HomesDirect News, Information and Blog

Buyers must be careful when negotiating a contract
Buyers must be careful when trying to negotiate a contract. It is good to be aggressive; then again, one must be careful as I have seen things go wrong too many times. Buyers act too aggressive and it ends up costing them the deal.

Sellers must understand that prices have dropped
Sellers must understand and come to terms with the fact that home values have gone down and that their properties are not worth what they were a couple of years back.

Try to spice up your house when selling
Try to give your property a new look. A few simple improvements will go a long way in selling your property

Don’t be afraid of making a low offer
A buyer needs to be aggressive when buying a property. Today’ market gives the buyer a perfect opportunity to do just that. Low interest rates, a huge inventory of properties for sale, and desperate sellers are giving today’s buyers a perfect opportunity

The step by step process of buying a home
After you have made an offer to purchase a property and that contract is executed by both buyer and seller, then the purchasing process really begins. There are many steps that must follow in order for the transaction to close.

How to get a good deal on a house
deals are out there and you have to be smart about finding them. Talk to professionals in the business. Do a search online. In a time like this, a buyer has the power and a smart buyer may find a fantastic deal.

Be smart when searching for properties
Real estate websites have changed drastically and are improving everyday. A well-educated buyer is able to take advantage of all the resources available in today’s market. This means a more intelligent search that will achieve better rsults

Who keeps the deposit when the contract does not go through?
If the contract does not go through, then the seller gets to keep that deposit as a result of that buyer backing out from the purchase. However, there are a few factors that give the buyer the right to keep the full deposit

The importance of pictures when selling a property
when advertising your property for sale, make sure you display that property correctly. Publish pictures and virtual tours. You will be surprised how buyers will appreciate this and how you will be the beneficiary of such actions.

Buyers – be specific when looking for homes
The buying process does not have to be a long, tedious, time-consuming effort. If done properly, buying a place could be done in a matter of just a few days.

High gas prices are changing how realtors work.
Higher gas prices are having a profund effect on the way realtors work. The high cost of showing properties may change the entire industry as we know it.

How to price your property correctly
It is a key element in order to sell your property. It must be priced correctly. Not to high so that it will discourage potential buyers, and not to low so that you are giving it away.

Informed buyers love rebates
Receiving a buyer's rebate at closing is a very simple process of obtaining additional cash at the end of the transaction, plus the added benefit of working with a professional agent throughout the purchase

Inspections and appraisals – who pays for them?
Inspections and appraisals are both very important steps in the buying / selling process. If done correctly, it will give the buyer a great sense of confidence and relief as he will be fully aware of the market value and condition of his future property.

What is a selling and a listing broker?
There are usually two types of brokers on every transaction. The listing agent is the real estate agent that is putting the property for sale. Then, there is the selling agent. When a buyer comes in with a realtor, this realtor is called the selling agent

Selling a home – is updating a good idea?
Updating your home will greatly help the sale of the house but it will not make it go for a higher price. If you are looking to renovate a property because you think you will get that money back at closing, then renovation is not a good idea.

Open Houses, How useful are they?
Open houses work but only under the right conditions. If these conditions are not met, then open houses are just a waste of time for the seller, the realtor and their potential buyers as well.

What is a buyers market
A buyer's market is one in which there are too many homes on the market for the number of buyers. Homes take longer to sell and prices fall.

How to get over the pricing hurdle when selling
You may want to, or simply need to, sell your current home. Pricing will make a great deal of difference in the process. Not pricing so high that you are out of the market range, and not so low that you loose money at the closing table.

The Value of Successful Home Staging
I believe staging helps the property stand out. Good staging can determine which properties sell fast and which do not.

Be a more efficient home buyer
The number one thing to becoming a more efficient home buyer would be time maximization. A good real estate search engine is critical for this

The Lock Box Realtor
Since I have been in Real Estate I have noticed that 20% of the Realtors make things happen while the other 80% sit back and wait for things to happen.

How to avoid paying a 6% commission
People are always annoyed by the fact that selling real estate is very expensive. The customary 6% commission that real estate brokers charge could add up to take most of the equity in one’s home.

Are you sick of being late to the party?
Get to the best deals before your friends do.

How a Flat Fee MLS works
Flat fee MLS is a very popular way to sell a home. The process is actually very simple and it’s designed to safe the seller a lot of money.

Searching for homes online is very efficient
The real estate industry has "moved" online. While the actual signing of papers still takes place in person (for now anyway), every other aspect of real estate can be done online.

Real Estate Search Engines are evolving
Long gone are the days of driving around looking for homes. The new house hunter goes to the web and in a matter of minutes has all the information he needs.

Buyer rebates are a fantastic way to buy a home
Buyer rebates are a fantastic way to buy a home, use expert assistance from realtors and receive a check for using their services.

Get Exposure for your listing
Exposure, exposure, exposure!!! With 88% of buyers looking for properties on the web, it seems to me that exposure on the correct websites becomes the key.

Selling real estate has changed drastically
FSBO websites, internet exposure, virtual tours and many other factors have changed the industry. The information available on the internet is making sellers and buyers change the ways they deal with real estate.

Clean up your credit for the best available interest rates
Low credit ratings mean that buyers won't qualify for the best available interest rates and fees, which could mean considerable extra expense each month for the life of the loan.

Reinventing real estate: How online empowered consumers are taking charge and paying less
For decades, the real estate world turned in a predictable manner. And now, everyday brings the news of many start ups using technology to transform what has been a "well protected business model".

Do you have friends in real estate? Do they give you back 75% of their commission?
Most people have friends in real estate. Have you asked any of your friends in real estate if they are willing to give you back up to 75% of their commission in cash at the time of the closing?