Category: Miscellaneous

  • Could this secret stall real estate evolution?

    Dear Monty: We have a significant problem with a real estate transaction. We ran across a state agency called a “real estate commission.” When we researched the commission, we discovered the commissioners are all real estate agents. We are reluctant to contact them. It seems like having a fox guarding a chicken coop. Do you…

  • Seven Reasons to be wary of MLS

    Be wary when using the MLS.

  • The five-year rule risk for first time homebuyers

    The five-year rule risk for first time homebuyers

    Monty’s Answer: I’m sorry to hear this story, and I will publish your account. I have known about the Five-Year rule for years. The five-year rule in real estate states that first-time homebuyers should generally live in a home for at least five years before selling the property. If they sell earlier, they risk losing…

  • Negotiations are an important key

    Negotiations are an important key

    The best way to negotiate is to create a fair “win-win” agreement between buyer and seller.

  • Agent wants to show my FSBO home

    Agent wants to show my FSBO home

    Dear Monty: My house is for-sale-by-owner. I want to avoid the commission. I got a call from an agent who wants to show the house but wants to know if I will pay the buyer’s commission. For all I know, the customer may be someone I have already shown the place to. I have had…

  • How real estate forms enable negotiations

    Dear Monty: We are going to buy our first home this year. We are investigating using an agent or buying directly from a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO). Some friends have used agents, while others have not. We want more information on any required contingencies and how real estate negotiating works. Do you have a checklist of contingencies…

  • Ten ways to stay safe when selling your home

    Dear Monty: I recently listed my home for sale. There have been several showings. Yesterday I had a showing that made me worry about safety. A couple came through with their agent. I thought it was unusual the way they looked at the house. While the agent asked me questions, they took it upon themselves…

  • Eight unwanted small mammals that break into your home

      Dear Monty: My dad needs help with the tax map for his property. There is a term that no one can tell him what it means. The word is fisher. Someone told him he has that on his property. Could you help us with this question? Monty’s Answer: I have been unable the find…

  • Is a Do-It-Yourself major remodel a good idea

    Reader Question: Is a do-it-yourself major remodel a good idea? We have outgrown our home as our children are growing up and need more room. We want to add about a twelve-hundred square foot addition and a full bath, plus update the kitchen and bathrooms with cabinets, plumber, and flooring. My husband worked construction in…

  • Do open houses help find a buyer

    Reader Question: Do open houses help find a buyer? We recently put our home up for sale. The presentation was very professional, and we both liked the agent. The emphasis was on how much the real estate business has changed. She mentioned the difficulty of keeping up with technology. She explained how their company was…

  • Eight categories of real estate agent motives

    Reader Question: A recent article you authored titled “What’s wrong with real estate” was insightful. The overview described conditions that contribute to the real estate sales environment. We will be selling our home soon and feel that expanding on the agents would help us understand real estate agent motives. Can you drill down to the…

  • Different‌ ‌home‌ ‌pricing‌ ‌strategies‌ ‌when‌ ‌selling‌ ‌a‌ ‌home‌

    Reader‌ ‌Question:‌ ‌We‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌know‌ ‌ ‌the different‌ home ‌pricing‌ ‌strategies‌ ‌when‌ ‌selling a home‌.‌ ‌We‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌selling‌ ‌our‌ ‌home‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌spring.‌ ‌We‌ ‌have‌ ‌had‌ ‌an‌ ‌appraisal,‌ ‌two‌ ‌agent‌ ‌opinions,‌ ‌and‌ ‌done‌ ‌research ourselves.‌ ‌There‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌range‌ ‌between‌ ‌the‌ ‌highest‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌lowest‌ ‌estimate‌ ‌of‌ ‌40K.‌ We‌ ‌do‌ ‌not‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌…

  • Can Real Estate Agents Legally Go Door-to-Door

      Reader Question: Can Real Estate Agents Legally Go Door-to-Door? Last night, about 7:30, a local real estate agent rang our doorbell to ask if we wanted to sell our house or knew anyone who wanted to sell. I was always under the impression that this sort of solicitation was considered inappropriate by real estate…

  • Does zoning affect affordable housing prices

    A brief overview of the issues involved in rising home prices in new developments. Is America pricing the middle class out of home ownership? Zoning is a fractured and complicated issue.

  • Treat family like outsiders with real estate deals

    Our reader wants to know if he can use a quitclaim deed to buy property from a sibling. He can likely do so, but needs to educate himself about the cons of doing so.