Mortgage Advice
When considering options for mortgages, it's not just about what lenders to talk to. Below I go over some of those details. For more tips...
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Buyers
I offer a locally unmatched combination of knowledge, integrity, digital & physical resources to help buyers with their purchases. Educated buyers make the best decisions, & client education is a significant focus of my business.
Here I get into some of the factors needed & some that I recommend for a home purchase, whether applicable for all buyers, or whether applicable for a limited # of buyers.
Examples sometimes include a down payment, a credit score, $ for closing costs & prepaids, & home inspection costs, but there are many exceptions.
Here I go over:
1. Offering Low or High
2. A Strong Offer
3. Repairs Visible Prior to Offer
4. Starting with a Verbal Offer
5. Counteroffers
6. Appraisals
7. Escalation Clauses
8. Letters to the Seller
9. Atypical Elements
10. Home Inspections
I review some of the factors involved with finding your home. It's typically best to put together one or more searches via MLS with an agent rather than exclusively relying on public websites. Doing that will give you access to details unavailable in public websites (i.e. photo captions and better flood zone features with many MLS), higher levels of accuracy, search features unavailable in websites, etc.
Often buyers neglect just how powerful MLS can be in searches for them, especially when detailed search templates are involved, which can take hours to create in some cases.
Here I recommend some linked resources from others as well as a number of resources that I'm providing.
A hot topic for buyers is mortgage interest rates. Here I share where they are, where we've come from, project where they're going, & share what buyers can do about it.
Search Activation & Keeping Active
One of the most common & best ways that buyers find real estate properties to purchase is through their buyer's agents. According to NAR,...
Responsibilities & Inspector Options Including Deadlines Template for REIN & VAR Offers
While not fully comprehensive on all responsibilities, deadlines, & Inspector options, I've developed a resource to provide a brief...
Backup Offers: Seeing Property Already Under Contract
Sometimes buyers ask about performing showings on properties already under contract or making offers on properties already under...
Phantom Property Availability: For Sale, Under Contract, but Hard to Tell
Within an active Matrix search that I can set up for buyers in the 5 MLS that I have access to that cover most of SE VA, the vast...
Virginia Association of Realtors Non-Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreements
In this article, I'll be going over, in brief, the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) buyer brokerage agreements in chronological...
Legal Duties of Buyer's Agents, Per Virginia Law
The below information was pulled directly from https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter21/section54.1-2132/ I'll simply be...
Disclosures Typically Signed at Time of Buyer Brokerage Agreement at GRP
There are forms that are often signed at time of buyer brokerage agreement in addition to the buyer brokerage agreement itself. These...
Land Purchases & Sales
I was asked today some good questions about land that I felt deserved an article.
Below & Above Asking Price Offers
Those who have bought homes before, if most or all of their experiences have been purchases in buyers' markets (especially in rural...
Rent or Buy Calculator
Among real estate-related calculators, one of the most difficult to accurately determine is the rent vs buy calculator, despite...
Hampton Roads Offers: The REIN Standard Purchase Agreement
The dominant Hampton Roads offer for residential real estate is the Real Estate Information Network Standard Purchase Agreement. That...
What To Do After Ruling Out Adam's Open House
As much as Adam would love to sell buyers properties where he represents the seller from an open house that he's hosting, that doesn't...
Which Multiple Listing Service(s) Are Needed to List in SE VA?
Knowing which Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is needed for a buyer or seller is very important if you're considering selling or buying in...
SE VA City Information & Real Estate Property Info
In this link, I've created a master spreadsheet for government information on homes. I'm unaware of any publicly available spreadsheet...
Adam's Buyer Feedback
My feedback to buyers prior to & within showings is within the top 3% of agents in my opinion. Prior to ever performing a showing at a...
Agents Filling in for Buyers' Agents
In real estate, time is of the essence, whether you're seeing a property for the first time, making an offer, or performing inspections....
What to Look for in a Buyer's Agent for Your Home or Other Real Estate
For prospective buyers' agents, it's a good idea to investigate them online. See how many properties they've transacted on in their...
Detailed Questions for Home Inspectors
See the related page here for basic elements of service provider determinations & here for termite/moisture inspector questions. If...
Basic Elements of Service Provider Determinations
In real estate transactions & outside of real estate transactions, it can be helpful to know how to find service providers. While no...
Most Important Cities/Counties in Hampton Roads for Multiple MLS
Buyers and sellers can both benefit greatly from access to more than 1 MLS, but that's especially true in areas of high crossover MLS,...
Water Heater Age
Often if agents look at the serial plate of main systems, and don't see the age clearly labeled on them, they will leave it to home...
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Details
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the main way that agents input real estate properties onto the market for sale, and in many cases,...
Expeditious Showings
In this article I wanted to share some important elements of expeditious showings, a critical tool in a buyer's belt for getting under...
Termination of Listing or Buyer Brokerage Agreement With Agent & Their Buyers/Sellers In SE Virginia
Today I was asked about what the "termination clause" was in my listing agreement in the event that the seller was unhappy with my...
The Importance of At Least 3 Interviews for a Real Estate Agent
Why So Many Buyers & Sellers Only Interview One Agent In cases like this one, it's popular for people to do what's easy & to...
Competing Offer Spreadsheet
When I am representing a seller I typically include a competing offer spreadsheet. Below I wanted to share some of the best ways to...
Adam Garrett's Video Visuals for Out of Town Buyers/Sellers
Many buyers and sellers are aware of the fact that which agent you choose to represent you, should you not attempt a solo purchase or...
Tips for Video Showings of Real Estate (i.e. a House)
I believe that it's critical for prospective buyers to be informed prior to a showing about how to best go about a virtual showing. In...
Unrepresented Buyer Wants to Make an Offer on Agent's Listing
It's important to note the following: A. Even if there is a deadline on offers, sometimes, but not always, buyers and sellers will be...
Master Spreadsheet for Prospective Home Purchase Considerations
In this link, I've created a master spreadsheet for home purchase considerations for buyers. I'm unaware of any publicly available...
Should You Get Solar Panels for Your Home?
In theory, I really like the idea of self-sufficiency in terms of utilities, from solar, to wells, to septic. I like the idea of initial...
Public School Districts in Hampton Roads & The Surrounding Area of SE VA
In this spreadsheet I go over the Great Schools Ratings of Public School Districts. This spreadsheet can be helpful for someone looking...
Adam Garrett's Digital Tool Belt
Above: the 5 multiple listing services I have access to as of 11/22 While my physical tools to help buyers and sellers are extensive, my...
Gadget/Tool List of Adam Garrett
Above: view of my mobile office setup, here in the Gather co-working space in Norfolk, one of a number of office options I have. My...
Mortgage Interest Rates
Mortgage interest rates have recently been making waves in the housing market, with the rates more than doubling in less than a year's...
Legality Regarding Buyer Brokerage Form Prior to Showings in VA
If you are ready to do showings or have questions that I am not legally allowed to answer without a buyer brokerage, I recommend that we...
Buying a House with Crypto-Currency
I've worked with clients before that have made a lot in crypto, but sadly most of the encounters that I have had where someone supposedly...
Where to Find Equipment To Borrow/Lease/Purchase for Your Property Repairs/Reno/Cleaning
Recently I lent out some of my own equipment to a buyer after closing, and last night a former client asked me if I had a jointer or if I...
Detailed Questions for Termite (WDI) & Moisture Inspectors
See the related page here for basic elements of service provider determinations & here for home inspector questions. If you're my client,...
Homes for Sale With No Showings Allowed
In real estate, you typically are able to access homes that are listed for sale. That's not always the case, however. There are 4 types...
CatFish Buyers Targeting Realtors
Image above courtesy "Catfish" There are a number of people running scams, fraud, phishing, viruses, malware, etc. targeting real estate...
Adam Garrett's Coverage Map
My coverage map is more expansive for sellers than for buyers. Below you'll find my coverage map for buyers, arranged by price of home,...
Busy Streets
Residential properties on busy streets are typically a negative on resale and on the homeowner unless the new owner is looking to also...
Utilities List for SE VA (Primarily Hampton Roads)
Introduction Here is my SE VA (Primarily Hampton Roads) utilities spreadsheet. Example: Here's an example of one of the resources...
When to Perform a Walk Through
There is typically not 1 "right time" for a walk through unless repairs aren't completed until <48 hrs before closing. Typically I...
Where Hampton Roads Investors Can Find Upcoming Development
Today I had a meeting with an investor who was asking me about areas with up and coming development. I shared some resources with him...
Can I Rent Out my Home?
Original Authorship Date: 5/25/22 (above - my first home, purchased in 2017 with a 30-year 5% down conventional rehab loan, converted to...
Construction Problems To Be Aware Of
There are a wide variety of construction problems to be aware of when considering a home purchase. Some of these issues are unique to the...
Quick Guide to HUD Homes
Quick facts on HUD properties: There is typically an “exclusive” period initially where only certain people can bid, narrowing down the...
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