An absentee homeowner is a person or entity that owns a property but does not live in it. Absentee homeowners may use their property as a short-term rental or something else entirely. If you’re an absentee homeowner, it’s not because of how you use the property. It’s because you don’t live in it or actively
Industry Insights
When you’re ready to buy a home, there are many questions you’ll need to answer. One of them is how you’ll pay for your upcoming purchase. For most aspiring home buyers, there are two popular ways to buy a home: with a mortgage or cash. Homes are expensive, and most of us can’t afford to
Many home buyers close on a new home purchase later in the month to save on the interest and reduce their upfront closing costs. While this strategy allows you to pay less in interest at your closing, it might come at the cost of some other perks. We can help you choose the best closing
When it comes to investing, it seems like there are endless options available today. Among the most popular investment options are real estate, stocks and bonds. And to keep things interesting, within each of these investment categories, you’ll find a variety of investment options to consider. We’re going to focus on one investment category: bonds.
Have you ever thought about selling or buying a house online? Nowadays, you can use the internet to buy and sell practically anything – and real estate is no exception. If you’re curious about selling or buying real estate but don’t necessarily want to go the traditional route of renovations, staging, house tours and multiple
If you’ve ever been in the suburbs and wondered why there are no shops or restaurants in the neighborhood, it’s probably because zoning laws won’t allow it. If you’re considering investing in real estate, you’ll want to know which zoning laws apply because zoning laws can limit what you can do with a property. Maybe
If you’re not familiar with Regulation Z, the name might sound ominous (images of a plotting Dr. Evil or Filch tacking magical decrees to the wall), but it’s one of the most successful consumer protection laws in the U.S. Regulation Z, also referred to as the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), established a series of
Even after a homeowner (or land owner) has paid off their mortgage, that doesn’t mean the property will be theirs forever. An owner could lose their property if it’s condemned. The condemnation of a property often results in the transfer of a property from a private owner to another entity, such as the government. There
If you’re shopping for a home, you might want something trendy with lots of character and personality. While tiny houses are all the rage because of their minimalistic offerings, the bungalow house has captured lovers of open spaces. The history of bungalow style homes is fascinating. If you want a home with character and style,
Are you thinking about buying or selling a property? Before you do, it’s important to figure out who has the right to use the land. It’s not always up to the owner. If there are easements on the property, someone else might have the legal right to use it, and depending on the type of
When it comes to investing, real estate crowdfunding is the newest kid on the block. Crowdfunding sites are popping up on the web, promising a revolutionary take on making money in real estate. Targeted at new and seasoned investors alike, real estate crowdfunding is a great way to break into a game that’s typically reserved
When you think of theft, you probably think of someone stealing your wallet, your phone or maybe even your car. The idea of home theft may never have occurred to you – after all, how could anyone walk away with your home in their back pocket? Home theft can happen, though. It happens when a
If you’re trying to buy a property, you might have come across the concept of right of way easements. Easements are a common component of real estate law. The right of way easement is one of the most common types of easements, but there are many more. We’ll tell you everything you need to know
You’ll probably receive a variety of housewarming gifts when you buy a home, but one of the best things you’ll get is the bundle of rights. This term is used to describe the various interests and legal rights that come with property ownership. Sure, you can technically throw a few rager parties or paint your
You got your finances in order to help you buy your dream home, and you organized a tall stack of paperwork to get a mortgage preapproval. You did everything right. But with home prices on the rise, you might discover that the price tag on your dream home is higher than the amount you’ve been
Real estate transactions can be complicated with many moving parts and can give you plenty to think about. Until closing day, your life revolves around interest rates, inspections and paperwork. So. Much. Paperwork. We’re going to add one more thing to the list: real estate scams. Yes, scammers are everywhere. From small-time application-fee thieves to
You’re thinking of getting into the real estate game, and you’re looking at a home with an asking price of $140,000 and you’ll need about $10,000 to make repairs and cover other expenses for a total of $150,000. It’s in a good neighborhood, and it doesn’t need much work to get it ready to rent.
What comes to mind when you try to imagine what a manufactured home looks like? If you’re seeing a trailer home in your mind – think again. Manufactured homes have come a long way in the past few decades. Modern manufactured homes are beautiful, sturdy and packed with creature comforts. They are ordinarily less expensive
Sometimes everything happens at once. Let’s say you’re a passionate entrepreneur with a small business that’s finally ready to scale up with the right financing when you learn that your family is about to grow, and you need a bigger house. Applying for a mortgage and a business loan at the same time is a
Let’s imagine two people standing apart from each other, at least arm’s length apart. It might be safe to imagine they don’t know each other very well. Now, let’s imagine a second couple. They are standing close to each other, maybe even arm in arm. It might be safe to assume they know each other
A multiple listing service (MLS) is a database real estate agents and brokers create, maintain and pay for. Because it’s a collaborative tool, it makes transactions easier for all parties involved in the sale of real estate. Real estate brokers can see each other’s listings, schedule showings and easily connect buyers and sellers. The MLS
When you’re buying a home, you’ll want to make sure there are no legal issues with the property. Lis pendens means there is a legal dispute over a property, which can make a property difficult to buy or sell. Whether you’re a homeowner, a potential buyer or someone disputing property ownership, understanding how lis pendens
Did you know that flood damage isn’t typically covered by homeowners insurance? That’s right. Your policy covers different types of damage, but if your home gets flooded, your home and your belongings aren’t covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Here comes flood insurance to save the day! If you’re wondering whether you need flood insurance
Property taxes are payments you make to help fund your local, city and state governments so that they can provide you with public services. And that’s important. Ask yourself where you would be without vital community services like fire, police, schools, sanitation and, of course, local parks and recreation facilities. You may be wondering how
You’ve persisted through long weeks of negotiations, tons of paperwork and hours of scrolling through home furnishing websites as you mentally decorated your new pad. But dreamtime is over. Now it’s time to collect those keys and rest your weary feet in your new home. It also happens to be a time for checklists and
Your home is a large investment so you’ll want to make sure it stands the test of time. The foundation of a house is an essential component to its safety, stability and longevity. It keeps the house in place, ensures the house is level, keeps moisture out and even insulates. But foundations can have problems,
Just when you thought you had this home buying thing down, you hear about a hybrid appraisal. You know what a hybrid electric car is, but a hybrid appraisal? In real estate, a hybrid appraisal is an alternative to a traditional appraisal. With a traditional appraisal, a licensed appraiser inspects a property and analyzes local
The excitement of being a first-time home buyer is unbeatable. A home is one of the most important and largest purchases you’ll make, and it’ll have a significant impact on your financial future. The question that many first-time home buyers face? Should you buy a starter home or jump directly to your forever home? There’s
Accidents happen all the time; it’s just a natural and unpreventable part of life. Homeowners might not be able to prevent all the accidents, but they can prepare for them. Creating a home inventory list is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare. Trust us, your future self will thank you!