Questions & Answers
Real answers to your real estate questions.
Years of client conversations distilled into the questions that come up most.
/ Buying a Home
Plan for: down payment (3–20%), closing costs (~2–4% of price), inspections (~$500), and a small reserve (1–3 months of mortgage payments). For a $400K home, that's roughly $20K–$30K minimum on a low-down-payment loan.
/ Selling a Home
I run a Comparative Market Analysis using recent sales (last 90 days), active competition, and pending sales — adjusted for condition, upgrades, and lot. Then we layer in current buyer demand and seasonality. Pricing is strategy, not a guess.
/ Renting
Rule of thumb: if you'll stay 5+ years, have stable income, and have at least a 5–10% down payment plus reserves, buying usually wins. For shorter horizons or career uncertainty, renting preserves flexibility and avoids transaction costs.
/ Mortgages
Conventional: best for 5%+ down and good credit (≥680). FHA: lower credit and 3.5% down, but PMI for the loan's life. VA: 0% down with no PMI for eligible veterans — almost always the best option if you qualify. We compare lender quotes side-by-side.