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The housing market is very competitive right now. If you find a home you love you’ll want to act fast. Here are 5 tips for buying in a seller’s market.

1. Get started ASAP. When homes are listed on the market, they tend to not last long. Make sure your schedule is open so you can view it quickly. Make sure you plan ahead by getting the property reports, disclosures, ect…as properties tend to go very quickly you want to be prepared as much as possible.
2. Pre-approval letters are now more important than ever before. Once you’ve seen a home, you may only have a day or two to make an offer, and always assume your offer is one of many. It will help you to have a pre-approval letter with a proof of funds available ready to go with the offer letter.
3. With so many offers typically coming in, the simpler the offer, the better. If you can avoid contingencies like selling your home first or completing inspections, the better your offer will stand out. If a contingency is placed on a home, the seller might view it as a potential for the offer to fall apart.
4. Sellers are attracted to a big payout or cash offer. When you find the home you absolutely love, make sure you put your best foot forward. The seller may not come back and negotiate much, if at all.
5. Write a personal offer note stating why you would be the perfect buyer for the home. Keep it short and sweet and to the point and find a way to connect emotionally with the seller. Consider including compliments about the house and why you fell in love with it.

If you are considering buying a house in a seller’s market, these five tips will help you along the way.

If you have any questions about today’s selling market or to find homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

If you are thinking about selling your home in today’s market, you need to have a game plan. If you are looking to receive the highest price possible with the best terms in the least of time spent, you need to understand what you are in for; as the rules have changed.

If you are interested in selling your home and then purchasing a new one, a few years ago you could look for a new home as you tried to sell your old one. In today’s selling your home market you’ll be competing with many other buyers to find a home. Come up with a plan of where you might live if you sell your home quickly without find a new one.

With today’s marketing of selling your home, you may think, price the home high and drive offers higher. Think again. Instead price your home at its fair market value or a little less in order to pique buyers’ interests. Because once you list your home you don’t want it to sit on the market for too long as potential buyers will think there’s something wrong with it.

You used to be able to get away with taking nice listing photos. Today’s homebuyers want to see videos, 3D tours, floor plans, twilight photos, aerial photos and videos, and so much more. Many buyers are not interested in renovating their new homes due to supply chain issues, so they want to make sure the home needs little to no work.

When you place your house on the market, it used to take a few days to have showings and then there would be several showings every week. Today, you need to plan to be away from your home for long periods of time as the days will fill with back-to-back showings.

An old rule would be to take the highest offer was the surest bet. In today’s selling your home market, the surest bet is the one with the least amount of contingencies. This may include not relying on an appraised value to get a loan secured, instead being able to pay cash for any difference. Or waiving inspections. Consider the surest offer that isn’t reliant on the buyers selling their current home.

If you have any questions about today’s selling market or to find homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

 

Working with a realtor when buying a home has benefits. With tons of realtors across the country, you want to pick a realtor that compliments your personality and helps you find the home that is right for you.

Here are the top 5 benefits of working with a realtor when buying a home:

1. They will help you understand the price of a home. Is it priced too low for the neighborhood? Is the home priced well for the neighborhood? A realtor also knows the price of certain features and how it will impact the value of the home. They will help make sure you won’t pay too much for the home or the neighborhood in which it is in.
2. Realtors will save you time. They help eliminate homes that simply will not work for you by going to open houses or events.
3. Access to MLS listings. The Multiple Listing Service is a communication tool in the home buying and selling marketplace that is only available to realtors. This system is different than many of the online home search tools. In a seller’s market, a home can sell so fast that it doesn’t even get added to the online home search.
4. Realtors have access to professional networks. Realtors network with other realtors and share home information with each other. This can provide value to your home buying.
5. They have knowledge of neighborhoods. They have market knowledge, neighborhood background and other insights you can’t find on an online listing. They often know of the quality of schools, crime rates and any pending developments (like new roads or buildings).

A great benefit of working with a realtor on buying a home is that you have an expert in your corner to offer advice and ask questions. A realtor will help you through any obstacle your home buying experience may throw at you.

If you have any questions about the benefits of using a realtor to find homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

Getting to know your neighbors isn’t something that happens immediately. It takes time to build relationships. Here are 9 great tips for getting to know your neighbors!

1. Wave and smile. Simple acts of letting people know you’re friendly and open to getting to know them.
2. Knock on the door. Introduce yourself. Just be sensitive to timing. It’s not recommended to show up around meal times. Instead try a weekend when you see your neighbor’s vehicle in the driveway.
3. Bring treats to a neighbor. Bake cookies, cupcakes or a loaf of bread and take them to your neighbor.
4. Ask for advice. Ask about their landscaper or who they used to cut their grass. Ask them if they know where to order the best pizza.
5. Offer help. Watch for opportunities to be neighborly. The next time your neighbor is carrying in groceries, offer to help.
6. Take a walk. Plan extra time in your daily walk and say hello to people in their yards and driveways.
7. Go outside and sit on your porch or driveway. Say hello and wave as people drive or walk by.
8. Take your dog for a walk. Most of the time, neighbors will ask for the dogs name or breed.
9. Attend neighborhood meetings. This allows you to get involved. Make an appearance. The more opportunities you have to connect with your neighbors, the better the relationships will grow.

Getting to know your neighbors can be as easy as walking around the neighborhood and introducing yourself. Be sure to be friendly. More than likely, your neighbors want to know who you are and meet you, just as you want to know them.

If you have any questions about the homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

It’s that time of year again when taxes are due. That also includes your property taxes. With the fluctuation in the housing market, you can be sure your property will see a change, too. Your property tax assessment helps determine how big your tax bill will be. As a homeowner, you should know how your tax bill is calculated and more importantly how to accurately predict how much you’ll owe.

A tax assessment determines the value of a piece of real estate, such as your home. Your property taxes vary by county and state and are commonly paid annually. These factors are what play into the assessed value of your home or homes in your area and your local government’s budgets needs.

There is no current way around paying property taxes. You do have to pay them every year.

The appraised value of your home is obtained by a licensed inspector’s home appraisal. This is an evaluation of the worth of your home based on attributes and comparable properties in your local market.

The assessed value of your real estate, or home, defines how much your property is worth for taxable purposes.

Taxable value determines a homeowner’s tax liability. To figure this, take your assessed value and subtract out any exemptions that you may qualify for.  You can then find your taxable value by multiplying your property’s assessed value, minus exemptions, by the local mileage rate.

If you do not agree with the tax assessment, you can always request an appeal. The local government will review and reassess based on their guidelines.

The bottom line, property tax payments can go up or down based on a variety of factors and are impacted by your property tax assessment. And with the major fluctuation in home prices and values, you can bet that you’ll see a change this year.

If you have any questions about homes for sale or that you want to purchase in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

Thinking of you on this special day! Best wishes for Easter and the season ahead. Happy Easter from Ed Rippee!

Selling your home can be an emotional transaction for anyone. It can even feel like an invasion of privacy as people poke around your cabinets and go through your closet. If you’ve never sold a home before, you will want a realtor by your side that knows what they are doing and can help you through the experience.

A top realtor in Kansas City will have your best interest at heart. They will help you review the homes in your area that are similar to yours in size that have recently sold, typically called comps. Using the comps and your realtor’s experience together you can set a fair price for your home.

Make sure your home is staged and ready for potential buyers. Having a cluttered home that is not well kept can reduce the sale price or prevent you from getting an offer on your home. A top realtor in Kansas City will be able to point out certain areas that need your attention when they do their initial walk through.

When a potential buyer wants to view your home, make sure that you accommodate them, even if it’s an inconvenience for you. Always make sure the home is in its best state when the potential buyer comes to view it.

A top realtor will act as a go between for anyone trying to low ball the price or look at your house with no intention of making an offer.

An experienced realtor will help you negotiate the home sale and probably get more money than you could on your own. As you finalize your offer on your home, a top realtor in Kansas City will do all the paperwork with the real estate transaction and ensure that it goes smoothly. This will illuminate any delays or glitches to hold up the deal.

Do you think you are ready to buy a home or looking to sell your home? If you have any questions about the homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

One of the jobs of realtor, Ed Rippee, is to anticipate a client’s needs based on observations. This can be done by offering a plumber’s phone number if something needs to be fixed or suggesting a handyman’s service if it’s necessary.

Ed Rippee has a team of professionals that he has vetted and worked with for many years. That’s why he considers himself a service provider rather than just a real estate agent. If you need a painter, Ed will ask do you need a faux painter, venetian plaster, mosaic or custom tile or perhaps a portraiture; because he has someone, he trusts that he would recommend without hesitation.

If you are looking for a flooring expert or an alarm system expert or lenders or appraisers, Ed Rippee knows just the right person to fit your need when buying or selling a home in Kansas City.

All vendors that Ed would recommend are local, experienced professionals who care about your home and your needs. If you are looking for a realtor who goes above and beyond in the care of your home, Ed Rippee is the realtor to call.

Providing clients with a go-to person who can get them whatever they want, when they need it is a commitment that Ed Rippee has been offering his clients for years. This is a commitment that he offers well after the closing table.

Do you think you are ready to buy a home or looking to sell your home? If you have any questions about the homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

To stay organized when you are looking for a home, consider creating a house hunting checklist. Because there are a ton of things to consider; from what section of town to how many bedrooms and bathrooms to home or condo. You’ll want to stay organized while you do your research.

When you tour prospective homes take your checklist with you to take notes with. Here are a few things to consider for your house hunting checklist:

• Interior: remember that you can make cosmetic changes to the home quite easily; just watch out for the more serious issues that can be expensive to fix
• Wall and floor condition: look for water marks or signs of leaks or warped floors
• Integrated systems: watch for leaky water heaters or eroded wires on electrical systems; flicker lights and run water in the taps to make sure it’s clear
• Odors: does the house have pets or a funny smell; if pets you may need to replace carpets and it can be costly; a musty smell could be hazardous to your health if it’s caused by mold or mildew
• Exterior: find out what the HOA will allow you to add or change; maybe you want to add a fence or change the color of paint or add a porch or pool
• Community: what are the crime rates, noise pollution, proximity to work, amenities, traffic flow and school rankings (if you have kids) are all things to consider
• Lawn and landscape: can you live with the landscaping or will it need to be completely removed before you can move in? Is there a sprinkler system and does it work? Do you see any signs of a sewer leak, such as a bad smell or odor

These are all things you would want to consider when purchasing a home. Having a house hunting checklist will remind you to look for all these things when deciding on whether the home is worthy of an offer.

Do you think you are ready to buy a house? If you have any questions about the homes for sale or want to purchase a home in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.

Are you thinking of using a realtor to buy a home in the Northland? When you decide to reach out to a realtor, make sure you have these four items already prepared. It will make your home purchasing so much easier.

1. Know how much you can afford
2. Have a down payment ready
3. Decide what type of mortgage is right for you
4. Get a preapproval letter from a mortgage or lending company

Then, be prepared to spend 3-6 months finding and closing and moving into your home. This process may vary slightly depending on homes available and whether or not you have a home to sell first; but on average it takes 3-6 months to close if you come prepared with the above four items.

Northland Realtors also advise you to have an additional 2 months’ worth of mortgage payments saved. This will help you cover any costs that may arise when closing on your new home(and depends on what type of loan you have), with inspections or any upfront realtor fees.

Be upfront with your Northland Homes Realtor when looking at properties. If you like a home, list the items you like and keep a list. And then prioritize that list based on what you liked about it. Do this for every home you see. This will help you keep track of all the homes you visit and prioritize the ones you like the best.

Do you think you are ready to buy a house? If you have any questions about Northland homes in the for sale or want to purchase a home in Kansas City, Missouri, give Ed Rippee a call. He can give you the latest information and help make your home buying or selling, a smooth transition.