Port Angeles Real Estate Information Archive

Port Angeles Real Estate

Closing costs are often the last thing a person thinks of when buying a home in Port Angeles. While closing is the joyous moment the home becomes yours, the costs can be surprisingly aggravating.

When you purchase a piece of Port Angeles Real Estate / Home, Condo or other property, you will go through a period known as escrow. During escrow, various issues related to the property transfer are worked out. The last day of escrow is known as the closing day and you are going to be paying closing costs.

Closing costs come in many forms. Some involve significant dollars while others are relatively painless. Here’s a list of typical costs:

Escrow Fees

An Port Angeles escrow agent is essentially a third party that works with the seller and buyer to finalize the transaction. For this assistance, the escrow agent will charge a fee. Depending on your area and the agent, you can expect fees from a few hundred dollars to around a thousand or so. Make sure you find out the fees before picking an escrow agent. Typically within the Port Angeles real estate market 1/2 the total escrow fees would be around $350.00 +/-

Home Loan

Obtaining a home loan in the current Port Angeles Real Estate market is a highly subjective event. “Points” can be a major cost associated with home loans. Points are essentially a fee you pay or have built into the loan for the privilege of being allowed to borrow money. A point usually equates to 1% of the loan. On a loan of $300,000, one point would equal $3,000. If you have excellent credit, you can shop for a loan that doesn’t require you to pay points.

Port Angeles Home and Title Insurance

Insurance for your home and title are a must. If you are borrowing money to purchase the home, each is mandatory. If you are using your own funds, you should still get both forms of insurance. As each name implies, they provide insurance against issues involving your home and problems with the title transferred to you. You want to have clear title on any purchase of real estate.

PMI

Private Mortgage Insurance, “PMI”, is mandatory if your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars a year in PMI. Inspections, Appraisals and Miscellaneous Fees

In the Port Angeles home purchase process, you are going to use a variety of services to validate the property is your dream home. These services come with fees and you can expect to pay for home inspectors, appraisers and the like. Depending upon the state you live in, many of these fees may be built into your mortgage. Nonetheless, you need to know exactly what you must pay for on closing day so you can budget accordingly.

Closing escrow should be one of the happiest days of your life ... plan for this day and all will go well .... and on this day!....:) It will be....one of the happiest days of your life...:)

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099 or  mail-to: steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

In addition to zoning, some properties have covenants recorded at the courthouse that “run with the land.” These “protective covenants” can put a serious pinch in your plans for purchasing a piece of property.

Protective Covenants

A protective covenant remains in effect as the property is sold from one Port Angeles Real Estate owner to another. The covenants are designed to maintain a certain aspect of the Port Angeles area in question. The covenants may require a particular architectural style or use for the land to mention only a few areas of restriction.

Land in a Port Angeles scenic area may have a protective covenant that prevents certain types of development for the land or properties on it. Importantly, these restrictions may not show up in the zoning laws, so make sure you research the issues before buying. Let’s consider an example of a great buy gone wrong because of a protective covenant.

A protective covenant may restrict the number of parcels into which the property can be subdivided. Thus, you could find yourself in a situation in which you buy a one hundred acre parcel with an eye toward subdividing it. Upon researching the issues, you discover the zoning laws allow the Port Angeles real estate / parcel to be cut into quarter acre lots. Visions of profit swirl before your eyes. Your development dreams, however, could turn to nightmares if there is a protective covenant.

Assume you go ahead and purchase the parcel. While showing it to a friend, a neighbor from down the road walks up and introduces himself. You excitedly explain you plans for subdividing only to be shocked when he tells you there is a protective covenant that prevents the creation of any lots under ten acres. What if the covenant restricts ANY subdividing of the parcels? That great deal you got on the parcel may not look so hot when the protective covenant is factored in.

So, how should you deal with protective covenants? First, you should ask the Port Angeles real estate seller / owner whether any exists for the property. Second, make sure you buy title insurance as the title company will certainly look for any protective covenants before issuing a policy.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home in Port Angeles!

But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.

Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?

If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be ready to delve into the Port Angeles home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home but you should also have to consider your reasons for not wanting to.

Remember than buying home is not just the biggest financial decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.

Buying a Port Angeles home always seems to be a great idea, but it is important that ownership of a certain property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.

Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.

The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the wonderful things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home. So here are some of the good advantages of home buying.

Financial security is a very great deal of advantage when it comes to owning your own home. If the Port Angeles housing prices goes up, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.

Flexibility is another thing, when owning your Port Angeles house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.

And of course stability, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burden than renting one.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate:

According to a report just out, it is too easy to be fooled by home staging. Home staging is a term that we are gradually becoming familiar with. It is the idea that we try to create the best impression of our home when selling the house. It used to be just run the vacuum over it and do the dishes but nowadays there is a whole set of rules to follow!

The idea is, that a staged home stands out from all the others and therefore gets sold more quickly. It certainly can be carried to extremes with reports of sellers hiring storage units to cart their junk off to. Larger items of furniture are encouraged to be put into storage by professional 'home stagers' so that the house looks bigger and more spacious

Another instruction is to remove anything personal like photographs, so that the prospective buyer can visualize the house as their own. Closets are de-cluttered so that they look more spacious and all bathroom paraphernalia is supposed to be gone from the counter top! Garbage bins are even removed and hidden from sight.

However it has been suggested that home staging can also be deliberately used to hide a multitude of sins!

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA, who solely represent buyers in the realty business) has suggested that as much as 82% of buyers are sidetracked from the important issues by a well-staged house. This organization also concedes that home staging nets more cash and faster sales - so it works!

Some of the underhand tricks used in staging can include using smaller furniture to make a room look larger, placing rugs over damaged parts of the floor, or using curtains to hide rotting sills. Also specified is the practice of putting a cheap paint job on to cover defects. Your realtor is legally obligated to let you know of any defects, but only if he actually knows about them!

Buyers are urged by the NAEBA to be cautious and to remember that when the house is sold, the stage is taken away. The tricks of home staging do not improve the floor plan, or the square footage of the home or the quality of the neighborhood, and these are the qualities that you will be re-selling at a later date.

Hello. This is a fantastic video providing the first time Port Angeles Home buyer some insight on what loan officers look for when trying to prequalify you for a home loan.

Enjoy!

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Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Port Angeles Real Estate Tips & Tricks....Video #2 

Please take a moment to watch this video speaking about what to expect when closing on a port angeles home or property you're buying.

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be reached on my cell at: 360-809-3064 or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

As always, your privacy is – “100% guaranteed”.

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Realtor

There's no doubt about it, the internet is now an intrinsic part in the process of buying and selling homes. The majority of people looking to buy a Port Angeles home, search the web for homes for sale within the Port Angeles real estate market itself. Savvy buyers and sellers can compare stock from the comfort of their homes at any time of day or night. But when it comes time to actually buy, there's more to it than just clicking send.

For starters, make sure what you are searching through is worth while. You may enjoy searching through lists of fancy homes, but if you are spending a lot of time daydreaming about houses you can't afford, it is a waste of time. That is fine if what you are after is to kill time, but if you want to find a Port Angeles home, look within your price range.

This brings me to another point: getting pre-approved for a mortgage. It truly is the first step to home buying. It tells you exactly what you can afford, thereby giving you a price range to look within. It also tells sellers you are serious, and prevents losing a Port Angeles home you are interested in, while the sellers accept an offer from someone who's more prepared.

And while you can find Port Angeles homes for sale, and even lots of great buying and selling tips on the internet, nothing beats the knowledge and expertise of a certified Port Angeles real estate agent—a real, live person. There is a lot of legal-talk and small-print involved in real estate sales documents. Do yourself a huge favor and always have a professional, either a real estate lawyer, a Realtor®, or a mortgage broker, have a look over the paperwork of your real estate transaction. Don't rely on the other parties professionals. After all, they work for the other party. You want an experienced professional who is working for you to verify that the contract is fair and legitimate. Even if you don't hire them for their full services, most Port Angeles real estate agents will help you with parts of a transaction for a small fee.

Another thing internet listings are great for is comparative shopping. You might see a great home, but aren't sure if the price is realistic. A few clicks can show you what other homes in the area are selling for, and also what other types of homes are available in the same price range.

If you are searching around on the internet for great Port Angeles Home listings, look for an agent that is also web savvy. Some agents have very clear, user-friendly, readable, and informative web sites. Then there are those web sites that are just factory filler. You can tell by reading the text if they are trying to appeal to you, or just manipulating search engines to get into the top ten list. If a site doesn't have a person behind it, one with a bio about themselves, and clear listings of what homes they have for sale, then it isn't worth your time.

The key is, no matter what you find on the web, your real estate transaction will happen in real life. So it's best to use the internet as one of many tools in your search for the perfect Port Angeles home.

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be reached on my cell at: 360-809-3064 or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

As always, your privacy is – “100% guaranteed”.

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Realtor