How to Get the Most Out of Flat Fee MLS Minnesota
If you want to sell your home, posting it on the Multiple Listing Service is the best way to go. A flat-fee Realtor can do that for you for a small fee, and it’s a great way to skip the guesswork and the hassles of minding your own listing. It might seem an unnecessary expense, but hiring flat-fee real estate agents and brokers could save you thousands of dollars on commission fees with their reasonably priced and carefully curated MN MLS listings packages that come with all the services you need to sell your house effectively.
While it’s simpler and more convenient to hire a flat-fee Realtor, you want to ensure their services can give you the most value for your money and time. So, here are some tips to help you get the most out of their service.
Do your homework
Explore the options on MN MLS listings services and find an established and experienced real estate company specializing in them. Verify that you are working with licensed real estate professionals with a track record of helping locals sell their properties quickly and cost-effectively.
Prepare the right information about your home
The MLS is like a template where you must provide relevant information about your property. If you are using a flat-fee MLS service, be sure to have information from county tax records and share any other important details. However, you might have to make your listing from scratch if your home has never been on an MLS or tax records don’t have any details on it. It will take time, but the flat-free Realtor will handle that for you.
Share flattering and up-to-date photos of your home
MN MLS listings services need photos of your home to show on the sales post. If you can, consider getting a professional real estate photographer. Otherwise, check if the flat fee Realtor can take pictures when they drop by for a house evaluation.
Get the best flat fee MLS listings service now.
By choosing Real Estate Corners, you know you are ealing with licensed flat-fee Realtors who can help you make the most of selling your home through MN MLS listings. We’ll work with you to ensure maximum exposure with all the marketing services and tools you need to sell the house fast. Check out our packages now!
Rent vs Buy? 10 Tips from a Broker
Are you about to start a new and exciting chapter in your life? Whether you’re pursuing a different career, building a family, or planning to live alone, one of the major things you may be considering is whether to rent or buy a home. So, to help you make a well-informed decision, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of renting and buying a home with some tips for you.
The Pros and Cons of Renting a Home
Before you choose to rent a place, you need to consider a few fundamental aspects as well as weigh the pros and cons of doing so.
Pros of Renting a Home in Minneapolis
One of the biggest advantages to renting a home is that it gives you more freedom and flexibility. This means that if you ever decide to move out further down the line, you can do so without the hassle of finding the next tenant.
Besides this, you also get little to no responsibility for maintaining your rented area. Whenever you find something that needs repairs at home, you can simply tell your landlord and they will handle the situation for you.
In terms of costs, renting may be a much cheaper option than purchasing your own house. So, if you’re moving to your very own house or are working within a budget, renting may be the better option for you.
Cons of Renting a Home in Minneapolis
Now, let’s talk about the disadvantages of renting a property.
While you do have the freedom and flexibility to move out after a certain period, you won’t be allowed to make major changes to your home without first getting your landlord’s approval. That said, renting a property may hinder your creativity when designing your new home.
What’s more, you’re not allowed to build equity when you’re renting a property. This means that while your rental house or apartment will be your home, it won’t be your personal asset. Your landlord has the final say when it comes to your stay: they stipulate the rules and obligations, they can evict you at any time should the need arise, and they can increase your rent.
Moreover, you also need to know that when you rent a property, you won’t be able to enjoy tax benefits.
The Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Home
Much like there are advantages and disadvantages with renting a home, so too are their pros and cons with buying a property. Below is a list of all the considerations you need to keep in mind when buying a house.
Pros of Buying a Home in Minneapolis
Being an owner of a home can give you a sense of stability, settlement, and security. Knowing that your name is on the property just gives you a boost of pride and confidence in yourself.
And because you have ownership of your home when you buy it from brokers near Minneapolis MN, you have the complete say and freedom when it comes to design and renovation. You have the power to explore your creativity and express your individuality when you buy a home.
While it’s true that buying a home is much more expensive than renting one, it’ll serve as an incredible investment which you can sell or rent out in the future to earn monthly profits. Besides this, you also get to enjoy tax benefits, mortgage interest deductions, and equity while paying off your loan.
Cons of Buying a Home in Minneapolis
Alongside all the opportunities and power, you have over your own home are heightened responsibilities you need to stay on top of. As the owner, you have the duty to take care of maintenance costs and plan out renovation projects to improve your home.
One aspect of your responsibilities is to pay property taxes religiously. Keep in mind that even if you’re not subject to monthly rentals, you are subject to potential increases in property tax rates. So, this is something that you must be mindful of.
If you’re a restless spirit that enjoys traveling the world and moving around a lot, buying a home may not be the best decision for you now. Since you will have more responsibilities when you own a property, it may be harder for you to be more mobile. Moreover, when you do decide to move out, it may be a challenging and time-consuming process to sell your house to potential buyers.
10 Tips on Renting vs Buying
With these, you can clearly see the pros and cons of each option. Right now, you may not be 100% sure what the right course of action is. So, to help you out, here are 10 tips and considerations to keep in mind.
1. Think of Your Lifestyle
Think of your lifestyle, family situation, and current work requirements. Depending on whether you move a lot or stay at home, live alone or with a family, you can decide which option works best for you.
2. Consider Customizability
When it comes to personalization, buying a house gives you more freedom than renting a house. You can perform major renovations without asking for permission from anyone. Meanwhile, renting a home includes several limitations. You might be allowed to paint, but you must revert to the original color once you move out. You also need to follow the rules that the homeowner set, especially since there’s a written agreement, and you’ll likely get kicked out if you don’t comply with the rules.
3. Be Prepared Financially
Your finances are a crucial part of your decision. For instance, if you’re working on a budget, perhaps you need to start with a rental property. Once you become more financially stable, you can think about buying your own home.
4. Find the Right Location
Location plays an integral role in your choice, especially if this is your first move. If you think you’ll be relocating soon because of work or other family circumstances, then renting a home gives you the flexibility to move anytime.
5. Consider Privacy
Before buying or renting a home, consider how important privacy is to you. Owning a house means you have control over who is allowed to enter or access your property. When you rent a home, your landlord might inform you about certain people dropping by the property to perform regular checks, repairs, and more.
6. Know Your Long-term Goals
What do you want to achieve? Are you buying a home for early retirement or just want somewhere to stay in between travels. Knowing your long-term goals can help you determine the best choice.
7. Consider the Risks
Buying a home and renting a home both have their risks. Compared to buying, renting is usually cheaper. However, you won’t be able to build equity. You also won’t have to worry about repair and maintenance costs and there’s greater flexibility.
Purchasing a home usually costs more. However, you can build equity, but there are also some risks involved. For instance, you finance a house at a significantly high amount. Once the property value decreases, your debt will be higher than the home’s value.
8. Understand the Current Real Estate Market
Another factor to consider when deciding is the current real estate market. In 2022, tenants saw a 12.2% rental price increase, so renting might not be too beneficial. If you plan on buying a home, check current prices and the history of buying amounts in your desired area.
9. Always Weigh Your Options
Buying a house allows you to enjoy stability, customization, tax benefits, and more. However, you’ll shoulder maintenance costs and other monthly expenses as well as face the risk of decreasing home value. Renting a house offers flexibility and you won’t have to pay for maintenance, but you also can’t build equity and you could face termination from the property. Knowing the factors involved can help you make a better decision whether to buy or rent a home.
10. Find Reliable Brokers Near Minneapolis, MN
In the end, it’s all about your goals, situation, needs, and priorities. If you want to make sure you’re making the right choice, contact us at Real Estate Corners to see how we can satisfy your real estate needs.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/25/taking-these-5-steps-can-help-bulk-up-your-emergency-savings.html
https://www.bankrate.com/investing/buying-income-property/
https://www.firstalliancecu.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-renting-and-buying-a-home
https://www.univest.net/personal-banking/renting-vs-buying
https://toughnickel.com/real-estate/What-Are-the-Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Renting
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/083115/renting-vs-owning-home-pros-and-cons.asp
Getting your house ready for listing?
Tips to increase your curb appeal
Increasing your curb appeal is one of the important tasks that you need to consider when you are preparing to list your house on the market, the first imprison counts as the last thing the buyer wants to see is a neglected property. You will be surprised by how much your house look with a few low cost DYI projects, and the following are some tips to help you out:
1. Check all exterior lighting and make sure that all bulbs work
It’s a good practice to turn on your exterior lights during showings when it gets darker and you want to make sure that all bulbs are working.
2. Add fresh paint to the shutters, trim, and front door
Taking care of those chipping and flaking paint and adding some colors will impress new buyers, a fresh paint job will make a difference and will increase your curb appeal
3. Fix any broken windows or screens
Broken windows or screens means that the house is poorly maintained please make sure to fix any broken once before showing the property.
4. Apply a fresh seal coat to your driveway
Asphalt surfaces are particularly susceptible to wear and tear, both from weather and from automobile traffic, check your driveway for any cracks, potholes or other signs of wear and prepare to apply fresh seal coat before showings.
5. Make sure to clean out your gutters
Cleaning gutters is a small task but it could distract buyers and add to their “to do list” so make sure your gutters are clear of any leaves so buyers can appreciate the house.
6. Make sure your door lock is in good working condition
I had few times where I had to struggle with the door lock to show the property to my clients and one of my clients ask me to leave stating that she doesn’t care about the property if the owner didn’t bother to take care of small thing like that.
7. Clean any built up dirt on siding & windows
Bring your home exterior back to live by removing all the built up dirt by using pressure washer that you can rent from a hardware store.
8. Add fresh paint to your deck and stage with outdoor furniture
Give your deck a new lock with some fresh paint and place some comfortable chairs and a table and let the buyers envision themselves relaxing with a drink on their deck.
9. Remove any tree debris, leaves or clutters
Nothing turns away buyers than a front yard full of trash and other clutter. Make sure your lawn is clear of any misplaced debris. The goal is to show buyers your property is well-maintained and will not require immediate work after they move in.
10. Trim all trees & shrubs and plant new flowers
Trimming your growing trees & shrubs is like getting a haircut and planting flowers can easily brighten up your front yard and adds value to the curb appeal.
11. Mow and water the lawn
Healthy, green lawn is sure to capture buyers’ attention. Make sure you don’t neglect your lawn as you prepare the rest of the property!
Are you ready to sell your home? Do you want to take control of your assets? Do you want to save Thousands of dollars selling your home? If your answers are yes, please visit our website at www.Realestatecorners.com to explore our For Sale By Owner package or our discounted Flat Fee Full Service. If you have any questions or you need to learn more, please give us a call at (612) 483-1230.
