WHAT ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS WANT REALTORS TO KNOW

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Real estate transactions can be unpredictable, especially if the previous property owner has passed away and the transaction involves the trust or estate of the deceased. As estate planning attorneys, we have encountered multiple deceased-owner cases where realtors have taken their eye off the ball and landed their clients and themselves in an unnecessary mess of one kind or another. However, the good is that all realtors can take some very basic precautions, utilizing tools already at their disposal, and come up smelling like roses at the closing table. Here’s how. Ask good questions, be a good listener and use the preliminary title report as the foundation for a successful transaction. On the seller side, make sure that the people …

Which real estate investment is right for you?

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Northern Utah’s housing market is booming. In only a year, home values in Davis, Morgan and Weber counties increased more than 12 percent. In both Davis and Weber counties, the median sales price is about $30,000 higher than last year, according to the Utah Association of Realtors’ July report. In the rental market, rates are up 6.5 percent in Salt Lake, according to a report from Cushman & Wakefield. While the record-low vacancy rates are likely to head up, experts still expect rental rates to grow about 4 percent in 2018. In light of the increases in both housing prices and rental rates, you may be thinking about buying some real estate as an investment. Even though the gains won’t …

The price is right: Tips for setting a list price

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

When putting a home up for sale, one of the most important tasks is making sure the price is right. Set the price too low and you risk losing thousands of dollars. Price your home too high and it could languish on the market. That’s problematic since homes with the biggest discounts typically are the ones that stay on the market longest, according to Realtor.com. It’s also important to get pricing right so you don’t miss out on potential buyers who are looking in price ranges close to yours. To navigate the dangers of over- and underpricing, here are five tips to help you get it right: 1. Don’t set the price based on what you paid Over the past …

Have a Heart Homes Helps Address the Crises in Affordable Housing

Northern Wasatch Association of RealtorsAdvice

Readers of this column and those of you who have been following other numerous media reports over the past few months know that there is a critical shortage of affordable housing in northern Utah. In fact, one recent report shows that Utah has a need for 43,000 affordable housing units, posing an almost insurmountable challenge. And while the affordable housing crises is especially acute right now, your local Realtors and Home Builders have been addressing the situation since 1998 with our Have a Heart Homes non-profit foundation. Nearly every year, Realtors and Home Builders in Northern Utah have secured an affordable lot, engaged a home builder, and raised funds to help offset the costs of construction. The general contractor and …