Still Renting Your Home? 4 Facts That Might Change Your Mind

Each year, home renters face the question of whether to renew their lease for another year or determine it is time to buy a home of their own. Over the past couple of years, the US housing market has changed dramatically as home values have soared and interest rates have remained low. So, if you are still renting your home, it might be time to buy instead. 4 Facts About Renting your Home 1. Rents Are Rising Quickly – Higher priced home values drive higher rent costs. While a 30-year fixed home loan will provide steady monthly payments for the duration, most renters are shocked to see their housing payments rise each year.2. Paying for Your Landlord’s Equity – As home prices rise, so does the equity in the property. As a renter, you are making the loan payments for your landlord, while they reap the benefit of increased equity.3. You Get What Your Get – A homeowner can paint, renovate, and customize the home to their heart’s content. A renter must live with the choices the landlord made about décor.4. No Tax Benefits – Homeowners can deduct the home mortgage interest and property taxes off their gross income, offering huge tax savings. With a wide variety of home loan programs available, buying a home may be more affordable than you think. If your lease is up for renewal, this could be a good time to consider the benefits of homeownership instead.

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Are You Being Represented by a “Yes-Agent”?

  We all know the type. The person who just says “yes” to anything, never challenging or questioning an opinion or strategy. These people-pleasers agree with anything suggested; while they may be nice friends, in real estate a yes-man or yes-woman can actually cost you money. Often a lot of money. No one likes to leave money on the table, but having an agent who doesn’t challenge unrealistic expectations is not serving the client. So, how can you spot these yes-agents? These yes-agents can take many forms. On the seller side, they could be the agent that lists a home at an unrealistic price. Well-priced homes are selling quickly, but that does not mean that a seller can add 10% or more to recent sales and expect to sell the home. Over-pricing a home can cost precious time as potential buyers forego viewing the property in favor of well-priced options. As the home lingers on the market, the seller must eventually lower their price to market value. Buyers often assume the seller is desperate to sell and offer lower prices than they might have at the beginning of the listing. Buyers represented by a yes-agent could find themselves writing unrealistic offers as well. There is danger in writing a low-ball offer just to “see if it sticks.” The yesagent might be willing to send over the offer, but the seller is just as likely to assume the buyer isn’t serious and move to more realistic offers. The yes-agent just cost the buyer the home. Spotting a yes-agent, and avoiding them, can save real estate clients time and money, and ensure they achieve their real estate goals. 

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Before Moving - Remember Future Needs

We are spending more time at home than ever before. This impacts how we view and use our homes. If your home no longer fits your needs in this new environment, you may be considering a right-size move. The open floorplans and great room layouts that have been so popular over the past few years may not allow for the various workspaces your family needs now. Separate and private areas for work and school needs may require more rooms or nooks, causing you to wonder if a larger home makes sense. The fact is, before you buy a larger home, consider your long-term needs. Will the kids be returning to the classroom? Will you need extra rooms in the future? Most people need to stay in a home for 5-7 years to recoup the cost of moving, planning for this time frame is an important factor in considering a move. Another consideration is the real estate market itself. Most of the country is experiencing a strong sellers’ market. Homes are selling for over the asking price. Not only can this make the move difficult to achieve, but the potential drop in future prices can saddle you with a home for longer than your intended timeframe. Before deciding to move, consider the impact today’s move could have on your future. It’s advised to always plan to stay in a home for at least 7 years and if your potential new home doesn’t fit into that model, it may make more sense to redesign/remodel your current home.

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