Blog | My Thoughts - Michelle "Mickie" Way

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What is a Down Payment Gift and Who Can Give it

When it comes to buying a home, one of the most significant hurdles many first-time buyers face is the down payment. However, a down payment gift can alleviate some of that burden. Understanding what a down payment gift is and who can provide one can make the home-buying process more accessible. What is a Down […]
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Evaluating Schools When Moving – How to Involve Your Child

House hunting is exciting and most likely, your child is excited along with you. They love to explore the possible bedrooms and dip their toes in the big backyard pool. However, when it comes to changing schools, their enthusiasm may start to wane. This might not be instantly apparent, and they may not have even […]
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Help! My Home is Unique – How Do I Price it Right to Sell?

Most homes can be easily priced by looking at comparable properties in the area. A real estate agent will look at recent sales of similar homes as well as market trends – is it an accelerating market or a declining market? But for sellers who own custom or more unique homes, pricing the property to […]
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Pricing Your Home for Sale When Everyone Else is Overpriced

The past few years have been exciting for home sellers. Not only were home prices historically high but buyers were well qualified and enjoying low interest rates. Today’s housing market is dramatically different in many areas of the country. If you are considering selling your home, you may be wondering how to select the correct […]

Uncategorized What is a Down Payment Gift and Who Can Give it When it comes to buying a home, one of the most significant hurdles many first-time buyers face is the down payment. However, a down payment gift can alleviate some of that burden. Understanding what a down payment gift is and who can provide one can make the home-buying process more accessible. What is a Down […]

Uncategorized Evaluating Schools When Moving – How to Involve Your Child House hunting is exciting and most likely, your child is excited along with you. They love to explore the possible bedrooms and dip their toes in the big backyard pool. However, when it comes to changing schools, their enthusiasm may start to wane. This might not be instantly apparent, and they may not have even […]

Uncategorized Help! My Home is Unique – How Do I Price it Right to Sell? Most homes can be easily priced by looking at comparable properties in the area. A real estate agent will look at recent sales of similar homes as well as market trends – is it an accelerating market or a declining market? But for sellers who own custom or more unique homes, pricing the property to […]

Uncategorized Pricing Your Home for Sale When Everyone Else is Overpriced The past few years have been exciting for home sellers. Not only were home prices historically high but buyers were well qualified and enjoying low interest rates. Today’s housing market is dramatically different in many areas of the country. If you are considering selling your home, you may be wondering how to select the correct […]

Uncategorized How Lenders Treat Commissions When Qualifying for a Home Loan One of the biggest factors lenders use in qualifying potential home buyers is income. When coupled with credit scores, income is critical in reducing the risk for the lender which in turn gives the buyer better terms, lowering costs. For most borrowers, income is a steady paycheck every few weeks, but for others, a sizable […]

Uncategorized Should You Offer Financial Concessions when Selling? When selling your home, at some point the question of financial concessions will arise. These may be credits for closing costs, repairs, or upgrades and these incentives may improve your ability to sell the home, especially if the home is not in turn-key condition. Yet these do reduce the profit from your sale, so before […]

Uncategorized Are HOA Fees Really Necessary? In addition to mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance costs, and property taxes, some homes are also located within a planned community that requires monthly HOA fees. HOA (Homeowner’s Association) costs may feel like junk fees that add little to no benefit to the homeowner, but these fees serve several essential purposes aimed at preserving the community’s […]

Uncategorized 5 Ways to Verify Your Real Estate Agent is Experienced Regardless of whether you are a buyer or seller, using an experienced real estate agent is important to the success of your transaction. Yet, how do you know if the agent truly has the experience they claim? While there’s a case to be made that a new agent works harder, and they have the assistance […]

Uncategorized First-Time Sellers – 5 Things You May Not Know Selling your first home is an exciting journey that comes with its unique set of challenges and learning curves. Even if you feel well-prepared and have partnered with as killed real estate professional, there are several aspects of the home-selling process that might surprise you. Here are essential insights to help you navigate your first […]

Uncategorized First-Time Sellers – 5 Things You May Not Know Selling your first home is an exciting journey that comes with its unique set of challenges and learning curves. Even if you feel well-prepared and have partnered with a skilled real estate professional, there are several aspects of the home-selling process that might surprise you. Here are essential insights to help you navigate your first […]

Uncategorized Understanding the Difference Between Interest Rate and APR One of the least understood aspects of obtaining a home loan is the difference between the interest rate and the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). At first glance, they sound like the same thing, but while they both impact the cost of the loan, they are two different aspects of the home loan program. Home interest […]

Uncategorized Benefits of Downsizing After Retirement Retirement is an exciting new phase of life, and one most people look forward to their entire working life. For those ready to make this change, downsizing their home is an important decision. While the thought of leaving the family home can be emotional, there are significant benefits that can enhance the retirement lifestyle. First, […]

Uncategorized Home Search Frustration? How to Refocus and Keep Going The best part of buying a new home is going out and touring homes. This is especially true for first-time home buyers. As time goes on, however, it can be frustrating when each home falls short of expectations. While it’s important to be realistic about what is available and affordable, there can be a […]

Uncategorized Basics and Importance of Title Insurance Basics and Importance of Title Insurance Title insurance is a critical component of the home selling process, yet many homeowners do not fully understand what it is or its value. Simply stated, title insurance protects both buyer and seller from any potential issues with the property’s title. When selling a home, obtaining title insurance offers […]

Uncategorized Do You Really Need to Hold an Open House? Once a staple of real estate marketing, open houses are no longer as effective in selling a home as they once were. According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors®, only 7% of homebuyers found their home through an open house. Of those, most had already retained a buyer’s agent and would have […]

Uncategorized What to Expect From a Listing Agent You already know that the best way to sell your home, and for the most profit, is to hire a listing agent. The fact is that people who sell using a real estate agent make more profit and have a smoother transaction than those who try to do it themselves. Yet often consumers don’t know […]

Uncategorized Guide to Broker Compensation

Uncategorized What to Expect From a Listing Agent You already know that the best way to sell your home, and for the most profit, is to hire a listing agent. The fact is that people who sell using a real estate agent make more profit and have a smoother transaction than those who try to do it themselves. Yet often consumers don’t know […]

Uncategorized Ready to Simplify Your Home? Some Questions to Help Once the holidays are over and the decorations come down, it’s common to take a serious look at your home and decide to make some changes. Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, often result in looking at other ways to remove excess clutter, and taking a more minimalist approach to our homes is common. The […]

Uncategorized Weekend Projects That Will Change the Feel of Any Dining Room Winter is here, and with it comes cozy evenings and comfort food. Your weekend plans are more likely to include movies on the couch than a picnic in the park. This is the time of year when everyone takes a closer look at their home and looks for ways to add warmth to the spaces. […]