Real Estate Daily Digest

Every person dreams of having their own home but before the dream becomes a reality there are things to consider.

First, visualize your dream house. How many bedrooms? Do you need a play room or a family room perhaps? Do you want a two storey house, a garden? Be realistic on your wants and needs.

Second, you need to be able to have the sufficient funds for your dream house. If you are planning on getting a loan, all documents required must be ready so as not to delay the acquiring of your dream house. Know the best financing scheme for your loan.

Next, browse in the internet, newspapers for houses that are on sale. A real estate agent can also help. Know well the developer of the home that you are planning to buy. Ask the real estate agent as much questions as possible especially if there are conditions on the buying process that are not clear to you.

Buying your dream house can be very exhausting as there are lots of things to consider however having your own home sweet home is a very fulfilling experience.

Sadly, many, actually about 90% of Real Estate Sellers are mistaken or called Real Estate Agents. Although the Agents sell, not all that sell are agents.

What’s the main difference?

Real estate sellers have a product in mind which they have been trained to sell. If they have about 3 houses they are selling, it will not really matter much to that seller whether the prospective buyer is qualified to buy any of the 3 because he or she will go even an extra mile to enlighten the buyer how good it is to own one of those houses. Much time got spent selling to someone who cannot even afford. The prospect just agreed on everything else good except for the price.

The real estate agent, on the other hand, does not sell or offer anything without first knowing the facts like what the buyer needs and if the buyer can afford it. If it’s a housing loan, will the age and income qualify? From a given data, an agent qualifies the buyer and matches the qualifications to the agent’s list of available units and will not even clutter the buyer’s mind with information not needed (like those of the properties the buyer is not qualified to have).

So, a real estate agent does not sell. He or she helps the buyer get the property he or she needs under his or her financial and legal capacity.

Doing simple cosmetic changes can help your home look more attractive to potential buyers. Before you do anything, put yourself int heir shoes and see what needs to be updated or cleaned up. You’d be surprised at the impact simple changes can make.

Unless you have minimal decorations, put all your clutter and personal belongings into storage, especially those you won’t need over the next couple of months. This will also make moving out a bit easier.

Make sure your front door looks welcoming and that any glass sparkles. Potential buyers will definitely spend a few minutes at this part of the house as the real estate broker gets the key to the house.

Dirty, worn, old carpeting can be a turn-off for a lot of buyers. If your home has hardwood floors, remove the carpeting and show off the wood. Chances are they’ll love the patina and look of your hardwood flooring.

You were beyond ecstatic when you finally signed the contract to buy your future home, but now you’re not so sure that you made the right decision. So many “what if” scenarios are racing through your head. Most of these questions may be simple to answer but some doubts are keeping you from wanting to go through with the purchase. This is called “buyer’s remorse”.

To determine if this is just buyer’s remorse or a real indication that something is wrong with the property, look at the list of things you liked about the home before you purchased it and analyze if these have changed in any way. Does the property include the important things in the list? What makes this house stand out from the others you’ve seen? What was so special about the house before you bought it and why has this changed? Analyzing the facts will help you sort out your feelings about your new home.

Wanting to express thankfulness for the new deal, a real estate agent welcomes the new owner by asking a florist to send flowers to the specific family at a specific address.

The flowers came and the note read, “Rest in Peace!”

The recipient was furious he took the attention of the florist for the obvious mistake that was committed.

The tactful florist said, “Sir, I’m terribly sorry for the mistake but to ease your furious state somehow, just imagine that at this very moment a funeral is taking place and the bereaved family receives the beautiful flowers with a note that reads, “Congratulations For Having A New Home!”

When you buy a house to live in, that means you will be moving from where you currently live in to that planned-to-be-bought new house.That also means that there are habits that will be affected which you have to consider so that as little change as possible will take place (unless you really enjoy change, and abrupt ones, for that matter).

1. Your work habit. This is usually everyday or at least 5 days a week. If you’re an employee, you have a regular schedule of going to work and coming back home. Can you handle the distance of the new location? That also means the time factor, depending if you got nearer or farther from your workplace.

2. School habit. If you have children (or you’re still one of the children with parents considering buying a house), how far will be the school from the house? Is there a need to change school? If so, where? Is it safe going home alone? This is also a 5-days-a-week habit, sometimes 6.

3. Marketing/Shopping habit. How often do the wife go out to shop for food and everything else for the house and the need of the family? Where is the nearest shopping mall or grocery store? Can you walk to it? Can you get public transportation? Or will you always need the car (which you may or may not have)? This is usually a twice-a-week or once-a-week habit.

4. Spiritual habit. Do you go to church once a week? Where is the nearest church?

5. Recreation habit. How often do you go out as a family? Once a week? Twice a month? A walk in the park, cycling around, sketeboarding, movie tripping, clubbing…

6. Medical habit. If you know the names of all the nurses in the hospital you frequent, I say that’s more than weekly habit! The distance of the nearest hospital is very important for you then if that’s the case. We may not like it but emergencies occur at times we rarely expect.

7. Hazard habit. How often do you encounter hazards such as fire and assault that you need a firefighter or a police nearby?

8. Anniversary habit. Birthdays, weddings, etc.

9. Visiting habit. How often do you go to extended families to stay connected?

10. Reunion habit. Once a year? Once in 2 years? 5 years?

When is it time to just rent or finally buy a house you can call your own?

Probably for most women, owning a house is one part security for her family. It is more likely that married women would prefer their husbands buying them their own house which she can fix and dress, bring up her family, rear her children, show the grand children around and show framed pictures of their children to her grand children. In short, it’s a house turned into a home….a more permanent home, that is.

Most people hate change though the irony of it is change is the only thing permanent in this world. There are things to consider, though, when you are pressed with a decision whether to rent or to buy your own house.

Consider the following:

Rent if:
- you can’t stay in one place for a long time; you get bored easily
- you don’t have enough money to buy even a small property
- your job takes you everywhere you rarely see your home

Buy if:
- you have the money
- you want your roots to hold
- seeing your neighbors (and probably ‘enemies’) the rest of your life is not a problem

What does it mean when your house is single attached or single detached?

Before entering the real estate world, frankly, I didn’t know the difference. Now I find people who ask the question and I feel for them because I was once in their situation…getting confused. I used to think that the attach or detach portion is in reference to your neighboring house. I was to learn it isn’t so.

Single Attached means that one side of your house (left or right) is attached or built directly at the side of your lot. If you have it on the left, your house would be on the left and there would be a big space on the right. If the house is on the right, the space is on the left. Usually space at the back and front exist too.

Single detached means that your house is detached from any side of the lot. Basically, your house can be run around. Space is open on both sides plus the front and back. Your house is in the middle of the lot usually.