arhome realty blog - Real Estate Advice

3 Mistakes First Time Homebuyers Make

3 mistakes first time homebuyers make 

It costs an average of $25k more to buy a home today than at this time last year!  First time buyers, don’t make these costly mistakes:

1. forgetting about closing costs

Don’t forget to budget for extra closing costs that come on top of your down payment. Get an estimate from your lender and make sure you know what to expect before you set your home price range.

2. lowball offers

Low ball offers are not a good negotiation tactic. Even if you think the home is overpriced, a crazy low offer could offend the seller and hurt your position. In today’s market, where over-asking bids are the norm, this would mean not skimping when bidding on a home you love — if you do, chances are you’ll get outbid and…

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5 Things That Will Help Your Home Sell

5 things that will help your home sell

If your home stands out (in a good way), it attracts more buyers, gets more traffic, and that typically results in more interest, more offers and a higher end sale. It's important to make sure your home is truly ready for a home sale, to make the most of its market debut and get more buyers to fall in love with it. And while we generally don't recommend any major projects (exceptions abide - ask an arhome agent for the most profitable approach), the good news is there's a lot that you can control when it comes to making your home above-average. 

Here are some uncommon ways that actually make a big difference in your home sale.

#1. avoid "fake staging"

We don't mean to avoid staging in general -…

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What Does An “AS-IS” Sale Actually Mean?

“AS-IS” sales are becoming more and more popular as home inventory gets tighter and buyers are trying to make their offer the winning one.

But what does that actually mean for you?

#1. what is an "as-is" sale?

An “AS-IS” sale is a common way of saying that the buyer and seller include a contract clause where the buyer promises that after doing the home inspection, the buyer won’t be asking the seller for any repairs or money. This does NOT waive the buyer’s right to do an inspection (unless that was waived in another clause, but that’s a separate topic). It also does NOT waive the buyer’s right to back out of the deal if you don’t like the inspection results and if your contract has that option. It’s just a way of making your offer easier on…

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4 Steps To Win A Multi-Offer

how to win a multi-offer

Don’t lose another dream house in this tight market! Here's our list of 4 steps you can take to make your chances better when you run into a multi-offer situation.

1. prepare for a multi-offer scenario before the right home even hits the market.

Get educated on market value and what you should expect to offer on the kind of home you’re looking for. Prepare your max budget. Go see other homes to learn what you really want. A multi-offer situation is not the time to be on the fence or act under pressure — you need to be prepped to know if you actually want this house, and if you do, be ready to offer a healthy and strong price.

2. try to find out what else the seller is looking for.

Price isn’t always…

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What Will Make a Good Agent in 2022

what will make a good agent in 2022 

With pandemic career shifts and a booming market throughout 2020 and 2021, a huge number of new agents have entered the real estate world. With predicted market normalization in 2022, we're looking at a less craziness left and right. So what will make an agent stand out — or really be the best choice for you — in 2022?

1. consistent training + knowledge.

The market has been changing like crazy since the pandemic started. Virtual showings, fluctuating rates, changing market predictions in all directions and more are moving so rapidly that relying on experience alone is no longer an option in 2022. A good, top-level agent must stay on top of market knowledge more than ever to be the better choice.

Whether…

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2022 Housing Market Outlook

2022 housing market outlook

2021 was another extremely strong year in real estate. We saw one biggest booms in sales volume and prices in the last decade just keep getting stronger and stronger.

So what will 2022 hold? Are we headed for a crash, or will this keep going? Here's what experts are predicting.

prices

Despite the price bubble being the highest we've seen in over 10 years, most economist are predicting continued (albeit slower) increases that head towards stability. National Association or REALTORS chief economist Lawrence Yun says prices will rise another 5.7% above 2021’s already high numbers, with inflation alone accounting for a 4% increase. The rising prices will make housing affordability a continued issue, despite already…

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Top 3 Post-Covid Home Upgrades

It's no surprise that the year-long shift to staying at home has changed the things that homeowners value in their houses. What today's buyers are looking to upgrade as they shop for a new home has really changed because of this, and has changed which homes get swept up sooner when they hit the market. So if you're looking to put some new life into your home, see below for today's top investments (which you won't regret whether you sell or stay!).

#1: Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces has been one of the biggest motivators for post-pandemic homebuyers. According to a recent survey by HomeLight, a referral service which surveyed over a thousand of agents across the nation, by far the number one desired upgrade were fire pits. Next came…

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1 Simple Hack to Increase Your Home Sale Profits

What separates the homes that sell, and the homes that just can't attract that dream sale price?

The hard truth, as seen by our own experts, is that home sellers often underestimate the importance of arranging and decorating their properties to attract buyers. You'd prefer the buyers just use their imagination. You don't like the recommended set up and it's just hard to live with. But the reality is that blocking the advice of your real estate staging professional for lack of motivation or a couple weeks of inconvenience can cost a home seller thousands of dollars that should've been in your pocket - and we have stories to prove it.

how one seller made $25,000 on a piece of furniture

Let’s give an example. Our recent clients in Glenview, IL…

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3 Home Trends to Watch for in 2021, According to Experts

These are the 3 Hottest Home Trends for 2021 According to Experts

Jewel-toned colors are expected to be on trend.

Designers and Real Estate experts are weighing in on what will be in, and what buyers are bored of seeing, as we move in to 2021. Hint: it's going to be a lot different.

1. Color Trends

For a long time now, we've seen home colors shift from neutral beige to neutral grays, with white-and-gold combos making their way into the mix. Things are about to change in 2021: get ready for bolder colors.
Professional interior designers spoke to 1stDibs, a design marketplace, and announced that jewel tones and warm earth tones will be the hottest color trends of 2021, with an emphasis on cozier hues. This includes a special emphasis on…

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2021 Housing Market Outlook

2021 Housing Market Outlook

2020 was the year of surprises. We saw an instant dip in the market when the virus news came to the US, only to turn around and witness one of the biggest booms in sales volume and prices in the last decade.

So what will 2021 hold? Are we headed for a crash, or will this keep going? Here's what experts are predicting.

Prices

Despite the price bubble being the highest we've seen in over 10 years, most economist are predicting continued increases that head towards stability. Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale says prices will rise another 5.7% above 2020’s already high numbers. CoreLogic deputy chief economist Selma Hepp confirms the continued home price appreciation. There is general agreement that rising…

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