Consumers in America have a love/hate relationship with Realtors. The problem is that the barrier to entry is so low that most cities have 3 to 4 times as many Realtors as they have real estate transactions. The top 10% do 90% of the work. So, if yo…

The Basic Expenses of Buying a Home

The average cost of buying a house is typically around 2% to 6.5% of the sales price. This is the amount of cash you will need on the closing day. Some loan products allow the homebuyer to roll these costs into …

Most real estate agents are paid for their services through commissions when the home sale is complete. The listing agent fees are negotiated into the listing agreement, and the buyer's agent fees are negotiated in the sales contract.

Since most bu…

So, you’ve had your offer accepted on a home—congratulations! But if you thought the hard part was over, think again. Navigating the home buying or selling process without making mistakes (or losing your sanity) can be tough. Betwe…

What is an appraisal gap? An "appraisal gap" happens when a home's appraised value is lower than the price agreed upon in the sales contract. To address this, an "appraisal gap clause" is included in the contract, ensuring the buyer agrees to cover the …