Doing your research and asking questions is important when looking for a mortgage lender. Not all lenders are the same, and it’s important to understand as much as possible before you move forward in the home loan process. 

So here are a few questions to ask:

1.  Are there any fees I would be charged for your loan service- what are they and when would they be paid?

2.  Are there any other loans or specialty programs I qualify for besides the loan you are currently recommending me?

3.  How much l...

 

The holidays have arrived and so has the time of year when home sellers wonder whether they should keep their properties on the market or take them off. Or if owners haven’t listed their home yet, they may be asking themselves if they should wait until spring or brave the winter real estate market?

 

Trying to sell your home during the holidays can be daunting to many homeowners. The season can be extremely busy for families, and the idea of taking on the additional stress of selling a house c...

Top designers provide inspiration and tips for staging a home's bar area.
(This is courtesy of National Association of Realtors)

A small bar area in a home can offer up some fancy design. After all, you may be celebrating happy hour more often at home after a long day of remote work. So, don’t overlook the bar as a staging area. Top designers weigh in with some of their favorite inspiration and tips for a home bar.

Find Your Entertaining Corne,

"When first decidi...

Is a Realtor the same as a real estate agent?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is one major difference. A real estate agent has obtained a state license to assist consumers in buying or selling properties. However, a Realtor has gone a step above and become a member of the National Association of Realtors, an organization that holds members to high ethical standards and trains them in the most effective practices.

The word Realtor is a trademark referring to someone who's an...

Do you have a basement?  What about a crawl space?  Or are they the same?  Or maybe your home sits on a slab?

Basements and crawl spaces are easily confused, especially if the basement is unfinished since both act as a space under the main living level.  A slab does not.  You may be surprised though, that all 3 play a similar role- to act as your home's foundation

Your home's foundation is one of the most important features of your home.  The type of foundation often determines the conditions o...

Well inspections are critical when buying a home with a well as the primary water source.  With homes drawing on municipal sources, there is an assumption that the water in the home will be readily available and meet the safety standards of the municipality.

But with well water, you cannot make any assumptions about its purity. Beyond water quality, other problems can arise with wells that you should be aware of, and check for, before you agree to purchase a home.

So, if you are purchasing a ho...

Are you seriously considering putting an offer on a home or already have put one in?  Make sure you've had a thorough look at the seller's disclosure statement.  In most states, a person selling a home is required to document any known defects with the home for potential buyers, including any current or past problems, in the form of a disclosure statement.  You might be familiar with the federal and state laws known as "lemon laws" for protecting consumers from buying defective merchandise like...