Has your house been on the market for a while, but you’re not getting any offers? There are few things more upsetting than not being able to sell a house. This is especially true when trying to coordinate the sale with the purchase of your next home. How long do you wait before you start to worry?
For many, owning a home is a big part of the American Dream. It means not having to ask a landlord for permission to paint cabinets; not having to pay extra to have a pet; and having a backyard to entertain friends. It also means an end to rental payments that don’t build equity.
But while the privacy and stability of a permanent residence is appealing, deciding to buy a house can also be scary.
The world of real estate has a language all its own…which can make it difficult for first-time buyers to understand the status of a listing when searching for a home. While a real estate agent can shed light on the differences between pending, under contract, contingent, and other terms encountered during the home buying process, it helps to know a little about them before beginning your search.
According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly a quarter of recent home buyers paid cash for their purchase. With such a large chunk of the market willing to bypass the mortgage process, it’s important to look at the benefits and disadvantages of a cash sale before accepting an offer. Selling your home for cash could allow you to get rid of it faster, but it may result in less profit than you were hoping to make.
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It’s hard to believe, but the holidays in St. Louis didn’t always involve putting up elaborate decorations and rushing around to find one last gift. In fact, the idea of a Christmas tree didn’t exist in Missouri until the 1830’s, when German immigrants brought small decorated tabletop trees into their Franklin County homes. Instead of the string lights we now wrap around our trees, they put candles on branches for a shimmering touch – similar to the Jewish Festival of Lights. They also introduced simple German traditions like hanging stockings for St. Nick to fill with small toys and fruit, gathering with family to sing carols together, and baking Plätzchen (Christmas cookies) to share with friends.
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At first glance, there is little difference between an apartment and a condo. Both share a building with other dwellings and attract people who do not want a single-family, stand-alone home with a yard. But there are many differences, too, and understanding the characteristics of apartments and condos—and when each option makes the most sense—is helpful when looking for a new place to live.
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The pandemic brought about some drastic changes to work, school, and our social lives. And it is still unclear how close to pre-pandemic “normal” we will ever get again. One shift we see is people deciding where to live post-pandemic.
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Putting your house on the market is an exciting experience, especially since St. Louis is a seller’s market. This means your home is a hot commodity. Buyers look for spacious, organized, and clean homes. You’ll want all areas of your home, big and small, clean and organized. Focus on clearing out and refining each area so you can sell to the highest bidder.
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The real estate market is still hot, and now, interest rates are going up again. It is more important than ever for those looking at homes to have a substantial down payment ready. (This is particularly true for new home buyers who won’t have proceeds from a house sale to start with.) Not only will this lessen the amount a buyer needs to borrow, but a good down payment makes buyers more attractive to lenders.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties is excited to announce the development of its tenth office in the St. Louis region. This latest addition to our list of local offices is within the city limits in the heart of historic Benton Park. Embracing the look and feel of the neighborhood, we have renovated the building at 1924 Pestalozzi Street while maintaining its original charm and the recognizable architecture specific to St. Louis.
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