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Author: Monty

  • Pay attention to post closing occupancy when you make your offer

    Reader Question: We have a post closing occupancy problem. We closed on our home purchase in December. The contract calls for the seller to vacate 30 days after closing. The date and time set to deliver the keys and final walkthrough were today. This morning, the seller called to say they hadn’t finished moving out and…

  • Can we knock on doors near a home we like?

    Reader Question: Can we knock on doors near a home we may want to buy? We are interested in a home in a neighborhood that is a perfect location for us. We are unfamiliar with the area, and we are considering knocking on a few doors to develop a better sense of place and possibly about…

  • Do we have to fix up the house to sell in a hot market?

    Reader Question: Do we have to fix up the house to sell in a hot market? We want to downsize and buy something more manageable. Our house needs some work, and we are trying to decide if we’re going to put the work into it or sell as is and maybe give someone the opportunity…

  • Six big real estate mistakes to avoid when listing your home

    Reader Question: We are going to put our home on the market in March. We want to maximize our equity and ensure a smooth experience. In preparing for this event what are the big mistakes home sellers make? Monty’s Answer: Most home sellers want to ensure their success and maximize their equity, but many of…

  • Five tips a new real estate agent can use

    Reader Question: I am a new real estate agent. I am twenty-two years old, and I want to leverage my time to build a solid foundation. Residential home sales appeal to me as an excellent segment to start my career. What advice would you have for me on the best path? Monty’s Answer: Real estate…

  • Ten Common Real Estate Scams

    Reader Question: ​What would be your advice concerning the different real estate scams going on. For example, is being a for sale by owner dangerous today? What are some of the warning signs of real estate scams? ​Monty’s Answer: Scams have always existed as there are elements in our society that lead nefarious lives. While…

  • Should we sell our home without an agent?

    Reader Question: We are considering selling our home without an agent. We have done this in the past and were satisfied with the outcome. We used a lawyer to handle the closing and paid a much lower fee compared to an agent’s fee. Do you think individuals can do this successfully? Monty’s Answer: The circumstances…

  • Six tips to negotiate a brand new home purchase

    Negotiating a new home purchase is very similar to buying a pre-owned home. There are differences. Most new-home buyers don’t think to have the home inspected by a home inspector, because the municipal building inspector has to sign off. That inspection is for code compliance. Builders, or their subcontractors make mistakes that have nothing to…

  • Home buyer wants to offer more than full price

    Reader Question: We have been combing the market for several months, but nothing has hit on all cylinders until a new house came up yesterday and it has everything we need and more. It’s pushing our price limit at an asking price of 449k. We met our agent to see it this morning, and it…

  • Zoning change upsets neighbors

    Reader Question: Our neighbor petitioned for a zoning change on property he has owned for many years. Our city has grown out past our homes. His story is that a developer approached him claiming the town wants a small strip center and a convenience store. The city says area residents are complaining they have to…

  • Five reasons it is tough to evaluate a home

      Reader Question: It appears to be tough to evaluate a home. We plan on selling our home in the spring. When appraisers or real estate agents make adjustments between features in our house and the comparable homes features, we understand that these feature adjustments are subjective. The modifications are made to the comparables to make…

  • Avoiding emotional relocation turmoil

      Reader Question: We want to be avoiding emotional relocation turmoil. A job-related move to a new community is in our near future. We have friends that made such a move, and with some bad advice they ended up in a marginal neighborhood. What can we do to prevent a similar mistake? Monty’s Answer: There are…

  • Should we have a fifteen-year loan versus a 30-year term?

    Reader Question: Choosing a fifteen-year loan versus a 30-year term is advice we often see from financial experts or mortgage lenders. We also find information about a home buyer saving until they can make a twenty percent down payment when they buy a home. The experts that proffer this advice confuse us, as we are not…

  • Ten kinds of real estate agents

    Reader Question: We are downsizing and considering different lifestyles once we sell our home. We do not recall the different kinds of real estate agents in the market today. Is it just us, or are there more kinds of real estate agents? Monty’s Answer: There are more real estate agents with a specialized practice today…

  • One of real estate’s biggest myths

      Reader Question: The relo counselor is telling me I will lose the relocation benefits if I list my home for more than ten percent above the average of two appraisals. This seems like one of real estate’s biggest myths. Their argument is this rule will ultimately help the home sell at a higher price, which…