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Home Buyer Tips

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Spring Cleaning for Real Estate

19 February 2016

From a real estate perspective, whether you intend to rent, buy, sell or re-invest in your home: the first step is to clean it ‘til it shines.

The kick off to the official first day of Spring is right around the corner. For most people, this is a time when they begin anew and especially focus on their home. This actually gets me excited because I think your home responds and welcomes you more when you give it some love.

Let’s go over my best spring cleaning ideas, tips and tricks to enjoy your home or grow value.

Basics

No time like the present to do all surfaces and floors! I’ve got kids, dogs and a roughneck husband. I know this is an ongoing challenge, but daily and weekly cleaning will go faster with a strong foundation of clean.

Deep Cleaning

A good deep clean twice a year will help keep your home enjoyable and usable. In real estate, pride… Read More

Ins and Outs of Contract For Deeds or Lease-Purchases

12 February 2016

Ok, let’s face it lease purchases are out there and with the market where it is, they are popping up more and more.

Below you will find tips on Contract for Deeds (CFDs) and a great Pros and Cons List for Buyers and Sellers.

Best Tips!

My best tip for a mutually successful and beneficial CFD transaction is to do it above board.

– Use separate lawyers, a title agency and an escrow company. Anyone who hesitates to use any or all three should cause you to stop and carefully reconsider: there is a huge red flag on field.

– The lawyers will help you understand, review and prepare the documents and title to clear and process it. The escrow company can manage both intake of payments and out takes to lenders; and HOLD the warranty deed to transfer upon completion of contract.

– Think Long-Term – Please, consider the long-term vs. short-term gain and risk before signing a CFD or… Read More

Common Tricks to Avoid in Real Estate

5 February 2016
I work hard to be both helpful and ethical in my practice of real estate.

Time and again I see badness and trickery in my industry. It hurts all of us to allow these practices to continue. With many realtors to choose from, we hope to stand out by living our motto that “Service is Our Specialty”.

Today I want to make you aware of some common dishonesty in this industry.

I want to be clear and state that I am not suggesting that all brokers pull these tricks! In my experience, many are honest, forthright and desirous of helping their customers. But, like in any profession, there are some who play by a different set of rules.

Here are common realtor “tricks” I recommend steering clear of. Greed

Real Estate is typically the largest investment a person ever makes. The commission and compensation are normal and negotiable by law. In our area,… Read More

Oil Prices and the Real Estate Market in Wyoming

22 January 2016
Everyone in Wyoming is affected by the oil market.

The effect of oil prices on real estate prices is undeniable. We are definitely in one of the deepest downturns of the oil industry since the ’90s.  Let’s go over oil basics and then apply it to our market.

It is important to note that oil is a strong indicator of home price trends, but it is just one factor of many.  Wyoming learned from ‘80s that the boom and bust cycle is brutal and we are fortunate as a state to have watch guard’s in place to maintain a more controlled market than I see nationally.

What is the current price of oil?

The American benchmark was at around $27 a barrel on 1/20/16, same for Brent crude.

Why has the price of oil been dropping so fast? Why now?

The simplest answer is production is higher than demand. However, many national interests are at play and it can… Read More

Become an Expert on New Homes Hitting the Market

14 January 2016
Knowledge is power

Knowledge is power and early knowledge can offer you a distinct advantage, especially in our tight real estate market. Those who find the properties the quickest gain an edge by being the first to see new properties and thus the first to make offers. More often than not, having current market knowledge pays off.

Many buyers and sellers are not ready to actively tour homes yet but want to watch or research the market online. This article will review how you can leverage the property search on this website to quickly access the newest properties on the market and how to setup email alerts when new properties match your criteria for Casper, WY real estate and the surrounding areas. Of course, hiring an agent will make finding homes for you a top priority, but realistically you’ll start by doing your own research and browsing online first.

Current Casper Area MLS Listings

It’s important begin by pointing out that my website offers you the… Read More

Tips for Moving With Young Children

26 August 2015
We are a family company and that means we have firsthand knowledge of moving with young children! Here are some of my best tips to make your move go more smoothly! Prepare kids for what to expect. Young children might not have a good understanding of what the term “moving” really means. Explain to them exactly what will happen, and take the time to read some age-appropriate books about moving together. My personal fav is the Berenstain Bear’s Moving Day. Let the kids help you pack.If they’re old enough, let your children help you pack some of their personal belongings. Even at a young age, kids can sort their toys and help you wrap objects in tissue paper or bubble wrap. If you’ll be putting some things into storage, ask them what they would like to keep and what they don’t mind parting with for a while. Let them decorate a box for the last items to…… Read More

Home Finance Information

20 August 2015

How much home can you afford? Whether it is your first or your last home, figuring out what you can afford and what is the best loan for your family can be daunting. Read up on the most common loans below to help you make the most of your money matters! Feel free to apply online or use the lender of your choice for additional and personal advice! And, word to the wise: I was a mathlete so if you are not a crazy number lover like me: partner with a top notch lender and they’ll compare and break it down in your favor! Ok here goes:

Fixed-Rate Loans

The fixed-rate mortgage is the most popular mortgage program in use today. Fixed-rate loans offer the borrow a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan, typically 15 year, 20 year or 30 years terms. Your principal and interest payment cannot go up or… Read More

Home Loan Shopping Rules

23 July 2015

To make an educated, apples-to-apples comparison on home loans we suggest using the following tips:

1. Always use a local lender. Seriously. Being able to sit down to explain or work hand-in-hand with a real person is invaluable during this key moment in your financial life. I’d even go so far as to say that here in the Casper area, having a non-local prequel can lead to nerves on an offer before a deal is even done. This is because many online mortgage companies make it easy to prequalify but pull their endorsement before the deal closes with little repercussion. Make sure you are dealing with a local lender.

2. Understand Estimates. A couple hundred dollar difference in bottom line fees on an estimate is meaningless because of the variations in how lenders calculate costs. All estimates within a couple hundred dollars either way should be considered equal when lender comparison shopping.

3. Don’t fall for fluff. Experience counts not sales pitches. You want someone who actually cares… Read More

Closing costs, explained.

21 July 2015

Realtors and Lenders toss around terms and we sometimes forget that you don’t use them everyday like us! Our home buyer tips has a glossary of terms to help you acquaint yourself with common real estate terms. Closing costs tend to be the most confusing, even for the experienced buyer.

Here is an overview of the types of closing costs you may incur on your loan. Some are one-time fees, while others reoccur over the life of the loan. When you apply for your loan, you will receive a Good Faith Estimate of Settlement Charges, a one page summary which will break out all fees, charges as well as your payment and cash to close. As you shop, you should always be asking for an updated Good Faith so you can review and address your money portion of the deal. Since understanding closing costs and reading a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is HARD; the best option is to sit with your lender or realtor and… Read More

The Good Faith Estimate Explained

19 July 2015

Lenders are held to a high standard of accountability with the use of the standard Good Faith Estimate. This means you really should know your payment and cash to close for your transaction. Your lender must meet strict rules on timing and the quality of their estimate to protect you-the buyer or consumer.

Let’s start the top half of Page 1 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form

Name, address, etc of both the lender and the customer. It also asks for a Property Address. The property address is important. There are different requirements if you don’t have an actual property address. Obviously refinance transaction will have an address right away. If you are buying a home, you may or may not have an actual property address at the time the estimate is done so be sure to get an updated estimate before and/or after you offer.

The “Important Dates” Section

Line 1: Lenders must list a date and time… Read More