What happens to Earnest Money when I make an offer? Will I get my money back if I don't buy the house? These two questions are the most common questions I get asked when buyers are ready to make an offer on a home in Iowa City. Writing the check is never the issue. It makes perfect sense to ... » Learn More about What Happens to Earnest Money When Making an Offer?
Buyers Info
Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Before Looking at Homes
Why do you need to get pre-approved for a home loan before you go looking at houses? The best reason for buyers to get pre-approved before looking at homes is that it just makes sense for buyers to know what they can afford before they get into proper buying mode. Most buyers are a little nervous ... » Learn More about Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Before Looking at Homes
Downsizing Your Home – What to Do with Your Stuff
My last post talked about the challenges involved in downsizing. The first and biggest challenge facing anyone downsizing is what to do with all your stuff. The whole point of downsizing is to move to a smaller house or condo. It follows that with less space you also need less stuff. I'm working on ... » Learn More about Downsizing Your Home – What to Do with Your Stuff
Downsizing Your Home – Where Do you Start?
Downsizing is Easier with a Plan Real Estate is always personal to me. Today's post is more personal than usual as I consider the prospect of downsizing. Not that I'm ready to think about buying my next home yet, but I am ready to start planning my move. The methodical approach works much better ... » Learn More about Downsizing Your Home – Where Do you Start?
What do You Put on That Wants, Needs & Wishes List?
This year I've helped more buyers than I typically do to find "forever" homes. By that I mean buyers who are buying homes in the Iowa City area that they intend to stay in for a long time, rather than doing the 3 or 4 year rotation that many buyers relocating to Iowa City for the University of Iowa ... » Learn More about What do You Put on That Wants, Needs & Wishes List?
How Long Does it Take to Buy a Home in the Iowa City Area?
How long does it take to buy a home in Iowa City? There is a common misconception that buying a home is a long drawn out process. It isn't, or at least it doesn't have to be. In reality buying a home in the Iowa City area is faster than most buyers think. A common scenario is for closing to take ... » Learn More about How Long Does it Take to Buy a Home in the Iowa City Area?
How Much Are Closing Costs For Cash Buyers in Iowa City?
When you pay cash for a home in the Iowa City area there are obviously less closing costs than when you work with a lender. You won't need to pay any costs attached to the processing of a home loan. At the same time, you also miss out on having them vet the entire process. Lenders are in effect a ... » Learn More about How Much Are Closing Costs For Cash Buyers in Iowa City?
Top Questions to Ask When You Buy a Condo in the Iowa City Area
There are many details to watch out for when you buy a home in the Iowa City area. This is true for every home big or small and even more true when you buy a condominium. The reason why is quite simple. When you buy a condo you're not buying the land or the common elements. You are buying an ... » Learn More about Top Questions to Ask When You Buy a Condo in the Iowa City Area
Buying a Home in Iowa City – How do I know how much to offer?
How much they should offer is always the first question I hear from buyers when they're ready to make an offer on a home in the Iowa City area. Right up front I want to say that Realtors don't set the price on homes on the market, neither do they tell buyers what to offer. What we do is provide ... » Learn More about Buying a Home in Iowa City – How do I know how much to offer?
Bottom Line – 3 Good Reasons to Work with a Buyer’s Agent
Why would you hire a buyer's agent to help you buy a house in Iowa City? Apart from the fact that Buyer Representation is FREE that is. Recently I wrote a post about what you should expect from a buyer's agent. It's a very long post and since you probably don't have all day I thought I'd summarize ... » Learn More about Bottom Line – 3 Good Reasons to Work with a Buyer’s Agent
