Some life situations cannot be solved by making changes to your home since these factors are beyond your control and a move would make sense:

• You have changed your job and the commute is very time consuming and inconvenient.
• You and your spouse have divorced and selling is a legal necessity.
• Your children are grown and have moved out; the house is too large and there are too many rooms to manage.
• The house is too small due to increased family size.
• Maintenance of home and yard is too physically demanding.
• You do not feel safe in your home as the area has become run-down.

The following reasons are matters of choice as opposed to necessity:

• Your income has increased and you want to move to a bigger home in a more expensive area.
• You would like to have different amenities in your house.
• You prefer to live closer to family or friends.
• You believe you can sell your home at a large profit and want to make money.

Making a list of the pros and cons of selling your home and then considering how you can make changes to your liking can help you decide if there are enough factors to stay or go.

Whether you rent an apartment, home, or condo, renters insurance is essential to protecting yourself and your belongings. Though there is uniformity across most insurance policy pricing, you can still find several ways to save money. Here are some easy tips for saving on your renters insurance.

Dare to Compare
The first step is to visit an insurance comparison website. This way, you will know which companies offer the cheapest insurance. There are numerous insurance comparison websites where you can get and compare insurance rates from well-known companies. One example is rentersinsurance.net.

Combine and Save
Another way to save on your insurance is to buy your renters and auto insurance from the same company. This can save you up to 15% on your yearly premium. Most major insurance companies offer discounts for those who purchase insurance packages.

Get ahead
A third way to save is to pay for insurance a full year in advance. You can usually save about $20 if you pay for your insurance once a year instead of monthly. All you have to do is ask.

Be aware of additional discounts
Major insurance companies often offer extra discounts for those who qualify. Senior Citizens nearly always qualify for at least 10% off their insurance premium. Some insurance companies also offer discounts to non-smokers, veterans, and even students. Do a little digging, and you could save some serious cash.

Your renters insurance policy will give you peace of mind in knowing that home is protected. Take the time to estimate the value of everything you own and make sure you are covered for at least that amount. It is essential that you do your homework and research your options before making a decision. Finally, make sure that you review your policy every year. Any significant changes to the value of your home or possessions should be reported to your insurance provider.

Keep in mind that you can save money by simply having insurance. Though we cannot avoid accidents all the time, we can certainly be covered in the case of an emergency.

If you chose to live near the River Walk in San Antonio there would be almost endless options of activities to enjoy. The River Walk is an attraction that is open 365 days a year. Apart from the winding river, it is packed full of history, unique restaurants, one of a kind hotels, and much more. The River Walk is located 20 ft. below street level and it is a short walk from the Alamo. There are also many different museums located near the River Walk, such as, Buckhorn Museum and Saloon, San Antonio Children’s Museum, and Ripley’s Believe it or not.

If you will be walking the River Walk, a trip to the Alamo is also a must. The Alamo is where a small band of Texans held out for 13 days against the centralist army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The death of the defenders of the Alamo has come to be a symbol of bravery and sacrifice for the cause of liberty.  The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio and represents nearly 300 years of history. It is comprised of three buildings – The Shrine, Long Barrack Museum, and Gift Museum. Visitors of the Alamo can also stroll through the Alamo Gardens.

At the Buckhorn Museum and Saloon you can enjoy more than 128 years of history, including plenty of cowboy memorabilia, a very unique horn collection to view, a two-headed calf, a lamb with eight legs, and many more interesting things to check out. If that’s not enough to satisfy your history appetite then you could take a trip down to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, which is America’s largest and most interactive Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and see all sorts of unique and wild sights.  There are over 500 one of a kind exhibits to see and there is also a new 4-D moving theater to enjoy. In the 4-D theater you can experience motion and movement that allows you to feel like you’re a part of the movie.

If a break from all the history is something that you need then there are also tons of other fun activities in San Antonio that are available. You could go check out the world’s largest marine life adventure park, SeaWorld. At SeaWorld you will get to enjoy a lineup of more than 26 astounding shows, animal attractions, and thrilling rides. If rides are what you’re after then taking a visit to Six Flags would also be a fun-filled adventure.  Along with the vast array of roller-coasters and other rides there are also many different shows like Straight Country and Rockin’ at Rockville High. There is also a fireworks celebration to enjoy, a free water park during the summer, and many more activities to enjoy at Six Flags.

The almost endless historic and fun-filled activity options to choose from in San Antonio make choosing a place to rent in the city a fun experience. There is such a vast array of activities to choose from that almost anywhere you decide to rent would put you close to a historic landmark, museum, or amusement park.

This post was written and provided by Martha Keagan who is a full time mother, freelance writer and a nationwide apartment rentals broker. Last April Keagan was able to travel to Texas where she has helped hundreds of Texans find great deals on San Antonio apartments.

Since your home is fully paid for and you have no mortgage, you may want to consider offering owner financing. If you decide to carry the mortgage, there will be benefits for you as the seller as well as for the buyer.

Some buyers who may have difficulty obtaining a mortgage – although they are able to pay for a loan – will likely appreciate being able to purchase a home without going through all the procedures required by a conventional lender. A classified ad that offers “seller financing” will likely entice a number of prospective buyers. The benefit to you as a seller is that if the buyer defaults, you can easily foreclose on the property since the debt is secured.

Additionally, you can probably charge the buyer a higher interest rate for this convenience. And since the deal can be closed much easier than one that involves a conventional lender, you will likely get the buyer to agree to a price that is much closer to the price you are asking.

This loan agreement can be for a much shorter period of time than that offered by a bank or loan company with a balloon payment required at the end of the agreement.

How much you decide to finance and for what period of time can be negotiated between you and the buyer with an agreement agreeable to both parties

Carolyn Capalbo, a successful Virginia-based REALTOR, has a number of suggestions for buyers during the negotiation process. In short, Carolyn Capalbo provides buyers with the information necessary to make the most well-informed financial decisions. Let Carolyn Capalbo help you negotiate your way into a new home!

Here are Carolyn Capalbo’s top three negotiation tips for buyers:

1.Find out why your seller is selling – Is your seller moving because of a job relocation? Is the seller moving because of a divorce or job promotion? The seller’s motivation may provide enough insight for you to make the best decisions when making offers and counter offers. In other words, if the seller is moving because of a job relocation, or if he or she has an existing contract on another property, then he or she may be in more of a hurry to sell, and therefore may be more willing to negotiate. However, you may have less room to negotiate if the seller is in no rush to move.

2. If the seller is unwilling to negotiate, don’t waste your time – If, after the first offer, the seller is unwilling to play ball when it comes to negotiations, it is simply best to move on. There is very little you can do to convince a seller to enter negotiations if they are unwilling to do so.

3. Don’t waste your time (and the seller’s time) by making low-ball offers – Don’t expect to come into negotiations with a low-ball offer and no basis for that offer. If homes in the neighborhood are selling for $150,000, for example, and you put in an offer for $100,000, don’t expect a warm response from the seller. Instead, make a fair offer and go from there; anything else is simply an insult and a waste of everyone’s time.

This type of mortgage is known as an “Adjustable Rate” or ARM loan. Since the initial interest rate charged for an ARM is lower than the average fixed rate mortgage, many first-time home buyers are attracted to the lower monthly payments an ARM can offer –initially.

Many lower income borrowers attracted to an ARM have expectations of refinancing to a safer, and more secure fixed rate mortgage once their financial picture improves, but an ARM carries many pitfalls.

Don’t forget the “adjustable” clause in your ARM. What this means is that your loan interest rate will most likely increase after a certain specified period of time, often, anywhere from one to five years or so. The formula for adjusting your interest rate is complex and difficult for the average person to understand.

The rate adjusting formula used by the lender is based upon the U.S. Treasury or LIBOR index. Take the time to educate yourself with the help of a mortgage broker or real estate attorney, so that you will be aware of how these calculations will affect your interest rate and accordingly, your monthly payments.

Remember to be absolutely sure of your financial capabilities before you decide to take an ARM loan. If you are unsure of your financial future, then best rent until your situation improves. Don’t forget that an increase in ARM rates could mean that your monthly obligation would then be beyond your means.

Even if a buyer has already had the home appraised for his/her own information, the lender will only use the information obtained on the property by the lender’s own trusted appraiser.

However, a seller may often benefit as well by having the property appraised in order to set a realistic selling price that reflects the homes overall worth. A seller’s agent can then use this appraisal and knowledge of current market conditions to help the property owner arrive at a selling price that should attract buyers, and still maintain an agreeable profit margin for the seller.

Appraisals generally cost between $300/$500 dollars, and should be performed by a licensed, registered appraisal agent.

A home appraisal is submitted by the appraiser in the form of a detailed home inspection report that will, among other things, include the following:

• Overall construction quality, including roof, windows, gutters, downspouts, inspection of exterior doors, etc.

• Heating/air conditioning systems, type and condition of floor coverings, condition of wall treatments, such as paneling, wallpaper and paint.

• Plumbing and electrical systems. Hot water heater.

Prior to setting an appointment with the appraiser, the seller and his agent should inspect the property in order to find and correct any defects found that could negatively affect the ultimate appraisal value.

Although the lenders property appraisal report will be the only one that counts, as far as the buyer is concerned, the seller, by having his own appraisal, will be in a much better position to evaluate the buyer’s offer.

Here are the four reasons why a home sells during a holiday:

A home usually looks its best during a holiday. Houses look inviting, warm and welcoming when they are decorated for a holiday. Familiar holiday scents and sights can actually entice buyers to purchase your home.

There is less competition in the real estate market during a holiday. This means that your home has a better chance of being seen by a potential buyer.

Buyers who are very serious about purchasing a home will shop during a holiday. So a seller will receive a more serious and attractive offer.

The best time for a buyer to “see themselves in a home” is during a holiday. There is an incredibly strong connection between holidays and home. A buyer even in late January is filled with images of home, friends and family.

So, it is very “doable” to sell your home any time of year, even during a holiday.

Quick Tips:
Stage your home: A home tastefully staged will usually sell for more money than a similar empty property. Quality furniture, curtains, dining table and chairs, and 3 piece suites will help a potential buyer to imagine themselves living there comfortably.

Add a bedroom: A third bedroom will turn a house thats perfect for a couple, into a house thats perfect for a family instantly boosting the value. If the bedroom is added by building an extension, this will increase the floor space to the property and push the value up even more.

Add another bathroom: Again this makes the house more desirable to families. A three bedroom house is a lot more desirable with two bathrooms rather than one.

Add a conservatory: This has two major benefits you make the garden look better from inside the house, plus you add more living space.
Bonus: One of the best things you can do to ensure you net the maximum amount possible is allow VIP Realty to list your home. We’ll enable you to save thousands in real estate commission!

1. Many sellers refuse to make “profit-repairs”. There are several home improvements that a seller should make in order to increase of the value of their home. These repairs can also dramatically decrease the amount of time it takes to sell your home. A Realtor can advise you on what repairs to make.
2. It is crucial for a seller to provide potential buyers with easy access to view the home. For example, if a buyer is interested, schedule a showing right away. A seller needs to be flexible with their time in order to sell their home.
3. Many Realtors recommend that a seller be flexible when it comes to financing terms. Cash is not the only transaction that a seller can benefit from. A seller should take into consideration other financing terms that provide the seller with the highest yield.
4. Use new, unorthodox methods to sell you home, such as advertisements on the Internet or a website specifically designed to sell your home. A Realtor will known of several new, sure-fire strategies to help sell your home.
5. It is important that a seller chooses to put their house on the market when the cycle is just right. There are certain times of the year that are better for “home sales” make sure to put your house on the market during this time period.

These five tips can help a seller to save and to make thousands of dollars in the sale of their home. An experienced Realtor can provide a seller with even more helpful tips.