How To Buy and Sell Without Being Homeless

Here are a few of the many ways to sell your home based on your situation.

It’s no secret that this is a tough market. People looking to buy and sell a home at the same time are in a tricky spot. Sure, you can sell your old house easily, but how can you buy a new one without going homeless? 

In a balanced market, it isn’t too difficult to line up your home sale with your purchase, but we are far from a balanced market. There are many ways to accomplish this goal, but I can only share a couple in this short video. Please reach out to me to go through your specific situation.

In a hot seller’s market like ours, you have two main options:

• Sell your old house first. Once it’s under contract, you’ll search for your new home.…

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Busting Five Home-Selling Myths

Here are a few myths about the market that you shouldn’t believe.

If you’ve been entertaining the idea of a home sale, there are five myths that you might be hearing, and I’m here today to share the truths behind them.

Myth No. 1: You can overprice your house, and it will still sell. This is simply not true. We have a very limited supply of homes, but consumers are educated. When you overprice, they know it – they may even skip over your home entirely.

Myth No. 2: You can sell your house as is. Technically you can do this, but if you do,  you’re telling consumers that something is wrong with the home. You should be willing to negotiate repairs as a home seller.

 “IF YOU DON’T MAKE REPAIRS, IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN YOUR…

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What You Shouldn’t Do When Applying for a Loan

These are the ten commandments of applying for a house loan.

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There are ten specific things that you shouldn’t do from the time when you’re applying for a home loan until after you close. We discuss these with all of our buyers during our consultation, and it’s very relevant since people are refinancing because of low mortgage rates. 

1. Don’t change jobs, become self-employed, or quit your job. Discuss any sort of job move with your loan officer. They may say it’s okay, but as a rule, do not change jobs.

2. Don’t buy or lease any type of vehicle.

3. Don’t max out your credit cards or close any accounts.…

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5 Things to Budget for After Buying a Home

The costs associated with homeownership you may not have considered.

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There are more costs associated with owning a home than the monthly payment. Just when buying the home, you’ll have to pay for closing costs, the down payment, earnest money, title insurance, inspections, appraisals, the recording of the deed, etc. You need your real estate agent to lay out those costs for you ahead of time. Then after you own the house, there are five main things you should remember to budget for.

1. Furniture. Many people buy a house and then realize they need to buy furniture, which can cost thousands of dollars…

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Should I Just Sell My Own Home?

Selling your own home is probably a little more difficult than you think.

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If you’re thinking about selling your home and looking at the market conditions, it’s tempting to try and sell it yourself. Homes are selling quickly and over asking price on a regular basis, why not just save on the commission and list the property yourself?

You might be able to sell your home for a good price and get a little bit extra in your pocket, but maybe not. The thing about FSBOs is that buyers are looking for deals on them, too.

You could be leaving thousands on the table by not selling with an agent.

The danger in…

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Simple Things to Consider when Making Renovations

Despite what many home sellers think, not all renovations will earn you money in your home sale. Knowing the renovations that will add value to a potential home buyer is a key part of the home selling process.

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The big question that home sellers should be thinking about is, “What renovations do I need to make in order to earn more money on my home sale?” 

This question, however, could use a little re-framing: “What do I need to do to sell my home within my desired timeline and also see a bigger return?”

Part of assessing what renovations are worth getting is deciding how long you plan to live at the house or property. If you think it'll…

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*SOLD* Quiet Cul-De-Sac Colonial on Madison's Westside

PRICE REDUCED!

3B / 2.5B / $300k

A cul-de-sac you can call home, in the comfort of your cozy colonial on the west side of Madison.

Your roomy kitchen has plenty of cabinet and counter space for all of your cooking needs.

Wide entryways throughout the first floor create an intimate warmth when welcoming guests.

Warm up in front of your gas burning fireplace in your great room while enjoying your sturdy, built-in entertainment center and cabinetry.

Walk out into your sunroom, with your gas burning stove, for all-season relaxation. On a nice day, entertain guests on your spacious deck.

With all three bedrooms upstairs, keep your personal space independent from the shared, gathering areas of your home.

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A/C Tips for this Summer

Follow these steps so you can count on a properly working air conditioning unit for the summer.

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Air conditioners, especially in the Midwest, are an essential part of life. Most of us don't want to have to even think about life without one. However, many new homeowners have no idea what it takes to keep these units in good, working order. To make sure the A/C in your own home doesn’t “lose its cool” when you need it the most, there are two critical maintenance tasks you must follow:

“

Like any major home system or appliance, your air conditioner requires proper care to function as it should.

”

1. Never, I repeat: Never! run…

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**SOLD** Cozy Bungalow on Madison's East Side

**FOR SALE**

2 Bed / 1 Bath
109 Walter St, Madison, WI 53714

The price has now been improved by $10,000 to put this east side home at $165,000!

This cozy bungalow is nestled into Madison’s East side, just a short walk from beautiful Lake Monona.

The living room, which greets you upon entrance, features a wood burning fireplace, built in bookshelf, and well-kept, plush carpeting.

The kitchen, living room, and both bedrooms all provide ample storage space.

Windows throughout invite an abundance of natural light into the home.

The large, fenced-in backyard, which is anxiously awaiting a pet or garden, houses a shed with a roof and vinyl siding, both under 10 years old.

…

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Here's your 2019 Market Snapshot

2019 is the year of Madison real estate!

It has gotten off to an incredible start as far as our market is concerned. 

Image courtesy of American Advisors Group

Because millennials are entering the market, there has been a surge of buyer demand; this is great news for anyone who may be considering selling this year. In fact, according to Odeta Kushi, the senior economist for First American Financial Corporation, 2019 is aiming to be even more lucrative on this front than we’ve observed in the recent past. Why? Because - 

the “largest cohort of millennials [will soon be] entering peak household formation and home-buying age,” says Kushi.

This will most likely have a huge impact on buyer demand across the nation. Yet, despite all of this…

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