Title Insurance Prior to closing, the closing attorney orders a title search to review liens or other issues with the title. It must be “clear” in order for the deed to be transferred to the new owner. A seller will need to pay off any liens against the home in order for the transfer to […]
First time buyer
As a first time buyer, the stress can be greatly reduced by being prepared. We've covered information on the process for financing pre-approval, contracts, inspections and closing in these articles.
New on the Market!
New on the Market! There are many homes listed for weeks or months before selling, but there are also a lot of homes that go under contract within days. This page is constantly updated so you can see new on the market listings for all areas around Athens. If you have questions or want to […]
Prepare for your home purchase
When buying a home, there are a few steps that will help prepare for your home purchase. You need to make sure you’re ready to buy by applying for a mortgage that fit your budget. Before doing that, it’s a good idea to check your credit score and credit report for errors, pay down your […]
Athens home sales increase in 2015
According to the Athens MLS, Athens home sales increased in 2015. In Athens and surrounding counties (included in Athens MLS data), there were 4,500 homes sold in 2006. This year, there are 3,310 (as of 12/28/15). This may not sound very encouraging, but in 2010, there were 2,100 sales for the same area. For Athens, […]
8 Steps to a successful closing on your home purchase
When buying a home, the little details can make all the difference. Follow the 8 steps to a successful closing on your home purchase.
New regulations to protect home buyers
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act / RESPA recently made changes to protect the home buyer. The new procedure is to help buyers comparison shop for financing and to make better decisions for home loans. Any change in the loan amount or terms means that the buyer must receive a new Loan Estimate within 3 days of […]
Who pays closing costs?
It’s not unusual for buyers to ask the seller to pay closing costs but sometimes sellers don’t want to pay them. This is likely due to not understanding exactly what it means. So, what are closing costs, and who should pay them? Closing costs are fees associated with the buyer’s loan Closing costs include: origination fee to […]
Home improvement ideas when selling a home
Refinishing hardwood floors can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. We recently got prices for this and it was a big surprise since we always assumed it would cost a lot for this job. We got prices from 2 different contractors and one did give a high price. However, the other one gave a […]
What’s involved with a home inspection?
After a purchase offer for a home is accepted, the due diligence period starts. This is usually 10 days in our area, and allows the buyer to terminate an accepted offer for any reason during that time. The intent of the due diligence period is to allow time for the buyer to have a home […]
Seller repairs after home inspection
After your home is under contract, the buyer will have a home inspection. There is usually a request for the seller to make repairs based on the inspection report findings. Most times, they are minor repairs that should be routine maintenance and most sellers are willing to take care of those repairs. If a low […]