Archive for November, 2008
What is Earnest Money?
This is a question I get from a lot of first time home buyers: “What is the Earnest Money and what does it pay for?”
The Earnest Money is usually a check or cashier’s check that gets written from the buyer to a seller at the time an offer is made. The check actually gets made [...]
Why Buy?
So you’ve heard that buying your first home will be much more valuable than renting for the rest of your life. But is it really true? It depends…
If you have a good credit score, can manage your finances wisely month-to-month, and want to have your own plot of land, then yes–home ownership is something you [...]
For Your Protection: Get an Inspection!
If you’re a first time home buyer and you’re writing up an offer, one thing I always advise my clients to do is uphold their right to get a home inspection done on the property between the time the offer is accepted and closing. Most sellers in today’s market won’t reject your request (partially because [...]
Foreclosure Watch: Part 1
With the dreaded “F” word looming in many homeowners’ minds, I wanted to take some time to help educate you on what Foreclosure is and how it may affect you if you’re looking to sell a current home, or buy a property in today’s market. Let’s start with the basics:
What is a Foreclosure?
Foreclosure occurs when [...]
Plymouth, MN “Best Place to Live” in America
Recently CNNMoney.com did a wide ranging series on the best places to live in the country. For many of us living in the Twin Cities metro area, it was no surprise that one of our own cities was named the “Best Place to Live” in the U.S.
The article cites Plymouth, Minnesota’s great schools, wonderful [...]
Is Real Estate Dead?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this over the past year: “So you’re in real estate—must be pretty brutal right now, huh?” Do you know how I respond?
“Actually, things are going well. Investors are buying up discounted properties, first time buyers are getting into homes they couldn’t afford three years ago, and [...]
