home buyers and sellers, as well as market tips and updates for the York, PA area. Our goal is for this page to be a valuable resource for you and any real estate needs or questions you may have. If there is a topic you'd like to learn more about in the real estate world, let us know and we'll make an educational video about it.So look around the page, watch some videos, and let us know if you have any questions!

There are four main steps first-time homebuyers shouldprepare themselves for during the home buying process.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportSo you’ve found the home you want, wrote an offer for it, and got that offer accepted. What happens next?The next step is to deliver a deposit check. This check, which can range from $1,000 to $2,000, will count toward your closing costs and down payment.After that, it’s time to order your inspections. Typically, you’re allowed 10 to 20 days to get these done. Once they’re done, you can either accept the property as it is, terminate the contract and get your deposit back, or ask the seller to make any repairs you deem necessary. Additionally, you can ask for a cash credit so you can make the repairs yourself.During this time, you also must fill out your mortgage application with your lender. For this, you’ll have about a week to send them your W-2s, tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, and anything else they need.“There are other steps involved in the home buyingprocess, but these are the first four you must follow.”Next, you’ll need to order the appraisal, which you’ll do with your lender. Your contract is contingent on this appraisal, and this is done to ensure you don’t overpay for the property.There are other steps involved in the home buying process, but these are the first four you must follow. Make sure you talk with your agent about each step during the process so you’re well aware of the deadlines involved. That’s why they’re there—to get you to the closing table.If you have any questions about any of these steps and how they affect you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

How can you keep your rental and mortgage payments from overlapping during this transition?Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportWhen the time comes to transition from renting into homeownership, how do you ensure that your rental payments and your mortgage payments don’t overlap?Let’s say you’re looking to purchase a home and your lease ends in August. If this were the case, I would recommend that you buy a home at some point in July. By doing this, your first mortgage payment wouldn’t be due until September. This is because mortgage payments always begin a full month after you’ve made your purchase.“Mortgage payments always begin a full monthafter you’ve made your purchase.”As a final note, always wait to give your landlord notice of your move until you’ve successfully gotten through the inspection and appraisal process with your new home.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’re thinking of selling your home on your own, you might want to reconsider.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportIf you’re thinking of selling your home as For Sale by Owner, I understand why—you want to save money on agent commission fees.However, by selling your home on your own, you’re also leaving money on the table. Statistics say that over 90% of FSBOs end up listing with an agent, and there’s a good reason why.There’s a lot that goes into the home sale process, and if you don’t work with a listing agent, you run the possibility of forgetting about something that might affect your bottom line. There are inspections that need to be done, appraisals that need to be ordered, title work that needs to be finalized, etc.“Over 90% of FSBOs end up listing withan agent, and there’s a good reason why.”Last year, we worked with a buyer who bought a FSBO home for $40,000 less than what the home was actually worth. So before you think of selling your home on your own, call us up so we can discuss how you can benefit from listing with an agent.If you have any other real estate questions, feel free to reach out to us as well. We’d love to help you.

If you’re struggling to find a home in our market, I had an epiphanyjust the other day that revealed the secret to home buying success.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportInventory is low in our market, and there aren’t many homes for sale. As a result, many buyers are losing out on the homes they want. If you’re in a similar situation, I have good news. Just the other day, I had an epiphany about how to win the home you want. Whatever your reason may be to want a certain house, you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone to get it. Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking a risk is well worth it.“Just the other day, I had an epiphany abouthow to win the home you want.”How do I know? Two weeks ago, a client of mine won out in a multiple-offer situation—even though their offer was lower than the others. To find out how we did it, and how I can do the same for you, don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’d love to speak with you.

If you’ve had a hard time buying or selling a home in our market, don’t give up.There are still ways you can win in our market.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportLow inventory in our market is affecting both buyers and sellers, but there are strategies you can utilize to achieve your real estate goals if you haven’t had much luck lately. If you’re a buyer and you’ve been searching for a home for months on end, you can buy a home that’s not even on the market yet. If you’re a seller and your home’s been on the market for longer than you’d like, you can focus on buyers who aren’t even active yet. In either case, we can help you execute these strategies.

How can you improve your chances of getting the property? Let's take a look.Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportToday I want to give you a quick tip on how to better position yourself when you're competing with multiple offers.My quick tip requires you to come out of your comfort zone a little bit. While many people say to write a letter where you can pull at the seller's heartstrings by mentioning how much you love the home and how you want to raise your family, I suggest making a video.Nowadays, video makes a huge difference. When you know there are multiple offers on the property you want, why not make a video to help you stand out? Even if there aren't multiple offers and you want to make an offer that is lower, you can do a video to explain why your offer is so low.“Just like with a letter, you can use videoto explain to the seller why you want to buytheir home as well as add your personality.”Just like with a letter, you can use video to explain to the seller why you want to buy their home. It also helps to add in your personality. You can even have your children say hello in the video.While it isn't a guarantee that you're going to get the property if you make a video, it is certainly going to help your chances.If you have any questions about this or if you're interested in buying or selling, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Just because your offer has been accepted does not mean your home purchase is over. There are still quite a few things you’ll have to deal with. Want to Buy a Home? Search All Homes Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value ReportSo, you have found your dream home and you are ready to buy. You have put the offer in and the seller has accepted it. What is next?There are a lot of moving parts to this transaction and we want to make sure you get to the closing table quickly and smoothly. Today we’re going to go over some of the different obstacles you have to go through and how we can help get you through them.One of the first things we need to do after the offer has been accepted is to order the inspection. The home inspector is going to look at the overall functionality of the house. They will be looking for safety issues, systems, and more. During the inspection, we always recommend that one of the buyers is there. You will be able to walk through the home with the inspectors and learn everything you need to about the home. The more informed you are, the better off you will be as a homeowner.Once an inspector finds an issue with the property, how do you get it fixed? There are so many different issues that can be found in a home that a licensed, certified inspector is going to find at least a few. One of the things you can do as a buyer is ask the seller for a credit to fix the issues yourself. You can also ask the seller to fix the issue themselves before the sale is final. There are many different ways to handle this situation and every home seller is different. Sometimes a credit is better; sometimes it is better to have the seller fix them.There are always issues in an inspection. Most of them will be minor. However, we are here to help you determine what might be worth the seller fixing on their own and what you’re better of doing on your own.  “A lot of things have to happen to get us to the closing table.”The inspector will have a “significant findings” page in their report and those are the main things we want to focus on fixing. Any surface repairs, like new carpet or new paint, aren’t worth asking about. You might not end up liking the new color or carpet they put in, so it is usually better to get a credit for these types of things. The small things are not worth battling over when you have the significant findings to deal with.When you do make repairs, you want to make sure that you are working with a licensed contractor. A good agent will have contacts in place for everything you need. Our team knows some great plumbers, roofers, electricians, and more that can handle any issue in a home.Keep in mind that as long as you are in your contingency period, you have the right to cancel your contract at any time for any reason. There is always an out as long as you do not waive that inspection contingency upfront.In addition to the inspection, you have to deal with appraisals, title issues, and more. There are a lot of things that have to happen to get us to the closing table. We are not trying to scare you; we are just trying to inform you upfront of exactly what is going to happen from contract to close.If you have any questions for us about the home inspection process or anything else about buying a home, please feel free to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you soon.

Inventory is low in our market, which means now is the perfect time for you to sell your home. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value reportWant to buy a home? Search all homes for saleWhy should you list your home right now? What makes right now so special? There is still a lack of inventory in the market. You also might have more equity in your home than you think you do. We listed a home just yesterday that already has three offers and 10 more showings scheduled for it. If you’re on the fence about selling, we’d be happy to give your home a free valuation so you can see what it would sell for and then make the decision yourself. To hear our full message, watch our latest video.