4 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.
5 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.
Fall 2016
Special Advertising Section
EDUCATION
6 BUYING/SELLING: Your real estate agent
matters.
Fall 2016
Special Advertising Section
EDUCATION
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.
Continued on page 21 ➢
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