Smarts

Tips For Finding Cities With Affordable Housing

As inflation rises and more Americans are working remotely, many people are looking to relocate out of state to find more affordable cities. According to the 2022 Moving Migration Report, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, and Florida were the most popular states for inbound...

Tax Benefits of Florida Homeownership

Florida attracts residents from all over the world with a warm subtropical climate and breathtaking beaches.  Aside from the lifestyle perks, there are significant tax benefits of Florida homeownership.  Establishing Florida residency offers major tax benefits with no income or estate tax, a...

Buying For Sale By Owner

If you are buying a home that is a for sale by owner (FSBO), you will need some professional assistance. Your offer will need to be submitted on a contract that is approved by the Florida Bar.  Don’t get taken advantage of.  Protect yourself with a home inspection, appraisal, and title...

Budgeting for a Home Purchase

Do your Homework:
Budgeting for a home purchase requires calculating your monthly income and expenses to determine how much can you comfortably afford.  You will need to assess your savings to ensure you have enough to cover your down payment and closing costs.
Calculate the Cost of Homeownership...

Getting Pre-approved for a Mortgage

PRE-QUALIFICATION VS PRE-APPROVAL
A lender can pre-qualify you to buy a house after a quick conversation about your income, assets, and down payment. Unfortunately, a prequalification has no value to sellers and little value to you. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is completely different, a...

Finding a Great Lender

The Mortgage Shopping Guide
How to Shop for A Mortgage: Types of Lenders & Key Questions to Ask:
You have 45 Days to shop for a mortgage without affecting your credit.
Costs vary, lenders offer different products, and there are so many different personalities. You can shop as many as you like...

Building your Home Buying Team

Find a Real Estate Agent
The first step in the home buying process is to find a real estate agent. Your advocate and team leader. Your agent will organize your entire home buying experience, ensuring a smooth transaction. They might make it look easy, but behind the scenes, they work nonstop for...

Online Shopping, Real Estate Apps & Sales Pitches

Avoid Gimmicks & Real Estate Scams
Be weary of real estate websites that offer deals that seem too good to be true.  Here are a few common real estate scams to look out for:

Your Home Sold, Guaranteed- or we will buy it   Yup, for 60% of its value then assign the contract before closing to...

Property Types: fee-simple, condominium concepts, villas & more

So you’ve decided to make a home purchase.  Now it’s time to do your research.  There are quite a few property types to choose from.  The property type you choose will impact what type of financing you can qualify for, how much you will need to spend, and ultimately the type of...

Location: Cities, Neighborhoods, Schools and Lifestyle Choices

Do your city and neighborhood research. You are not just buying a house, you’re buying a neighborhood, a city, schools, amenities, conveniences, and inconveniences too. And that is likely the most important element of seeing a property in person. With Real-ativity, it’s easy to get a great...

Touring Homes & Open Houses

Open House Tips for Buyers

Open houses are incredible learning experiences.  They provide a chance to get familiar with different layouts (outside of pictures) and see some neighborhoods! Planning ahead makes all the difference.  Here are some good open house tips for buyers:

Get a LIST of...

How to Make an Offer on a House

After exploring all your options, you’ve found the perfect house.  Now you’ll need to know how to make an offer on a house.  Offers begin on contracts, usually standardized. Your agent will explain all relevant terms and contingencies to you before drafting up an offer for you to...

Contingencies

Real Estate contingencies are conditions of the contract that are in place to protect the buyer and seller from things that could go wrong during the transaction. Each condition must be met to ensure that the sale progresses in a timely manner. Your agent will walk you through them step-by-step to...

Negotiating a Home Purchase

Negotiating a home purchase requires in-depth knowledge.  Your agent should be well versed on market value in the area to properly negotiate the price.  But the needed expertise is not limited to price.  Your agent will need to have a full understanding of common negotiables and contingencies...

Applying for the Home Loan

OFFICIALLY APPLYING FOR A HOME LOAN

Preparedness is key! You are ready to officially apply for a home loan. You know the best lender for you, you have identified the best financial product for your purchase, and you have an executed real estate contract in hand for the perfect home. Now you have...

Home Inspection

Buying a home is a big deal, make sure to have the home inspected to avoid unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties. You’ll want to learn as much as you can about the newly constructed or existing house before you buy it. A home inspection may identify the need for major repairs, builder...

Appraisal

What is a Real Estate Appraisal?

A real estate appraisal is an unbiased professional opinion of a home’s value. The appraisal assures the lender that they aren’t handing the borrower more money than the home is worth and that you are not overpaying!
Lenders want to make sure that you are not...

Homeowners Insurance

Your lender will require that you have homeowners insurance coverage at the time you close. How much coverage they require depends on the lender, but it must be at least enough to entirely rebuild the house in the event of a disaster. Often, you’ll be required to purchase one year’s coverage in...

Buyers Home Warranty

A buyer’s home warranty can provide peace of mind when purchasing a used home.  Resale properties usually offer better deals than new construction, but the tradeoff is older systems and appliances that could require repair in the near future.  You can request a buyer’s home warranty...

Title Insurance

Title insurance protects you and your property against title defects such as past owner’s mechanic liens, debt, tax liens, zoning violations, building code violations, past due utility bills, closing errors, marital rights, inheritance issues, and other claims of ownership that may have been...

Final Walkthrough Inspection

A final walkthrough gives you the opportunity to inspect the home one last time before closing.  Your agent will escort you to the walkthrough to ensure the home is broom clean condition, that any repairs that you negotiated with the seller were completed properly, all personal property included...

What Happens When Closing On A Home Sale?

Are you closing on a home sale soon?  At Real-ativity, we want to educate and inspire you to navigate the world of residential real estate.  You have read up in our “smarts” section for all the steps to either sell or buy a home.  You have a fully executed contract and a closing date...

After You Close Checklist

Print this moving checklist so that you don’t miss a beat after you close.  Moving can be overwhelming, take it step by step.
Pre-Moving Checklist

Arrange for movers or packing materials
Notify your utility services at both your current and future residence
Research and contact service...