Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from September, 2021

First Time home buyer. Is 3% down even plausible in this market?

Hi! So my husband and I are currently in a rental home and we were planning to ride out this market until it calms down a bit. However, our landlord is looking to talk to us next week and I worry they might want to sell their house since it’s a seller’s market. We have been great tenants and all, but she would probably make a ton of money on this house, so I worry she is going to tell us she is selling. I just like to expect the unexpected and be prepared in case she tells us some bad news. That being said, we are looking to see if its even possible to buy a house right now. Mortgage payments are not an issue at all. It’s the down payment (as it is for most first time home buyers I’m sure). We were told FHA loans are not worth it and to do a conventional. I know some conventional loans only require 3% down. My husband and I have great credit (750+) My worry is with the competitive market, we wouldn’t even come close to being taken seriously. We live in Massachusetts and our jobs are

Inherited house. How do we handle home owners insurance?

My wife is set to inherit her late grandfather’s house in Florida that will be deeded through a trust. This has not happened yet but we expect it to happen very soon. The homeowners insurance is still active but in my wife’s grandfathers name. Do we need to buy our own homeowners insurance ASAP? Should we wait until our names are on the deed? We plan to rent it out. How will this impact the homeowners insurance we need? This home is fully paid off. We already have a primary home/mortgage in a different state. submitted by /u/AncientBox1617 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pyozvy/inherited_house_how_do_we_handle_home_owners/

Appraisal

Hi- received appraisal report for a home I am under contact for to buy. The home appraised for more than the purchase price. Am I required to disclose the amount to my realtor, seller’s agent or the seller? Thanks. submitted by /u/fanda4ever [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pynarc/appraisal/

Buying a gorgeous home in a supposed bad neighborhood. Is it worth it? 1st time home buyer, primary residence.

TLDR: Are there any ways we can help determine how bad the neighborhood really is or how at risk the house is? Edit 1: Had no idea about crime maps, thank y'all. Heya folks, As the title says, trying to figure out how I can gauge a neighborhood as bad essentially and how at risk we'd be realistically by living here. We're basically on the corner of what's referred to as Murder Bloc, lots of alleged gang violence and such. It's a gorgeous home, basically renovated from the ground up. New windows, doors, original restored wood floors, new paint interior and exterior. New patio, storm shelter, garage and car access to backyard shed, as well as a man cave with vents and its own electricity in the back. Absolutely gorgeous, love it, everything I've dreamed of and more especially for the price and for my first home. Are there any ways we can help determine how bad the neighborhood really is or how at risk the house is? submitted by /u/TrafficAffectionate2

Historic Preservation Easement headaches - ISO lender who is comfortable with this

My house is being designated as a historic resource. Lender must subordinate (sign off) on a historic preservation easement. My current lender (Fifth Third) is terrible, their customer service people are unable to help. Even the higher-ups eventually got me some paperwork to fill out, indicating Fannie Mae requires an appraisal - fine, I can work with that. But I want to ensure that the appraiser understands the pros and cons of the preservation easement - in particular that the house itself is eligible for $50k in grant funds for any restorative work. It's gotta be a win win for everyone! But this bank is so poorly run, I cannot even get a human to speak with me so that I can explain what I am seeking. They just want me to file some papers and pay a $500 fee, no conversation first. So, if anyone can recommend a lender who is comfortable with this, I would be very happy to refinance with them and continue the subordination process. Note that this isn't a typical HELOC subordi

How to tell how many years a person has worked as an agent?

I know nothing about real estate so this might be a naive question: How would I find out how many years a person has worked in the business? Looking up properties which they’ve listed and sold? If their listings only go back, for example, to 2014, is that a good way to guage how long they’ve been working as one? submitted by /u/the-straight-risks [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pymseu/how_to_tell_how_many_years_a_person_has_worked_as/

Looking at lenders for new construction

My husband and I signed a purchase agreement for a new build at the beginning of this year. Initially we were told it would be done by November 2021 but due to covid delays and supply shortage, we’re about to break ground within a few weeks and looking at another 6 months or so for completion. Prior to signing our PA, we shopped around for lenders and after the PA, we submitted a formal mortgage application and got approved with one of the preferred lenders. Since then, we haven’t really kept in touch much with him. (Should we be?) I think we only contacted him once back in May to inquire about an extended rate lock but he said we would only be able to do 7 months out. My understanding is that we can still change our lender. I was told a while ago that I should be rate shopping again when it’s closer to our closing date (completion date tbd in the next few weeks- hoping by March/April 2022). 1.) With that said, when is a good time for us to start looking at the different lenders aga

Wish I could review houses

Went to see a house, pictures looked great but IRL revealed many problems. Windows are in bad shape, possibly leaking, visible roof damage, some mold in the basement. Nothing disclosed. When we asked about the roof damage they insisted they had it "professionally inspected" and claimed it was cosmetic damage (haha). Still it's a good layout, size, area, etc. Told my realtor I wanted to lowball, he suggested an even lower price than I thought based on comps and condition. The house is back on the market after a prior buyer backed out, probably for the same reasons. So we sent the offer and they came back with a mere 5k drop, refused to budge any further, and demanded we drop the inspection (lol). I responded with "Hey, failing to disclose mold is illegal you know?" (it is impossible to miss). But I guess they want to hold out for a dumber buyer than me (good luck!) Anyway its no big loss I just feel like I should have some kind of google review to let people k

Should I keep my family member as my realtor?

Buying in NJ. I have a family member that is a realtor and willing to work for us, and we all know the market is tough. Its come up again and again that only I find the houses and my spouse and I request the family member to see it. Our realtor also has a full time job and other things going on which causes us to not be able to get tours to see the houses. We've been waiting to see a popular home all this week but the realtor hasn't been able to secure a tour. I spoke with another realtor who said he was able to get a tour in a few hours if I wanted. Is it worth our time and money wise to stick with our family member or should we choose someone else? submitted by /u/NatalieA16 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pym9zr/should_i_keep_my_family_member_as_my_realtor/

Selling an older house to a property developer: Long

We are living in the PNW on a very busy thoroughfare, bought cheaply in 1999. Our house was built in 1948 and it was Frankenstein-ed to insanity over all the years. It is now 3500sf or so, and nothing about this house is smooth, functional, or intuitively welcoming. We've struggled to make it right, but it's not. It's a beast, but it's our beast. There's no way in hell this place is going to pass any inspection for a loan (bad foundation, bad wiring, weird plumbing, too many trees) and we are pushing the timeline on a bunch of maintenance and tree removal we don't want to pay for. The property is almost paid off and the assessment is for $350k over what we owe on it. Due to a history I don't have room for here, this place is not going to be suitable for another family to buy. To the North and South of our property are mid-level apartment complexes built in the last 4 years. Our property is zoned to build 8 units on it. In my opinion, selling it to someone

Avoiding an inspection/appraisal contingency?

I'm trying to buy a house in PA. My realtor told me having an inspection contingeny drastically lowers my chance of getting a house because it's a sellers market atm, and houses sell within 2-3 days (this is true). And sellers typically pick buyers without an inspection/appraisal contingency. He suggested that I get a 1 year warranty on the house instead. Does this sound right? The houses in my price range are selling like hotcakes, which is up to 300k. Though it seems to be slowing down for higher price ranges. Should I follow his advice or get another realtor? He has 30 years experience and says this has been the case roughly the past 2 years. He also suggests an escalation clause may be a good idea in my case/price range. submitted by /u/l_am_null [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pykxon/avoiding_an_inspectionappraisal_contingency/

Seeking advice for how to legally + politely "evict" a roommate without a lease (Virginia)

My roommate and I have lived together for 5 years with no lease in a house that I own. We used to be friends, but we've grown into more of a mildly tense coexistence. Meh. I want to live alone now. Any recommendations for how to announce his eviction? Conversation first, then email? Any other considerations I should keep in mind? My understanding is that Virginia law requires 30 days notice, but I plan to give him 60 days. Is this reasonable? submitted by /u/ixikei [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pylpc1/seeking_advice_for_how_to_legally_politely_evict/

Lead concern

What are you guys thoughts on buying a home pre 1978 with lead concern. For all those health gurus, has this been a deal breaker for you? submitted by /u/prjtar [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pykpph/lead_concern/

Agent Opinions Needed- Listing Curation Business Idea

I recently helped my mom find a new home in a large metropolitan area with lots of listings to wade through. She did have an agent help with the transaction, but the agent wasn’t super helpful when it came to narrowing down the options based on my mom’s more nuanced preferences (beyond just SFH, 3bd/2ba, etc). I know some agents have the bandwidth and desire to pick say, a top 10 potential houses for their clients, but this agent didn’t (she sent my mom lists of around 80+ options meeting the basic criteria). What I’m wondering is- do you think there’s a potential business here, in helping agents curate listings for individual buyers? I envision working with agents who have demanding clientele and charging a percentage (how much?) of their commission to provide an evolving list with all relevant metrics, a map, and suggested viewing route. I’m sure a good assistant provides this for many agents, but I am interested in pursuing this as a business with a specific service offering (not

Attic mold

I'm interested in a house that checks all the boxes, except the seller has disclosed that there's mold in the attic on the plywood ceiling (roof), and that quotes to get it fixed are available. I know that attic mold is pretty common and isn't a gigantic issue...so long as it's just in the attic (and not in the insulation, etc) and the cause of the high moisture can be fixed in addition to cleaning the mold. If I did go under contract here I would get my own inspections. My 2 questions are: - Is there an accurate way to know whether the mold has spread to other areas of the house? Attics are easy because they're exposed, but most of any house is hidden. I don't mind buying the attic-mold house, but I do not want to buy the entire house-mold house where I'm ripping down walls, etc. - I know it's a seller's market which is why the sellers are leaving this to the buyers to deal with - but is that a red flag in and of itself? If I was living in a ho

Seeking advice about importance of school rating

I’m somewhat confused regarding making a decision about which home to go for based on school rating. I noticed homes in relatively better school districts are $200k higher than similar homes in not too good areas and that difference is too high for me. I work in Northern Virginia. I’m thinking maybe I should just suck it up and find a way to manage the mortgage but at the same time, I feel uncomfortable with that idea. This will be my first home. How did you deal with this issue if you have kids? Thank you for your time. submitted by /u/pepgua [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pyizzu/seeking_advice_about_importance_of_school_rating/

Failed transaction commission?

We had a real estate transaction go bad. We were on the buyer side of it. The realtor was not the best, perhaps could have salvaged the situation if he had been more proactive. But it wasn’t technically his fault at all. The agent is sort of a friend and we feel terrible about how things turned out. I feel like we should send him some type of commission or gift for the work he put in. However, I can also make the argument that he advised us poorly and that’s why it didn’t close. Have you ever, or would you ever, pay an agent something even though the deal did not close? If so, what or how much? If you’re an agent, how often have you been given something like this? submitted by /u/Freetoobeemee [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pyh06q/failed_transaction_commission/

For those that are investors in the flipping business, how do you guys file for taxes?

I have watched so many Youtube videos on this topic. I've seen people mention about filing as s-corps within an LLC. Learned about capital gains and ordinary rates. I am going to seek help from a CPA for professional help because I still don't understand anything about taxes. As everyone else, I would like to find ways to minimize my tax deductions. I'm currently in escrow on a property to flip it. I have about less than 2 months that escrow is going to close. Should I start an LLC before the escrow closes? How much is it generally to get an LLC started? And how much will I get taxed in California for the profit I make off the sale of the home? submitted by /u/jqucla [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pyfmzf/for_those_that_are_investors_in_the_flipping/

New build, wrong color?

When I was choosing the colors of my home, I was shown a list of colors I could use. I chose Web Gray SW 7075 as my exterior color. Upon driving up to the house, it looks like a royal blue/grey? Am I crazy? Im going to look for a paint bucket with a paint code but am afraid they cleaned it up as I have my walk through tomorrow but I have some photos here: http://imgur.com/a/jwWsOmR I'm going to SW tomorrow to get a web gray swatch and try to match it to the home before the walkthrough so I don't look like a madman mentioning it. I know colors can change with phone cameras, time of day and weather, photo iso settings, exposure etc but Ill snap a photo of swatch next to the house. submitted by /u/creditcheckpls [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pyfit9/new_build_wrong_color/

Mortgage calculator that factors in deductions in property tax and interest on a mortgage?

Does anyone know if this exists online somewhere ? I can’t seem to find on my end… Just want to see what the true final value of my monthly payments are.. well I guess annual payments since tax returns are once a year… submitted by /u/Inertiahero [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pye3ik/mortgage_calculator_that_factors_in_deductions_in/

Gravel pit

I’m considering buying a house that is about 3/4 mile from a large active gravel pit where they do regular blasting, etc. I’ve read some things about silica dust being a potential issue, potential groundwater issues, potential blasting issues on the structure, etc. but I’m not sure whether any of that would be an issue at 3/4 mile away. Thoughts? Experiences? Thanks! submitted by /u/SpamInACan78 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxz8xb/gravel_pit/

USDA loan and overtime calculation

Hi guys, im looking at getting a USDA 0 down loan for the rural house I am renting currently. I am having trouble figuring out what they will put my income at considering all of the OT I get. Current base wage: $25.24 an hour ($52,499) 2019 W2: $61000 2020 W2: $54500 (lower due to COVID, less OT) 2021: $60498 as of today 9/29 ($73600 projected total 2021 income, if I stopped working any OT right now and only took base wages for the next 13 weeks, realistically it will be around $75k). So what would my income be considered if I were to attempt to qualify for a home loan in the next month? Im trying to figure this out so I can know what my DTI will roughly be and what I need to plan for. submitted by /u/juggarjew [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxyunq/usda_loan_and_overtime_calculation/

I forgot to “save” a house. Options?

I neglected to save a house that was listed for a while. It was never pending or offer accepted, so I don’t think it sold. I don’t remember address (just the town/suburb) or realty. But, now a friend is looking for something and this might be perfect for him. Is there a way for the general public to access houses that have been removed from the MLS? It was probably removed less than two weeks ago. submitted by /u/Giwu2007 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxypio/i_forgot_to_save_a_house_options/

Why do people think their houses are worth that much?

Homebuyer in the Bay Area, and I'm seeing this trend of sellers pricing reasonably and getting offended when people offer asking (c'mon - no parking + at least $60K in pest work and you're upset at being offered 1.4?), or they're getting offers above asking and people are offended because they're not far enough above asking. At what point do sellers say 'well, guess our house isn't worth what we think it is'? What's the end-game for these types of people? ETA: in many cases, these houses are sitting for a month or more without a price change -- and that's a long time in the Bay submitted by /u/ProgrammaticallyHost [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxyf96/why_do_people_think_their_houses_are_worth_that/

Didn't read my lease carefully enough and the lease duration is differ from "cover page" details, am I SOL?

I'm guessing I made a $1,000 mistake, I requested a 12 month lease and have an email chain and a summary of lease page that says 12 month term but the actual lease I signed is for 12 months and ten days, I think they keyed in the 14th instead of the 4th on accident. I need to move out about a month before the lease expires. Do I have any leverage to get my landlord to let me stop paying ten days earlier than the lease states given I requested and they indicated I was signing a 12 month lease? Thanks! submitted by /u/Accomplished_Earth50 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxy803/didnt_read_my_lease_carefully_enough_and_the/

Is there a limit you should spend on remodeling when you care about return on spend?

Let say a 3b2b house of 1600sqft on a 7000sqft lot, which typically worth 800k in a neighborhood. Does it make financial sense to spend 200k to remodel the house in and out, completely transfer the yard, adding a shred, while a slightly outdated 4b2b house of 2000sqft typically goes for just 900k? Sure, we shouldn’t ever expect to get 1:1 return on spend, but is there a limit on how much one should spend on their remodeling before it makes more sense to buy a better house to begin with? Or, which do you think is more important, the size of house and # of bedrooms, or the styling and the appearance of a house? submitted by /u/Zookeeper1099 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxy3s0/is_there_a_limit_you_should_spend_on_remodeling/

The Bloomberg article " never been a better time to be a home owner and harder to become one" hit me hard on my b day today but not giving up

Today i turn 29, i had chances to buy since 2018 and but got cold feet. I realize my mistake but things happen for a reason. Many think a bubble will happen and others think this is normal. Regardless who is right or wrong. Buying now seems very hard but there will always be a way if theirs a will. NOT giving up but lesson learn, buy when you can/have the chance and do not wait for perfect time because perfection is the enemy of progress submitted by /u/blueeyesdragon92 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxxshv/the_bloomberg_article_never_been_a_better_time_to/

Anyone contact owners directly about selling?

I’m looking for something very specific in a very small area. I’m good to just wait until something suitable comes on the market (recently sold suggests there have been about 4-5 in the past year), but I’m thinking of ways to be more proactive. Anyone ever write letters to sellers asking if they’re interested in selling off-market? Any success? Long shot I know but figure it costs nothing. Would love to hear thoughts! submitted by /u/neatokra [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxxgls/anyone_contact_owners_directly_about_selling/

Expectations of a realtor

We have put our house up for sale using a real estate company. Our realtor has not been active party during the house inspections. (We have had 2 with 2different buyers.) The last inspection the realtor failed to tell me about. With a 2 year old and a dog I scrambled around trying to leave so the could do the inspection..my question is What is expected of a realtor? Thank you submitted by /u/suzybeth_86 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxx9gn/expectations_of_a_realtor/

Parental figure buying house and including me on title, but I have EBT.

So a parental figure in my life whom I care for, wants to put me on the title on a house they plan to buy. This is for my benefit and security in the case that they die. They plan on buying with a mortgage and we haven't tried to get approved for a loan yet. Mortgage 30yrs, honest life expectancy for parental figure, 10yrs. So I'd have to take over eventually. I want to know how that'll affect me receiving EBT, or if I'd even be eligible for a mortgage for a house while getting EBT. I want to continue getting EBT for my own food safety. Should I not be on the title but instead have it written in the will that I inherit the house? How should I navigate this? submitted by /u/Key_Type654 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxx475/parental_figure_buying_house_and_including_me_on/

I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of buying this condo, any advice?

I’m a first time homebuyer and I don’t have many people I can go to for support/advice on the topic, so I’m coming to my Reddit fam lol. Here are the pros of the condo I like: 1. Location - it’s in a great location for me. 2. Price - it’s very affordable, way less money than I was prepared to spend. 3. It’s just really, really nice on the inside. When I first saw the pictures of the place, my jaw dropped. Everything inside has been redone, the floors, cabinets, all of the appliances, everything in the bathrooms etc. It looks like a high end apartment. Here are the cons: 1. Both bathrooms are really tiny. There is a half bathroom in the master, so just a toilet and sink. The other bathroom is a full bath, but it’s super small. Like the toilet and bathtub are right next to each other with no space between them. (The overall condo is 900 square feet) 2. It’s on the first floor. For security reasons, I always feel like i’ll be safer living higher up if something happens. It’s much easie

just got my first offer

Just got my first offer. My agent gave me 3 referrals for real estate attorneys and their fees are around $1700-1800. I found one in my area who charges $1200. Also the referred attorneys seemed to think i was hiring them from the first phone call.... will there be any issues with my agent if i don't use their services (they did ask who gave the referral) ? Also my direct neighbor is selling her house with a different realtor and is asking how things are going. Is it ok to discuss the specifics of the offer or should i just keep my mouth shut ? sorry for the noob questions. submitted by /u/wsbtard1 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxwm4i/just_got_my_first_offer/

Do I need to wait until closing to start ordering renovation materials?

Planning on ordering flooring which is a 4 week wait time. Closing is in 5 weeks exactly and we accepted the inspection, only needed like $200 in fixes which we weren't going to bother the seller with, appraisal came back spot on. We've signed everything and apparently now we just sit around until closing. I guess seller could have cold feet and pull out. Is it not advisable to get the ball rolling on ordering reno mats? I obviously can't move in until its painted/floor added. Not a big deal if I have to wait, I'll just be out a months mortgage. submitted by /u/DistinctFudge8740 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxwe4l/do_i_need_to_wait_until_closing_to_start_ordering/

Due diligence needs for a hotel

I’m working for a business that is interested in developing some land they currently own into a hotel. What information is generally needed to create a good business case review for an investment like this? Feel free to send links! Thank you and sorry if it’s a vague question but super early stages and don’t know where to start. submitted by /u/Ballatility [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxvx4n/due_diligence_needs_for_a_hotel/

Are there agents that work in wide areas and/or no geographic area?

I'm looking for a location for a recording studio. Compared to town or area, it's much more important to me that I get the right property with the right building. I'm wondering if there are any agents that don't work in a locality. The first question everyone asks is "Where are you looking?" and I understand that this is standard but honestly, I don't care. Like... I'm looking in the northeast on plots that are fairly quiet. That's about all I'd want to limit myself to. submitted by /u/ImFuckingPositive [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxvib3/are_there_agents_that_work_in_wide_areas_andor_no/

Paying over asking price is not necessarily overpaying or paying over "market value."

If you go to a sealed-bid auction and buy a rusty old yacht and end up paying $40,000 over the auction reserve, the selling estate doesn't then suddenly owe you $40,000 worth of nonsense. If they misrepresented the condition, ie. the motor is blown, sure, you can definitely try to get something for it. But other than that, you are just paying what it costs. Importantly, if something is old, that doesn't count as a defect on its own. If you buy a 1965 mustang, and your mechanic "inspects" it for you, and says that most engines last around 12 years and this one is 56 years old, the seller doesn't have to then somehow drop a 2021 engine in there. If it runs at all, it is what it is. Edit 1: In this hypothetical nonsense scenario, they person may or may not have actually overpaid. It's aside the point. submitted by /u/Wrong_Onion66 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxuc81/paying_over_asking_price_is_not_necessari

Should I “Buy a House in LA” or “Save for Retirement”?

As you reach your early or late 30s, there comes a time when you are faced with a dilemma. Should I start saving to buy a house? Or, should I save money for my retirement? Both goals are big and require a huge amount of savings and a significant monthly amount to pay your mortgage and build your funds. Let’s find out what you should prioritize. submitted by /u/gittavanbennekom [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxulkf/should_i_buy_a_house_in_la_or_save_for_retirement/

What happens to the land owners on La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), whose land got destroyed/covered with lava in the recent volcano eruption?

I realise this is kind of a niche question and I'm also not personally affected. I just find it interesting from a legal perspective. So, how does this work? Do the land owners keep their ownership of the land? And if so, are the estate borders then projected upwards to the new surface area? Or does the land fall to the state (maybe with potential compensation)? I guess the land is unusable for the forseable future, because it wouldn't be economically viable to cover the cost of clearing the space from all the rubble. Any ideas? submitted by /u/zscan [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxtbvs/what_happens_to_the_land_owners_on_la_palma/

I'm a new agent with a possible buyer with social security income, disabled

Should I start by contacting lenders first? He has good credit, will put a high high payment, and the income comes from social security (permanent). Or should I tell lenders about him and refer them so I can get a copy of the letter of approval and make a connection with the lender? this could be my first transaction ever, I got my license last week and joined a brokerage a few days ago. submitted by /u/Funny-Soil-2980 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxreol/im_a_new_agent_with_a_possible_buyer_with_social/

Does Redfin notify homeowner if browsed?

I browsed an address a while back, but that same one recently showed up with most of the photos gone. Does Redfin notify home owners that somebody has been looking at their place, and if so, do they share that info? Curious, because a place I’m interested in suddenly deleted most public pics of the property. Could it be because I was browsing the place, and they heard about it and didn’t like it? submitted by /u/byte_spray [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxochi/does_redfin_notify_homeowner_if_browsed/

Find new communities

Looking for our first home, I am curious to know if there is way to find out what are the upcoming communities within a school district. The school district I am trying to find a house is very good and obviously very popular. All the new home prices have skyrocketed. I am curious to know if I can find out the new communities that will start their work in next couple of months and see if I can find a house for little cheaper price. Is there a way I can find out when new communities are planned to start? submitted by /u/uncle_colin [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px9eit/find_new_communities/

First home buyer

Hey guys hoping I can get some insight. Last week my fiancé and the seller of a home both signed the purchase agreement contract. Everything was looking good, but then yesterday the sellers agent comes back to tell us there’s a better offer and they’re considering it. I’ve read the contract 10000 times now & im seriously confused on why their realtor thinks they can consider a better offer. Am I missing something here? I thought once the agreement was signed by both seller & buyer, it is a legally binding contract. What can we do? Their realtor is one shady lady it seems like. submitted by /u/urlocalveggie [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px9pj0/first_home_buyer/

Personal interest disclosure sent months after sale complete

My girlfriend sold her house back in April. She ended up selling it to her realtor as he made a fair offer we were happy with and removed any worry about timing since shed be moving in with me in another city. ​ Today she received a document requesting her signature titled "Personal interest disclosure and consent" which is 5 months since we closed. ​ Is this just something they should have done prior to the sale and now just covering their bases or is this something else? submitted by /u/Sethdubbs [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pxab1b/personal_interest_disclosure_sent_months_after/

Fsbo- potential buyer says "tell me about the house"

I said you want a narrative. I already gave you a folder with the info. How would you respond to that question? I retold the same stuff in the folder. Is it a date or a home purchase? submitted by /u/Radiant2021 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px8uln/fsbo_potential_buyer_says_tell_me_about_the_house/

Realtor says appraisers are lowering sales prices - to sell or not to sell? (USA, OK)

I bought my first home in April of 2020. I wasn't planning on selling it, but I've had a few friends recommend I look into it because every house they try to buy (granted, in a different state) is getting outbid by $30k+ very quickly after listing. I spoke to my realtor and she said people in my area are desperate for housing and are putting in offers $30-50K over asking. This is great for me. BUT, they also said that in 40% of cases, the buyers' appraisers are coming in and listing prices at or below asking price. So my main question is: is it worth it to try to sell the house? I'm a single guy with no emotional attachment to the place, and I can easily move back into an apartment or rental house. I figure I'll sell if I can make at minimum $25,000 after all fees. Is this realistic? Finances: Not sure if it matters but I bought the house for $125k (not including VA fees) with a VA loan and currently owe ~$124,500 total. submitted by /u/LT_FatNeck [link]

Selling Without Co-Signer Consent?

Two years ago I bought a home and my dad co-signed. He is not on the deed (I am the only one on the deed) and I have made all payments including the down payment. I am ready to sell and move, which for a number of reasons I wont get into that involve my parents desire to control everything I do, he will not be happy about. I am going to tell him of course, but do I need his consent to sell? Is there anything at all he will need to do to sell or at closing? I keep getting mixed answers, my realtor said he may need to sign something at closing but the lady at my loan office said he wouldnt need to do anything. Can someone please explain this to me like I am 5? submitted by /u/burnttoastielynn [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px8vzb/selling_without_cosigner_consent/

Question for Appraisers: “Tidewater Process”

I have a listing currently under contract and set to close in 2 days. The buyer’s lender let me know yesterday that the appraiser has called for the tidewater process (which I know about, but have never encountered). The appraiser did provide the comps they were using which some are similar to the ones I used. I was worried about a low appraisal on this one as there were competing offers and the buyer who won was pretty aggressive. I sent additional comps from a neighboring town (all sold, but I know they aren’t actually comps when not within a mile etc.) I guess my question is how low do VA appraisals typically come in when this happens? And are appraisers typically trying to get as close to the contract price as they can justify? I’m aware that they are meant to be unbiased, but I imagine they don’t want deals to fall completely apart etc. There are some unique features on this particular home that I’m not sure how they would adjust for given the comps in the area. submitted by

Can Mortgage application have a different address?

Might build a new house in IL. Currently, live in VA. My wife and I live in Virginia and work from there; both of us have a remote position so moving to Illinois will not be a problem. Our apartment lease ends in April 2022, but we are thinking of canceling our lease early in November 2021 and move in with my parents in Illinois until the new house is completed (haven’t signed a contract yet). However, since we both work in Virginia, our current pay stub has Virginia's apartment address on it and one of the bank accounts also has the Virginia address. This was a temporary move for us so I didn't change addresses on other accounts. I have an IL driver's license and my wife has a VA driver's license. The builder is going to send us a contract first week of October and once a contract is signed, we will fill out their conditional loan application. I doubt there will be enough time to change the address to go in effect for bank accounts and pay stubs. If I use my parent

Some houses just aren't worth the money (looking in Northwest)

In the area we were searching for a house in, we really wanted to live there. But the housing prices are really inflated right now. Almost made a bid on a few homes. But now I realize these housing prices are way too inflated and don't reflect the actual value of the house. I don't want to pay half a million dollars for what is basically a converted mobile home. I visited the area briefly and looked at houses. I saw the neighbors of these homes for sale getting overly excited about their house prices going up. They'd come out to the yard and tell me ten other people had looked at the same house that day. Most of the homes were badly in need of repairs. I can buy a much nicer home where I live now for the same price AND in a good school district. Now I need to re examine why or if I should move. So I am going to take time off or maybe stay put where I am for a long time. submitted by /u/FrostyLandscape [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstat

SLC offers have been rejected for lower bids, thoughts?

We are looking to move from LA to SLC and have made a number of offers and none of them have been accepted. We know its a crazy market but we are looking to be closer to family. We are strongly qualified by our lender and have an approval letter for well over the value of the property. We've seen how competitive things are so we have started offering a generous amount of earnest money. We do include an inspection clause as we are out of state and are often unable to see the house prior to offering. Despite this sellers will often take offers lower than ours and offer weak reasons like they "felt better" about the other buyers and in one case indicated that they wanted to sell to a local business owner. I realize we are competing in highly selective areas like Yalecrest or the east bench, however our experience is even weirder than past purchases in LA. Anyways, if any of you have experience in this market and have suggestions that would help make us more competitive we&#

Lennar Home Buying Experience

Need to warn people out there about the escrow process. Let’s start with the first part: Agents- know that if you bring your clients to see a house here, you will not get commission and will not be represented. Even if they say in the beginning that you do get commission. The offer. If you see a home you like, make sure your offer includes in writing the things you assume are included (because Lennar will go in and take them out, or will add extra costs for things that are already inside the house). I know right, I thought “everything is included” as the tag line says. Not true. So for example, I would list in the offer to make sure it includes the solar panels, alarm system if your house has one on display, all appliances currently inside the house, all appliances listed on the “everything’s included list” and attach a picture of said list. Escrow- be aware that with escrow a lot of fees are inflated or vaguely added (what is 1k in builder fees? And a $500 notary?) our closing cos

Should I get my real estate license?

Hi! Not sure if this is the right place to be asking this question, but I'm interested in getting into flipping homes/having vacation properties to rent out. Do you think it's worth it for me to get my real estate license? I'm not interested in selling houses to anyone else, but it would mean I can do everything regarding buying the houses on my own right? submitted by /u/kangarooster123 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px5rh2/should_i_get_my_real_estate_license/

Property Management marketing

Would property managers be able to market a rental any better / differently than we could on our own? We are having a somewhat tricky time getting interest in our rental and it’s tempting to hire a pro but I’m not sure I am objectively convinced that they could market it to more people than we have on the internet. If they will just drop the rent I figure we could do that too. submitted by /u/kapitanemo [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px3xrl/property_management_marketing/

ITT: Post your favorite listing agent cliches

INVESTOR ALERT, needs a little TLC, priced to sell Handy man special! CALLING ALL INVESTORS, great tenant income potential This property won't last (120 days on redfin) HOUSE FOR INVESTOR 80K CASH CLOSE QUICK LOCATED ON CORNER LOT NEAR SHOPPING N GOOD SCHOOLS Back on the market! buyer failed to deliver on financing. Newer roof, newer AC submitted by /u/Azrairc [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px3bz0/itt_post_your_favorite_listing_agent_cliches/

Wise time to take Equity out and buy more ?

I want to start a discussion on whether this is a good time to take equity out from rentals which have appreciated a lot and use that to acquire more rentals. Alternatively whether it's a good time to sell old rental for newer constructions and avoid maintenance costs/active work involved in managing the rentals. ​ Or whether it's a bad time considering that it's very hard to acquire new properties - and 1031 exchange gives you very limited time to acquire them. Plus due to covid restrictions it might be harder to get new tenants in for the new properties. I have 1 primary residence (paid off), and 4 rentals that were bought with 25% down. Buys were spread over 2013-2019. They are all in Austin area. this is my side hustle (day job - engineer). me and my business partner manage and maintain all of them ourselves (so 2 people part time). ​ I am in the process of doing a 1031 exchange for 1 rental which was constructed in the city in 1979 - and was able to buy 2 new SFH

Appraisals and quick refi

So to make a non contingent offer on a 490k, we used both mine and my wife's credit to secure the loan. I'm in the 780s shes in the 700s. We are selling a townhome for about 265k and I owe 180k on it, but I dont need to sell it to buy this new home. The appraisal for the new home came in at 515k. Right now the plan is to put down 98k to avoid pmi. Should I put down less, with the intention of refinancing, using only my credit and use the equity gained from appraisal to avoid pmi after a few months. Let's say putting down 75k instead of 98k submitted by /u/jaystone85 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px1mrr/appraisals_and_quick_refi/

When is the best time to apply and tour rentals before moving in?

Hi! My move in date is gonna be the first or second week of November. This will be my first apartment so I’m new to the process. Since it’s about to be October, should I start touring and applying now? I’ve come across this great apartment that has everything I’m looking for but don’t know if it’d be too soon to start the process. Any advice is appreciated:) ty! submitted by /u/idkifthisisnormal [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/px1174/when_is_the_best_time_to_apply_and_tour_rentals/

When house hunting, how do you know if you've found "the one"?

My bf and I are house shopping. We're kid free, and plan to stay that way, so we don't need a huge house, but we do need space for an office, reading nook, music room, and home gym. These things plus a 2 car garage and a decent sized kitchen are our must-haves. Our budget is $250k, which is lower than the cost of most of the houses we've seen and really loved (they're closer to $300k, which we can't comfortably afford.) For $250k we've found that we usually have to compromise on 1 or 2 things in any house we look at. We found a house yesterday that we really liked, except for 2 things- 1.) The full bathroom is tiny with almost no counter space 2.) There's no dedicated dining room (the kitchen does have enough space for a table, but not a big one). We don't usually eat at a table currently, but did want some dining space for entertaining. We've looked at close to 30 houses and this is the first one that's checked all the major boxes? Are w

Is there any legal precedent for ending a lease early (from tenant side) for repeated theft?

In this situation, I am the renter. US Based. The area in which I rent has started to see crime increase drastically over the last 2 years and its at the point where over the last few months alone, I've had my car stolen and multiple package deliveries stolen. My report to my landlord and the police, but here its basically expected that you'll never hear from the police again, and the landlord has cameras everywhere but never comes up with anything. Is it possible to get out of a lease early under these circumstances at all? I plan to speak directly with the landlord (which is a big company) about it to see if they would break it off. If they refuse, I'm curious if I have other options of if I'm just stuck riding it out while neither the landlord or police will do anything helpful. For reference I live in a locked building, with tons of cameras inside and outside. When my car was stolen from right under a camera, no help. As my packages are being stolen, no help. S

What should we ask our home inspector?

First time homebuyers here, got an offer accepted last Thursday. Inspection is this Thursday. As FTHB we really have no idea what we should be looking for and I don't want to waste this opportunity to pepper our inspector with questions! What should I ask the inspector? Home is a ranch built in 1958 in the Midwest. submitted by /u/Halostar [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwicfh/what_should_we_ask_our_home_inspector/

First time home buyer--flooding disclosure

We are in the process of looking at houses in the Chicago suburbs. We've visited a handful of houses and there is one we really liked as it meets many of our needs and is within budget.   However, prior to placing an offer we asked our agent to get more details regarding flooding since we noticed a FloodFactor rating of 6/10 despite the home not being in a FEMA flood zone.   Our agent looked into the disclosures and found that the current owner disclosed that he has had water during heavy rain because the storm sewers couldn’t handle heavy rains. Our agent advised we would need a sewer backup endorsement on our homeowners insurance.   The seller comment on the disclosure form states the basement has had some water during heavy rains 2 times since the owner lived there & that the basement pump removed all of the water with no issue.   Is this issue serious enough that we should re-consider making an offer? Should we just keep looking? We like the home, but I'm worri

Some advice needed - Refinance.

Our current house has been on the market for 2 weeks now, we're under contract on a new house to close at the end of October. My current house is not contingent on closing for the new one, however, we would like to get some $ from it to do some improvements on the new one. Instead of selling my current house, I'm thinking of keeping it and renting it out. Is there a way to do a refinance of the current house and get the equity out of it? We wanted to sell the current house before closing on the new one, but it doesn't seem that is going to happen. So keeping this house in our portfolio is now an option for us. Question is, can we get equity out of this one right now or just have to keep it as is with the mortgage we have now? submitted by /u/new2thishtorw [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwhu4j/some_advice_needed_refinance/

Outdoor pool, pros and cons?

So we just got an offer accepted, and I may be in the minority but I’m pretty stressed out about it having a pool. I was really hoping for a house without a pool because we have a toddler. It just so happened that we got an offer accepted for a house that happened to have a pool. We are in CA, so I know it adds value to the house, but I feel like I will be in constant anxiety with fact that my child is in danger around it. It is tucked on the side of the pool and has a gate, but it’s still dangerous. Can you give me some pros and cons of having a backyard pool? Never had one before, not looking forward to maintenance costs either. But we don’t think that is a reason enough to pull out of the sale necessarily. If I didn’t have a kid I think I would enjoy having one. submitted by /u/Hereforthememes5 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwh904/outdoor_pool_pros_and_cons/

The city of Berlin, Germany has voted to nationalize its biggest landlords.

Berlin has voted to nationalise the city’s biggest landlords, with 56.4 percent of voters saying yes to the non-binding referendum instigated by Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen. Voters were asked whether the state should purchase the real estate of landlords that own more than 3,000 apartments. This will apply to 240,000 apartments, or 15 percent of Berlin’s housing stock. The vote means the Senat must “initiate all measures” to put the decision into practice. “This referendum must be respected and the necessary steps must be taken,” said Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s incoming mayor. https://www.exberliner.com/berlin-english-news-blog/ This has inspired hundreds of other cities around the world to contemplate similar measures to combat what are increasingly seen as predatory practices by landlords. submitted by /u/handle2001 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwga7d/the_city_of_berlin_germany_has_voted_to/

$600k for our first home

My gf and I are looking to buy a home that’s close to downtown Nashville. There’s a ton of new developments and the area has been growing a lot over the last few years. Houses that were selling for $250k in 2017 are now worth $425k. The house we are buying is brand new 4 bedroom 3 bath. Her and I would be taking the master bed and we’d lease out the other rooms. After doing the math, the monthly house payments of around $3200, without tenants, would be about 30% of our monthly income. We have no other debt or student loans. Technically, we could pay the monthly for the house just by ourselves as well. This home definitely isn’t going to be our forever home. Although, it’s close to a lot of cool restaurants and things to do nearby so we wouldn’t mind staying here a few years, but at some point we would like to sell it or lease it out to buy our forever home. Should we put down 20% to reduce monthly payments or 5% to keep cash in hand for the forever home? submitted by /u/M0shk

Home Construction, Final Week

So long story short my home has been under construction by the builder for 6 months. My move in day is this Saturday October 2nd. The builder says (as of last week) we still on track to move in. But between today and Friday they still have to do the following things. Final paint, install garage door, fix around 6 small various things, install microwave, fridge and oven (all 3 are in the house but not installed) and clean up the house. Is it realistic to get this all done before Saturday? I have bunch of furniture to get delivered Saturday but I’m really screwed if the builder tells me late this week I can’t move in Saturday. submitted by /u/coletrain8300 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwgcen/home_construction_final_week/

Interest rate and closing doc?

After a couple months of back-force, got final approval. 1. Interest rate for mortgage jumped 2%extra (Stupid small late payments decreased credit score). 2. Can I show closing doc to my realtor? Like for an extra eye to look over it? submitted by /u/dodoc18 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/pwfwkr/interest_rate_and_closing_doc/

How to price a house for sale prior to going on the market

This is longish so bear with me - TLDR at bottom but it may be confusing. My parents are getting ready to sell their house. They have lived in it for around 30 years. Someone in their neighborhood had been desperately trying to get a larger house in the neighborhood and numerous times were too late to look at a property prior to it selling (i.e. a house would go on the market on Thursday, they would set up a showing for Saturday come Friday they would be notified that they accepted an offer and the showing was cancelled). This neighbor is desperate to stay in the neighborhood to say the least and is quickly outgrowing their house that is much smaller than the rest. They got wind though neighborhood gossip that my parents are getting ready to sell their house now that all is kids are long gone and their up there in age. They approached my parents numerous times either directly or through neighbors and outright said "please let us look at it and give you an offer prior to it goin