Home Buyers

Home Buyers

Fixed-Rate Mortgage vs Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

Over the past couple of years, mortgage rates hit their all-time lowest point. At that time, financial experts encouraged buyers to get a fixed-rate mortgage loan to purchase their properties. However, with interest rates on the rise these last few months, many buyers began looking at adjustable-rate loans instead. Which one should you consider for […]
Home Buyers

How to Get The Best Mortgage Rate

2022 was quite a wild ride for mortgage rates. We started off the year at an average of 3.22% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. By the end of October, rates peaked at 7.08%. After dipping slightly for a couple of weeks, they hit 7.08% again in early November. But since then, rates began to decline. […]
Home Buyers

What’s the Difference Between Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval?

Most of the headlines lately talk about how the market has turned in the buyer’s favor. Well, that may be true in other areas of the country but not in the Westfield real estate market. Sellers still have the upper hand here. In fact, a five-bed/one-and-a-half bath Westfield property just sold recently for $36,000 over […]
Home Buyers

Homeowners Insurance vs Home Warranty

When purchasing a new luxury NJ home, it is important to do in-depth research on all facets of the home buying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on homeowners insurance versus home warranty below to […]

Home Buyers Fixed-Rate Mortgage vs Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Over the past couple of years, mortgage rates hit their all-time lowest point. At that time, financial experts encouraged buyers to get a fixed-rate mortgage loan to purchase their properties. However, with interest rates on the rise these last few months, many buyers began looking at adjustable-rate loans instead. Which one should you consider for […]

Home Buyers How to Get The Best Mortgage Rate 2022 was quite a wild ride for mortgage rates. We started off the year at an average of 3.22% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. By the end of October, rates peaked at 7.08%. After dipping slightly for a couple of weeks, they hit 7.08% again in early November. But since then, rates began to decline. […]

Home Buyers What’s the Difference Between Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval? Most of the headlines lately talk about how the market has turned in the buyer’s favor. Well, that may be true in other areas of the country but not in the Westfield real estate market. Sellers still have the upper hand here. In fact, a five-bed/one-and-a-half bath Westfield property just sold recently for $36,000 over […]

Home Buyers Homeowners Insurance vs Home Warranty When purchasing a new luxury NJ home, it is important to do in-depth research on all facets of the home buying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on homeowners insurance versus home warranty below to […]

Home Buyers Top Tips for House Hunting Online Hunting for a new luxury NJ home online is a great place to start your search. In fact, a National Association of REALTORS® study found that 90% of home buyers use the internet to look for homes at some point during their home search. However, this should not be your “end all be all” to […]

Home Buyers When Is It OK to Waive Contingencies? Last week, I talked about common contingencies to ask for when buying a home. I recommend including these in your typical sales contract. However, there are times when it is OK to waive contingencies. This works in a buyer’s favor when they wish to stand out among other buyers. And even though the Westfield area […]

Home Buyers Common Contingencies to Ask for When Buying a Home Just like much of the rest of the country, the Westfield real estate market appears to be transitioning from a hot seller’s market to a more balanced one. We see fewer and fewer bidding wars nowadays. In turn, buyers now seem more comfortable asking for certain conditions (aka contingencies) than they have in a while. […]

Home Buyers Your Guide to a Home Appraisal You found your dream Westfield area home. Now it is time to cross all your “T’s” and dot all your “I’s” before it becomes all your own. And one of the first items on your closing checklist is the home appraisal. So, what exactly is that? Your Guide to a Home Appraisal The home appraisal […]

Home Buyers Hidden Fees to Be Aware of When Purchasing a Home Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, do not forget there will be costs associated with your purchase in addition to the price of your luxury NJ home. Here are five “hidden fees” to keep in mind as you begin […]

Home Buyers What to Negotiate When Buying a House Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned veteran, the negotiation part of a real estate transaction can be a little daunting and stressful. However, it is necessary to ensure you are getting the best possible deal for your money. So, what should you negotiate when buying a house? What to Negotiate When Buying […]

Home Buyers Escalation Clause: Help for the Home Buyer in a Competitive Market Many buyers wonder if they should wait a little bit before actively searching for their next property. Price reductions all over the country leave buyers wondering if the market already reached its peak. If prices are on the decline, it may seem logical to wait. But in hot areas like Westfield, Scotch Plains, Cranford, and […]

Home Buyers Home Buying Tips to Finalize a Sale Now Today’s home buyers must navigate a crazy market. In the Westfield area (including Scotch Plains, Mountainside, Cranford, and the surrounding area), the marketplace strongly favors the seller. Low inventory and rising interest rates made many buyers re-evaluate their home buying budgets. If you want to finalize a sale before interest rates go up again, you […]