Vlog: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Zillow

Olivia PrinceReal Estate Advice

The good, the bad, and the ugly of Zillow

Though there are plenty of tools out there to help you find the home of your dreams, it seems as though Zillow is the primary choice of many prospective buyers in this area.

It makes sense, too – Zillow is easy to use whether you’re on a computer or if you’re using their app on your phone. When using the app, you can turn on notifications so you’re made aware of when properties come on the market that meet your criteria. You can even draw on a map to signify the area you’d like to live, and Zillow will let you know about properties within that area that you might be interested in.Read more

Vlog: 6 Things Every Homebuyer Should Do Right Now

Olivia PrinceReal Estate Advice

6 Things Every homebuyer should do right now

Buying a new home is definitely one of the most stressful events you’ll undertake in your life. In fact, according to University Hospitals, moving ranks in the top five most stressful events, right up there with the death of a loved one, divorce, losing your job, and a major illness or injury.

However, there are a variety of things you can do right now to help minimize the stress of buying a new home!Read more

Vlog: You Might Qualify for a $5,000 Grant to Help You Buy a Home

Olivia PrinceReal Estate Advice

you might qualify for a $5,000 grant to buy a home

To buy a home is probably the biggest financial undertaking of your life. It’s no wonder, then, that some prospective homebuyers feel a little panicked about their investment.

But there are plenty of ways to help defray some of the costs of purchasing a home, from no-money-down home loans that help you keep more money in your pocket up front to grant programs that help reduce your closing costs.Read more

Vlog: How to Build Equity in Your Home (and Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster!)

Olivia PrinceReal Estate Advice

How to Build Equity in Your Home (and Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster!)

When you buy a home, having a nice, new mortgage payment hanging over your head for the next 30 years can be a little disconcerting.

But, fortunately, the primary benefit of owning a home – building equity for the future – makes that monthly payment worth it.

Once you’ve built equity in your home, you can tap into that to make home improvements, finance a car, or consolidate other debts, as just a few examples.Read more

3 Surefire Ways to Build Home Equity

Olivia PrinceReal Estate Advice

3 Surefire Ways to Build Home Equity

One of the greatest benefits of being a homeowner rather than a renter is that you have the opportunity to build equity over the years.

Equity in your home refers to the difference between what you owe on your home and what the current market value is of your home.

For example, if your home is worth $100,000 and you only owe $75,000, you have $25,000 of home equity.

Home equity is a key component of building long-term wealth. But just letting the property appreciate over time isn’t the only way that you can maximize your equity.Read more

Sierra and Chanse: A Real Estate Success Story

Sierra and Chanse: A Real Estate Success Story

Olivia PrinceRD Success Stories, Real Estate Advice

Imagine this scenario…

You’re a young couple with two small kids. One of you works in the home because daycare is so expensive. The other works at a local business. Then, one day, word comes down that the business is closing.

Now, instead of driving a few minutes to work, you have to drive all the way to Lander. You also suffer a pay cut.

On top of that, quality rentals are tough to come by – they’re either snatched up quickly or more expensive than you can afford.

It sounds like an impossible situation, right? Especially for a young family that wants to buy their first home!

This isn’t a fictional story, though. It’s the story of our clients Sierra and Chanse.Read more