arhome realty blog - Real Estate Advice

5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Home Resale Value

5 simple ways to increase your home resale value

Getting top dollar on your home is a real thing, and some mistakes can cost you tens of thousands in earnings (browse our blog for stories). Here are 5 simple ways to make sure you get it right.

1. maximize the usable value of each room.

Take advantage of every inch of your home by maximizing the usable value of each room. Consider removing bulky furniture, adding functional storage solutions, and creating multi-functional spaces that can serve multiple purposes.

2. stage through the buyer's eyes.

Stage it correctly. That doesn’t always mean renting furniture — and it definitely doesn’t mean leaving out cookies and welcome signs. What it does mean is arranging your space and decor to…

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What You Get When You Work With A REALTOR®

what you get when you work with a REALTOR®

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you'll ever make. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned real estate investor, it can be a complex and overwhelming process. That's where a REALTOR® comes in. They are licensed professionals who can provide you with expert guidance and support throughout the entire real estate transaction. In fact, NAR data shows that a median REALTOR®-listed home sold for $120k more than by owner last year. Read on to learn more about all the key benefits of working with an agent.

1. experience you can't beat.

One of the main benefits of working with a REALTOR® is building your wealth with a foundation valuable of market experience.…

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A Breakdown of Buyer Closing Costs

a breakdown of buyer closing costs

Preparing for a home purchase can be daunting - but it doesn't have to be. Know what to be prepared for so you can make a strategic plan. 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.

Here's what buyers should expect at a closing:

1. down payment

This is the money that the home buyer pays upfront for the property. Down payments are usually a percentage of the purchase price and typically range from around 3% to 20%, but there is no limit to how much you are allowed to put down.

2. lender fees

Lender fees are the cost of processing your loan, such as…

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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

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 - staging is an amazing, powerful tool if used…

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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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