Handy tips and articles about buying a home in St. George, Utah.

With real estate prices, trends and laws constantly in the news, there is a lot of misinformation floating around. Real estate myths spread like wildfire and not doing your proper homework could cost you. Here are six real estate myths to clear up.

Selling a Home Yourself Saves You Money

Some people might think that they can save money by selling a home themselves and saving on a real estate agent’s commission. As shown in another blog post, this is not the case. Sellers who use a real estate agent almost always make more money than those who try to go it alone. Even after paying a real estate agent’s commision, you are still more likely to walk away with more money.

When Selling, You Don’t need to Stage Your Home

You may think it’s…

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New technology and internet companies are quickly taking the place of everyday services. Hotels, taxis, and car dealers have to compete with sites such as Airbnb and Uber. Can real estate agents also be replaced by the latest app or website? Does the internet make it easy enough to sell and buy a home without representation? Not necessarily. In fact, trying to go it alone can cost you a lot of money and add unnecessary work and stress to your real estate transaction. Here are reasons why you should still work with a real estate agent.

Knowledge of the Area

A quick Google search may make you feel like you know all the real estate options in St. George, but this is never the case. New homes are going onsale all the time, and people who try to…

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A home inspection is an important part of any real estate transaction. Buyers should schedule home inspection to make sure there aren’t any unseen problems in a home. Sellers should enlist a home inspection so they can make any necessary repairs before placing the home on the market, therefore increasing your home’s value. Here are some things both parties should know about home inspections.

Home Inspectors Should Not Do Repairs

The American Society of Home Inspectors does not allow home inspectors to perform repair work. If your inspection turns up a problem with the home, you should hire a repair specialist. They will be able to give you the best possible service. Home inspectors may feel more inclined to find things “wrong” if they know they…

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Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the biggest mortgage banks in the country. During the recession, the United State’s government backed the two banks with the understanding that Fannie and Freddie would tighten up on regulations, which was discussed in a recent blog post. Since things are getting better, these tightened regulations may be loosening up.

Down Payment Changes

One of the changes to this plan includes giving home loans with a lower down payment. Recently, banks have only been allowed to offer loans to people who could pay at least 5% down payment. Oftentimes, individual banks required that percentage be closer to 20%. Now, two new programs will offer loans with a lower 3% down payment requirement. Fannie’s program is called My…

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If you haven’t applied for a home loan in the last few years, things may be a little different. The financial crisis and burst housing bubble caused the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to create new housing rules for borrowers and lenders. These rules won’t necessarily make loan approval more difficult, but knowing what to expect before you shop is a good idea. Here are the basics of the new rules.

Ability to Pay

The new rule is sometimes referred to as the “Ability to Pay.” Mainly, this law forces people to prove they can pay for a new home. Instead of just writing down annual salaries, which was sometimes acceptable before, borrowers have to show a proof of income. For those working regular jobs with a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck,…

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A real estate transaction is one of the most important life and business decisions you will probably ever make. Even so, the process is often foreign to people, especially first time home buyers. The proper etiquette - how to dress, act, and behave - is important to keep in mind when viewing and selling homes. Here are some tips for how to present yourself during a real estate transaction.

Buyers

  1. First Impressions

Whenever you look at a house, put your best, most friendly foot forward. There’s a chance you may never meet the current homeowners. Just in case you do, looking nice isn’t a bad idea.They inevitably will picture you in their home, with their neighbors, meeting their friends. Do what you can to show that you would be a great person…

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Choosing the right home for you and your family is not an easy decision. It takes a lot of time and planning to finding the perfect place. In spite of all
 this work, or maybe because of it, a recen survey showed that many homeowners regret part or all of their home buying decisions. To make sure you are happy with your home, here are six tips to keep in mind.

  1. Prioritize

Make a list of the things that are most important to you. Put them in order from most to least important. Consider what you may be willing to compromise on and what you can not. Think beyond just the house. What do you want in a neighborhood? In the local schools? Try to imagine what your ideal living situation would be and write it all down.

  1. Research

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Other than marriage or the birth of a child, there are few life events that can compare to purchasing your first home. Despite the diverse lifetime aspirations among Americans, homeownership is one goal that is common across all social, cultural, and economic lines. Our homes are more than just our own private spaces, but they are symbols of security, individuality, and success.

The purchase of a home is the single biggest investment that the average person will make in their lives. When you put yourself through the process of submitting an offer, closing the deal, and signing a 20 or 30 year mortgage. you want to make sure you're making the best decision for yourself and your family.

It is no secret that the housing market has been erratic in recent…

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School boundaries are major factor in home-buying decision, survey finds

As kids begin to go back to school, a new survey is out that suggests location to schools is a major factor in people's home-buying experience.  The survey done by Realtor.com states three out of five home buyers say school boundaries will affect where they purchase a home.  According to Realtor.com, almost 60% of home buyers would go over budget anywhere from 1% to 20% to obtain a home in their desired school boundaries while just over 40% would not.

For those home buyers that said school boundaries will affect where they purchase a home over 90% stated it was important to somewhat important.  Those same home buyers are also willing to give up several amenities to live in the…

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St George, Utah, with its red rock deserts, sandstone canyonsIn addition to the old adage, "Location, location, location," most real estate investing tips boil down to one common theme. Buy low, and sell high. Buying foreclosed homes is a great way to do just that. And by buying foreclosed homes in beautiful St George, Utah, with its red rock deserts, sandstone canyons, and excellent golf courses, you can effectively cover all the core tenets of real estate purchasing in one fell swoop.

A foreclosure is when the holder of a property lien is forced to terminate the lien before the expected date, most often due to a failure to make payments by the borrower. This action makes it possible for the lien holder to then place the property back on the market, with the intention of recouping whatever losses they may have…

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