Shane Parker

Good evening Mary, I agree with Chris, it is a good idea to get a pre listing inspection. In doing that you will know any potential problems that will come up on a buyers private inspection report, and hopefully you can correct them. That helps put a buyer at ease and may save you time and money negotiating repairs or price during the buyers private inspection contingency,

You don't need " buzzwordsaEUR? the most important thing is you need clear and honest answers from your inspector. Ask the inspector to point out anything that could cost you money, fail soon, or is or will be a safety issue even if it's borderline. This is what I would pay the most attention to: Roof Foundation Furnace / HVAC Electrical panel & wiring Plumbing (especially older materials) Sewer line (VERY important) Attic or crawl space

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you owe taxes. What matters most is how the situation is being handled, not the fact that you owe. If you have an active payment plan with the IRS and you've been making your payments on timeaEUR"typically for at least 3 to 6 monthsaEUR"you can still qualify for a loan, including conventional, FHA, or VA. Lenders will view this as a managed obligation rather than a red flag. However, if you don't have a payment plan in place, are behind on payments, or have an unresolved tax lien, that's when lenders may deny the loan or require the issue to be resolved first. Lenders will also factor your IRS payment into your debt-to-income ratio, just like any other monthly debt. So if you're paying, for example, $400 per month to the IRS, that amount will count against what you can qualify for. Since you're a 1099 contractor, lenders will also review your last two years of tax returns and average your income, so your write-offs and reported income will play a role in your approval. As long as you stay current on your IRS payments, have proper documentation of your payment plan and payment history, and your income supports the loan, you should still be in a strong position to get approved.

When you're choosing a real estate agent, you don't need a long list of questionsaEUR"you just need to focus on the right things that actually impact your experience and your money. What I always tell buyers is this: you're not hiring someone just to open doors. You're hiring someone to guide you through one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, help you avoid costly mistakes, and negotiate on your behalf. You want to ask about an agent's recent experienceaEUR"how active they are in today's marketaEUR"not what they did years ago. You also want to understand what they actually do for you beyond scheduling showings. A strong agent should be helping you with strategy, identifying opportunities, structuring offers, and protecting you during inspectionsaEUR"not just sending listings. Negotiation is another big one. You should be asking how they help buyers win deals without overpaying. Every deal is different, and the right agent knows when to push, when to pull back, and how to position your offer in a way that gets accepted while still protecting you. Communication and availability matter more than most people realize. You want someone who responds quickly and is actually involved in your dealaEUR"not someone who hands you off or disappears when things get busy. A good agent should be guiding you through the inspection process, helping you understand what's serious and what's not, and making sure you don't walk into something that turns into a money pit. It's also important that your agent understands the current market and can point out red flags when walking a propertyaEUR"things that could affect value, resale, or cost you later. At the end of the day, the right agent should be educating you, asking you the right questions, and making you feel confidentaEUR"not pressured. If you feel like you're being sold instead of guided, that's usually a sign to.

A strong agent will guide you through everything, help you avoid mistakes, and negotiate on your behalf. Getting pre-approved is a great first step and honestly one of the most important. It shows you what you can afford and tells sellers you're serious. But that's not the only thing you'll need. Your lender is going to ask for documentation to verify your financial situation. This usually includes your last two years of tax returns (especially important if you're 1099), income documentation, bank statements to show your down payment and reserves, and a breakdown of your debts. They're basically making sure you have the ability to repay the loan. You'll also need to have your down payment ready, along with closing costs, which are typically around 2"6% of the purchase price. Some lenders may also want to see that you have a little extra money left over after closing. Once you're pre-approved, the next step is to connect with an agent (hopefully they do a buyers consultation) and sign a buyers agency agreement. From there you can start looking at homes, and then submit an offer when you find the right one. When you do, you'll end up signing documents like a purchase agreement, a seller's disclosure, and possibly a buyer agreement with your agent. The biggest thing to understand is that pre-approval alone isn't enoughaEUR"you also need solid documentation, stable income, and the right team helping you through the process. In simple terms, buying a home comes down to three things: having the money, being able to prove it, and having the right people helping you along the way.

Honestly, this is a really good position to be in aEUR" but it's also where people sometimes rush and leave money on the table without realizing it. If you got a full-price offer right away, from the very first showing, especially at the top end of where you thought it would landaEUR| that usually means there's real demand there. Either you priced it perfectly and found the right buyer immediately, or there could be more interest you just haven't exposed it to yet. So the real question isn't just " should we take itaEUR? aEUR" it's more about what matters most to you right now. If your goal is a smooth, quick sale with no hassle, and you're happy with the number, there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking it and calling it a win. But if there's even a small part of you wondering if you might be able to get more, the smart move isn't to blow up the deal aEUR" it's to use it. What I would typically suggest is putting it on the open market for a very short window, even just a few days, and letting people know there's already a strong full-price offer in hand. That tends to create a little urgency and can pull in additional interest without dragging things out. Worst case, you still have your current offer. Best case, you create competition and improve your position. The fact that someone came in immediately and paid full price without hesitation is usually the biggest clue that it's at least worth taking a quick look before locking it in. At the end of the day though, if you're happy with the price and the terms are clean, it's not a bad decision to just take what feels like a gift and move forward.

That's a great question aEUR" and honestly, a lot of people are thinking the same thing right now. Here's how I'd look at itaEUR| Yes, if rates drop into the 5s, more sellers are going to come out. There are a lot of people just waiting for that signal. So in a few months, you'll probably see more inventory hit the market. But right now? Buyers are already out there, and there still isn't a ton of competition. So if you list now, you're basically getting in front of: motivated buyers who are already looking with fewer homes for them to choose from If you wait a few months, you might get a few more buyersaEUR| but you're also going to be competing with a bunch of other sellers who had the exact same idea. That's usually where things balance out. Personally, I tend to think being a little early is better than trying to time it perfectly. The first wave of listings usually does really well because they catch that pent-up demand before everything gets crowded. At the same time, it's not a one-size-fits-all answer. If your house is ready and shows well, I'd lean toward going now. If you need time to get it in the best shape possible, then waiting can still make sense. At the end of the day, timing helps aEUR" but how you price it and how it's presented matters way more than trying to hit the exact " perfectaEUR? moment.

f you're selling an inherited house in Florida and just want it done quickly, here's the simple version: Make sure you can legally sell it " if it's in probate, you'll need the court to appoint a personal representative first. All heirs need to be on the same page " everyone usually has to sign. Sell it as-is for speed " don't over-fix it unless you want delays. Clear it out + keep utilities on " basic stuff that can slow you down if ignored. If your goal is quick and clean, price it right or sell to an investor and be done with it.