Expert Advice from Amy & Kyle Bergquist at Keller Williams Legacy Partners
Hartford County’s housing markets saw an increase in the number of closings in the first quarter of 2010 versus the first quarter of 2009. This continued the positive momentum from the second half of 2009, but is still well below the sales pace from the early and mid 2000s. Median sales prices were up slightly, while median days on market fell sharply. Single-Family Homes First quarter sales of single-family homes increased 16.4% compared to the
Radon is a naturally occurring gas, and is part of the normal mix of elements that make up the air we breathe. However, the concentration varies greatly throughout the country, within individual towns, and even within neighborhoods. If the concentration is too high, then radon can be a health hazard. We always recommend that our buyers test for radon as part of their home inspection. If elevated levels are found, then our buyers have an
In more than half of the buyer transactions I represented last year, my buyer clients decided to ask the sellers to pay a portion or all of their closing costs. We’ve talked about Financing Closing Costs before. Some buyers ask sellers to cover these costs for them, as the buyer is trying to maximize their downpayment or conserve the amount of cash they will have left over after the transaction. Deciding to ask a seller
I’ve been working with a lot of first time buyers this year. Many of them have been motivated by the $8,000 first time buyer tax credit that the government is offering. A good number of them have already closed on a property and are set to receive their refund next year when they submit their Federal Income Taxes. Some of my buyers are still looking though. They are waiting for the right house. Or they
The real estate appraisal business has been under increased scrutiny in the wake of the national housing bust. An article in today’s Wall Street Journal highlights the current challenges in securing an independent, yet accurate, property valuation. Appraisals are an important part of a real estate purchase, helping to make sure that the negotiated purchase price is in line with recent comparable sales. Mortgage underwriters require an appraisal so that they can feel comfortable that