Redfin

JUNE 27, 2025

Don’t skip critical steps like the home inspection or negotiating closing costs. These can greatly affect both the quality of your purchase and your bottom-line expense. Whether you’re purchasing your first home in Phoenix, AZ or in Trenton, NJ , here’s what you need to know before starting the homebuying process.

Pre-approval

Marco Santarelli

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

Conducting due diligence is essential before committing to a purchase. This includes reviewing property inspections, understanding the zoning regulations, and exploring the potential risks and rewards associated with each property. Cons: Time-consuming: It can take time to accumulate enough profits to purchase another property.

Hard money loan

Redfin

MARCH 4, 2025

Mold or mildew problems Presence of asbestos or other harmful materials As a result, agreeing to purchase a property as-is is a serious decision for any buyer. While technically not adhering to the legal definition of as-is, this is permissible as long as the parties are in agreement. What does as-is, where-is mean in a listing?

As-is

Redfin

JULY 31, 2025

Look into first-time homebuyer benefits Many programs are designed to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers by reducing upfront costs, lowering monthly payments, and helping with mortgage qualification. Avoid new credit: Don’t open new credit accounts or make large purchases before applying for a mortgage.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

AUGUST 5, 2025

Buying a home is the single largest purchase many Americans will make in their lifetime, it’s a big deal. A good real estate agent could be working with several clients at a time, at different stages of a home sale transaction. Showing homes, home inspections, and closings require an agent’s undivided attention.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JANUARY 28, 2025

Instead of applying for a new home loan with todays mortgage rates and terms, the buyer steps into the seller’s position as the borrower and continues making payments under the original loan agreement. This is typically reflected in the sale price of the property.

Loans

Redfin

JULY 16, 2025

Understand how solar agreements may affect financing and insurance requirements. Solar panels are devices designed to capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity for your home. The value of the panels is usually factored into the sale price. Still, it is important to inspect the system’s current condition.

Purchase and sale agreement

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

What To Expect From Your Listing Agent Why For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) Fail Blog Featured Articles Home Buying Home Selling LOCAL Rochester NY Articles What Does a Home Builder’s Warranty Cover? Home Builder Warranty – What Do They Cover Understanding a builder’s warranty coverage is crucial when purchasing a new home.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

AUGUST 5, 2025

This type of house can come in a number of popular styles and is specifically designed to appeal to a buyer’s interests. But sometimes model homes can also be made available for interested buyers to purchase. As a result, buying a model home can end up being a much more affordable option than purchasing a newly built one.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JULY 18, 2025

A home warranty is a service agreement that covers the repair or replacement of major systems and appliances in a home. A home warranty is primarily designed to protect the buyer, not the seller. Once the home sale closes, the warranty coverage transfers to the new homeowner. What is a seller’s home warranty?

Purchase and sale agreement

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

What To Expect From Your Listing Agent Why For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) Fail Blog Featured Articles Home Buying Home Selling LOCAL Rochester NY Articles How To Set A Home Renovation Budget Kyle Hiscock Kyle Hiscock | Greater Rochester NY Real Estate | Pittsford NY Realtor at RE/MAX Realty Group Have questions about buying or selling a home?

Renovation

Redfin

JULY 3, 2025

Waiting until your divorce is finalized can help prevent legal or financial complications during your purchase, ensuring a smoother path to closing. If your finances are ready, your divorce is finalized, and the local market is favorable, purchasing a home can be a strong next step. Should you rent first?

Debt-to-income ratio

The Close

JULY 1, 2025

A home is the largest purchase most people will ever make, and many buyers rely on mortgage financing. Minimum down payment The minimum down payment on an FHA is just 3.5%, calculated from the home’s purchase price. For example, if your client is purchasing a home for $300,000, the minimum down payment would be $10,500.

FHA loan

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 8, 2023

Includes current issues and trends in AZ real estate & property inspection issues CE Sales Package #1 with Ethics: 12 of the 24 required hrs of coursework (9 mandatory & 3 general hrs). Student Support: Support is available seven days a week via chat, email, and phone/ When you have questions, we have answers.

HR

HomeLight

APRIL 19, 2022

Gone are the days where a simple handshake could solidify a working agreement between a buyer and their real estate agent. Instead of a handshake, buyer’s agents are presenting homebuyers with a document called a “buyer broker agreement” — and you might not know what that is! Buyer-broker agreements, explained.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

MAY 27, 2021

And while you understand that a home inspection and appraisal are integral to selling your house, it’s easy to forget how these processes work. Costa is also the author of “ What Every Realtor Should Know About Home Inspections: A Guide to Avoiding Traps and Common Mistakes ”. What is a home inspection?

Inspection

Realty Biz

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Given they are significant legal terms in a purchase and sale, it is essential to have a strong working knowledge of how they work. Some of these clauses can benefit you when purchasing a home, so we will look at some of the contingency clauses you might encounter when buying a property. Real Estate Contingencies Explained.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2024

You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency. In real estate, when a house is listed as “ contingent ,” it means the sale of the property is conditional upon certain criteria being met. Inspection contingency: This gives the buyer the right to have the property inspected within a certain timeframe.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

OCTOBER 26, 2021

But before going full steam ahead with the purchase, it’s in your best interest to know the house is safe, structurally sound, and that major systems are functioning properly before closing the deal. The home inspection is a buyer’s single best opportunity to assess a home’s condition. But what’s most important in a home inspection?

Inspection

Realtor.com

OCTOBER 15, 2020

fstop123/Getty Images Few things are as exciting as purchasing a newly constructed home. There are a lot of factors that could make a brand-new home a less than ideal purchase. Outlaw warns that purchasing a cheap build in a nice neighborhood will have ramifications—like costly repairs—further down the line. ” 4.

New Construction

Realtor.com

JANUARY 12, 2021

When is a sale a sale? It is absolutely critical that, as a seller, you understand the purchase agreement and any counteroffers you sign. “Read the agreements to find out if you have any outs in the contract,” says Meyers. Then it happens—another offer comes in, and a better one at that.

Backup offer

HomeLight

JANUARY 18, 2024

There is a chance that you’ll come across the “time is of the essence clause” in your purchase agreement. A TIOTE clause in your purchase contract means that all the deadlines specified, from the inspection period to the closing date, are not just guidelines but firm commitments. Does it need to be there?

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

MARCH 31, 2022

But one of the most influential bargaining tools is eliminating contingency clauses, especially the seller contingency clause, also known as the home sale contingency. The financing approval and the inspection contingency are first-level contingencies,” Ballenger explained. “The Why would you want a home sale contingency?

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

JULY 30, 2021

We’ve researched the ins and outs of rent-to-own homes , as well as talking to experienced real estate agents about how a renter and landlord can enter into such an agreement, the pros and cons of doing so, and just what it means for you as a buyer if you decide to rent-to-own. Lease-option agreements. Lease-purchase agreements.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

AUGUST 31, 2021

But what if a portion of your rent were going toward purchasing your rental home at a later date? Rent-to-own basics: Crediting rent toward a future purchase. A rent-to-own deal means you can start paying toward a home purchase even if you can’t technically qualify for a mortgage yet. Source: ( Shopify Partners / Burst ).

Purchase and sale agreement

The Close

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

These negotiation strategies are vital elements of real estate transactions and often determine the success or failure of a property sale. This guide is designed to provide essential knowledge and tips for answering the question, “What is a counter offer in real estate?”

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

AUGUST 16, 2022

That’s right, it’s a “For Sale By Owner” property, meaning that the owner is selling the property without the help of a listing agent. A FSBO is a home that is for sale by owner, meaning a real estate agent, also known as a listing agent, is not representing the seller in selling their home. Your potential dream home is FSBO.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

JANUARY 3, 2023

Year-over-year, monthly sales in the Phoenix metro area were down nearly 25%. Often, the decision to go for sale by owner (or, “FSBO”) is motivated by a desire to save on agent commissions. Once you’ve seen what’s required, you can roll up your sleeves and get started with your FSBO sale in Colorado.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

OCTOBER 23, 2023

As the real estate market in Oregon’s largest city continues to flourish, prospective homeowners need to understand the critical importance of home inspections in their buying journey. Why is a home inspection important in Portland, Oregon? Roof leaks, mold, and wood rot are common issues, detectable in a pre-purchase inspection.

Inspection

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) 2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 8% of homeowners opted to sell for sale by owner , or FSBO. It takes more than a for sale sign staked to your front lawn to sell a home without an experienced agent. Prepare your home for sale. Source: (Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash).

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

MARCH 15, 2024

It’s designed to help ensure your home sale or purchase is done with ethics, transparency, and trust. It’s a type of under-the-table agreement where one party receives something of value, usually money or a gift, in return for influencing a transaction or decision-making process.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

MAY 19, 2022

We also have additional insights from Graham Alexander, Solar Sales and Design Manager at Southern Energy Management in Raleigh, North Carolina, who has 17 years of experience in the solar industry. Before having solar panels installed, your roof should be inspected to see if it’s in good repair.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

A down payment is money that a buyer will pay at closing, usually expressed as a percentage of the home’s total purchase price. These loans are designed for low-to-moderate-income borrowers. An earnest money deposit (EMD) can range anywhere between $500 and up to 10% of the purchase price in a competitive market.

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

JULY 1, 2023

Escrow acts as a neutral third party that holds funds and documents until all conditions of the home purchase are met. Step 1: Initiating the Transaction Learning about escrow and initiating the process is an important step that occurs once the buyer and seller have agreed upon the terms of the home purchase.

Purchase and sale agreement

The Close

JUNE 4, 2024

Once a listing agreement is signed, you are responsible for listing the home for sale. Once a rate is agreed upon, both parties sign the listing agreement, which also acts as the compensation agreement. Buyer’s Agent The buyer’s agent helps potential homebuyers find a property to purchase.

Agents

HomeLight

JUNE 28, 2022

In this article, we explain the roles agents play in your home sale or purchase, their required level of experience, and the services they provide in your home sale or purchase. The buyer’s agent helps a buyer locate and purchase a home, negotiating the best deal for their client. Don’t break the law.

Purchase and sale agreement

HomeLight

FEBRUARY 4, 2022

If you haven’t purchased a home before, you probably have lots of questions about the process. Source: (LinkedIn Sales Solutions / Unsplash). Work with you to write a compelling purchase offer. Guide you through the steps of due diligence and inspections. An agent is your advocate. And lots more! Is the price right?

Agents