Buying and selling a home at the same time can be a complex process.  Many people can be very perplexed, but an experienced Realtor can guide you and keep your stress levels as low as possible.  A Waltham Realtor suggests a few options when it comes to buying and selling at the same time that can hopefully keep all moving along smoothly

Home Sale Contingency

One option suggested by a Waltham Realtor is home sale contingency. When putting a home sale contingency in place, the closing is contingent upon the sale of the buyer’s home. If the buyers current home sells by the specified date, the contract will move forward. If the buyer’s home does not sell by the specified date, the contract will be terminated. Unfortunately in this case, most sellers will not accept this. They will continue to show their property to others and not wait for you. Although this is an option, it is not Waltham Real Estate’s top suggestion.

Buy First/ Bridge Loan

Another suggested option from a Waltham Realtor is to take out a bridge loan. A bridge loan is a short-term loan used by a person or company until they secure their financing. In this case, a bridge loan would allow you to have the money to buy a new home before selling your current one. The pro to this option is that you will not have to worry about possibly having to find a temporary home during the process. The con to this option is that if you don’t sell your current home fast enough after you buy your new one, you may have two mortgages that have to be paid.

Delayed Closing

With Waltham Real Estate’s delayed closing option you can place your current home under contract with a later closing date so that you give yourself more time to find a new home. The pro to this option is the security of knowing your home will be sold and you won’t have to pay two mortgages. The con to this option is that if no home is found to buy, you still need to move at the end of the delayed closing date. This will force one to have to find a temporary home in the meantime.

Hire a Waltham Realtor

It is important to hire a professional Waltham Realtor to help you along this process so that you get the best outcome for your situation.  A Waltham Agent will allow you to stay stress-free during this process as they will be able to walk you through every step. Contact Hans Brings today!

 

Buying your first home is a significant event in life. Although this event is an exciting milestone, the process of buying a home can be intimidating and stressful. Figuring out how much you’re willing to spend, how you’re going to fix any flaws in your credit, and saving for a down payment can all add up quickly. Instead of rushing, take your time to do proper research and take some advice from a Waltham Realtor who is ready to help you figure out all of your finance options when it comes to buying your first home. Here are 4 steps to take before buying your first home to ensure your finances are in order and you’re ready to take this big step!

 

Boost Your Credit

Your credit score is a huge factor in whether or not you are ready to buy a home. Your credit score determines if you are qualified to have a mortgage and if so, for how much. To qualify for the lowest down payment you must have a credit score of at least 580, although that will not get you the best interest rates. Waltham real estate suggests having a credit score of at least 740 to get the best interest rates possible.

It is important to take the steps to boost your credit before you start the process of buying a home. The higher your credit, the more money you will save in the long run. Waltham real estate agents can assist you in ways in which you can boost your credit.

 

Know Your Budget

It is important to know what you can afford and what you cannot before starting the process of buying a home. The down payment is just one of the many payments you have to make when you are purchasing a house. Each month you will have to pay insurance, interest, principal, and property tax and all of these must be considered when you are figuring out your budget. Hiring a Waltham Realtor can ensure you are budgeting for the proper amount which will allow you to find the perfect home for the perfect price for you.  

Do your research beforehand and learn about the average cost of homes in the neighborhood you are looking in. It is recommended by Waltham real estate to always do home research outside the neighborhood you are looking in. Keeping your options open can surprise you and result in finding a bigger home that is still within your budget.

 

Understand the Process

When going through the process of buying a home it is important to not rush. Sometimes the process can take longer than expected but one must remember that the best outcomes sometimes take the longest. Once you make an offer on a home your Waltham realtor and the lender will be able to give you a timeline of what to expect going forward and how long things will take. Always take a Waltham real estate agent’s advice when it comes to searching for a lender to work with.

 

Let Your Lender Work for You

Once you have made it to the stage of your offer being accepted, this is when things start to get busy and there becomes a lot of moving parts. You’ll have to fill out many forms and documents as well as find a settlement date. Inspections will also have to be done and then you’ll need to start the process of the move itself. Let your lender guide you through all the moving parts so nothing is lost in the process and you’ll be able to complete everything on time.

 

To begin the home buying process contact Hans Brings, your #1 Waltham real estate agent! Your Waltham Realtor will ensure you get the best home for the best price and everything in between goes smoothly. Call today at 617-968-0022 or email Hans at hans@hansbrings.com.

                                                                              

 

Buying a home requires a lot more than just finding a home and writing a check. It takes a lot of planning and research to ensure you’re aware of everything that comes with and around that property. It’s important to be prepared before you begin your search so you can make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. These tasks from a Waltham Realtor will help set you up for success when it comes time to making that purchase.

Avoid These 5 Mistakes

1. Not Hiring a Buyer’s Agent

Some people who are searching for a home choose not to hire a buyer’s agent because they think they’ll be able to get a better price by working with the listing agent directly. This is indeed not true. Listing agents act in the best interest of the seller of the home, not the buyer. Hiring a professional Waltham real estate agent will benefit you in all areas. A Waltham Realtor will help you find homes that fit your requirements and will not waste your time showing you homes that don’t. Since buyer’s agents are familiar with the Waltham real estate market, it is easier for them to negotiate prices for you.

2. Not Getting Pre-Approved for Mortgage

No one wants to find a dream home, fall in love with it and then find out they are not approved for the amount of money they need to borrow. It is in your best interest to get a mortgage pre-approval before starting your home search. This will also ensure that if you find a home you love, you are able to make an offer on it right away. Your Waltham Realtor can walk you through the process of getting your pre-approval.

3. Settling Because You Think There’s Nothing Better

The inventory of homes changes often throughout the year. At times, specifically in the winter and spring, there is a low inventory of homes for sale making it more competitive when searching. At other times of the year, like the summer and fall, there are usually more homes on the market leaving you with more choices. Don’t settle for a home that you kind of like just because you are in a rush to buy. The market is constantly changing, and your Waltham realtor will make sure you to help you find the perfect home for you.

4. Thinking You’ll Fix Everything Up

Sometimes you come across a home that is perfect for you in most aspects but there may be some work that needs to be done. This is a normal case in which people buy homes and then fix them up to their standards. However, people need to be careful to make sure that they don’t underestimate how much time and money would need to go into the renovations they want. Make sure you have enough in your budget to complete all the tasks that you want.

5. Dragging Your Feet

Although you don’t want to rush into buying a home, you also don’t want to take too long to make offers. It can be heartbreaking to constantly get beat out by other people looking at the home just because you were dragging your feet in the process. Hiring a Waltham Real Estate agent will help you stay on track and diligently get the home you have always dreamed of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having a bidding war on your home is something that makes home sellers ecstatic. Having a bidding war on your home comes with many benefits when it comes to selling, the obvious reason being getting more money for your property. Other benefits include having more leverage with terms of the sale like dictating deposit amounts, dates, etc. Here are 5 strategies a Waltham Realtor suggests to create a bidding war on your property.

 

Price it right

Pricing your home at the right amount or even a little less is more likely to bring in a lot of buyers. If people know they are not the only ones interested in your home, they will automatically become competitive and most likely raise their offer to beat out others. Everyone wants what other people want, so it’s only natural for people’s competitive side to come out. Pricing your property right means pricing it in accordance to what similar homes have recently sold for in the neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. It is not recommended to price your home higher just because of one feature that you believe is good enough to do so. Some people may not agree, and you could suffer in selling your home because of it.

 

List in the winter

It is possible to create a bidding war on your property at any time of the year, but Waltham Real Estate agents suggest you can add even more to your chance if you list in the winter. In the winter and early spring, inventory is lower than in the summer and fall. Because of this, when buyers have less to choose from in the winter and early spring, they tend to bid more money on properties that they like knowing that others are also interested in those properties. Bidding wars slowdown in the summer because there are more properties up for sale.

 

Market more than others

There is more to marketing your home than just putting it on MLS. Top real estate agents have special agreements with the top websites like Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. They make sure their listings come up at the top of these websites when people are searching. Although most agents have access to these websites, they don’t always take advantage of them. Taking advantage of these websites is crucial if you want to market your property better than others.

 

High-quality photos and videos

In addition to marketing your property on these websites, Waltham real estate top sellers recommend to post high-quality photos and maybe even videos to social media. Don’t just post these on your personal page and leave it for just your followers. You want to boost your posts and target them to the right audience so that you put the listing in front of people who are actually looking and are more likely to buy.

Hire an experienced Waltham real estate agent

 

Hire experience.

An experienced real estate agent will know exactly how to negotiate and find the best buyer that will pay the highest price possible. This is very important when selling a property because you need an expert to guide and help you through the selling process to make sure you get the best outcome possible. Having an experienced Waltham Realtor will keep you on the right track.

 

If you are looking to buy or sell a house in or around Waltham, MA be sure to contact Hans Brings!

Selling your home in the winter in Waltham, MA is no easy task. Fewer people are looking to buy and attracting those potential buyers doesn’t come without a little extra effort. Luckily, Waltham Realtors have mastered the art of a winter open house over the years. Follow these 5 tips to ensure your winter open house is successful despite the cold!

 

5 Winter Open House Tips

 

1. Protect the Floors

 

Winter means salt on the sidewalks and slush on shoes. Protect the carpets in your home by asking guests to leave their shoes at the door. You can also opt for providing waterproof booties that will cover their shoes, or let the guest decide between the two options.

 

2. Don’t Over Decorate

 

You may want to go all out with festive décor, but it will hurt your chances of selling the home. Keep décor simple and sleek, but still festive. This is the year to go for a more sophisticated design rather than throwing out years’ worth of family decorations.

 

3. Keep it Accessible

 

If there’s snow in the forecast on the day of your open house, plan accordingly. You’ll need to go out and ensure the driveway, sidewalk, and steps to the entrance are all clear. You should also throw salt down to prevent ice from building up.

 

 

4. Make it Inviting

 

No one wants to go into a home from the cold only to still be cold! Since the door will be opening and closing a lot as people arrive to view the home, you’ll want to crank the heat up a little higher than normal. Avoid making it too hot though, as some guests may prefer to leave their coat on as they tour the home.

 

5. Showcase Winter Features

 

If your home has a feature that’s especially nice in the winter, this is the time to showcase it! If there’s a fireplace make sure to have it going with a crackling fire as guests walk through the home. Heated tile floors and a backup generator are other notable winter-friendly features to mention. Guests will likely pay close attention to the windows in the home, looking for drafts and uncomfortable areas of cold. Your goal should be to make the home as winter-friendly as possible.

 

Utilize all of these tips to make your winter open house as successful as possible. Wintertime doesn’t mean people aren’t going to buy, it just means you have to sell your home in the right way! If you need further assistance, be sure to contact trusted Waltham Realtor Hans Brings!

Winter is not traditionally thought of as a Waltham home-buying season. It's cold, people don’t want to move, and the holidays keep everyone busy. Those all may seem like reasons not to buy a home during the winter, but they’re actually reasons that describe exactly why winter is the best time!

 

Advantages of Buying a Home In The Winter

 

1. Less Competition

 

With fewer people looking to buy in the winter you’ll face less competition from other people looking to buy. This means less risk of getting into a bidding war or losing your dream home to someone with a bigger budget. You also won’t feel so pressured to make your choice to buy right away because chances are, the home will still be for sale if you need a few days to think about it.

 

2. Lower Prices

 

Since there are fewer people looking to buy a home, you’ll be able to enjoy lower prices from Waltham homeowners who don’t want to wait until spring for their home to sell. Everyone loves a good bargain, especially on a home you’ll live in for years to come! 

 

3. Quicker Processing Times

 

Lenders and Waltham Realtors are all less busy this time of year. This will allow your paperwork to process faster and things like credit approval or home inspections will get done quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t hurt that people tend to just be a little nicer around the holidays! Your customer service experience will be better overall than if you tried to purchase during peak season.

 

4. Less Time Spent Negotiating

 

With sellers anxious to sell, you’ll likely spend less time negotiating. The negotiations you do make will be processed faster too since fewer offers are being put in for the home.

 

5. See How a Home Handles the Cold

 

Cold weather can quickly reveal weak spots in a home. Instead of buying a home in the summer only to find out there are some major issues when the cold hits, buy your home when it’s already cold so you know what to expect!

 

All of these advantages can add up to some serious savings for you, both in time and in money! There’s no harm in talking to a Realtor and looking at a few houses. Who knows, maybe you’ll go into the new year with a new home that you love! There’s no better type of fresh start than a new house.

 

If you’re researching ways to increase your wealth, you’ve likely come across the real estate investing options. While in some ways this can seem like a great idea, in others, it seems like a major commitment that you may not be ready for. While investing in Waltham real estate is a big commitment, there are different types of real estate investing that may be better for your time commitment and skill sets. Real estate investing, especially in Waltham, can be a great way to build wealth when it is done correctly.

4 Ways To Invest in Real Estate

 

Home Ownership

When you buy a house, you are investing in real estate. Obviously there is a significant difference between owning your home and investing in other real estate property. While you aren’t actively making money or increasing your cash flow off of owning your own home, paying off your home is one of the best long-term investments you can make. Owning your home gives you more financial options – especially if you think you would like to invest in real estate.

 

Rental Properties

Rental properties are one of the most common forms of real estate investing. The main benefit of renting is that rental income becomes an additional revenue stream. However, renting definitely has its challenges. There are additional expenses for maintenance, repairs, and insurance for rental properties. You may also find yourself renting to families who do not pay consistently, or your property could sit temporarily vacant while you search for a new renter.

 

House Flipping

Flipping has become another popular form of Waltham real estate investing, in part due to television shows that focus on the subject. Flipping a house means purchasing it, making some improvements and other updates, and then selling the house within a short amount of time.

The key to flipping is to purchase at a low price point. Unless you get a good deal at the beginning, you can’t expect to make much money. However, just like any investment, there is a risk you won’t make money or could even lose money. It also takes a lot of time and effort, so those are certainly some factors to consider before jumping in. You would also want to check in with a real estate agent about whether house flipping in the Waltham real estate market you are considering is worth your time and effort.

 

REITs

A less conventional way of investing in real estate is through a real estate investment trust (REIT). These are companies that own real estate investments and sell shares to investors who would receive a percentage of the income made off of the investment. However, this is a risky investment type. If hands-off investing is more appealing to you, consider mutual funds instead.

 

If you do plan on researching more information on either renting or flipping homes in your area, reach out to a Waltham Realtor. They can help advise you on how properties are moving in the area based on their expertise with Waltham real estate. Real estate investment can be an excellent way to add a revenue stream to your income.

Are you buying a home in or around Waltham Massachusetts, especially for the first time? Buying a home can come with lots of confusion and unanswered questions. When purchasing a home, you need patience, persistence, and dedication. Hiring an experienced real estate agent can free you from the challenges of finding and buying a great home. Finding a great real estate agent is worth the time.  

 

Honesty

When buying a home, you must choose to work with a buyer's agent who is honest and firmly believes in full disclosure. Any licensed real estate agents are supposed to adhere to the code of ethics and standards of practice. Another way to reassure yourself is to make sure the buyer’s agent is practicing full disclosure is to ask around and read up on reviews from past buyers the agent has represented. It’s important that when looking at homes, you are looking out for potential red flags in a home. If the buyer’s agent was honest, they should be the first person to point out potential red flags in a home when viewing prospective homes. 

 

Understanding Your Time Frame

You are moving your family into a new home, and the latest move requires planning around particular schedules. The move may revolve around the start of a new job, a new school year, they all need a plan. A new school year or the beginning of a new career, you will be trying to put the move to a plan. Demand from your agent an appreciation for your schedule. Ensure your Waltham agent exerts any influence they can, to make your desired move-in date work. 

 

Get Rid of All Your Challenges

A great agent knows how to handle the challenges that will arise. Any agent should be able to adapt to today’s fast-paced real estate market. Focus on any agents that have a successful track record of making sure your Waltham home buying process is the most stress-free. Make sure your agent has a strong understanding of:

 

• Market Values
• Title Defects
• Contracts
• Negotiations 
• Appraisal Discrepancies
• Contracts
• Mortgage/Financing 

 

Never allow your agent to stray away from these motivations. You and your agent are partners in your search; you should always feel comfortable to speak up. The right home can come in different shapes and sizes, knowing how to ask will help you find your dream home. If you are ready to buy a home in Waltham, MA be sure to give Hans Brings a call today! 

Moving can be so difficult! Whether it’s across the country or across town, the struggle to get everything together and moved to a new location can be exhausting. That’s why we’ve made this ultimate moving checklist for once you have finally bought your new home in or around Waltham, MA. Why has a hard time moved when you already spent enough energy on buying a new home? Make your life easier with this checklist!

 

 8 Weeks Before the Move

 

1. Hire and set the budget for your mover. Remember to keep your moving budget realistic and stick to someone you know you can trust. Always read over any documents before signing!
2. Don’t forget all this bustle means that you WILL need to request some time off. Let your employer know in advance what days you need in order to make the move!
3. Make sure you find a new school for your kids. Some areas have multiple you can choose from. There may be vocational, public or private schools.  Look for one that you know will best suit your child’s needs as well as yours! Transferring schools may require transcripts so you might need to contact your current school!

 

6 Weeks Before Your Move

1. Keep track of what you’re packing! It is easy for things you treasure to get lost in the move. You don’t want to throw away any valuables accidentally! It may help to keep an inventory sheet in order to log everything.
2. Mark all of your moving boxes. This will help movers determine how to pack everything without breaking anything fragile. It will also make unpacking much easier!
3. Make sure to measure your doorways! You will want everything to fit and you would NOT want to find out on the big day that it doesn’t.

 

4 Weeks Before Your Move

1. Make sure all-important legal documents are stored somewhere safe and that all are accounted for. Carry them with you throughout the big move.
2. Compile any health records for all members of the household.
3. Request anything you may need for your vet and update their ID tags.

 

2 Weeks Before Your Move

1. Make a separate moving file so that you can compile all receipts and bills from moving.
2. Back up your computer so that if anything is lost, all of your important information will be saved.
3. Set up the trash and recycle in your new town so that you’re not stuck with a bunch of trash bags the first week in your new home!
4. Change your address for Social Security benefits and notify any government offices you may need to know about your address change such as the IRS.
5. Update your driver’s license and any subscriptions.
6. Contact utility companies to turn on/off.

 

The Week of the Move

1. Clean your home.

2. Leave a note for the new residents.

3. Pack an essentials box with anything you will immediately need from the move.

 

Have any other questions about how to make the best of your next move or need advice on finding the perfect home for your, then be sure to contact your local Waltham Realtor.

Whether it’s home buying, taking out a credit card or taking out a loan, APR is crucial in any borrowing type of transaction that you are interested in doing. It helps to know all about an APR, including what it actually is, how it’s calculated and its application. These factors can all help you in making an informed decision when doing certain business transactions that especially has to do with borrowing and lending. Let’s take a more detailed look at the subject of APR and what it could mean for you and your Waltham real estate journey.

 

What is APR?

The acronym APR stands for annual percentage rate, and it is a yearly representation of your interest rate. You can look at it as the actual cost of borrowing money to take out something like a mortgage. Moreover, the APR for a mortgage can also include particular loan costs, such as points and mortgage origination fees. These fees are what differentiates an interest rate, which is the percentage of the principal that is charged to take out a loan, from an APR. As such, when borrowing it’s important to pay attention to both the APR and the interest rate. The idea is that you’ll get a clear understanding of how much it will cost you to take out a loan of any kind.

 

Types of APR

There are different types of APR’s that can be applied to a mortgage that a real estate agent may tell you about. The most common ones you hear about are fixed APR and a variable APR.

 

Fixed APR: The APR doesn’t fluctuate based on an index for the life of the loan. This makes fixed APRs a little more predictable and can easily be worked into budgeting plans. It is still possible for the interest rate itself to change, but the issuer typically has to provide some notification of the change.

Variable APRs: The APR is tied to an index interest rate and can change and is less predictable. The agreement will highlight how the APR can change over the life of the loan. It can fluctuate to your gain, by providing lower interest rates, for example, or to your loss, increasing your interest rate.

 

Importance of APR

In the Waltham real estate market and other sectors, it’s essential that you have some insight into the type of APR that is applied to your mortgage, which essentially becomes new debt. A good Realtor will tell you that the price to borrow to pay for your home should not be taken lightly. When getting a piece of real estate through mortgage assistance, you want to avoid high APRs that could cripple your budget. This can be avoided to a certain degree by not taking out a lot of debt, to begin with.

 

Things that Impact Your Interest Rate

As much as you may wish you could set your own APR, the lender technically establishes the interest rate that is offered on a loan, and this will impact your APR. Still, there are other factors such as credit scores that could impact your APR. Excellent credit scores will carry more weight and be beneficial in getting a lower interest rate than if your credit scores were bad.

 

Be it, home selling or buying, APR isn’t something that can be overlooked. It is important in Waltham realty when deciding to take out a mortgage. Borrowers should know the types that are available to them, why it’s important and factors that could impact APR. Contact Hans Brings today to learn more about APR and the overall home buying or selling process!