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Buyer / Seller FAQ’s

Is HusVar Real Estate a full-service broker?

What is The First Step to Buying a Home?

Congratulations! You have decided it’s time to own a home.  The first step is finding a professional that is experienced in guiding you through the process.  At HusVar Real Estate our agents are highly trained to explain the process.  It all starts at HusVarRE.com. When you sign up for a free account you will receive a link to download our free buyers guide

What is a seller’s market?

What is a buyer’s market?

What is a stratified market?

What kind of credit score do I need to buy a home?

Should I Sell My Home Before Purchasing A New One?

How do I find out what my home is worth?

When should I sell my home?

What improvements will help sell my home?

Why should I use a REALTOR® to sell my home?

When is the best time of year to sell?

What should I expect when I put my house on the market?

How many homes should I view before buying one?

Are there any safety tips I should keep in mind when putting my home on the market?

Opening your home up to strangers naturally raises some safety concerns, especially for new home sellers. While your REALTOR® will help protect you from these risks, we recommend:

• Never give home tours by yourself. A REALTOR® should always be present.

• Hide valuables and all electronics prior to any home visits or open houses.

• Remove mail, bills, and personal checks from places where they can be seen by those touring your home.

• Take stock of the state of your home after an open house to make sure everything is locked and in place.

If the buyer does not have a broker, do sellers typically reduce the purchase price to reflect the savings of not having to pay a commission to the buyer’s broker? 

How long does it take to buy a home?

How much do I need for a down payment?

The national average for down payments is 11%. But that figure includes first time and repeat buyers. Let’s take a closer look.

While the broad down payment average is 11%, first time homebuyers usually only put down 3 to 5% on a home. That’s because several first-time home buyer programs don’t require big down payments. A longtime favorite, the FHA loan, requires 3.5% down. What’s more, some programs allow down payment contributions from family members in the form of a gift.

Some programs require even less. VA loans and USDA loans can be made with zero down. However, these programs are more restrictive. VA loans are only made to former or current military servicemembers. USDA loans are only available to low to-middle income buyers in USDA-eligible rural areas.

For many years, conventional loans required a 20% down payment. These types of loans were typically taken out by repeat buyers who could use equity from their existing home as a source of down payment funds. However, some newer conventional loan programs are available with 3% down if the borrower carries private mortgage insurance (PMI).

What is earnest money?

How long can the seller take to respond to my offer?

What if my offer is rejected?

Should I order a home inspection?

Do I need to do a final walk-through?