The Home Closing Process: What to Expect

Closing is the final step in your home-buying journey. On the closing date, the keys to your new home are handed to you, and you become a proud and legal owner of the home. But if you are not careful, the process can be a nightmare by dragging out too long. As much as a buyer and seller can settle on a closing date, the lender determines the actual closing date. The lender and title agency must be available and ready for closing to go through.

How Long Does the Closing Process Take?

On average, the closing process takes about 41 days. This is because 32% of all the transactions stall or experience some delay. Pre-approved loans are also said to close sooner than pre-qualified loans. With pre-approval,…

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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Made Home Buying Harder

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to everyday activities as well as rare events in your life. If you'd been planning to buy a home before the pandemic hit the United States, your plans may have been curtailed. Read on to find out if the COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder to buy a home.

No Open Houses

For decades, real estate agents have hosted open houses. This is an event that allows prospective buyers to walk through the home and see it in person. Neither homeowners nor real estate agents want to come into contact with dozens of people during an open house. This makes it difficult to get a feel for the size, layout, lighting and features of the space. Some real estate agents…

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What Fees Are Associated With Buying a Home?

For many, purchasing a home can be a very exciting time in their lives. Understandably, many find out that the process of purchasing a home is a little more daunting than they expected it to be. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the home-buying process is finding out exactly how much you're going to pay for the home. Many want to know how much they're going to pay in order to figure out their monthly payments. Therefore, the following list includes some of the most common fees associated with buying a home. 

Title Fee

After everything is set and done, you are going to receive what is called a deed from the previous owner. This is a document that is handed to you to legally transfer the property…

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How Much Cash Do You Need in Reserve When Buying a Home?

Purchasing a home can be both an exciting and a daunting experience, especially for those already worried about the end price. This is why so many real estate experts and those who've purchased a home before will tell you to have a certain amount of money in reserve. But how much do you really need to save up? Here are a few factors that occur during the buying process that determine that number and how much you should have readily available. 

What Exactly Is a Cash Reserve?

A cash reserve is essentially liquid assets that you have left over after you've paid your down payment and any closing costs associated with the deal. These assets can be anything from property that can quickly turn…

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When to Put Your Home on the Market

Timing is important when it comes to selling your home quickly and for the highest possible price. If you put your home on the market when demand is limited, it may be harder to find a buyer willing to make an offer on your property. Let's take a look at some of the best and worst times to put your house up for sale.

Winter Is Generally a Poor Time to Sell

The cold temperatures and limited amount of daylight make it difficult for people to find the motivation to look at new homes. Furthermore, it can be harder to properly showcase a home when snow and ice make it difficult to park in the driveway or walk to the front door without slipping. 

It is also important to consider the impact that the holiday season…

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The Top 7 Pitfalls to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Putting your home up for sale can help you take a major step forward in your finances, but finding a suitable buyer can be easier said than done. If your home is in a popular area, then you're probably going to have a bit of competition. If the market is in a bit of a lull where you currently live, then that means you'll need to put in a bit of extra work. 

Regardless of what kind of economic conditions you are dealing with, avoiding the mistakes that other people tend to make can get you a better price, lower your closing costs, and save you a whole lot of time. Here is our list of the six most lethal mistakes to avoid when selling your home.

Pitfall #1: Overpricing

It's tempting to try and…

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5 Reasons to Declutter Before Selling Your Home

You can help your house sell faster by removing clutter. Decluttering is one of the easiest yet effective ways of luring potential buyers by showing them a clean slate for their own lives. Here are five reasons that this simple process can help you close the sale of your home faster.

1. Makes the Rooms Seem Bigger

A bigger space is one of the top reasons why buyers move to a new home. Having too much furniture or too many decorations can make even a bigger room seem cramped. It also makes the home seem untidy and generally unappealing. The best way to deal with this problem is to get rid of anything that you don't need. Only leave behind enough furniture to give warmth to the living spaces. Ensure…

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Boost Curb Appeal to Sell Your Home: 5 Tips

When it comes time to sell your home, curb appeal is important. You've probably heard the term mentioned; it means that someone driving by may be impressed by the outside look of your home, finding it inviting and appealing to the eye. 

Here are some tips that you can use when getting your home ready to sell. A large investment is not involved, and it can really make a difference in the presentation of your property to a potential buyer.

1. Fix broken lights

A broken light may seem like a sign of neglect by a potential buyer. Why not brighten up the outside to highlight the architecture, landscape or porch? Lighting makes a home more inviting, and you want those who see the home from the outside to…

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COVID-19 Effects on the Greenville, SC, Housing Market

With the COVID-19 cases still rampant in many parts of the United States, the economy has plunged into the deep end as government, private, and business institutions are coping with the effects of the pandemic. However, sectors such as the real estate industry are experiencing the adverse effects of the crippling economic activity.

Communities like Greenville, SC, are opting for a more favorable result within the real estate sectors as homeowners and realtors are looking to make ends meet during this time of crisis. Below, we discuss the current effects COVID-19 has on the Greenville, SC, housing market.

Housing Availability

During the pandemic, there has been a gradual rise in homes for…

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The Most In-Demand Suburbs in Greenville, SC

Taylors

Taylors is a suburb in South Carolina that is ranked 18 out of 121 different suburbs for being one of the best suburbs for young working professionals, including individuals in the IT and healthcare fields. People living in the suburbs pay an average of $155,000 for a home mortgage. In Taylors, the medium rent is a little bit over $800. However, most residents that live here own their homes outright. This suburb has a small-town feel because there are only a little bit over 200,000 residents living in the area. Public schools are highly rated, so this is a great suburb for families with kids. 

Five Forks

The vast majority of residents living in Five Forks are composed of families with kids…

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