Tag: home buying

Whiteboard Topics: 5 Tips to Get Your Dream Home

Posted on Camille Smith

If you’re thinking of buying a lake home in the near future, here are 5 tips to ensure your success in the current market and get your dream home: 

  1. Be Prepared to BUY! Instead of saying “I’ll think about it,” you should be ready to make a down payment on a lake house. Otherwise, good listings will be gone. 
  2. Find a Local, Lake Agent. These agents will be aware of local market changes that you won’t see online. You can find a great agent at Lakehomes.com.
  3. Use Escalation Clauses. Many buyers use these clauses which essentially say “If I’m not the highest, I’ll increase my bid up to a certain point.” This “auto bidding” can be helpful to ensure your bid is the highest. 
  4. Be Ready for a Low Appraisal. Remember that appraisers are looking out for the bank rather than you. 
  5. De-Risk the Deal! Many offers have a great price, but they also include other contingencies for the loan. Be on the lookout for these risky buys. 

For more information on buying or selling a lake home, visit the Lake Homes Realty blog or connect with one of our lake expert agents. We wish you the best of luck in finding your dream home! 

 

Whiteboard Topics: What is Title Insurance?

Posted on Linda Thach

One thing in a real estate transaction that some people may not understand is title insurance. They may ask themselves “What is it?” and “Do I really need it?” To navigate the confusion or uncertainty, here are three things to know about title insurance.

  • Right to Sell. Title insurance is basically just insurance that guarantees that the seller has the right to sell that property. There can be a lot of confusion surrounding whether someone has the right to sell a property — whether that be fraud, a mistake, or ownership uncertainty — but title insurance can help clarify and clean up that misinformation. 
  • Clients Can Shop. You can shop around for title insurance that best fits your needs. The price of title insurance typically reflects the sale price of your home, and relative to many of the other costs involved in a real estate transaction, it isn’t that expensive. Though there are laws in place to protect buyers and sellers from fraudulent title insurance companies, you always have the option to shop around and get prices from various suppliers. 
  • One-Time Cost. This is not a recurring payment. It is a one-time cost that takes place at a closing. Once the title insurance company is paid, they will do additional filings and verifications at the courthouse, and several days later, the buyer will receive their policy.

Whether you’re buying or selling your lake home or property, our agents at Lake Homes Realty can help provide insight into today’s lake real estate market and guide you in your home journey.

Whiteboard Topics: Four Tips on Buying a Lake Home During COVID-19

Posted on Camille Smith

When the pandemic began, buyers and potential sellers quickly realized that lake houses are perfect for social distancing. As a result, there became more buyer demand and fewer homes on the market. Although this trend has made things complex for buyers, this doesn’t mean you can’t find your dream home! If you’re looking to invest in a lake house, here are 4 tips on buying from our CEO, Glenn Phillips. 

  1. Be fast and aggressive in making your offer. 
  2. Look at the full inventory of lakes for sale.
  3. Find a lake expert agent to help you. 
  4. Consider multiple lakes in different states. 

Don’t forget that buying a lot and building a home is always an option as well! No matter what you choose, Lake Homes Realty is here to help. With tens of thousands of listings in multiple states, our agents use lake-focused expertise to support you throughout the buying process. 

Whiteboard Topics: 5 Things Home Buyers Don’t Care About

Posted on Camille Smith

When it’s time to sell your lake home, you’re likely keeping a mental list of what home buyers find important. However, your attempt to read buyers’ minds could be incorrect. To avoid this pitfall, Lake Homes CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares 5 things that home buyers don’t care about.

  1. What you paid for the lake house 
  2. The price of nearby homes in the market 
  3. Personal effort that you put into the home
  4. Using outliers in the market as a proxy for your home
  5. Your feelings about the home (don’t take an offer personally!)

As you price your home, keep these points in mind. Overall, now is a great time to sell property, so take advantage of the current window! 

Whiteboard Topics: Predicting the Fall Real Estate Market

Posted on Camille Smith

If you’re preparing to sell your lake home, it’s natural to wonder how the market will be doing this Fall. Although COVID-19 has left the market’s future more uncertain, some reliable predictions still exist. Lake Homes CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares five things to consider when predicting the Fall real estate market: 

  • Stimulus checks, the PPP program, and other initiatives have created an artificial economy that will likely continue through the Fall 
  • A high demand for lake houses has persisted throughout the pandemic 
  • Despite the demand, there’s a housing shortage of appropriately priced inventory for lake homes 
  • Consumers’ fear of uncertainty means they are not willing to overpay for homes 
  • As stimulus money fades later in the year, an economic cliff is likely to happen when the true state of our economy becomes clearer.

If you’re buying or selling a lake home, it’s important to keep these Fall real estate market predictions in mind. As a national specialist in lake real estate, we’re here to help. Check out our website for more information.

Whiteboard Topics: Six Reasons You Don’t Need a Physical Office

Posted on Camille Smith

If you’re looking to buy or sell a lake house, you may wonder if it’s necessary to pick an agent with a physical office. Contrary to popular belief, brick and mortar isn’t necessary to sell a home. Lake Homes Realty CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives 6 reasons why your lake agent doesn’t need an in-person office. 

  1. The office isn’t relevant in a digital world 
  2. Time is precious, and office meetings take time from viewings 
  3. Many top producing agents work more effectively without a physical office 
  4. Offices don’t sell houses — agents and brokers do
  5. Buyers enjoy the convenience of an online platform
  6. Money spent on office leases could be spent helping clients

Just because an office environment is familiar doesn’t mean it’s the future of real estate. The best agents can do their work anywhere. Find an agent today at Lakehomes.com to have your questions answered. 

Whiteboard Topics: Navigating New Mortgage Challenges

Posted on Camille Smith

Are you thinking about using a mortgage to buy a lake home? Since interest rates are low, it’s a good time to use a loan. However, mortgaging a home comes with unusual considerations during the pandemic. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, names these 4 mortgage challenges to keep in mind: 

  1. Money is not easy or fast
  2. The process requires extra verification
  3. The pre-approved letter doesn’t matter as much as it used to
  4. It’s important to take extra time in the process

When you’re ready to buy a lake home, visit lakehomes.com and check out our daily listing updates.

Whiteboard Topics: 5 Tips For Buying a Lake Home

Posted on Linda Thach

Especially during the pandemic, many people are considering buying a lake home for social distancing. If this is you, Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes CEO, has some tips. First, set appropriate pricing expectations, keeping in mind that the lakeside location may add to the home’s cost. Although a market peak should keep prices from further escalation, appropriately-priced property is hard to come by, so it can help to seek multiple lakes for your dream home. When you find that home, be sure to act quickly because other buyers are looking, too. Finally, when buying a lake home, it’s best to seek out a Lake Homes agent with local expertise. 

Whiteboard Topics: Can You Find a Good Deal on a Lake Home?

Posted on Camille Smith

During the pandemic, many buyers are anticipating finding a “good deal” on a lake house. However, Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes CEO, gives us three reasons why this is not likely. Foreclosures are rare due to majority cash transactions, and the new stimulus laws protect against foreclosures. Further, lake homes are currently in high demand as popular social distancing destinations. Besides the rare possibility of AirBnb and VRBO owners selling their properties due to less travel, you’re unlikely to find a good deal right now. That said, if you’re ready to buy, contact one of our lake agents with local expertise at to help you out.