“Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make,” is one of the first “tips” you’ll receive when surfing the internet for information about the process. The statement is ubiquitous, it’s also an understatement and so self-evident that it’s become a cliché. Most important, though, is that it’s a statement that induces panic. Don’t let the words…

In 2017, a total of 16 disasters in the United States caused an estimated $306 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Residents of Montana bore the brunt of wildfires that raged across more than 1 million acres. Californians suffered from fires, as well as flooding and massive mud slides, while hurricanes Harvey, Irma and…

There’s a road you will head down when you first decide that it’s time to buy a home. Before taking even the first step, you’ll encounter a fork in that road. Sadly, most first-time homebuyers take the wrong fork and end up disappointed. Not having a clue about your credit  Do you know what’s lurking in your credit reports? It’s…

Walking into your new home for the first time may be a bit jolting. Unless it was vacant when you purchased it, the home will look completely different. The walls will be empty, the floors exposed from corner-to-corner and the prospect of filling all that space may be overwhelming. It’s also exciting. Finally, there’s no landlord to dictate wall color…

After a long, grueling search, including several overheated bidding wars, Jim and Claire found the California home of their dreams. They were ecstatic when their offer was accepted and the transaction sailed to an effortless close. As summer settled in, it was time to crank up the air-conditioner. Curiously, they couldn’t find the thermostat for it. Sure, there was a…

Mold – it’s unsightly (when it’s visible) and it’s unhealthy – and, if it’s in our homes, it is present in every breath we take. Many of us only think of mold in the cold and damp of winter. But, spring weather can also cause a host of problems in our homes and mold is one of them. Not only…

Working with first-time buyers and those on tight budgets during last spring’s overheated sellers’ market was heartbreaking. So many offers made and so many passed over for someone else’s. One of the most frequently-asked questions we received was “Aside from increasing the amount of money we’re offering, what else can we do to win in a multiple-offer situation?” As we…

When the home you want to buy is merely a shelter to retreat to after a day spent ranching or farming the land surrounding it, you’ll find that the process is much more involved than buying a tract home. While we don’t have space here to get into the fine details of this type of real estate purchase, here are…

Ok, so you got an offer on your home. Although this is the right time to heave a sigh of relief, we’re not yet ready to pop open the champagne. We don’t mean to sound like Debbie Downers here, but there are several potential hazard areas on the way to closing. One that is seldom discussed is the title report. So,…