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Do Sellers Have to Fix Issues From a Home Inspection?

do sellers have to fix things from a home inspection - port aransas texas real estate
When you’re buying a home, whether it’s a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador—or anything else, your real estate purchase contract likely contains a contingency that lets you walk away from the deal if there’s a major problem with the home inspection.
But what should you do about problems if you don’t want to walk away?

Do Sellers Have to Fix Things That Pop Up on the Inspection?

Sellers don’t have to do anything—but in many cases, they are willing to make repairs so you’ll still buy the home.
If you’d prefer to hire your own contractor (and be able to supervise repairs), you can do that too—just ask the seller to take what it would cost you off the selling price and go from there.

What if You Don’t Have a Home Inspection Contingency?

If there’s no home inspection contingency in your real estate purchase contract, you’re between a rock and a hard place. You can’t force the seller to fix the issue, and you can’t back out of the deal. That’s why it’s so important to ensure your purchase contract has all the protections you need built into it from the beginning.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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What if Your Home Inspection Turns Up Something Big?

What if the home inspection shows major problems - Port A homes for sale
Whether you’re looking for a beachfront condo in Port Aransas or a $300,000 home on North Padre Island, you’ll want to have the home inspected by an independent professional.
But what happens when the inspection exposes big trouble?

What if Your Home Inspection Turns Up Major Problems With the Home?

If your home inspector finds big problems (or small problems, which are also typically included in the home inspection contingency in your real estate purchase contract), you have a couple of options.
You can ask the seller to fix the issues, ask them to accept a lower offer because you’ll have to pay for the fixes, or walk away from the deal.

What Are “Major” Problems With a Home?

The bottom line is that if a problem makes you question your decision to buy a home, it’s a major problem.
You can accompany your home inspector through the home, and you can ask questions along the way. You can also keep an eye out for issues that you might be able to spot on your own, like:

  • Sagging floors
  • Cracks in the walls
  • Roof issues
  • Drainage problems
  • Structural problems, which you may be able to notice when windows or doors don’t shut quite right
  • Bad plumbing

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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Should You Buy a Truly Unique Home?

Should You Buy a Truly Unique Home - Port Aransas Homes for Sale
There’s something to be said about a unique home—one with a spacious, open floor plan that doesn’t look like every other house in the neighborhood.
But a truly unique home is another story… at least when you’re buying or selling real estate in Port Aransas.
Whether you’re looking for a beachfront condo in Port Aransas or a $300,000 home on North Padre Island, it’s a good idea to proceed with caution when you find a unique home. That is, unless you immediately fall in love with it and know you’ll never have to turn around and sell it.

Too-Unique Homes: Why They’re Not Always a Good Idea to Buy

The fact is that you may one day have to sell your home—and when that day comes, it’s best to appeal to the widest range of buyers possible. That means if you’re buying a highly customized home now, it may not be the “in” thing when you need to sell.
That doesn’t mean you need to buy an average house; it just means that you need to be careful about buying a home that’s so unique that it only appeals to you.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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Don't Make Major Purchases Before You Close!

don't make major purchases before you buy a home in port aransas
Whether you’re buying a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador, maxing out your credit cards and getting new lines of credit to buy furniture and other big-ticket items before you close on the deal can be a huge mistake.

Why You Need to Steer Clear of Major Purchases Before You Buy a Home

Nothing is set in stone with your mortgage until you sign the very last piece of paperwork on closing day, which means that right up until the last minute, your lender can change its mind and revoke your approval for a mortgage loan.
A big purchase on a credit card can change your credit score—and render you ineligible for a loan.
In fact, any change in your circumstances, including switching jobs or having a late payment on your car loan, can affect your eligibility to get a loan at the interest rate you and your lender have agreed upon. If the lender pulls its offer for funding, you could be out of a house… or, at the very least, see your closing delayed until the lender has its underwriters work with the new figures.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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Why Should You Get Mortgage Preapproval Before You Start House-Hunting?

mortgage preapproval - port a realtor
For most people, whether they’re buying a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador, getting a mortgage is a necessary step in buying a home. (Unless, of course, you have a few hundred thousand dollars sitting in an account gathering dust, you’ll have to get a mortgage, too.)
But before you begin house-hunting, it’s a good idea to get mortgage preapproval.

What is Mortgage Preapproval?

Mortgage preapproval isn’t the same as getting a mortgage loan. Instead, it’s a simplified version of the loan application process. Your lender looks at your financial picture and determines that if circumstances stay the same—and if you’re being honest when they check your financial documents—you’ll most likely be approved for a mortgage in the amount you’re asking for.

Why Should You Get Preapproved Before You Start Shopping for a House?

A mortgage preapproval lets you know exactly where you stand financially, so you understand how much home you can afford; you won’t have to waste time looking at homes that fall into the wrong price range.
When you find a home you love, you’ll be able to make an offer the seller can take seriously; that’s because the seller can see that you’re preapproved and that you actually do qualify to buy the home—unlike someone who makes an offer without checking with a lender first.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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Expenses of Home Ownership

expenses of home ownership - port aransas real estate listings
Whether you’re buying a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador, you’re going to have expenses associated with home ownership that you may not have had as a renter—and if you’re a first-time homebuyer, you’ll need to account for them so you don’t get in over your head.

Common Expenses Associated With Home Ownership

Most people look at what their monthly mortage payment will be and figure that owning is cheaper than renting—and in many cases, it truly is.
But there are a few other things you need to account for, including:

  • Higher utility bills
  • Homeowners association dues
  • Maintenance
  • Mortgage insurance premiums
  • Property insurance
  • Repairs
  • Taxes

“Keep in mind property taxes and insurance have a tendency of going up every year,” says attorney Rafael Castellanos, president of Expert Title Insurance in New York. “Even if you can afford it now, ask yourself if you’ll be able to afford the increased costs later.”

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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Can You Cancel a Real Estate Purchase Contract?

Can You Cancel a Real Estate Purchase Contract and Keep Your Earnest Money Deposit
Whether you’re buying a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador, you’re going to have a real estate purchase contract in place that protects you (and the seller, in some cases) from making a bad deal.
But how do you cancel a real estate purchase contract without losing your earnest money deposit?

Can You Cancel a Real Estate Purchase Contract Without Losing Your Earnest Money Deposit?

Your Port Aransas Realtor® will be able to explain your entire real estate purchase contract to you—and you should read it thoroughly before you sign, because it outlines very clearly whether you can walk away from the deal under any circumstances. Remember: Once it’s signed, it’s a legally binding agreement.
Contingencies, which are a type of protection built into most real estate purchase contracts, can save you from being caught up in a bad deal. The most common contingencies involve home inspections, financing, and appraisals.
If you have the appropriate contingencies built into your contract, you should be legally able to walk away from the deal.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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How to Keep Track of Homes You See While You're House-Hunting

how to rate homes you see while house hunting - port aransas real estate
When you’re home-shopping with your Port Aransas Realtor®, whether you’re looking at Port Royal condos or houses for sale in El Pescador, you’re most likely going to view several (or at least a few) before you find one that’s just right for your needs.
But how are you supposed to keep track of the homes you see and which ones are your favorites? It can get really confusing, really quickly—unless you follow these tips.

How to Rate the Homes You See When You’re House-Hunting With Your Port A Realtor

Bring a printout for each home you’re going to view while you’re out and about with your Port A Realtor. When you arrive at each home, start scrawling notes on the appropriate printout. Write down:

  • What strikes you as you approach the house?
  • Are there unusual features?
  • How do you feel inside the house?
  • What’s near the home (like parks, a tire manufacturing plant, or a beautiful waterway)?
  • Is the home surrounded by larger, nicer homes or smaller, run-down homes?

Before you leave, rate each house on a scale of 1 to 10 and circle your rating. That way, you can file the printouts in order when you get home—it’ll help you prioritize which homes to see again and which to send to the recycle bin.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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The Home Inspection Checklist

home inspection checklist - port aransas real estate listings
When you’re buying a home, whether it’s a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador—or anything else, for that matter—the home inspection is incredibly important.

Why Do You Need a Home Inspection?

It always pays to have a home inspector run through a home and uncover problems, issues, and things you’ll need to know about for the future.
Most real estate purchase contracts have a home inspection contingency, which can really save you if something big pops up. If the issue is one you can’t work with or that will stop you from wanting the home, you could walk away from the deal if the seller doesn’t make the appropriate accommodations.

What Does a Home Inspector Check?

Structure

  • Ceilings
  • Floors
  • Foundation
  • Roof
  • Walls

Exterior

  • Doors
  • Drainage
  • Driveway
  • Elevation
  • Fascia
  • Fencing
  • Grading
  • Landscaping
  • Lights
  • Sidewalks
  • Siding
  • Trim
  • Windows

Roof and Attic

  • Construction
  • Flashing
  • Framing
  • Gutters
  • Ventilation

Plumbing

  • Faucets
  • Pipe materials
  • Showers
  • Sinks
  • Toilets
  • Traps

Systems

  • Air conditioning units
  • Chimneys
  • Duct work
  • Fireplaces
  • Furnaces
  • Sprinklers
  • Water heaters

Electrical

  • Ceiling fans
  • Circuit breakers
  • Electrical panel
  • Exhaust fans
  • Grounding
  • Light fixtures
  • Receptacles
  • Wiring

Appliances

  • Dishwasher
  • Garbage disposals
  • Microwaves that are built-in
  • Range and oven
  • Smoke detectors
  • Washers and dryers

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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3 Programs That Help You Avoid a 20% Down Payment

Loan Programs With Less Than 20 Percent Down - Port A Real Estate
When you’re buying a home, whether it’s a Port Royal condo or a house in El Pescador, you’re have several options if you don’t want to—or can’t—come up with a 20 percent down payment.

3 Big Programs That Allow You to Skip a 20% Down Payment

Let’s face it: Saving up 20 percent of a home’s purchase price can be tough. In some cases, it’s impossible.
Fortunately, there are three major programs that will allow you to buy a home with less than 20 percent down.

FHA Loans

If you take out an FHA loan, you could put down as little as 3.5 percent of the home’s purchase price. The program is designed as a “second chance” for people who have bankruptcies, short sales, and foreclosures in their pasts.

VA Loans

If you’re a veteran or currently serving member of the U.S. Armed Forces (and you’re in good standing) or you’re the surviving dependent of a vet or member, you could qualify for a VA loan. A VA loan, which is backed by the Veterans Administration, doesn’t require any down payment at all.

USDA Loans

Often called the “farmer’s loan,” a USDA loan is a rural housing incentive backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
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