Real estate agents help people buy and sell homes. Agents educate their clients about current market conditions, guide them through each step of the process and make referrals to other professionals, such as home stagers and real estate attorneys. Most agents can represent buyers or sellers. Their particular titles in a transaction depend on whom they're representing in that sale. A buyer's agent helps buyers find and shop for listed homes, make competitive offers and negotiate with sellers. A listing agent helps sellers price, list and market their homes, and negotiate with buyers. In some cases, an agent can represent both sides in a single transaction, but it's best to have someone who's solely in your corner.

When buying a home, there are many factors to consider. The location of the property is another important factor to consider. Choose a location that suits your lifestyle and meets your needs. Consider factors such as commute time, schools, access to public transportation, and proximity to amenities like shopping and entertainment. This will ensure that you are comfortable and happy with the location of your new home. When buying a home, you will also need to decide on the type of property you want. There are several options available, including single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. Each type of property has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to carefully evaluate your options. Property Location The location of the home is one of the most important factors to consider. Look for a location that is convenient for your lifestyle, such as proximity to work, schools, shopping, and transportation. Also, consider the neighborhood's safety, crime rate, and overall vibe.Size and Layout The size and layout of the home should meet your needs and preferences. Consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need, as well as the overall square footage and layout of the home. Property Condition The condition of the home is another critical factor. Consider whether the home is move-in ready or if it needs significant repairs or renovations. Don't forget to get a professional home inspection before making an offer to identify any potential issues. Pricing The price of the home is another crucial factor. Consider your budget and how much you can afford to spend on a home. Don't forget to factor in additional costs such as property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Resale value The resale value of the home is another factor to consider, even if you don't plan to sell the home anytime soon. Consider the potential for appreciation and how the home compares to other properties in the area.Lifestyle factors Finally, consider your lifestyle and how the home fits into it. For example, if you love to entertain, look for a home with a large kitchen and living space. If you have pets, consider a home with a yard or nearby parks. Parking Space Nobody enjoys leaving their automobile in a deserted area. When choosing an apartment complex to buy, you should look for one with a secure parking space. Remember that extra parking spaces are typically more expensive in exclusive gated neighborhoods. Therefore, if you own several vehicles, you may have to prepare for this additional cost. In conclusion, buying a home requires careful consideration of your financial situation, lifestyle, and future plans. Take the time to research and evaluate your options to ensure that you make an informed decision. Remember, buying a home is a significant investment, so it is important to get it right. Overall, buying a home is a big decision, and it's essential to consider a range of factors to ensure that you make the right choice. Don't rush the process and work with experienced professionals such as real estate agents and home inspectors to guide you through the process.

Mortgage interest rates can fluctuate depending on the market and national rates can provide a good ballpark estimate as to where your rate might lie. Keep in mind that the rate you’re likely to receive will depend more heavily on factors such as your specific location, credit score and credit report. While you can take a look at each lender’s website to get an idea of what interest rates they charge, the best way to get a solid idea of what you’ll have to pay is to provide the necessary information and check your rate. That said, it’s important to submit your information and check your rate with more than one lender so you can have a better chance at securing the lowest rate possible. Don’t worry about your credit score getting dinged multiple times — when you apply for a mortgage, you can submit your information for a hard inquiry as often as you need to within a 45-day window without your credit score suffering for it. While you may not always get a drastically low rate between lenders, even a small distinction can make a big difference in how much you end up owing in interest each month.

Before you move into a new house and start building home equity, you should do your best to purchase that home at the most reasonable price. Buying a house is different than buying the average good or service—for one thing, the sale price of a house is negotiable and flexible. This means potential homeowners can do their own research and work alongside real estate professionals to ensure they do everything in their power to reduce the listed price of their new house to the best of their ability Work with a real estate agent. Especially for first-time homebuyers, working with a realtor can be beneficial in helping you obtain a lower price than you likely could on your own. These professionals know the real estate market well, so they can help you understand property taxes, interest rates, and more. They also will do what they can to negotiate the minutiae of your purchase contract to the best terms possible for you.

Investing is one of the best ways to build your wealth and help achieve your long-term financial goals. However, several common and expensive missteps have the potential to derail your investment progress. Recognizing the following mistakes and taking proactive steps to avoid them will likely improve your investment outcomes and, ultimately, give you a better chance of achieving your long-term financial goals. #1 – Chasing the trends A common mistake many investors make is choosing investments based on short -term market forecasts and chasing current trends without first researching and doing their due diligence. Without a full understanding of each investment in your portfolio and its risk and return characteristics, underlying holdings, costs, etc., how can you know your investments align with your objectives? It’s critical to educate yourself on various investments’ risk characteristics, return potential, underlying holdings, tax treatment, asset class characteristics, expenses and more. Your wealth manager is a great source for insight into how specific investments may impact your overall portfolio and financial goals. #2 – Making emotional decisions When it comes to investing, emotions such as fear and greed can be powerful motivators. However, the health of your investment portfolio depends on your ability to make rational, long-term decisions and avoid making impulsive moves, such as buying at market peaks or selling during a downturn. A great way to avoid making emotionally driven investment mistakes is by sticking to a long-term investment strategy customized to your overall financial plan and aligned with your objectives. You should review and rebalance your portfolio on a regular basis to help ensure it continues to keep up with your ever-changing life and goals. #3 – Failing to properly diversify Regardless of where you live, it’s always wise to maintain a diversified investment portfolio. Investing in different types of asset classes will spread out your risk. When one sector or investment type is performing poorly, another investment type that’s performing better can help smooth out overall portfolio volatility. While diversification won’t prevent losses, it can reduce the risk of being too heavily invested in the worst performing part of the market. To achieve adequate diversification, consider combining stocks with bonds, large company stocks with small company stocks, U.S. stocks with international stocks, and investments from different sectors, such as technology, financial, energy, real estate, healthcare, etc. It’s also important to be aware of the underlying holdings in your investment funds to ensure you’re not overly weighted in a certain area. #4 – Trying to time the market Knowing that the market is unpredictable, time in the market is more important than trying to time the market by buying low and selling high. This strategy can backfire on even the most seasoned investors. Attempting to predict short-term market movements is risky and can lead to missed opportunities or significant losses. Instead of timing the market, smart investing involves patience and a long-term investment approach that aligns with your goals and time horizon. Invest regularly and consistently, take advantage of dollar-cost averaging and maintain a diversified portfolio. Over time, this strategy will help smooth out some market volatility. #5 – Forgetting to plan for risk It’s important to take risk into consideration when building your investment portfolio. Taking on too much risk can lead to stress, worry and, potentially, panic selling at inopportune times. On the other hand, investing too conservatively may limit your long-term growth potential. Conduct a thorough, honest review of your risk tolerance and take that into consideration as you work to ensure an appropriate balance between risk and return potential. #6 – Ignoring investment costs Investment expenses, such as management fees and commissions, have the potential to greatly reduce your portfolio’s returns over time, yet many investors overlook these costs. It’s important to compare fees and expenses across different investment options and choose low-cost investment vehicles, such as index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), whenever it makes sense to do so. #7 – Not rebalancing It’s important to regularly review and rebalance your investment portfolio to help ensure it remains aligned with your objectives. Failing to rebalance on a regular basis can result in certain investment types or sectors becoming overweighted. Over time, this can cause your portfolio to drift away from your target risk profile. By regularly rebalancing to your asset allocation, you can lock in gains from top-performing sectors and ensure your portfolio remains in line with your investment objectives and risk tolerance. #8 – Neglecting the power of compounding Compounding is a powerful force that can significantly increase your investment returns over time. The earlier you begin saving and investing, the more compounding interest works to your advantage. Focus on re-investing your dividends and maintain a long-term approach to your investment portfolio to maximize your compounding potential. Could you use some help establishing a custom investment portfolio to meet your specific needs? Creative Planning is here for you. Our experienced professionals serve as a partner in helping you avoid common pitfalls as you work toward achieving your long-term goals. For more information, schedule a call with a member of our team.