Closing day should be a celebration, not a financial shock. Unfortunately, many homebuyers and sellers discover unexpected charges just before finalizing their transaction, turning what should be an exciting milestone into a stressful scramble for additional funds....
Traditional real estate transactions can drain your home's equity through substantial commission fees. While conventional agents typically charge between 5-6% of your sale price, innovative reduced-commission brokerages like Trelora are revolutionizing the industry by...
The Big Picture: Why This Fall’s Rate Decision Matters Economic indicators are pointing toward a potential shift in U.S. monetary policy this September—and the housing market is watching closely. The Federal Reserve could lower its benchmark interest rate, a move that...
Why is everything so expensive?! Rising inflation rates have affected all of us. Prices for things like gas, groceries, and other services have been rising at an alarming rate. In fact, such a dramatic inflationary period hasn't happened since the early 80's. Not only...
Your credit score can have a major impact on your ability to buy a house and the types of loans that are best for you. Not to mention how big your down payment needs to be, and how much interest you will need to pay. For first time buyers, knowing how much house you...
In 2021, 92% of people selling a home used a real estate agent. Real estate agents can make the process of selling a home more transparent and less overwhelming. But at what cost? Licensed agents earn a real estate commission for selling your home. The traditional...
During a transaction that requires a substantial amount of money, like a real estate purchase, it's essential to trust the person on the other side of the deal. The concept of escrow can help minimize risk during these large transactions and allow buyers and sellers...
Home ownership comes with a variety of expenses, HOA dues and utilities are two of the obvious ones. But often, real estate taxes are an expense many home buyers forget about. If you’re asking the question - what are real estate taxes? Then this post is for you. ...
Over the course of history, mortgage lenders have unfortunately been guilty of denying equal rights to minorities at times. This practice in mortgage lending is known as “redlining.” While redlining has been labeled as illegal, these practices often still have a...
How much does it cost to buy a house? The short answer is it often isn't cheap. The downpayment is commonly the most substantial amount of what you’re paying when you buy a house. But, there are a number of other fees you will need to pay as well. These are either one...
Becoming a homeowner is a huge accomplishment, and a solid investment. When you purchase a home, your first thought likely isn’t about the price you’ll get for it when you sell someday. Instead, you’re probably thinking of improvements you want to make, or how to...
If you're a potential home buyer, you've probably estimated a mortgage payment. One of the items that makes up your monthly mortgage payment is property tax. In this article we cover what it is and how to determine your property tax. What is it? Quite simply,...
You decide to move, put your house on the market, and generally hope for a quick sale with strong offers. And then all of the sudden, you receive a cash offer. Fortunately for you, accepting a cash offer provides several advantages over a traditional real estate...
House hacking. It’s one of the less popular terms in real estate. But you’ve probably heard of it without realizing there was an official name. Simply put, it is a strategy where you live in a primary residence, but also rent out portions of your home to offset the...
Traditional real estate agents make their money through a commission structure. Agents are paid directly for services rendered in the sale of or the purchase of property. But, how much commission does a realtor actually make? While this is public information that all...
There are countless ways in which people can invest their money. The stock market, businesses, bonds, etc. to name a few. But what about real estate? More specifically, Airbnb investments. Some people have made Airbnb investments their entire career. It’s...
Whether you’re in the beginning stages of your career, have been working for a while, or are even retired; the thought of investing has probably crossed your mind. There are various avenues in which you can explore for investing, and real estate has become an...
Buying a house is often considered one of the most stressful times in a person's life for a number of reasons. But a significant part of this is the amount of money changing hands. Undoubtedly, what adds to that stress are the mysteriously dubbed "closing costs" that...
Selling a house can be expensive, but as they say, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. While real estate agent commission costs are the biggest part of what you stand to pay, there are other costs to be aware of too. In our experience, sellers pay roughly...
It’s a commonly asked question - how much does it cost to build a house vs buying a pre-existing house? You’d think there would be an easy answer to that simple question, but there isn’t. The answer you seek will arise from many different factors that you need to...
Most people finance a home with a mortgage which will require them to go through the underwriting process. The mortgage underwriting process can be a nerve racking time because it’s so revealing of one's personal and financial history. Because of this, it’s important...
The death of a spouse is a terrible event to go through and dealing with the deceased spouse’s affairs can be an equal nightmare. Survivorship or inheritance of the home is a concern for most people and it should not be taken lightly. Generally, a spouse inherits...
Redlining in real estate has been going on at least formally since 1934, when the National Housing Act was created, which also established the Federal Housing Administration. According to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which made redlining officially illegal,...
Many homeowners these days are considering renting out their spare rooms or entire homes on Airbnb (or other short term rental sites) to make some extra cash. It’s a tempting endeavor to pursue because many homeowners have empty rooms they can share or may be out of...