home buying tips: What Buyers Should Know About HOA Fees in Carlsbad
- 03/20/19 05:47 PM
What Do the HOA Fees in Carlsbad Cover?
Any home buyer in Carlsbad, or in any of the nearby communities, considering a detached single home with a Home Owner’s Association (HOA), or an attached property (condos, town homes, twin homes), all of which will have an HOA, should ask about the HOA fees.
You want to know, of course, how much those fees are, when they are billed (typically monthly), as well as what the HOA fees cover.
While the MLS will generally state what the fees are, and provide a list of what they cover, buyers should verify all this information to their … (4 comments)
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home buying tips: Is Your Offer Dressed for Success?
- 03/06/19 08:18 PM
How to Dress Your Offer for Success
In our competitive sellers market, with multiple offers common, you need every advantage possible to improve your chances of being the successful offer.
Of course there can only be 1 buyer who will come out on top, and there are many factors that can impact who this is…on the buyer side, of course, but it might also depend on what the seller’s hot buttons are.
WHY DRESS AN OFFER FOR SUCCESS?
Dressing your offer for success is essential, to compete effectively.
Some offers we see these days are in pretty rough shape and you don’t want to be … (47 comments)
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home buying tips: What Carlsbad Home Buyers Should Consider When Using Zillow
- 08/09/18 05:49 PM
Home Searches and Estimates of Value
What You Should Know About Zillow
You may or may not be using Zillow in your Carlsbad home search – but many buyers do. If you are a Zillow user, however, there are some important things to understand about this popular website.
By the way, if you are also planning to sell your Carlsbad home, there are things homeowners should know about when using Zillow.
SEARCHING ON ZILLOW
First, Zillow commonly pulls listings from other websites, as other sites do, and as a result some listings you see may not be accurate or up to date.
That’s not to say … (42 comments)
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home buying tips: Does Your Transaction Require an ARC Inspection?
- 09/20/17 08:44 PM
Do You Need an
Architectural Review Committee Inspection Before Closing?
It’s only come up twice in my career so far, and that’s in selling a good number of homes and condos with HOAs. But perhaps for some it’s more common.
Review of the HOA documents, Rules and Regulations, Board Meeting minutes, Budget, and other documents are essential for any buyer purchasing in an HOA. But there could be more involved for both buyers and sellers.
Read more about why it's important to review the HOA documents as a buyer as part of your real estate transaction.
And ARC, or Architectural Review Committee, inspection may … (7 comments)
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home buying tips: Real Estate-ese: Buyers Ask “What is Funding?”
- 12/30/16 02:07 PM
Real Estate-ese
“What is Funding?”
Buyers need to understand all there is to know about how to buy a Carlsbad home, from start to finish, including the terminology used in real estate transactions that may be confusing, especially if you are a first time buyer. “Funding” is one of those words you should understand.
Certainly the most exciting part of your home purchase is your closing. It’s handled in different ways in different states, but once it happens you become a new home owner. You can learn more about closing here in the Carlsbad area and closing costs with these links. Or watch the short … (22 comments)
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home buying tips: The Thrill of the Final Walk-Through at Your New Home
- 05/29/16 10:04 AM
The Final Walk-Through at Your New Home
I had a final walk-through at a beautiful condo with my first time buyers on Friday night, with closing set for Tuesday.
The final walk-through is important from the standpoint of checking the home is in the same condition as when you put it under contract before you have closing, and to verify that any repairs that might have been negotiated have been completed. It’s the practical part of your due diligence when buying a home that’s important to do (how and when this occurs may vary depending on the situation, your contract, etc.).
But the real thrill … (12 comments)
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home buying tips: Common Issues at a Carlsbad Home Inspection
- 12/23/15 01:06 AM
Common Issues at a Carlsbad Home Inspection
The home inspection, for many buyers, often causes a bit of anxiety, in particular if you’ve never been through one before. There’s the big unknown – what issues will the home inspector uncover?
Normally a buyer will make their offer contingent on a home inspection. Not having one done is risky and contradicts the advice of your Realtor. You may have to sign a waiver if you decide to not have one.
The purpose of this article is to share some common issues that arise in home inspections.
That’s not to say these will all be … (5 comments)
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home buying tips: Buyers, Do You Know How Carlsbad Sellers Set Their Listing Price?
- 12/11/15 04:33 AM
Buyers, Do You Know How Carlsbad Sellers Set Their Listing Price?
This is not a rhetorical question. In fact, it’s a rather complicated issue.
And just one of the many things you need to know about how to buy a house!
In our market, I suspect many buyers often wonder how sellers come up with their prices.
In some cases, you may be incredulous!
Really, where DID you come up with that dollar amount for your home?
Have you looked at what else is on the Carlsbad market, and what’s sold? This makes no sense!
Frequently I hear from buyers “this home is overpriced.” And sometimes … (18 comments)
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home buying tips: How to Buy a Home – Tips for Buyers (Don't Spend Money Before Closing)
- 04/22/15 10:40 AM
How to Buy a Home
Video Tips Series for Carlsbad Home Buyers
~ Don’t Spend Money Until After You Close ~
Buying a Carlsbad home is complex, and time consuming, whether this is your first home or you’ve done it before.
The intent of this “How to Buy a Home” tips and advice video series is to provide quick answers to some of the most important issues and decisions you face as a home buyer, and questions likely have, when buying a new home in Carlsbad.
See video below for advice on why you should not spend money while you are in escrow
As a buyer, … (21 comments)
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home buying tips: How to Buy a Home – Video Series for Buyers (Local Market Conditions)
- 03/10/15 10:50 AM
How to Buy a Home
Video Tips Series for Carlsbad Home Buyers
~ Understand the Local Market Conditions ~
Buying a Carlsbad home is a complex process, whether you are experienced, or are buying your first home.
The intent of this “How to Buy a Home”tips and advice video series is to provide quick answers to some of the most important issues and decisions you face as a home buyer, and questions likely have, when buying a new home in Carlsbad.
See video below for a discussion of why you should understand the local market … (13 comments)
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home buying tips: How to Buy a Home – Video Series for Home Buyers (Seller Disclosures)
- 03/05/15 11:58 PM
How to Buy a Home
Video Tips Series for Carlsbad Home Buyers
~ Seller Disclosures ~
Buying a Carlsbad home is a complex process. This is true whether you are experienced, or buying your first home.
The goal of this “How to Buy a Home”tips and advice video series is to provide quick answers to some of the most important issues and decisions you face as a home buyer, and questions you will likely have, when buying a new home in Carlsbad.
See video below for a discussion of Seller Disclosures
As you get started as … (4 comments)
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home buying tips: How to Buy a Home – Video Series for Home Buyers (Contingent Offers)
- 02/25/15 12:14 PM
How to Buy a Home
Video Tips Series for Carlsbad Home Buyers
~ Contingent Offers ~
Buying a Carlsbad home is a tough job, whether you are a first time home buyer or an experienced one, and there is a lot to know with many decisions to make.
The purpose of this “How to Buy a Home” tips and advice video series is to provide quick answers to some of the most important issues and decisions you face, and questions you will likely have, when buying a new Carlsbad home.
See video below for a discussion … (11 comments)
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home buying tips: A Home Buyer’s Game Plan for 2015 – A Series (Part 2)
- 12/02/14 01:01 AM
A Home Buyer’s Game Plan for 2015 – A Series (Part 2)
In the first of this series on buying a new Carlsbad home in 2015 we talked about the importance of getting your financials in order, specifically getting pre-approved (if you need or want to use a loan) or reviewing your cash situation.
READ:
A Home Buyer’s Game Plan for 2015 – A Series (Part 1 Getting Pre-Approved)
If you are planning to buy a Carlsbad home in 2015, having a game plan and a buying strategy is important.
And if you are relocating, there … (4 comments)
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home buying tips: I Can’t Help if You Don’t Tell Me What You Want to Spend and Can Document It!
- 07/06/13 02:09 PM
I Can’t Help if You Don’t Tell Me What You Want to Spend and Can Document It!
Your budget for a new home is a big deal these days. Hopefully you have a good grasp of what it is.
Prices are going up in our area, and interest rates have risen.
That means the home you could have bought a few months ago will cost you more. Perhaps substantially.
I often get emails from buyers looking online who are interested in Carlsbad homes for sale. I am always happy to respond, answer questions, and provide more information … (37 comments)
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home buying tips: Carlsbad Buyers, Are YOU Prepared for Your Home Inspection?
- 04/29/13 11:59 PM
Carlsbad Buyers, Are YOU Prepared for Your Home Inspection?
The home inspection is a critical part of the real estate purchase process for the buyer, one which often causes a great deal of anxiety.
While a home inspection is not required, it is highly recommended for buyers of Carlsbad homes, and generally buyers make their offers contingent upon a home inspection as part of their overall property investigation. We are, in this market, seeing some buyers willing to forgo an inspection in hopes of making their offers more appealing, or in the case of some investors.
As a … (15 comments)
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What Do the HOA Fees in Carlsbad Cover?
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