2016

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Steps to Sell a House: How Long Does Each One Take?

Realtor

Adam Gault/Getty Images; realtor.com Even in the hottest markets, selling a house is by no means a transaction that happens overnight. Every step—from listing your house to getting an offer to closing—takes time. But how much time? To help you pace yourself, here are the steps to sell a house, and how long each one typically takes so you can plan accordingly.

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Price per? square foot is not the holy grail of property value

CM Appraisals

By Tom Horn ​ ​Price per square foot is media darling of value While scanning the news headlines this week I ran across an article titled “What Is the Average Price per Square Foot for a Home — and Why Does It Matter?” Because I am an appraiser this caught my eye for various reasons. The article pointed out that you can use the average price per square foot of the sales in the neighborhood to gauge whether you are getting a good deal when buying a house.

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Markets, Neighborhoods and Subdivisions Part I

CP Home Appraisals

The more we review appraisals, the more apparent it becomes that many appraisers in Houston are confusing the terms Market and Neighborhood. This creates misleading results in appraisal reports and can lead to an incorrect conclusion of value. For starters, let’s give some basic definitions for each of these real estate terms: A Real Estate Market is an area, usually geographically constrained, where buyers and sellers come together to make transactions.

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Housing Values up on demand, but can lower financing costs help?

MN Real Estate Services

New warning lights for rising home prices. Home prices are crossing the line again. After an epic housing crash, where values plummeted nationally by almost 35 percent, the nation is seeing new highs again. The median price of an existing home sold in May hit a record $239,700, according to the National Association of Realtors, which began tracking prices in 1968. “We are seeing flashing yellow lights on affordability.

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A Modern Home on Lake Minnetonka

Anthem Valuation

Families are looking for more functionality in their homes along with durability. [link] age materials in residential housing construction emphasis durability and modern design. The post A Modern Home on Lake Minnetonka appeared first on Anthem Valuation Blog.

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Why Is My Lender Asking About My Race on My Loan Application?

Zillow

At some point in the mortgage application process, you'll get asked questions about your race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Being asked to provide this information can often raise a question of your own: Why? Let's answer that question now. Clearing up anti-discrimination laws A law called the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) enacted in 1974 makes it illegal for lenders to discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, age, marital status, or because one receives public assistance.

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UT West Campus Condos Market Values

Texas Home Appraisal Blog

The area known as West Campus near University of Texas is a hot spot for condos sales and rentals due to the obvious transient nature of the market area. Each year students, specifically upperclassmen, go on the hunt for a suitable off campus property for the next few years of college. Likewise, many graduates are moving away from the college scene and into apartments more suitable for young professionals.

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Welcome to our new blog!

Lifestyle Properties of Maine

We look forward to making this the best resource for information about real estate, our local area, and current topics that impact you. Please feel free to comment on our posts if you have questions or reactions to share. If there is anything you'd like to see us write about, we'd love to hear your ideas.

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What to Expect From a Home Appraisal

Realvals

Before setting up an appraisal for direct clients, we are almost always asked how the appraisal process goes and what one should expect from a home appraisal. The answer is almost always the same, which is why I decided to write this guide. One thing to note ahead of time is that the majority of the work is done behind the scenes. All the client ever actually sees is the inspection (If you are the client), and the final report.

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Steps to Sell a House: How Long Does Each One Take?

Realtor

Adam Gault/Getty Images; realtor.com Even in the hottest markets, selling a house is by no means a transaction that happens overnight. Every step—from listing your house to getting an offer to closing—takes time. But how much time? To help you pace yourself, here are the steps to sell a house, and how long each one typically takes so you can plan accordingly.

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VA Buyers: Does Your Home Meet the Right Property Requirements?

Realtor

Veterans United VA loans offer numerous benefits, from zero down payment to flexible credit guidelines and more. But these government-backed loans also aim to help veterans buy homes that are safe, structurally sound and sanitary. Every VA purchase loan requires an appraisal, which includes the valuation of the property along with a high-level check of the home’s condition.

Buyers 78
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Why a property’s previous sale can really matter for an appraisal

CM Appraisals

Ryan Lundquist 10 Comments Paying close attention to a property’s previous sale can be a big deal. I know it’s tempting to say value is all about the current market, but sometimes looking at the past can help us understand the present. Here are some reasons why I pay attention to previous sales. Any thoughts? 5 things to consider about a property’s previous sale : READ MORE.

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How long does it take to complete an appraisal?

CM Appraisals

By Tom Horn Time to complete an appraisal can varyThe most common question I get after leaving a home on an appraisal assignment is about how long it will take to complete an appraisal and get the report back. This is understandable since the owner or buyer is nervous and might worry that their house may not appraise for what they think it should. The length of time it takes to complete an appraisal will vary depending on many factors which we’re going to discuss today.

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How appraisers reconcile value

CM Appraisals

​Curious about how appraisers reconcile value? April 5, 2016 By Tom Horn After completing a pre listing appraisal assignment recently the homeowner asked me a question. He was interested in how I came up with the value I did given the range that the sales provided. Being able to explain the appraisal process to help inform and educate the public is one skill that they don’t tell you about when taking your basic appraisal courses.

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Why Your Home Appraisal Might Come in Low

Realtor

A home appraisal coming in low can sound like a death knell for a home purchase. Unfortunately, it happens: A low appraisal can complicate an already bumpy home-buying process. Suddenly, you find yourself in a conundrum: Your bank will fund a loan only up to the appraised value. So do you walk away from the sale? Do you fork over more money to cover the difference?

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?Paying attention to the mood of the market

CM Appraisals

February 16, 2016 By Ryan Lundquist The other day a home owner was upset because he thought his appraisal came in too low. Yes, he was hung up on price per sq ft, which was a big issue, but most of all he believed the home should have been worth way more since there were almost no other homes listed for sale on the market. His thought was, “There’s no inventory, so I’m going to command top dollar.” After all, isn’t real estate about supply and demand?

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How much value do higher ceilings add to a home?

CM Appraisals

​January 25, 2016 By Ryan Lundquist ​ Would you pay more for a house with higher ceilings? I probably would, but I guess it depends. The ceilings in my home are a standard 8 ft. Would I have paid more if they were 9 ft? Probably. But what about 23 ft? No, that would be too high. Someone asked me a question recently about the value difference of ceiling height, and I thought kicking around some ideas here could open up a great discussion.

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VA Buyers: Does Your Home Meet the Right Property Requirements?

Realtor

Veterans United VA loans offer numerous benefits, from zero down payment to flexible credit guidelines and more. But these government-backed loans also aim to help veterans buy homes that are safe, structurally sound and sanitary. Every VA purchase loan requires an appraisal, which includes the valuation of the property along with a high-level check of the home’s condition.

Buyers 60
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Markets, Neighborhoods and Subdivisions Part I

CP Home Appraisals

The more we review appraisals, the more apparent it becomes that many appraisers in Houston are confusing the terms Market and Neighborhood. This creates misleading results in appraisal reports and can lead to an incorrect conclusion of value. For starters, let’s give some basic definitions for each of these real estate terms: A Real Estate Market is an area, usually geographically constrained, where buyers and sellers come together to make transactions.

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How Edina and St Louis Park Are Changing in Different Ways

Anthem Valuation

The two suburbs of Edina and St Louis Park while bordering each other have very different landscapes in terms of the likelihood of a home being torn down and rebuilt. Edina’s premier school district is likely the biggest driving factor in the decision for young families to build in Edina. [link]. The post How Edina and St Louis Park Are Changing in Different Ways appeared first on Anthem Valuation Blog.

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New Development Coming to NW Metro

Anthem Valuation

Planned amusement theme park and water park to open in 2017. The job growth this project will create will likely drive demand for housing in the NW metro for years to come. Historically, employment and access to employment are primary drivers in locational appeal of residential real estate. [link]. The post New Development Coming to NW Metro appeared first on Anthem Valuation Blog.

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Affordable Housing Expansion in Maple Grove

Anthem Valuation

The housing demand for multi-family development has continued to increase in the western Twin Cities metro suburb of Maple Grove. These 371 apartments under development trails only the city of Minneapolis (611 units under development) and Blaine. (430 units under development). [link]. The post Affordable Housing Expansion in Maple Grove appeared first on Anthem Valuation Blog.

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What’s Happening in Upper End Home Sales in the Twin Cities?

Anthem Valuation

The number of million dollar plus home sales within the Twin Cities metro area in the past year 491 and counting has passed the number 453 that sold in 2005 at the peak of the last real estate cycle. Additionally, the supply of homes in that price range has decreased from a 38 month supply in 2009 versus a 13 month supply today. [link]. The post What’s Happening in Upper End Home Sales in the Twin Cities?

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Checklist: Everybody You Need to Notify When You're Moving

Zillow

When you’re preoccupied with important relocation-related tasks, it’s easy to forget about informing relevant people and institutions of your upcoming residential move and subsequent change of address. But notifying specific organizations and individuals of your relocation is essential for ensuring a smooth moving process and preventing various hassles and troubles with your mail and accounts.

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5 Things You Need to Know About Real Estate Disclosures

Zillow

It’s standard practice in real estate to give a home a fresh coat of paint before putting it on the market. Nine out of 10 times, the intention is to show the property at its best. But every so often, the seller paints the house in hopes of covering something up. In most parts of the country, sellers (and agents) are required to document any known defects - whether current or past - to potential buyers.

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3 Situations Where It Pays to Buy a Fixer-Upper

Zillow

It's every home buyer's worst nightmare: Finding a house within striking distance - of your price range and work- that quickly turns into a money pit. On the flip side of the fixer-upper experience is someone like Jordan Brannon, a director of digital strategy in Spanaway, WA, near Tacoma. Although he's sunk considerable money into his two-story, late-1990s home, he feels it was a good investment.

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3 Ways to Protect Your Escrow Deposit

Zillow

You've made an offer on a property, the seller has accepted, and maybe you’re about to sign a contract. Now it's time to put some money down to show that you’re serious about moving forward. The amount of money a buyer puts down (and when it’s put down) varies by state and local market. For many, it's a few thousand dollars, up to three percent of the purchase price.

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How to Prepare Your Home for an Appraisal

Zillow

Getting your home appraised can often be a nerve-wracking experience. Your home and your handy work will be on display to be judged and valued so that you can move forward with selling your home. But it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. With the right tools, tricks and savvy, the appraisal process can not only go smoothly, it can also help you make a giant financial leap toward a future in a new home.

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How Do Sales Concessions Affect Market Value?

Texas Home Appraisal Blog

Concessions listed on comparable sales are an important factor that an appraiser needs to weigh when performing an appraisal. Most appraisal forms, including the government standard 1004 URAR, has a section in the sales comparison grid to list, and adjust for, any concessions made on the sale of that property. Depending on the amount of the concession, and what is typical within the market area, they can have a drastic impact on the adjusted value.

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Does Price Per Square Foot Give An Accurate Home Value?

Texas Home Appraisal Blog

In the world of real estate, it is very common for homes to be valued by their square footage. Understanding the way a price is set per square foot and how it works is seeing and understanding the market value of properties. The Square Footage Within A Neighborhood: There is never one price per square footage within a neighborhood. There are other factors that are taken into consideration.

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Facts About Using a Co-Signer on a Mortgage

Zillow

Do you need a co-signer to buy a home? To help you decide, let's review the reasons you might use a co-signer, the types of co-signers, and the various requirements lenders have for allowing co-signers. When to use a co-signer Many young professionals ask their parents to co-sign while they're ramping up their income. Other lesser-known but still common scenarios include: Divorcees use co-signers to help qualify for a home they're taking over from ex-spouses.

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15 Words That Could Add Value to Your Listing

Zillow

Why do some homes sell for a premium? Timing, for starters. An analysis of 24,000 home sales in “ Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate ” also reveals listings with certain keywords tend to sell for more than expected. “Bottom-tier homes described as luxurious tend to beat their expected sale price by a whopping 8.2 percent,” write co-authors Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries. “Top-tier homes described as captivating tend to beat theirs by 6.5 percent.

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Subrogation Appraisal

Mores Appraisal Group

What is a Subrogation Appraisal? Subrogation is a term denoting a legal right that is reserved by most insurance carriers. Subrogation is the right for an insurer to pursue a third party that caused an insurance loss to the insured. This is done as a means of recovering the amount of the claim paid to the insured for the loss. Many times an insurance company will request a subrogation appraisal when there is a complete loss.

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Should You Use the Listing Agent When Purchasing a Home?

Zillow

First-time home buyers aren't typically versed in the intricacies of agency disclosure, nor do they understand the concepts of a buyer's agent and seller's agent. They only know that the person they meet at an open house or email about a listing is an "agent." When they start getting more serious and want to inquire about a property, its price, condition or history, they typically direct their questions to the seller's agent - which presents an immediate conflict of interest.

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