Jeremy, Author at ATG Title

13 Curb Appeal Ideas Under $1,000 That Increase Sales Price

April 12, 2022 By Jeremy

Having a welcoming home brings more leads and can increase how much money you will get in an offer, which is why curb appeal matters. In fact, curb appeal can increase perceived home value by 5 to 11%. So if your house is on the market for $100,000, an 8% increase from a $1,000 curb appeal fix will net you $7,000. But with all the curb appeal ideas out there, which ones do you start with?

Whether your budget is large or small, here are some of the best curb appeal ideas under $1,000 to help increase the “perceived” value of your home and increase your sales price!

13 Curb Appeal Ideas Under $1000

Exterior Paint

A newly painted color coordinated home will make your house look well-kept and refined. But limit yourself to two or three neutral tones so the house does not look too busy. If you want to add a pop of color, paint the door and your shutters to add some vibrancy.

Pro tip: Go with a popular color if you go this route. The wrong color can make a buyer skip your house because they will have to do more work if they buy your home and another home doesn’t need painted.

Cost: $500 and $2,000 depending if you DIY.

Clean and Pressure Wash Pavement, Features and Siding

Pressure washing is an easy curb appeal idea that increases your sales price as your home will look clean, fresh and newer. You can rent a pressure washer in hourly increments or by the day, and use it to clean pavement, fences, the siding on your house, and even brick or stone. A clean walkway and dirt free exterior are welcoming and will set the tone for your real estate photography to welcoming potential buyers in as they tour your home.

Power washing times:

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What is a Cash Offer on a House? Should You Consider It?

April 5, 2022 By Jeremy

Have you received a cash offer on your house and aren’t sure what to do? We can help.

When you receive a cash offer, it means that the buyer has cash-on-hand and wants to purchase your home without a mortgage. The major benefit to accepting a cash offer on a house is that you won’t have to worry about the deal falling through like you would if the buyer has to take a mortgage from a bank.

With a cash offer on a house you also won’t have as many delays like you do when the buyer is relying on the speed of a lender where red-tape can cause “sticking” points. And when you get a cash offer on your house, the money will be transferred directly to you once your closing services have been finished. But there are risks with taking cash offers.

Not every cash offer will be legit, and many deals can fall through putting you [Read more…]

Townhouse Vs. Condo: Which is a Better Investment and Why?

March 29, 2022 By Jeremy

Whether you’re looking to invest and earn a profit, or you are shopping for your new home, choosing between a townhouse vs. a condo doesn’t have to be a hard decision. Both property types are great options, and if you’re stuck, we’re here to help you make the right decision based on your situation.

Below you’ll find everything from upfront costs to resell values, HOA fees, property taxes and what you’ll need to make a decision whether to go with a townhouse vs. a condo.

For example, condos generally are cheaper to own, although they generally have higher interest rates so if you’re taking a mortgage and living there, a townhouse is probably the better option. Townhouses are normally more affordable to live in, but a townhouse does not always have the same resale value as a condo. This is why future planning is key because if you don’t plan on staying in the townhouse for more than 5 or 10 years, a condo could be the better choice.

So let’s jump in and help you decide from both a homeowner and investor point of view.

The Differences of Townhouses Vs. Condos

The differences with townhouses and condos is in your future planning. Future planning for townhouses vs. condos includes the following situations.

You plan on living in the property until you retire
Sell the property once you’re ready for the next stage in your life
Living in the property until you’re ready to rent it out
Purchase the property and rent it from day one
Do a fix-and-flip to sell for a quicker profit (usually you’d take a hard money loan or borrow cash for this vs. a traditional mortgage)

Taxes and fees change pretty drastically between townhouses and condos. These differences are what will help you make the decision on choosing between townhouses vs. condos based on one of the five situations above. [Read more…]

An Easy Guide to 8288 Tax Forms And Why They Matter

March 22, 2022 By Jeremy

While shopping for a home, you may come across a property owned by someone that lives overseas. If you purchase a home from a non-US resident, and they don’t pay the income taxes or capital gains on the property, you could end up responsible for the amount. But don’t panic! This is where the 8288 tax form comes in.

Buying a property from a non-US resident happens frequently as people may invest in US real estate, move here for work or military service, or any other number of reasons. It is so common that a tax act called FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) was passed to help the IRS track these transactions, and the income taxes that foreigners are required to pay when selling property in the USA.

FIRPTA is unique because it requires the buyer to handle the additional tax if the foreign seller or sellers do not pay it. And this is where the 8288, 8288-A and 8288-B forms come in.

Below you’ll find FAQs about the 8288 tax forms including what it is, what to look for, and how to make sure there are no surprises when it comes to buying a house from a non-US citizen in the United States.

What is an Form 8288?

[Read more…]

5 Professionals That Always Have Off-Market Listings For You

March 15, 2022 By Jeremy

When inventory runs low, getting creative is the key to finding new listings or sourcing properties for your clients. By going outside the “real estate” box you can build a network that brings you consistent off-market properties and keeps your business running smooth, even when the MLS dries up.

Here are five types of professionals you can network with to keep real estate leads and business flowing. [Read more…]

Rent-To-Own Homes: What They Are And How They Work

March 8, 2022 By Jeremy

A traditional mortgage isn’t always an option for everyone. If you need time to build up your credit score, have more time to save for a down payment, or you know exactly where you want to live, a rent-to-own home may be an option for you. But what are they and how do they work?

What is a Rent-to-Own Home?

A rent-to-own home, also known as a lease-to-own home, is a house that you rent for a specific amount of time that comes with the option to purchase before your lease expires. But depending on the type of agreement you have, you may or may not be required to purchase the home. That is why it is important to know which type of rent-to-own agreement you’re committing to and why we created this post.

Below you’ll learn about rent-to-own homes from how the agreements work, to the advantage of taking this step as an investment or ownership strategy, and some helpful hints so that you can decide if a lease-to-own agreement is right for you.

How do rent-to-own homes work?

A rent-to-own home works by following this process: [Read more…]

Real Estate Purchasing Agreements Explained

March 1, 2022 By Jeremy

You’re purchasing a home and are in the midst of negotiations when all of a sudden a real estate purchasing agreement is handed to you. Don’t panic, a real estate purchasing agreement is a standard document that you and the seller must sign before going through with the sale of the home.

This post will help you be prepared at the closing table knowing what a real estate purchasing agreement is, why it needs to be signed, and what to look for. By knowing this information, you’ll be one step closer to a quick-and-easy closing.

What Is a Real Estate Purchasing Agreement?

A real estate purchasing agreement is a document that a home buyer’s real estate agent or a home buyer will fill out with the details of the sale. Unless the real estate agent or the home buyer is a licensed attorney, they cannot create their own real estate purchasing agreement, so the agent will use their firm’s standard document and fill in the blanks, or a home shopper will need to hire a real estate attorney to create one.

The details included on a real estate purchasing agreement include everything from the total sale amount to any conditions that the buyer has. Both the buyer and seller will need to sign this document before the closing process can begin.
[Read more…]

What is a Probate Sale in Real Estate?

February 22, 2022 By Jeremy

A probate sale in real estate occurs when a homeowner has died without a will and the property is being sold in order to liquidate the asset. A probate sale can also involve a homeowner dying that owes significant debts. Any properties that the person owned are sold to pay off their creditors if the estate doesn’t have enough in cash assets.

Now that you know what a probate sale in real estate is, lets answer some of the most common questions about probate sales.

How does a probate sale work?

A probate sale works like this (it can vary slightly from state to state but there are specific procedures that are followed): [Read more…]

Real Estate vs. Property Tax – What’s the Difference?

February 15, 2022 By Jeremy

The difference between real estate taxes vs. property taxes is that real estate taxes are what the city or municipality you live in charges you for your property and based on the fair market value of your home, while property taxes are related to any moveable items you own. Examples of this include furniture, cars, boats, equipment, and business machinery. Real estate taxes are different from property taxes in that you have to pay taxes on real property.

Real property is anything directly connected to the land like a house, a well, a barn or anything not movable. The same applies to businesses that own an industrial facility or a manufacturing facility. Property taxes are the taxes you pay on moveable items that you own, which can be anything from a car to a boat. For businesses, property taxes apply to machinery and equipment. [Read more…]

The First Steps to Buying a House and How to Prepare Yourself

February 8, 2022 By Jeremy

Congrats on making the decision to buy your first home! And now that you’re ready, it’s time to look at the first steps to buying a house. To help you through the process, below you’ll find a helpful workflow complete with tips to prepare yourself in order to speed the process along for an easier and less-stressful purchase.

The first steps to buying a house are:

Create a plan that aligns with your future goals.
Calculate what you can afford to buy.
Create a list of must-have features (x number bedrooms, a big backyard, etc.).
Find a real estate agent.
Get a pre-approval letter and start searching.

By completing this process you’ll set the ground work for a smooth purchase. And this can reduce your stress and help you get to the closing table faster. And now that you know the process, lets jump into the details so you can move from the first step to buying a house into the fun part, home ownership!

Create a Plan That Matches Your Future Goals

The first step in the process of buying a house is to think about your future and mapping out what you need now, what you will need in five years, and what you will need in ten years if you plan on staying in the same place.

Ask yourself:

What type of home do I want (single-family, condo?)?
Will I be having a family, or getting married (if you’re single) and is the home large enough?
Should I buy in a neighborhood that will likely increase in value making the home worth more, which also means rising property taxes?
Do I plan on staying here or selling in 5 years or 20 years from now?

By asking yourself where you’ll be in the near and distant future you can determine the right types of houses to look at.

For example, if you plan on having a family 5 or 10 years from now, you may want to buy a condo or a place in an up-and-coming neighborhood now. The hope here is the property will have a higher resale value in the future. If your home does, then you can make a profit from it and use that money to buy a bigger home for your family, once you’re ready for this next step in your life.

If you are ready to settle down, your job is secure, and you don’t want to move again, buy a home with enough space for you to settle down in and that can morph as your life does.

Now that you know you’re ready to buy, it’s time to think about what is within your budget. [Read more…]