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Whenever someone is looking to purchase a home, there is always an inherent risk. It is common for buyers and sellers of homes to look for the best deal possible; however, it is also possible that issues might arise after a home has already closed. When looking to buy or sell a home, it is critical to be familiar with some of the common legal issues that arise. Understanding these issues ahead of time may help someone avoid devastating legal consequences after the fact.
One of the most common allegations made is related to false advertisements. Sometimes, someone purchases and house and feels that they didn't receive exactly what was advertised. These ads might take place in a booklet, leaflet or on the Internet. There is a certain code of ethics that comes with any real estate advertisement. While everyone wants to get the best deal possible, it is also important to make sure that all information advertised is truthful.
This is, perhaps, the most important law that everyone needs to keep in mind when it comes to real estate. In the past, it used to be common that people wouldn't sell apartments, homes or condos to people of certain backgrounds including ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. Now, the government has clauses that protect everyone from discrimination when it comes to real estate. It is critical for anyone selling a home to make sure they provide everyone with an equal opportunity to buy that home. At the same time, those looking for a home should never feel like they are being blocked from buying a home on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, orientation or other demographic factors.
When someone is looking at various homes, they are counting on the buyer to disclose all relevant information related to the condition of that home. Nobody wants to buy a home only to realize that, immediately after purchasing the home, it is in need of substantial repairs. Sometimes, sellers will try to conceal information from the buyer in an effort to pass on the repairs to someone else; however, this is illegal. If the purchaser finds out that information related to potential repairs in the home were concealed, they can go to court and file a lawsuit to recover the costs of the repairs. Some of the most common issues that arise in this area of real estate law include boundary issues, the presence of pests, problems with the structure and roofing issues. It is important for buyers to make sure they ask for a home inspection to uncover these issues ahead of time.
House hunting can be time-consuming. With so many houses currently on the market and so little time to spend visiting homes, it’s important to narrow down your search as much as possible before attending a showing.
Fortunately, in today’s digital world, it’s possible to learn a great deal of important information right from your phone or computer.
In today’s post, I’m going to give you some advice on researching the homes you’re thinking about making an offer on. We’ll talk about researching the neighborhood, and--of course--the house itself.
Let’s start with, arguably, the most important thing to research: the house itself. When you want to learn about a home, the best place to look is usually the real estate listing. Since most of us discover homes through listings, odds are you’re already on this page. However, there’s a lot of information in a listing, so take the time to go through it and gleam whatever you can from the home’s description.
Next, Google the house address and click on listings from other real estate sites. Oftentimes, a house that has been sold before will have multiple listings across the internet with different data.
Once you’ve scoured the listings, head over to the county assessor’s website to look at records of the home’s ownership. This will tell you who bought and sold the home and when. There’s much you can learn from this data, especially if a home is being sold frequently. You can also use this information to contact previous owners to ask them questions about the home that the current owner might not know the answer to.
If the house is nearby, simply driving through the neighborhood can tell you a lot. You can visit the neighborhood during rush hour to see what the traffic is like, for example.
However, it isn’t always practical to take the time to visit a house that you aren’t sure you’re interested in. So, what’s the next best thing? Google Maps.
Visit the neighborhood on Google Maps to see what’s in the area. Are there a lot of closed businesses? That could be a sign of a neighborhood in decline. Check for nearby things like parks, grocery stores, and other amenities that could influence your buying decision.
Next, use Google’s “street view” feature and explore the neighborhood. You can see what kind of shape the other homes are in, and find out the condition of infrastructure like roads and sidewalks.
Note addresses of comparable homes in the neighborhood and look up their purchase prices. This will give you an idea of whether the home is being priced appropriately.
If you’re having trouble finding information on a home, such as sale records, try contacting the local assessor. They should be able to point you to a database that will help you in your search.
Are you getting ready to add your house to the real estate market? Before you list your residence, it may be worthwhile to interview several real estate agents.
Hiring the right real estate agent can make a world of difference for any home seller, at any time. In fact, with the right real estate agent at your disposal, you can increase the likelihood of a quick, seamless and profitable home selling experience.
Ultimately, there are many reasons to interview various real estate agents prior to listing your home, and these include:
1. You can find a real estate agent who makes you feel comfortable.
It's one thing to read a real estate agent's online profile; it's another to actually sit down, interview a real estate agent and find out whether you're comfortable working with this housing market professional.
When it comes to finding a real estate agent to help you sell your home, nothing beats a face-to-face interview. This meeting will enable you to learn about a real estate agent's personality and demeanor and ask this person how he or she will approach the process of selling your home.
Setting up meetings with several real estate agents will enable you to evaluate a wide range of housing market professionals. Then, you can select a real estate agent who makes you feel good about the home selling process.
2. You can employ a real estate agent with extensive industry experience.
Allocating the necessary time and resources to assess a real estate agent's experience is paramount. That way, you can find out if a real estate agent has what it takes to sell your home and optimize its value.
With several real estate agent interviews, you can evaluate multiple housing market professionals and their respective industry experience. As a result, you'll be better equipped than ever before to hire a real estate expert to help you sell your residence.
3. You can work with a real estate agent who won't take "No" for an answer.
The right real estate agent will go above and beyond the call of duty to assist you in any way possible. If you meet with multiple real estate agents, you can find one who is dedicated to excellence in everything that he or she does.
Ideally, you should try to hire a real estate agent who is persistent and pays attention to even the minor details. This housing market professional won't take "No" for an answer, and as such, can help you overcome myriad challenges throughout the home selling process.
Of course, during real estate agent interviews, you should ask a housing market professional how he or she handles tough situations. Whether it's a difficult negotiation with a homebuyer or a slow housing market, the right real estate agent will know how to handle adversity time and time again.
Kick off real estate agent interviews today – you'll be glad you did. And once you find the right real estate agent, you should have no trouble listing your home and getting the best price for it.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
It may be tempting, when buying a home remotely, to jump at the first great deal that fits your checklist. But, number of beds and baths aren't everything. Location matters, too. So does the school district if you have school-age children. Don't be afraid to delve deeply into a property that you're thinking of buying sight unseen, because failure to do so could lead to some serious buyer's remorse. Here's the checklist of items to cover and questions to ask before you buy a home long-distance.
Sites such as ADT.com and Cityrating.com can help you learn about crime rates in your potential new neighborhood. The local police department or sheriff's office is a good resource, too. All are easy to find online once you know the address of the home or county in which it's located. Find registered sex offenders living nearby and whether your new neighbor has a collar for burglary.
If you're searching remotely for homes that are close to your new job location, ask your employer about job relocation assistance. Sometimes employers have packages in place to help with the logistics involved in relocating for work. A package might include financial assistance for multiple items, including:
Having financial help to get you and your family settled in before your first day of work at your new job is a great perk. It goes a long way toward alleviating the stress of relocation.
Homeowner's Associations can be beneficial in keeping housing values steady in your target area, but they can be costly, as well as restrictive. Is your new home governed by an HOA? If so, expect to pay monthly dues, and read up on the restrictions before you commit. If you plan to change the color or layout of your new home, you may have strict guidelines you're required to follow.
Parents of school-age children should also be concerned with the school district they're moving into. Your real estate agent should be a good resource for the best schools in the area, but it never hurts to Google. The best schools have a low student-to-teacher ratio, strong test scores compared with the rest of the state and plenty of support programs in place for students and parents.
A little homework done from the comfort of your home office can help you score the remote home purchase of your dreams. Don't be afraid to play investigator throughout your new target neighborhood.
