Jenni Galli's Blog
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10 Things you should know about Working with a Realtor®
I am continually amazed by how little some people know about the real estate business. Most people generally have a good idea about how the industry works, but every now and then I run into someone who is pretty naïve about the home buying process. Even doctors, lawyers, CEO?s and other professionals may not know how [...]
5 things you should know before buying a house
Thought this would be valuable to those thinking about buying a home! A few years ago, a home buyer could almost buy the first home they looked at and be assured that it would be worth more when it came time to sell. In today?s real estate market, you have to be a more savvy buyer, [...]
Should I Buy an Old House or New House?
One of the biggest decisions that a prospective home buyer must make is the decision of whether to buy a new home or an old home. Buy an old home On the one hand, an older house is likely to need at least some repairs. Things like the roof, septic system, carpet, woodwork and other items may [...]
How Do I Know If I Can Afford My First Home?
Lets say you’re Looking at your budget, determining how much you can afford to pay for a mortgage. Since this is your first home, you will also want to add another budget expense item for repairs and maintenance since you will now be responsible for any repair items associated with the home once you purchase [...]
12 Red Flags That Should Raise Concern
Indeed, more than 40 percent of the previously owned homes on the market have at least one serious defect, according to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in more than 390 cities in the United States and Canada. “Virtually every ‘used’ home needs some repair or improvement,” said Kathleen Kuhn, CEO and president of [...]
How to Choose Paint Colors
Begin at the Beginning Determine what features or existing finishes in the room you would consider permanent. Consider the cabinets, tile or a brick fireplace. For example, if the wood of your kitchen cabinets has a red undertone, make sure the paint color you choose works well with that hue. Create a Focal Point Emphasize your home’s attractive [...]
Common First Time Homebuyer Questions
Even though the first time homebuyers tax credit program is officially over, that doesn?t mean that people have stopped looking for new homes. In fact, many Realtors are saying they are busier than ever. ?How much money do I need to purchase a home?? In today?s market you need at least 3.5% of the purchase price; this [...]
Ask the Neighbors
?With so many people relocating these days to other parts of the country in search of jobs, how do you know if you are moving into the right neighborhood? You can do a lot of research online and read comments. But let?s face it, most of those comments are from disgruntled people who are looking to [...]
Review of Last Week
UP AGAIN… It was another week that ended UP for all stock indexes. The market hit an 18-month high during the week, although Friday saw just a 9-point gain. Investors are still worried about Greece’s debt, but their European neighbors announced a bail-out plan that sounded encouraging. Wall Street took the above housing news in stride. [...]
Market update
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE February existing home sales were down for the third month in a row, but the 0.6% drop was less than expected. We had severe winter weather putting a damper on things and we’re still seeing the hangover from sales pushed into October and November when everyone thought the homebuyer [...]
