If you read last week's blog post, you already know that I have studied, gotten a pre-approval letter, and started the home search. Back in my youth (before time got scarce and kids got plentiful), I loved the search for the perfect house. In all honesty, I still do, but the lazy Saturday mornings of driving to open houses at a whim are gone. Our search has been warp speed. We pack snacks, drinks, coloring books, diapers and plan our route like a trip to Europe. We had three areas that we wanted to zone in on. All... read more

  If you have been following along on our family adventure, you already know that moving and buying our new home has faced some unique circumstances. My family and I are located in the US, the seller of our soon-to-be home is based in the United Arab Emirates. This meant that throughout the buying process our agent had to be knowledgeable on the longer than usual buying process. It meant that my family had to practice patience, because any communication with the seller resulted in a longer than usual respons... read more

  As you know from previous blog posts, my family is finally under contract. After some negotiating and lots of luck we are able to start the final jog to the closing table. There is so much that happens after your realtor exclaims,  “Congratulations! Your offer has been accepted!”   No two real estate transactions are ever the same, and our situation has to be one of the most unique I have ever been a part of. My family (“the buyers”) are located in a hot market in North Ca... read more

When selling your home, it is necessary to get a home inspection. While it may not be something you immediately think to do, it is very helpful in identifying any problems you may have before you even put your Jacksonville, NC home on the market. A home inspection can last anywhere from two to three hours and involves the inspector going through every part of your home from top to bottom. The following are some of the things an inspector will pay close attention to during an inspection: Operation of plumbing ... read more

If you are thinking about purchasing a home, there are some major things you will want to avoid. While some of them may seem like common sense, it can never hurt to see them in writing. Don’t Move Money Around When a lender reviews your loan package for approval, one of the things they are most concerned about is the source of funds for your down payment and closing costs. Most likely, you will be asked to provide statements for the last two or three months on any of your liquid assets. This includes checking accou... read more