Author: Brendan Ward

Who pays closing costs when selling a home Maine

Who Pays Closing Costs When Selling A House In Maine

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Most sellers I talk to sit down at the kitchen table thinking they’ve already figured out what they’ll walk away with. They’ve done the math: sale price minus mortgage balance. That’s it. Then they get to the closing table and find a third column nobody mentioned. It’s thousands of dollars wide. The gap between what … Continued
Sell a House With Child Support Lien New Hampshire

Selling a House With a Child Support Lien in New Hampshire

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Most sellers hear about a child support lien three days before closing, when the title company calls with a problem. Now the buyers are nervous, the movers are booked, and a debt you thought was old news is blocking the sale. Here’s the good part. This problem has a solution. New Hampshire law spells out how these … Continued
Can a Seller Choose Not to Make Repairs After Inspection in

Can a Seller Refuse Repairs After Inspection

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A seller got an offer on her house in late spring. The inspector came back with a seven-page report. Two days later the buyer’s agent sent over a repair request list, and the seller called me on a Thursday afternoon, voice tight, asking one question: “Do I actually have to fix any of this?” Whether … Continued
How Does Medicaid Find Out If You Sell Your Home in

How Will Medicaid Know if I Sell My House for Cash?

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Selling a house is one of the hardest calls a family can make. Add a Medicaid recipient into the picture, and most people freeze. They have heard that a sale can wipe out coverage. Or that the state will come after each dollar. Many have been told to just give the house away. Most of … Continued
Real Estate Contract Timeline Maine

How Long A Real Estate Contract Lasts In Maine

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How long a real estate contract lasts in Maine depends on which contract you signed, and the difference can catch sellers off guard. A seller I worked with in Scarborough thought she had all the time in the world. She’d signed a listing agreement with an agent in the spring, watched the contract expire without … Continued
Selling Rental Property Without Paying Taxes Maine

How To Sell Your Maine Rental Property Without Paying Taxes

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Somewhere between a late-October storm rolling in off Casco Bay and a tenant calling about a furnace that quit at midnight, a lot of Maine landlords reach the same quiet conclusion: this isn’t worth it anymore. The question usually isn’t should I sell. It’s what’s this going to cost me in taxes, and that’s where … Continued
How Seasonal Market Trends Affect Home Prices and Buyer Demand

Best Time To Sell a House in New Hampshire

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Most New Hampshire homeowners miss out on potential profit not because they priced their home incorrectly or staged it poorly, but because they chose the wrong month to list. Timing your sale in this state can mean the difference between a bidding war and a price reduction. And with a median single-family home price sitting … Continued
Can You Sell a Home With Termites in Maine

Can You Sell a House with Termite History in Maine

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Understanding Termite History and Its Impact on Selling Selling a property with a history of termites might be a concern, and it’s important to understand how past termite damage might impact your sale. Termite infestations may cause a lot of damage and often impact the decision of a prospective buyer. Understanding how termite problems affect … Continued
Selling A House With Foundation Issues in

Selling a House with Foundation Problems in Maine: How to Successfully Sell Your Home

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Understanding Foundation Problems in Maine Houses in Maine are subjected to a harsh environment and various geological features. So, foundation problems can greatly impair the sale of a house. It’s helpful for homeowners and sellers to know the common indicators of foundation problems and how Maine’s specific weather conditions affect home foundations. Sellers can work … Continued
How much equity do I need to sell my home

How Much Equity Do I Need to Sell My House

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Your neighbor stopped you this morning: “I’m thinking about selling, but I don’t know if I have enough equity. What’s the magic number?” She’s not alone. In fifteen years of buying homes with Brendan Buys Houses, I hear this question almost daily. The honest answer: There’s no single magic number, but there are clear guidelines … Continued