Jen Giraud's Blog

    WHAT IS A REAL ESTATE CLOSING?      A “closing” is where you and I meet with some or all of the following individuals: the Seller, the Seller’s agent, a representative from the lending institution and a representative from the title company, in order to transfer the property title to you.  Th...

Moving to a new home can be stressful, to say the least. Make it easy on yourself by planning far in advance and making sure you’ve covered all the bases. 1. Plan ahead by organizing and budgeting. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical on moving day, and create an e...

  Common Closing Costs for Buyers   You’ll likely be responsible for a variety of fees and expenses that you and the seller will have to pay at the time of closing. Your lender must provide a good-faith estimate of all settlement costs. The title company or other entity conducting the closing wil...

The Ten Commandments When Applying for a Real Estate Loan   1.Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job. 2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)! 3.Thou shalt not use charge cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind. 4. Thou shalt no...

  What a Home Inspection Should Cover Home inspections will vary depending on the type of property you are purchasing. A large historic home, for example, will require a more specialized inspection than a small condominium. However, the following are the basic elements that a home inspector will ...

Interesting read from RealtorMag! Most people would think a 43% discount is a steal of a deal, but when the home is $150 million... maybe not!   Daily Real Estate News | July 15, 2011 | Share Priciest U.S. Listing Sold at 43% Discount A Los Angeles County estate that once was the highest-priced h...

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood Your neighborhood has a big impact on your lifestyle. Follow these steps to find the perfect community to call home. • Is it close to your favorite spots? Make a list of the activities — movies, health club, church, etc. — you engage in regularly and stor...

  Thinking about putting your house on the market? Getting your home ready to sell can be overwhelming, especially if you have lived there for more than 5 years, but there are some things to make the process easier. Check out these 10 helpful steps.   1. Talk to a lender. It doesn’t make sense t...

8 Tips to Guide Your Home Search   1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing. 2. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations...

A great blog from Stephanie Hansson of College Station, TX. Everyone knows in order to buy a home in this market, you must have some kind of down payment available. Not everyone is lucky enough to receive a gift from a family member, so if you fall into this category of "save-it-yourself"  please...