Buying and Selling
Buying a home in Texas has changed. Today, buyers can search homes online, compare prices, review photos, research neighborhoods and find properties before speaking with a real estate agent. That convenience raises an important question: Do you need a buyer’s agent in Texas? You may also wonder: Can you call the listing agent directly? Can…
How to Choose the Right Mortgage Lender When Buying a Home Choosing the right home is important, but choosing the right mortgage lender can be just as important. A mortgage lender does much more than quote an interest rate. Your lender helps determine which loan programs you qualify for, how much home you can comfortably…
How to Protect Yourself From Wire Fraud When Closing on a Home Buying a home is exciting, but the days leading up to closing are also a time when buyers need to be especially careful with emails, phone calls and requests involving money. One of the most serious threats facing homebuyers in the home buying…
Will I Save Money on Agent Commissions If I Sell My Home Myself? If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may have asked yourself a very reasonable question: “Why should I hire a listing agent when I could sell my house myself and save the commission?” At first glance, selling your home as a…
What Does a Buyer’s Agent Actually Do? It’s More Than Opening Doors If you’ve ever wondered, “What does a buyer’s agent do?”, you’re not alone. Many people assume a buyer’s agent simply unlocks doors and schedules home showings. While that’s certainly part of the job, it’s only a small piece of the value a professional…
When buyers scroll through hundreds of homes online, first impressions happen in seconds. In today’s digital real estate market, listing photos often determine whether a buyer schedules a showing or keeps scrolling. That’s one of the biggest reasons why real estate agents use virtual staging on vacant homes. As virtual-staging technology improves, agents have more…
Why aren’t homes selling in the Houston area? If you’ve noticed more “For Sale” signs staying up longer throughout Houston, Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, Porter, Conroe, The Woodlands, and surrounding communities, you’re not imagining it. Many homeowners are asking the same question: “Why isn’t my home selling?” The answer usually isn’t that there’s something wrong with…
Real Estate Fraud: Common Scams Every Buyer and Seller Should Know About Buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions most people will ever make. While the majority of real estate transactions are completed safely and successfully, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in targeting buyers, sellers, homeowners, and even real estate…
NEW LAW REQUIRES FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL PLAN EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 1801, effective September 1, 2023, during the 88th regular session, which now requires the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to verify the eligibility of homeowners for the homestead exemption at least once every five years. Many Texas…
New NAR Requirements and How It will Effect Home Buyers The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently made three major buyer agent commission changes that took effect on August 17, 2024, which could significantly impact home buyers, home sellers, and real estate agents. 1. Written Buyer Representation Agreements: Anyone that has ever worked with our…