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BUYING : Protect yourself !
It ’ s easy to get wrapped up in signing papers and losing sight of what you are agreeing to when buying a home . Fortunately , contingency clauses can protect you from losing what is yours . An example is a mortgage-financing contingency ; if you lose your job or your loan falls through , you ’ ll get your “ earnest money ” back in full . Otherwise , you may be obligated to follow through with purchasing a house you can no longer afford .
BUYING : Enjoy the view ?
It ’ s obvious that homes with a view can sell big . In fact , Realtor . com states that homes with a view of the city sell the fastest , with an average of 83 days on the market , while homes with an ocean view sit for 98 days ( mostly due to the elevated price of oceanfront property ). If you are in love with a home with a view , be sure it is there to stay . Although you may see rolling hills through your living room window now , who ’ s to say a real estate developer won ’ t see that same space as the perfect opportunity to build more homes ? Check with your local municipality for land use regulations to make sure your view will remain .
BUYING / SELLING : Your real estate agent matters .
According to Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff , research shows gender matters when choosing a real estate agent . Rascoff says men will get your home sold closer to asking price because they are stubborn , while women will negotiate and close the deal faster . Most importantly , find an agent who will work on your behalf . Ask friends and family for references of agents they ’ ve used in the past . Look up their current listings to see if they align with the type of home you want to buy or sell . This will also indicate their knowledge of the market .
BUYING / SELLING : Get a second opinion .
When you have lived in your home for years , it ’ s easy to overlook problems that potential buyers may spot right away . Have a relative or trusted friend come over to spot any small fixes that you can make prior to putting your home on the market to make sure it ’ s in optimal condition prior to selling . When considering buying a home , it ’ s also helpful to have someone who is not buying the home go with you to take a look . He / she will be able to point out potential issues that you may not see when trying to make such an important decision .
SELLING : Ignore the housing market .
Don ’ t waste your time watching the housing market for the best time to sell . According to Investopedia , “ it doesn ’ t matter what
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