I recently earned a designation through the National Association of Realtors to be a Short Sales & Foreclosures Resource (SFR) agent. So what is a short sale and how does it differ from a foreclosure? [Note: the following is not to be construed as legal advice] Short Sale A short sale is when a [...]
It is advantageous and more valuable if a property has at least a one-car garage. The norm for homes built within the last 50 years is to have a two-car garage. This property was built in 2002 and has a four-car garage. One side is tandem with a higher garage door to store a [...]
I recently worked with an investor couple on staging their vacant income property. They knew they could get more money for the property if it was staged rather than left vacant. However, we were surprised just how much over-list price an Offer came in at. Yes, it is still a Seller's market, which means [...]
Because housing inventory is so low, there are a lot of buyers who have lost out on their next home even with strong offers. Even cash offers, over-asking, short closing dates, and an inspection for educational purposes are being rejected. So what can a real estate agent do? According to Cara Ameer of Inman, [...]
I came across a post about "tacky decorating" and wondered specifically what the author defines as "tacky." The word "tacky" can mean slightly sticky, but in this case, the author means "in bad taste or of low quality." The word "tawdry" usually refers to a person's habits or dress; is defined as "cheap, gaudy, [...]
Land Use I listed two adjoining properties in Dane County (Wisconsin) in an unincorporated town named Mt. Vernon, in the Township of Springdale. The zoning is classified as HAM-R, residential hamlet. The land use is under the auspices of Dane County Planning and Land Development. The required lot size is 20,000 sq ft and [...]
The first impression of any property is its exterior. Are the windows foggy? Is the landscaping overgrown? Is the concrete buckled? On this house, the cedar shakes were deteriorating. The couple had lived here for 18 years. Due to a northern climate, over time, freezing and thawing had cracked some of the wood. Plus, [...]
One of the main reasons older adults move into retirement communities is for a greater sense of security and peace of mind. Retirement communities offer such features as emergency call buttons in bedrooms and bathrooms, ADA-compliant living areas, and onsite security staff. Staging a senior living community means sturdy furniture, no area rugs, no sharp [...]
Are you pre-approved for a mortgage? Due to COVID-19, most sellers want a minimum number of people in their homes after being listed. One of the ways to adhere to that request is for a prospective buyer to have a buyer's agent and be pre-approved for a mortgage. This usually ensures a prospective buyer [...]
Selling a house yourself is a daunting task. Some people think in a Sellers' Market all they need to do is post it on the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) local site, put a "For Sale" sign in the yard, and wait for the phone calls. This method may work from time-to-time depending upon [...]
