When Is It a Good Idea to Waive Contingencies if You’re Buying a Home?

Savvy homebuyers often consider waiving contingencies to make their offers more appealing to sellers. But is that ever a good idea? This guide covers the details and implications so you can make an informed decision. When Is It a Good Idea to Waive Contingencies if You're Buying a Home? As you navigate your homebuying journey, this guide will elucidate key scenarios where waiving contingencies might be beneficial. We'll dive into: Understanding contingencies Market conditions that can influence your decision Types of contingencies you might waive Weighing risks and rewards Taking help from professionals Let's take a closer look at each of these aspects. Understanding Contingencies In real estate, contingencies are conditions included in the purchase contract that must be fulfilled for the transaction to go forward. Common contingencies cover home inspections, financing, and appraisal. They serve as safeguards for buyers, enabling you to back out of the deal without penalties if certain conditions aren't met. Related: 7 home staging secrets all the pros use Market Conditions That Influence the Decision Market conditions greatly influence the decision to waive contingencies. In a hot seller's market, where demand outstrips supply and multiple offers are common, waiving contingencies can make your offer stand [...]

By |2023-06-09T09:44:31-05:00June 17th, 2023|Blog, Buyers, Buying and Selling Tips, Real Estate|Comments Off on When Is It a Good Idea to Waive Contingencies if You’re Buying a Home?
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What’s Better for You: A Condo, Townhome or House?

If you're thinking about buying a home in Middle Tennessee, you can choose from a condo, a townhome or a single-family home - there are plenty of Nashville real estate listings for each type. But what's the right choice for you? Where will you be happiest? This guide can help you decide. The Main Differences Between Condos, Townhomes and Single-Family Homes The primary difference between condos, townhomes and single-family homes is ownership structure. With a condo, the buyer owns their unit in a larger building or complex that is owned by an association of owners. Townhomes are multi-level units with one wall shared between them and they are typically owned as individual units. Single-family homes are stand-alone dwellings that are owned in their entirety by the buyer. Related: 9 things to consider before you buy a home in Nashville Benefits of Condos The biggest benefit of condos is convenience and low maintenance. Most condos have shared amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, play areas and other features. They also usually require you to join a condo owners association, which takes care of any exterior maintenance like lawn care, painting and snow removal. Benefits of Townhomes The biggest benefit of townhomes [...]

By |2022-12-12T08:53:47-06:00December 4th, 2022|Blog, Buyers|Comments Off on What’s Better for You: A Condo, Townhome or House?
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9 Things You Need to Consider Before Buying a Home in Nashville

If you're considering buying a home for sale in Nashville, you know that working with a real estate agent is your best bet - but if you're like many people, you haven't thought much beyond that. This guide covers the nine things every buyer should consider before dipping their toes into the real estate market. 9 Things You Need to Consider Before Buying a Home in Nashville Check out the nine things you need to consider before you buy a home in Nashville (or anywhere else): Location Neighborhood Your future home's size Your future home's age Your future home's condition School districts Commute times and usual traffic conditions Property taxes and HOA fees Availability of amenities Here's a closer look at each. Homebuyer Consideration #1: Location Nashville is a big city, and it's growing every day. That means that there are plenty of different neighborhoods to choose from - and each one has its own unique character. Do you want to be in the heart of the action downtown, or would you prefer a more suburban feel? Consider your needs and wants carefully before you decide. Related: What happens after a seller accepts your offer? Homebuyer Consideration #2: Neighborhood In [...]

By |2022-11-05T05:32:28-05:00November 17th, 2022|Agent Blog, Blog, Buyers, Buying and Selling Tips, Real Estate, Tips|Comments Off on 9 Things You Need to Consider Before Buying a Home in Nashville
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Tips to Make Your Move Easier

If you're getting ready to move, this guide runs you through all the most important tasks so you don't miss a thing. Tips to Make Your Move Easier Check out the following sections to get a head start on your next move: Packing Hiring movers Preparing your pets to move Changing your address Here's a closer look at each. Packing Tips Here are a few tips to help you pack efficiently and effectively: Start packing items you won't need in the next week. Be thoughtful in your selections! Pack heavier items on the bottom of boxes. This helps your boxes stay intact and keeps your belongings safe. Label boxes with what's inside and which room they should go in. This saves you time dragging boxes from room to room later. Pack a survival kit of essential items for the first few days in your new home. You'll need entertainment for kids, medications, contact lens solution, toiletries and paper plates - plus whatever else you need to survive. Related: 15 home staging tricks that you can use to sell your home faster Hiring Movers If you're hiring a moving company to help you on the big day, these tips will help: [...]

By |2022-11-01T00:57:33-05:00October 17th, 2022|Agent Blog, Blog, Consumer Blog, Sellers, Selling Real Estate, Tips|Comments Off on Tips to Make Your Move Easier
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What Happens After a Seller Accepts Your Offer?

Finding your dream home is incredibly exciting - and it's even more exciting when a seller accepts your offer. But what happens next? This guide walks you through the process that takes place after a seller accepts your offer, as well as what you need to do to prepare for closing. What Happens After a Seller Accepts Your Offer? Quite a bit happens between offer acceptance and closing day. Before you can move in, you need to complete the following tasks: Review your purchase agreement Hire a home inspector Get final mortgage approval Schedule your closing date Transfer funds and finalize documents Your real estate agent will be with you every step of the way, answering your questions and making sure you meet important deadlines. But in the meantime, here's a closer look at each so you know what to expect from the process between offer acceptance and closing. Task #1 After a Seller Accepts Your Offer: Review Your Purchase Agreement Your purchase agreement is a legally binding document that outlines the details of your home purchase, including price, contingencies, deadlines and more. After the seller accepts your offer, you'll need to review the agreement carefully with your agent to [...]

By |2022-11-01T00:59:26-05:00September 4th, 2022|Agent Blog, Blog, Buyers, Buying and Selling Tips, Consumer Blog, Sellers, Selling Real Estate|Comments Off on What Happens After a Seller Accepts Your Offer?
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When Can a Seller Keep Your Earnest Money Deposit?

If you're like many people, you know that when you offer to buy a home, you usually include an earnest money deposit. But when does a seller get to keep it? This guide explains. When Can a Seller Keep Your Earnest Money Deposit? To understand when a seller gets to keep an earnest money deposit, you must first understand what an earnest money deposit is for. An earnest money deposit is cash that you give a seller to show that you're serious about making the purchase. After all, you're asking the seller to take their home off the market so you can buy it, but the seller doesn't have any guarantee that the transaction will actually go through. Usually, an earnest money deposit totals between 1 and 3 percent of the home’s purchase price. The reason this deposit exists is so that the seller has some form of compensation if you back out of the transaction without a good enough reason to do so. So what is a good enough reason? That's where contingencies come in. What You Need to Know About Contingencies Contingencies are conditions that must be met before a transaction can go through. Contingencies affect buyers and [...]

By |2022-11-01T01:02:33-05:00August 4th, 2022|Blog, Buyers, Buying and Selling Tips, Consumer Blog, Sellers, Selling Real Estate, Tips|Comments Off on When Can a Seller Keep Your Earnest Money Deposit?
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Using a VA Loan to Buy Your Next Home in Tennessee

If you’re like many people, you qualify for a loan backed by the U.S. Veterans Administration – but how do you use a VA loan to buy a home in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin or another city in Middle Tennessee? This guide explains. How Do You Use a VA Loan to Buy a Home in Tennessee? VA loans are for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, their qualifying dependents and a handful of others who qualify. If you’re a veteran or current service member in any branch (including the reserve components), you may be eligible for a VA loan. You’ll have to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, or CoE, from the U.S. Veterans Administration. After you have your CoE in-hand, take it to your lender. Your lender will explain your loan options. How Does a VA Loan Work? A VA loan doesn’t actually come from the VA. Instead, the Veterans Administration backs it; that means the VA guarantees some or all of the loan. Your lender gets a guarantee from the VA that if you default on your payments, the VA will help cover its losses. Because the U.S. government is backing the loan, lenders are comfortable giving you more favorable [...]

By |2022-10-12T11:39:05-05:00February 4th, 2022|Blog, Buyers, Buying and Selling Tips, Mortgages|Comments Off on Using a VA Loan to Buy Your Next Home in Tennessee
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