2017 Real Estate Forecast

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice, Update

Despite tight housing supplies and rising home prices, buyers still flocked to the housing market, making 2016 one of the best years ever for home sales and setting the stage for strong real estate conditions in 2017 and 2018. The National Association of REALTORS is predicting 2016 will be the best year for U.S. home sales since 2006. In Utah, if the pace keeps up, 2016 will have the most real estate transactions ever on records dating back to 2003. In Northern Utah, Weber and Davis County sales increased about 4 and 2 percent, respectively, for the first nine months of the year. That’s up from a very strong 2015. Moving forward, experts forecast 2017 should have even more transactions. …

Avoid Home-Buying Horror Stories

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice, Update

It may be the time of year for ghosts and goblins, but buying a home, no matter what time of year, should never be scary. Here are steps to avoid haunted houses and stay safe while buying this fall. Buyer beware In many areas, sellers have the upper hand in today’s real estate market. Even though you may be tempted to close a deal as fast as you can to beat out other buyers, make sure you know what you’re buying before you rush to the closing table. During a real estate transaction, you have time to conduct a number of inspections before you purchase the property. Make sure you put in the time and money to do these before …

Self Defense for Realtors

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Working in real estate can be dangerous. There has been increasing number of attacks on real estate agents in America. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the industry has seen an average of 77 work-related deaths per year from 2011 to 2014. You can arm yourself with a healthy dose of skepticism and mistrust. As an agent you might be an easy target and here’s why: You are expected to meet anyone at any time potentially alone. Real estate is the only business that publicly announces, “Hey come on in! I am going to be alone in an empty house all day!” Real estate agents have a certain reputation including an image of wealth. Now is a great …

Logistics of Self Employment (Health Insurance, Setting up an LLC)

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Have you ever dreamed of working for yourself? Self-employment is a popular dream many people have, but how do you turn that dream into a reality? To help you move forward to becoming self-employed, here are 5 important steps to take. Personal assessment. Deciding to go into business for yourself is an exciting time—and a scary time. As you begin your journey towards self-employment, take a moment to do an internal evaluation and determine what skills you have that are transferable and which industries you have a great working knowledge of. As you consider these skills, here are some questions to ask yourself: What would you like to spend your time doing, what product or service would you like to …

Why You Should Get PreQualified Before Searching For A Home

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Okay, so you’re ready and eager to buy your first home. Perhaps you’ve already begun to think about what area you want to live in, what features you want in your new home, and are excited to move to a new space. Now you’re ready to hire an agent to help you find your dream, but have you been pre-qualified? Not sure you need to be pre-approved before hunting for a home? Here are 4 reasons why getting pre-qualified is a smart move. Streamlines the house hunt. When you’re starting out, many homeowners make the mistake of browsing homes that are out of their price range. Don’t waste your time by looking at homes you’re not able to afford. By …