IN Sewickley Summer 2016 | Page 26

S P E C I A L S E C T I O N : R E A L E S TAT E 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. 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. 6 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. 7 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. 24 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Sewickley