You spent countless Sundays at open houses. You signed 50+ legal documents. You wrote a check for a single, heart-stopping, six-digit figure. And now, drumroll please…you’re the lucky owner of your very first house! Congratulations! Now it’s time to get to work. Here’s a checklist of all the things you should do when moving into a new house. Read more

For the uninitiated, real estate can be like learning a new language. In this article, we cover some of the basics, from key industry terms to commonly asked questions.

Distinguishing Designations
With all the different titles in real estate, it can be hard to keep track of who’s who. Here’s a simple breakdown of the main real estate designations:

Realtor: A realtor can be an agent, broker or other real estate professional. What defines a realtor is not their designation, but their adherence to the Code of Ethics set forth by the National Association of Realtors, which you can read here.

Agent: An agent possesses a salesperson license with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). Read more

While it’s not uncommon for real estate agents to offer client incentives or reduced commission rates, there’s a point where an overabundance of promises should be considered a red flag. Tori Atwell, broker associate with Alain Pinel Realtors, gives a true life example: “I had clients who returned after spending seven months working with a ‘discount’ agent. The agent enticed them by offering to give them most of his commission. Seven months later, they weren’t any nearer to getting a home, and they missed out on numerous opportunities. Read more

Watch this video to learn how simple presentation changes can improve your chances of selling your home. Read more

A common misconception of home sellers is that in order to sell as quickly as possible, they need to invest a lot of money in remodeling. However, spending money on renovations can be a precarious financial gamble, as remodeling is by no means guaranteed to increase a home’s value. To increase the appeal of your home while still being cost-effective, start by doing a thorough cleaning. When potential buyers enter a home, the last thing they want is to smell pet odors or see disheveled rooms.

To that end, it’s also important to de-clutter your home by removing excess furnishings and accentuating the space by condensing and rearranging the remaining furniture. When people are looking to buy a home, Read more

There’s an abundance of information involved in any real estate deal, so it’s important that your agent is able to effectively communicate, explain the details of the process and answer any questions you may have. Ideally, you should be able to communicate on the same level and fully understand all the information that’s being presented to you.

Experience is also an important factor to consider when hiring a real estate agent. Relatively new agents may bring enthusiasm and other positive attributes, but if they haven’t completed at least 30 deals, they should be working closely with a veteran agent. Read more

The key to mortgage matchmaking is being a careful listener. The Diamond Certified mortgage brokers I talked to say a good loan agent will ask the right questions first and then find a loan at the lowest interest rate that fits your particular needs. To get a good match, ask questions and expect informative answers.

The loan agent will pre-qualify you, evaluating your financial situation and credit scores. Here are some strategies to use when shopping for a loan. Don’t make large purchases, such as a new car, while you are buying or refinancing a home, as this new debt may affect your credit scores and therefore the interest rate you are offered. Read more