Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

The final walk through is an exciting time for home buyers. At this point, you’re close to becoming a homeowner. Be sure you’re taking a careful look around your property. During a final walk through you can determine if repairs have been completed and confirm that the property is in adequate condition. To help guide you through the final walk through, we've put together this checklist. Print it out and bring with when you’re ready to inspect your property. Have all your requested repairs been made?                             Make a list of what is in your sales agreement. Have all the changes been made? Yes No Do you have all warranty documentation for the repairs made? Yes No Do all your appliances and major systems work? Dishwasher Yes No Heater Yes No Air conditioner Yes No Thermostat Yes No Ceiling fans Yes No Hot/cold water on all faucets Yes No Refrigerator/freezer Yes No Microwave oven Yes No All burners on stove and oven Yes No Garbage disposal Yes No Wa

Most buyers and sellers know a home appraisal is required as part of a real estate transaction. Not all of them realize, however, that the appraisal’s results pretty much run the show. The only exception is an all-cash deal. An appraisal is an unbiased professional opinion of a home’s worth. In all 50 states, home appraisers are required by law to be licensed or certified. Each appraisal encompasses a variety of factors. Typical data for a single-family home include recent sale prices of similar properties nearby, amenities, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, floor plans, and condition of the property’s interior and exterior. Proximity to transportation and the community’s school district might even be factored in. Appraisers consider these and other information to determine the home’s fair-market value. Why is this so important? Primarily, the appraisal helps the bank protect itself against lending more than it might be able to recover if the borrower defaults on t

Choosing to buy your first home is a monumental decision, if you’re considering buying a second home, put as much thought and care into that decision as you did the first time around. As a seasoned homeowner, you know the work that comes along with owning your home. Consider if you’ll be prepared to make the same commitment with a second home. To help you determine what’s best for you, we’ve put together a few questions to consider before you make the leap into second home ownership. Why do you want to buy? What is your motivation for a second home? Is it a vacation home, potential rental opportunity, or maybe a place to retire? By defining your motivation, you’ll be able to find a home that is suitable to your needs. How will you pay (cash or financing)? Buying a second home is financially different than buying your first home. Typically, you’ll need a considerable down payment in order to buy. Lenders may require up to 25 percent down. Can you afford a second home with

If a new job forces you to sell your home and move, you can deduct some job-related moving costs. Your new job must be at least 50 miles from the old and you must work full time at the new work place for 39 of the 52 weeks following the move. Deductions include travel or transportation costs and expenses for lodging and storing your household goods. To be eligible for moving costs deductions if you are self-employed, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months and a total of 78 weeks during the first 24 months after arriving at the new job location. Check with your tax professional and state and local tax authorities to learn about home selling-related tax benefits.