The Terranova Team

  The way to obtain pre-approval through a mortgage lender can seem a bit confusing if you’re a first-time homebuyer or not knowledgeable of the real estate industry. Let’s prepare you for a big step in the average buyer’s journey to homeownership by looking at how the pre-approval process works for homebuyers in Delaware: Check Your Credit Before you apply for a mortgage or any other type of loan for that matter, you want to begin by receiving your free annual credit report from the major credit reporting agencies. This report acts as a sort of financial background check on you, and you want to make sure everything on it is accurate in order to prevent any complications arising when purchasing your home. Comb through the entire report from front to back and make note of anything that seems either unfamiliar or entirely incorrect. You then have an opportunity to contact the credit reporting agency to request changes. Alternatively, you could discover an outstandi...

  Some of us like to live in a space that doesn’t separate the outdoors and indoors, but rather carefully brings them together in a harmonious fashion to enhance our everyday living experience. In order to make this idea into a reality, let’s look at 5 ways Delaware homeowners can blend the outdoors with the indoors: Coordinate Your Colors  One of the easiest ways to blend the outdoors with the indoors is to try using color to imitate that outdoor look and feel. You’ll often hear people discussing using earth tones to paint their homes, and this is what we’re going for as well. To define what earthy tones are, think of the colors you see out in nature. You aren’t limited to different shades of green and brown as there are all kinds of reds, yellows, and even blues that qualify. Most earth tones are going to be dulled slightly relative to what we imagine when painting a new home, so dial back the shine and saturation just a tad and you can open up your availab...

  Whether you’re buying or selling real estate, you probably intend to work with an agent. And you also know that you need to interview potential agents before you enter into this business relationship. The difficulty here lies in knowing just what you need to find out about prospective agents and what questions to ask to get that information. Some things, after all, matter much more than others. Here, then, are the 3 most important things to consider before hiring a real estate agent in Delaware. 1. Length of Time in the Business and Experience Typically, you’ll be better off with a  real estate agent in Delaware  who has a lot of years in the business and plenty of experience. You can, of course, occasionally strike gold with a newbie, but there are just so many things in this business that can be learned only in the trenches.There’s a long-standing saying in the real estate business that runs like this: “[T]here’s nothing wro...

  Anyone who has ever taken on the task of buying a new home is aware of how much time and effort goes into the initial search to simply find a home that works and feels right for them. Let’s put you in the right frame of mind before you even take that first step by looking into 5 ways to stay organized when searching for a house in Delaware. Know Your Wants and Needs This first step is a major piece of the puzzle that is often glossed over by your average homebuyer. Sitting down and brainstorming a list of things you absolutely need to get out of your home versus a list of features you would like your home to have helped to narrow down what you’re looking for and eliminate distractions. A great example of this would be if you live in a temperate climate, having an attached garage with a mudroom could be invaluable during cold winter months where wet coats and boots need a place to dry out. If you’re having trouble coming up with lists of wants and needs, look th...

  Selling your home can be a complicated process chock full of confusing details that are potentially easily overlooked and disastrous for the finalization of the transaction. To help get you in the right frame of mind to get your home sold quickly and easily, here’s what you should know about selling your house with contingencies in Delaware. Understanding Contingencies As implied by the name “contingency,” these are bits that are inserted into an offer or real estate contract that must be fulfilled in order for the transaction to close. Despite there being some circumstances where you may need a contingency to protect yourself as the seller, the general rule of thumb is the fewer contingencies included in an offer or contract, the better. That’s not to say that all contingencies will cause problems or kill a deal, but without as many hang-ups along the way, a transaction is more likely to close. The Bigger Picture There are all different kinds of conting...

  Over the last few years, new housing shortages coupled with inflated land and market values have led to a sharp uptick in the number of individuals renting properties rather than purchasing. Whether you’re wanting to understand how things work for someone renting a property or are in need of a remediation method due to an existing situation, let’s help make sure you know your rights as a tenant in Delaware. Check the Lease For current tenants, one of the simplest ways to determine if a set of circumstances can be dealt with quickly and easily is to carefully read through your lease agreement. Your lease exists to cover both your rights as a tenant and the landlord or leasing company. If you have yet to sign your lease agreement, be sure to read through the entire lease before signing anything. Besides giving you an opportunity to fully understand the legal document you are signing, this also buys you time to think things over and ask questions if anything rema...