Turning Real Estate into a Home
Recently I spoke with a client who was moving out of their old house and into a new one. The only things left to move were an old clothes dryer and a curio cabinet she didn’t use anymore.
“Why don’t you put them out to the road?” I asked. “Someone will pick them up.”
“Oh no,” she replied. “They’re valuable. I just need to rent a storage locker and a U-Haul to pick them up.”
A potential client called out of the blue and explained that she was single with a young child. It was her life’s dream to raise her daughter on a farm. She told me she had no money for a down payment on a loan nor was she able to pay any closing costs. However, she had a good job and I could tell from her voice she had determination – which can make up for a lot.
Continue reading “Can you buy a house in Michigan with no money down?”
When is it reasonable for a Buyer to work on a home before owning it? While there is nothing wrong legally with a Buyer getting a head start on changes before the closing, in my experience you have to weigh the risk and reward. Sometimes it turns out fine, and sometimes it doesn’t.
I have been a Realtor in Genesee County since 2003 and I have never experienced the trend that I am experiencing now. 6 out of my last 10 clients are selling their homes after only living in them for 2 years.
Last week I was showing houses to a young family with the dream of raising sheep. They needed 10 or more acres and a barn. Finding this perfect combination along with good schools and not adding to their commute felt like we were looking for a unicorn.
Fortunately, we found the ideal house. It met all our criteria. Unfortunately, the Sellers who had lived there for over 30 years were both chain smokers. While my Buyers loved the house, they did not want to take on the project of removing nicotine stains and smell from a 1,800 square foot home.