Linda's Corner

Becoming a homeowner for the first time is a huge milestone. Purchasing a home for the first time can sometimes come with a learning curve.

Once the sale closes and you are officially a homeowner, what do you do? Are you going to do some repairs yourself or hire a contractor to do some home improvements for you? There's a lot to consider and sometimes mistakes can be avoidable as a first-time homeowner.  

The good news is that there are some things that you can do to help reduce the possibility of making some of the most common mistakes.

Everything you need to know to make that big purchase easier

Must-have information for buyers, sellers, and refinancers

Whether you’re buying a home using a mortgage, refinancing your existing mortgage, or selling your home to anyone other than an all-cash buyer, a home appraisal is a key component of the transaction. If you’re a buyer, owner, or seller, you’ll want to understand how the appraisal process works and how an appraiser determines a home’s value.

*Article Source: Investopedia 

In a prominent MarketWatch article, Spencer Rascoff, Zillow's former CEO said, “We call it a Zestimate and not a Zeppraisal and not a Zeprice. It’s meant to be a starting point. To determine a more ACCURATE opinion of a home’s value, you should hire a real-estate agent.”

They may be using outdated data to put a price on your home

Many home buyers rely on real estate apps like Zillow and Redfin to focus their searches based on price, location, and time on market. Many sellers also rely on the apps' home value estimators to help them set a price. However, the Redfin Estimate and Zillow Zestimate aren't always accurate. Here is what you can do about it as a homeowner. 

*Article Source: Investopedia 

Summer housing slowdown brings bidding wars back to earth