Negotiate Your Position   The seller wants the most for their home and the buyer wants to pay the least possible.  From the very beginning of the homebuying process, there are adversarial positions between the principals.  If you happen to be in a multi-offer situation, it just complicates things fu

GOOD NEWS!  Home Prices NOT Expected to Crash   Good News from the recent Real Estate Summit held by the National Association of REALTORS®  in December 2022.  A comparison of the current Housing Cycle against the last such cycle shows a lot of distinct variables that should help to stabilize housin

Building Your Home Buying Team There are a lot of professionals involved in the homebuying process.  And when these people can function as a team, the buyer is much more likely to end up where they want to be...in their new home. The lender is an integral part of the team unless you are going to be

Homeowners Need Resources Managing an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars is a responsibility that requires attention to details such as timely payment of the mortgage, home repairs and maintenance, upkeep, and oversight on financial issues including taxes, insurance, and other things.

Waiting for the Mortgage Rates to Come Down? Waiting for the mortgage rates to come down before you buy a home may not be a good decision. If you are correct, and the rates do come down by two percent, the savings you benefit from a lower rate will most likely be devoured by the appreciated price i

"Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya?" You may remember the famous line in the Dirty Harry movie when Clint Eastwood has just had a shootout with bank robbers and is standing in front of the lone surviving thief who is considering going for his gun. Harry with his gun pointed at the bad guy says to him

WHEN WILL THE MARKET TURN? Housing affordability has declined dramatically in 2022 due to continued rising home prices and a three-percentage point jump in mortgage rates.  Based on the popularity of Google searches for "housing bust" or "housing bubble", it could be surmised that buyers are an

CAUSE TO PAUSE Rising mortgage rates are causing some would-be buyers to pause their decisions until they determine whether rates are going to come back down.  While it may be possible, the probability is that prices are going to continue to increase. On December 23, 2021, the 30-year fixed-rate,

One of the most talked about questions in the real estate market has to do with "Will prices continue to rise now that interest rates have increased dramatically this year?" It is understandable to think that if the Federal Reserve is using interest rate increases to slow consumer demand, that

Is the Market Crashing??? The seller's market was RED HOT in the first 5 1/2 months of this year.  Up until that time, 70% of homes that sold went Above Asking Price!  Wow!  That is unprecedented!  Year-over-year home prices went up more than 20%!  Unbelievable!!!  But unsustainable. But what ha

BUY BEFORE YOU SELL?  Sure! A common concern for homeowners is that if they sell their home first, they may not be able to find another home to buy.  It is understandable with the low inventories currently available in most markets, but a strong argument can be made to buy your replacement home fir

When are the Negotiations Over? The primary negotiation in a home purchase takes place when the contract is agreed upon that includes the price, closing and possession.   With inventory down over 19% in the past year and multiple offers being more of the norm than the exception, the first round of

In today's ultra-competitive real estate market where there is only 1.7 months supply of inventory compared to 6 months in a balanced market, and the average home is getting 4.8 offers per sale, it is more important than ever to have the right person "champion" your cause. In the Middle Ages, it be

In divorce situations, it is common, for the spouse who keeps the home to refinance to remove the other spouse from the loan.  Equally as common, first-time buyers who don't have enough income to qualify may ask a parent to co-sign and must add their name to the mortgage. Another situation that req

    If you're a homeowner, you have a "hidden" savings account!  If you're NOT a homeowner, you should be!  (So call us!) With the rapid appreciation that homes have had in the last two years, most homeowners have equity.  A common way to release part of the equity is to cash-out refinance but so

Based on the current competition due to lower than normal inventories, it is possible for a seller to find themselves on the beneficiary side of a multiple offers.  Two or more parties may be trying to buy your home at the same time and because of the competition, they increase the purchase price, p

Introducing the RE/MAX Top Realty Sellers' Advantage Plan -- Get CASH offers instantly from iBuyers, Power Buyers, and Bridge Buyers. You can also Buy before You Sell!  We give you ALL the options from ALL the Top Buyers!  Get FREE information Right Now!  Simply copy and paste YourSamTeam.com into a

  The 4th of July is a day for family and friends to gather together, eat good food, and have fun. We are celebrating our nation’s independence from Great Britain after winning the Revolutionary War. It’s also just an excuse to get outside with your friends and family on a summer day! Fireworks a

If you are looking at buying a duplex or triplex, there are many things to consider before making the investment. If this is your first time purchasing these types of properties then it may be best to consult with an experienced real estate agent who can walk you through all of the considerations.

First, make sure the home is in tip-top condition. A good cleaning goes a long way, as does landscaping. Repair any little “annoyances” that you’ve learned to live with. Fresh paint and new or freshly shampooed carpets go a long way. Stage the home using what you have. Hire a decorator, or d