The most important question when it comes to home buying is, how much can you afford? The majority of home buyers finance their purchase, most often by taking out a mortgage loan. Prequalification and preapproval are essential parts of the mortgage—and home buying—process. Prequalification vs. Preapproval Prequalification is a less rigorous check by mortgage lenders…
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the perfect home just fell into your lap? Maybe you’re just that lucky! For most of us, however, the home buying process is an exercise in compromise—needs vs. wants. To make the home search easier on yourself (and your buyer’s agent), spend some time brainstorming your wants, needs, and must-haves…
You may be asking yourself why a buyer’s agent is necessary in the 21st century. Technology certainly makes it easier to see what homes are on the market, but finding homes is just the tip of the iceberg of a real estate agent’s job. Hiring a buyer’s agent is making an investment in knowledge. Are…
Home buying is a process. Television shows make it look easy and quick, but in real life, buying a home can—and often should—take much, much longer than you may think. Here are four essential questions to consider as you think about buying a home: Why do I want to buy a home? Only you can…
Think Ahead to Prepare for Home Costs by Lisa Merritt If you are thinking about purchasing your first home in the near future, then you need to be aware of the costs that you are going to take on. When you are looking at the cost of a home, it is very tempting to focus…
How do you stay safe while searching? by Deborah Rutter Let’s face it—some people need to purchase: new jobs, new kids, retirement, downsizing, or just plain ole’ moving. Interest rates are low, so for many buyers, the time to jump is now. While it may seem counterintuitive to make such a big move in uncertain…
Typically, foreclosed houses offer the attraction of being much cheaper than other homes on the market…but is it worth it in the long term? We surveyed our Nest agents to get their opinions on how to determine if buying a foreclosure is right for you, and what issues you need to keep in mind when…
Buying and selling homes is already difficult, but it can be even trickier when pets are involved. Luckily, we’ve got some tips to help you navigate both sides of the process as a pet owner. Buying with Pets Pet parents need to keep several key details in mind while shopping for a home. If your pet…
Moving to a location with a homeowners association (HOA)? Here’s some information to keep in mind while navigating the world of HOAs. What is a homeowners association? HOAs are governing bodies that can oversee parts of neighborhoods, subdivisions, apartment buildings, or planned communities. In order to live within some designated areas, buyers may have to…
6 things to consider when relocating to Charlottesville for a residency By Angie Dotson 1. Get Prequalified You’ve heard it before, but being prepared to write an offer in the competitive Charlottesville marketplace is the very first thing you should do. From physician loans to taxes and insurance, speaking with a trusted local lender means…