Lauren Bunting Broker MD & DE

Lauren's Blog

Property Value Certificate helpful process for buyers

Friday, July 05, 2024 Lauren Bunting

We are all familiar with appraisals being needed to certify the value of a property sale is adequate for the amount of money being loaned to a buyer, but there is a new method lenders are using to help ...

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Housing market finally starting to turn around in ‘24

Friday, December 15, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Realtor.com released its 2024 Housing Market Forecast and Predictions report recently and the headline was: “Housing Affordability Finally Begins to Turnaround.”Synopsis of the data was as follows:As ...

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State program advances affordable housing

Friday, December 08, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In a recent news release, Gov. Wes Moore announced the UPLIFT (Utilizing Progressive Lending Investments to Finance Transformation) program to increase homeownership opportunities, one of the most powerful ...

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New home statistics for October

Friday, December 01, 2023 Lauren Bunting

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest news release, privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.487 million. This is 1.1 ...

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Understanding buyer’s agents in real estate

Friday, November 17, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Agency discussions can be a little confusing to the consumer with listing agents, subagents, dual agency and buyer agency. But if you are a buyer, understanding the buyer’s agent role is key.A buyer’s ...

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Real estate market reports two positive-leaning events

Friday, November 10, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Last week brought about two welcome events for real estate homebuyers and sellers— the fed kept the federal funds rate flat, and the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate had a minor reduction.The housing ...

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Home values not falling with prices

Friday, November 03, 2023 Lauren Bunting

On a weekly basis, Bright MLS, the regional multiple list service that our area subscribes to, offers insights and market statistics on various aspects of the real estate industry. This week’s report ...

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Assumable loans offer lower rates

Friday, October 06, 2023 Lauren Bunting

With the sharp rise in interest rates, the assumable loan is coming back on the real estate scene. An assumable mortgage allows a buyer to purchase a home by taking over, or assuming, the seller’s mortgage ...

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Property Inspections

Friday, September 15, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In October of last year, the Maryland REALTORS® made changes to how property inspections are handled within the state contract of sale. The new process calls for property inspections to either ...

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Real Estate Report

Friday, August 25, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Maryland REALTORS® released their monthly info from the Housing Statistic report, see the details of the news release below. The number of home sales in Maryland continued to decline in the July ...

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Maryland Legislative Summary Real Estate Related Bills Conclusion

Thursday, July 27, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In 2023, the Maryland State Legislature convened on January 11th and adjourned 90 days later on April 10th. Maryland REALTORS® issues a report each year on the Maryland Legislative ...

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HB-107 Reserve Study Wrap-Up

Thursday, June 08, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In the past two week’s article, we reviewed the Maryland General Assembly new legislation requiring all condominiums, homeowner associations, and housing cooperatives to undertake regular ...

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More Details on New Reserve Study Legislation

Thursday, June 01, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In last week’s article, we reviewed the Maryland General Assembly new legislation requiring all condominiums, homeowner associations, and housing cooperatives to undertake regular reserve studies ...

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House Bill 107: A Close Look At Condo Reserve Studies

Thursday, May 25, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland General Assembly has passed new legislation effective October 1, 2022, requiring all condominiums, homeowner associations, and housing cooperatives to undertake regular reserve ...

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Explaining Dual Agency in Maryland

Thursday, May 18, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Consumers can get confused when it comes to dual agency in real estate. The Maryland Real Estate Commission describes dual agency below: The possibility of dual agency arises ...

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The Rise of Single Women in Homeownership

Thursday, May 04, 2023 Lauren Bunting

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), single women comprise the second largest group of homebuyers. As of 2023, single women made up 17 percent of all homebuyers. Contrastingly, ...

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Wetland Boundary Rules Explained

Thursday, April 27, 2023 Lauren Bunting

A wetland delineation is the fieldwork that determines or outlines the boundary between uplands and wetlands on a property. It may be done with aerial photography, digital imagery ...

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Maryland Withholding Tax Explained

Thursday, April 20, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Anyone who sells a property in Maryland, but is a “non-resident” of the state of Maryland, must pay a withholding tax. Recently the Maryland Association of Realtors released information on various ...

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The Rise of Real Estate Wire Fraud

Thursday, March 23, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of REALTORs reports that real estate wire fraud continues to be one of the most prevalent cybercrimes in the U.S. About 13,638 people were victims of wire fraud in the real estate ...

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NAR Publishes 2022 Third Quarter Real Estate Market Recap

Thursday, March 16, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) website, www.realtor.org, has information on county median home prices and monthly mortgage payments across the country. NAR applies the House Price ...

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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Offering Tax Credit for Home Renovations

Thursday, March 09, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Department of Housing and The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers a State of Maryland tax credit for residents of the state who ...

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NAR’s Adopt to Adapt Program

Thursday, March 02, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The COVID-19 pandemic kicked adaptations into overdrive, so the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently provided a report called Adopt to Adapt, with insight into ...

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Maryland DNR’s Forest Conservation and Management Program Details

Thursday, February 23, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers a Forest Conservation and Management program and there are approximately 1,300 agreements in effect covering approximately 84,000 ...

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FHFA Recalibrates Upfront Fees for 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023 Lauren Bunting

In mid-January, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)announced further changes to Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) single-family pricing framework by introducing redesigned and ...

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Three Helpful Tips to Save on Homeowners Insurance

Thursday, February 09, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Homeowner’s insurance is a necessity if your home is mortgaged, and this type of insurance covers the structure of your home and your personal property, as well as your personal legal responsibility ...

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Maryland REALTORS® Year End Report Highlights Difficult Market For Consumers

Thursday, February 02, 2023 Lauren Bunting

Maryland REALTORS® issued a housing statistics report showing that Maryland home sales dropped 41.9% to 5,124 units in December 2022, against 2021’s figure of 8,818 units. Home sales prices ...

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How RPAC Supports the REALTOR® Party

Thursday, January 26, 2023 Lauren Bunting

 Since 1969, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC), has promoted the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. The purpose of RPAC is to use voluntary ...

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First Time Home Buyers Hit Record Lows While Average Age Rises

Thursday, January 12, 2023 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of REALTORS®’ 2022 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report shows that first-time home buyers have dropped to their lowest numbers on record. NAR further ...

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2022 Real Estate Sales Recap for Worcester County

Thursday, January 05, 2023 Lauren Bunting

2022 was a year in which we saw a shift in the real estate market: increasing mortgage rates, reduction in the volume of sales, but no increase in inventory resulting in prices ...

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New Forms Required For Real Estate Transactions

Thursday, December 22, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Back in the beginning of October, Maryland REALTORS® rolled out changes to its statewide forms library, which contains contracts, disclosures and addenda that members of Maryland ...

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How C-PACE Works For Homeowners

Thursday, December 15, 2022 Lauren Bunting

C-PACE is the acronym for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy. C-PACE programs provide private financing for commercial property owners to upgrade buildings with energy, resiliency, and environmental ...

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Sustainable Communities Program Adds Three New Towns

Thursday, December 08, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The State of Maryland has announced three new Sustainable Communities and one of them is located here on the lower Eastern Shore. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced last ...

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October 2022 Local Market Update

Thursday, December 01, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The multiple list service, BrightMLS, that provides real estate data in the Mid-Atlantic, coveringsix states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and theDistrict of Columbia), ...

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The Appraisal Process

Thursday, November 10, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of REALTORS®’ conducted the 2022 Appraisal Survey, and the results were published showing forty-seven percent of real estate professionals say they have had a transaction fall ...

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Successes of the Weatherization Assistance Program

Thursday, November 03, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Last year, Governor Larry Hogan issued a proclamation that October 30th is Weatherization Day in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is marking ...

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Maryland WholeHome Grants Money for Home Improvements

Thursday, October 20, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The Department of Housing and Community Development in Maryland (DHCD) offers a program called the Maryland WholeHome Program which can help homeowners make valuable repairs ...

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$32 Million Awarded in Maryland Housing Project Awards

Thursday, October 13, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Governor Larry Hogan announced last weeknearly $32 million in project awards through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) 2022 application round for federal Low Income ...

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Mortgage Rates Are On The Rise

Thursday, October 06, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The talk about town related to real estate right now is mortgage rates are on the rise. To provide some guidance, here’s what industry experts are saying about the present and possible future ...

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Resolutions to Real Estate Transaction Disputes

Thursday, September 22, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors explains the differences and the pros and cons to both mediation and arbitration, alternative dispute resolution options when a dispute arises from a real ...

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The New Million Dollar Home Club

Thursday, September 08, 2022 Lauren Bunting

A recent Zillow report is showing that with sales up and values up during the pandemic real estate boom, more homes are selling for over the $1 million mark. The report also detailed that the typical ...

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Maryland’s SmartBuy Program Helps Homebuyers

Thursday, August 25, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Governor Larry Hogan announced last weekthat the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has expanded the state’s landmark SmartBuyinitiative to address rising housing ...

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Keep Your Condo Protected With The Right Insurance

Thursday, August 18, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Condominium associations provide master policy insurance coverage, but a master policy usually covers only the building’s exterior and common areas. To have coverage for what is inside ...

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Who Are Realtors?

Thursday, August 04, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of REALTORS®’ released their annual Member Profile report for 2022 recently. Based on a random sampling of NAR's membership, the Member Profile strives ...

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Tips for Hosting an Open House

Thursday, July 28, 2022 Lauren Bunting

A well-planned open house allows potential buyers to picture how life in this home would be, and in the summer, people tend to be more relaxed; it’s the time of vacations and lazy days. So making ...

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June 2022 Home Sales Update

Friday, July 22, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Maryland REALTORS® released information on statewide June home sales. Their release states that home sales continued to slow down as prices continued to rise, according to ...

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Residential Architectural Styles

Friday, July 15, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Every house has a unique architectural style. Sometimes the architecture is a blend of more than one architectural style due to additions. The National Association of Realtors explains that ...

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Home Showing Trends for May 2022

Thursday, July 07, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors provides a monthly home showings report based off showing information taken from Sentrilock lockboxes, which are used by the majority of real estate agents ...

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Appraisal Gaps

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Appraisals in a sellers’ market can be troublesome, and transactions can fall apart when appraisals come up short—creating an appraisal gap. An appraisal gap is the difference between market ...

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2022 Update from the Maryland State Legislature (Part 2)

Thursday, June 02, 2022 Lauren Bunting

In 2022, the Maryland State Legislature convened on January 12th and adjourned on April 11th. Maryland REALTORS® issues a report each year on the Maryland Legislative session to summarize ...

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2022 Update from the Maryland State Legislature

Thursday, May 26, 2022 Lauren Bunting

In 2022, the Maryland State Legislature convened on January 12th and adjourned on April 11th. Maryland REALTORS® issues a report each year on the Maryland Legislative session ...

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New Affordable Housing Opportunities in Maryland

Thursday, May 19, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Governor Larry Hogan announced at the end of April that more than $200 million in financing tools and new programs will be made available to create new affordable housing opportunities in the ...

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What Is A Title Search?

Friday, May 13, 2022 Lauren Bunting

One of the important steps during a real estate purchase is conducting a title search. The title search is just one of the buyer’s closing cost expenses and is usually ordered ...

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The Fair Housing Act Explained

Thursday, May 05, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The month of April this year celebrated the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, that made discrimination ...

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Maryland Mortgage Program Announces Two New Loan Products

Thursday, April 28, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Maryland Mortgage Program announced the launch of two new loan products to provide higher levels of down payment and closing cost assistance. ...

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Interest Rates Are On The Rise

Thursday, April 21, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The shift in interest rates is in motion. According to Forbes.com, mortgage rates have jumped 1.5 percentage points during the first three months of this year. They further communicated that ...

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Maryland Forest Conservation and Management Program

Thursday, April 14, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Maryland has a Forest Conservation and Management program in place to encourage landowners to manage their forest land in return for a reduced and/or frozen property tax assessment. Any ...

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Understanding Agricultural Transfer Tax

Thursday, April 07, 2022 Lauren Bunting

If a piece of undeveloped land is being sold that has an agricultural use, but it is the intent to change the use to residential, then the Agricultural Transfer Tax and Surcharge applies at the point ...

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3 Tips To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster

Thursday, March 31, 2022 Lauren Bunting

You know the old tune by Tennessee Ernie Ford: You load sixteen tons, what do you get; Another day older and deeper in debt; Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go; I owe my soul ...

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Buying a Home with Existing Solar Panels

Thursday, March 24, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Solar panels on a home can be a great selling advantage, one that provides very affordable utility bills. This type of technology is called a solar photovoltaic (“PV”) panel system or“Solar ...

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Equitable Interest

Thursday, March 17, 2022 Lauren Bunting

What is equitable interest? An equitable interest is an "interest held by virtue of an equitable title (a title that indicates a beneficial interest in property and that gives the holder ...

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Types of Real Estate Licenses

Saturday, March 12, 2022 Lauren Bunting

In real estate, there are three levels of licensure: Salesperson, Associate Broker and Broker. Licenses are issued bythe Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which is the licensing ...

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Three Helpful Hints to Save on Homeowners Insurance

Thursday, March 03, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Homeowner’s insurance is a necessity if your home is mortgaged, and this type of insurance covers the structure of your home and your personal property, as well as your personal legal responsibility (or ...

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Doc Lite Loan Program: A Local Loan Solution for Investors

Thursday, February 24, 2022 Lauren Bunting

It’s a hot real estate market right now, but we all remember the real estate “crash era” that began in 2008. That real estate downturn brought about many changes in financing and how loans are approved. ...

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Manage Your Moving Costs

Thursday, February 17, 2022 Lauren Bunting

With inflation and national average costs of moving on the rise, budgeting in this expense when selling your home is important. Below are some tips for having a smooth move when selling.Try to pick an ...

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Worcester County’s Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program

Thursday, February 10, 2022 Lauren Bunting

Worcester County’s Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program, which was adopted in 1990, accommodates future growth within the Critical Area, while providing for conservation of fish, wildlife and plant habitats, ...

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Industry Experts Take on the Market

Thursday, February 03, 2022 Lauren Bunting

The number one question most real estate agents are asked right now is "What is the market doing?". The best way to answer that question is to watch the market statistics and listen to the various industry ...

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Property Reassessments & How To Appeal Them

Thursday, January 20, 2022 Lauren Bunting

With property reassessments going out last month for much of Worcester County, property owners might be wondering what their options are if they disagree with the values the county assessment office has ...

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What To Expect In 2022

Thursday, January 13, 2022 Lauren Bunting

According to a recent article released by the National Association of Realtors, consumers can expect slower housing price appreciation, easing inflation and rising interest rates in 2022. This statement ...

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2021 Market Recap

Thursday, January 06, 2022 Lauren Bunting

2021 was another banner year in real estate that ended very strong—here’s an “at a glance” recap of some of the various market stats.The average sales prices varied monthly throughout the year, but September ...

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The National Flood Insurance Program’s New Rating Methodology

Thursday, December 23, 2021 Lauren Bunting

The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) has a new rating methodology, Risk Rating 2.0, and FEMA says it will deliver rates that are easier to understand and better reflect a property’s unique flood ...

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Real Estate Activity in the Holiday Market

Friday, November 26, 2021 Lauren Bunting

A common question from sellers is “when is the best time to sell my house?”. But, the answer to that question is multi-faceted and dependent on market conditions.Traditionally, the slowest buyer demand ...

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October 2021 Market Analysis

Thursday, November 18, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Maryland REALTORS® just released real estate statistics information from the October 2021 housing market analysis. The market continued its monthly trend of a decrease in units sold, down 8,665 in 2021, ...

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Earnest Money

Thursday, October 28, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Earnest money is a deposit made to a seller that represents a buyer's good faith to buy a home. This deposit money can be called an escrow deposit, good faith deposit, or earnest money. But, whatever ...

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Protect yourself from termites while buying a home

Thursday, September 30, 2021 Lauren Bunting

All homebuyersknow they should get a home inspection, but a common misconception is that yourhome inspector will also cover inspecting for termites. While home inspectorsmake a notation in the home inspection ...

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The Effects of Local Zoning Laws

Thursday, September 16, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Local zoning laws affect how a property can be utilized, and therefore, affect a property’s value. When purchasing a property, it’s important to understand the zoning classification so you can research ...

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Debt-to-income vital for down payments

Thursday, August 05, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Most buyers know they need to save for both a down payment and closing cost money. Buyers also need to pay down their debt to be sure their debt-to-income ratios are under the various thresholds for USDA, ...

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In home sales, buyer pays most closing costs

Thursday, June 24, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Buyers usually pay most of the closing costs associated with a purchase, of which, transfer and recordation taxes are one piece of the total closing costs. Customary in the state of Maryland is a split ...

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Things to consider when buying first condo

Thursday, June 17, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Purchasing a condominium differs from buying a single-family home in more ways than the obvious. Of course, condo ownership offers buyers the convenience of maintenance free living—but when looking into ...

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June named national homeownership month

Thursday, June 10, 2021 Lauren Bunting

June, 2021 was proclaimed National Homeownership Month by President Joe Biden. The White House issued a news release statement from President Biden stating, “We also know that people of color continue ...

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Options exist for homebuyer looking to waive inspections

Thursday, April 29, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Last week, we discussed the current sellers’ market and how it is difficult to get offers accepted when facing multiple offer situations. The article last week detailed using appraisal waivers, but additional ...

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Waiving appraisal effective strategy for select buyers

Thursday, April 22, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Buyers are looking for ways to strengthen their offer in this competitive seller’s market. One tactic that carries a lot of weight with sellers is waiving your appraisal contingency. But not every ...

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Maryland SmartBuy 3.0 program discussed

Thursday, April 08, 2021 Lauren Bunting

The state of Maryland offers a unique program called Maryland SmartBuy, which can help buyers with student debt attain homeownership. This program can also significantly increase a buyer’s purchasing ...

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Individual, business rates of withholding tax in Maryland

Thursday, March 04, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Anyone who sells a property in Maryland, but is a “non-resident” of the state of Maryland, must pay a withholding tax. Recently the Maryland Association of Realtors released information on various aspects ...

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Tips to improve chances in challenging sellers' market

Thursday, February 11, 2021 Lauren Bunting

Lack of inventory, rising prices, multiple offers on new listings—all confirmation that we are indeed in a sellers’ market. Finding a home in today’s market is challenging for buyers, but there are ways ...

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Consumers protected from misconduct with Guaranty

Thursday, January 14, 2021 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Real Estate Commission is the regulatory agency that provides licenses to real estate brokers and agents.Its office receives 400-500 consumer complaints annually.Maryland Real Estate Commission ...

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Real estate market closes strong despite 2020 chaos

Thursday, January 07, 2021 Lauren Bunting

The year 2020 in real estate ended very strong. Here’s an “at a glance” recap of some of the various market stats.• The average sales prices varied monthly throughout the year, but June had the highest ...

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Real estate year-end observations

Thursday, December 24, 2020 Lauren Bunting

This year has produced noticeable real estate market shifts, and in many cases the surge in real estate demand was fueled by the effects of covid-19.Here on the shore, we saw increases in feeder market ...

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Record-setting low interest rates benefit home buyers

Thursday, December 10, 2020 Lauren Bunting

There are so many advantages to owning your own home, and even with prices on the rise, affording a new home may be easier than you think due to continued record-setting low interest rates.In fact, according ...

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Property restrictions special exception or variance option

Thursday, December 03, 2020 Lauren Bunting

When it comes to restrictions that local governments impose on property, there are avenues such as a variance or a special exception that owners can pursue to request changes, but the two are very different.A ...

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Water quality test important for homes with private wells

Thursday, November 26, 2020 Lauren Bunting

An important inspection for homes, especially those on a private well water supply, is the water quality test.This test usually covers bacterial, chemical and lead testing in our area. These water tests ...

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Beat other buyers in multiple bid situations

Thursday, November 19, 2020 Lauren Bunting

In a strong real estate market with lower inventory, we are experiencing numerous multiple offer situations, especially on the lower price point category of homes that first-time homebuyers would be seeking.So ...

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Different levels of insurance policy coverage

Thursday, November 12, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Most commonly used in the state of Maryland to protect a buyer and ensure that title to a property is clear and marketable in a real estate transaction, is the purchase of a title insurance policy.Title ...

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Home smoke alarm requirements

Thursday, November 05, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Homeowners in the state of Maryland should be aware that as of Jan. 1, 2018, there were new residential smoke alarm requirements put into place, as per a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly in ...

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Undersupply of homes sets up bidding wars

Thursday, October 29, 2020 Lauren Bunting

With two months left in this bizarre 2020, and the continuation of a very strong sellers market, many buyers are asking what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices and will they ...

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Pandemic creates growing homeowner dissatisfaction

Thursday, October 08, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Information from a recent Sears Home Services survey is showing that the pandemic has prompted homeowners to reevaluate their homes.They surveyed about 1,000 people nationwide on how they feel about their ...

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Housing prices increase, but appraisals lag behind

Thursday, September 24, 2020 Lauren Bunting

With “for sale” inventory limited in many price points, sellers may be able to ask more for their home.But, sellers need to remember that the home will still need to appraise adequately if the buyer is ...

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Housing market could be stronger

Thursday, September 17, 2020 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, released a video report that dissects the latest homes sales numbers, talks about what could make the market even stronger, and forecasts ...

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Flood insurance program may expire Sept. 30

Thursday, September 10, 2020 Lauren Bunting

The National Flood Insurance Program’s authority to provide flood insurance is currently scheduled to expire on Sept. 30.The National Association of Realtors is making every effort to secure a long-term ...

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OC area remains in higher demand with low inventory

Thursday, September 03, 2020 Lauren Bunting

At the beginning of the summer, we reported that demand has been very strong in the Ocean City market and surrounding areas since the end of April.Demand in the Ocean City area has remained robust. We ...

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How sellers can get best offer on houses in market

Thursday, August 20, 2020 Lauren Bunting

When listing a home for sale, sellers should make sure they really “come out of the gate running.”The following are do’s and don’t’s for sellers when listing their house for sale to ensure the least amount ...

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Prepare for storms with insurance, actions

Thursday, August 06, 2020 Lauren Bunting

With the recent Tropical Storm Isaias impacting our coastal area, the importance of having a plan in place for storm events to protect your property is top of mind.In addition to purchasing flood insurance, ...

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New state legislation impacts HOA and condo associations

Thursday, July 23, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Below is the final summary of the 2020 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly on items that were passed and put into legislation affecting the real estate industry as it relates to both ...

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Md. legislation affects real estate industry and taxes

Thursday, July 09, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Below is a summary of the 2020 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly on items that were passed and put into legislation affecting the real estate industry as it relates to affordable housing ...

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Points to weigh prior to purchasing condo

Thursday, July 02, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Condo sales have been soaring in the Ocean City and surrounding beach markets.Purchasing a condominium differs from buying a single-family home in more ways than the obvious.Condo ownership offers buyers ...

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Financial incentives available

Friday, June 26, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Are you looking to buy a home in Wicomico County? The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, in partnership with Wicomico County, is providing attractive financial incentives to help ...

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Validity of contracts explained

Thursday, June 18, 2020 Lauren Bunting

With low inventory in our market, and a high buyer demand, we are experiencing many multiple-offer situations on properties.It’s important to pay attention to contract details to be sure that verbal agreements ...

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Appraisal of home important part of real estate process

Thursday, June 11, 2020 Lauren Bunting

The appraisal of a home is an important step in the real estate process, one that can certainly make or break a deal.An appraisal is a valuation of a property done by a professional, licensed individual ...

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Differences between down payments and closing costs

Thursday, May 28, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Some of the biggest misconceptions in buying a home are related to down payments and closing costs.The first misconception is that a down payment is the same thing as closing costs.Down payments are one ...

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Now great time to sell home, but take extra safety steps

Thursday, May 21, 2020 Lauren Bunting

Listing inventory is at record lows both around the country and in our local area, and buyer demand is coming back as the country eases restrictions, so it’s a great time to sell if you have been considering ...

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Home Warranties

Friday, October 04, 2019 Lauren Bunting

A home warranty is different from a homeowner insurance policy. Homeowners insurance policies cover things that “might” happen, such as theft, fire,storms/floods. But, home warranty plans cover things ...

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FHA Condo Rule Changes

Sunday, September 01, 2019 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors® sent out a press release last week commending the Department of Housing and Urban Development for finalizingnew Federal Housing Administration condominium loan policies. ...

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Contingencies in Contracts

Thursday, August 01, 2019 Lauren Bunting

Purchasing a new home is normally the biggest investment you’ll ever make and once you’ve bought a home, it’s a decision you can’t easily reverse.Contracts of sale offer various contingency clauses that ...

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Transfer and Recordation Taxes in MD

Monday, July 01, 2019 Lauren Bunting

Customary in the state of Maryland is a split of transfer and recordation charges between a buyer and a seller. Section 14-104(b) of the Real PropertyArticle, Annotated Code of Maryland provides that, ...

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Days On Market Calculations in Bright MLS

Saturday, June 01, 2019 Lauren Bunting

The local multiple list system is called Bright MLS. Bright tracks how long a listing has been active with the use of Days on Market (DOM) and CumulativeDays on Market (CDOM). The DOM provides a look ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Market Update

Monday, August 27, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Residential home prices rose in June compared to the same period of 2017, according to Maryland REALTORS. Average home prices rose by 2.9 percent forthe fifth month in a row, while median prices increased ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Millennials

Thursday, July 19, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Millennials, age 18 to 35, are now the largest group of homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors. With this in mind, it’s importantto know what it is they are ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Can I Afford to Buy?

Thursday, July 12, 2018 Lauren Bunting

 Most people want to own their own home—it gives a sense of security and stability. It also allows for more flexibility in personalizing and renovatingyour home to make it your own. Most importantly, ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Water Test Lead

Thursday, June 28, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report:An important inspection for homes, especially those on a private well water supply, is the water quality test. This test usually covers bacterial,chemical and lead testing in our area. ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Legislation Wrap Up

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Article:Maryland REALTORS recently released a brief report on 2018 Maryland legislation key issues affecting the real estate industry. REALTORS throughoutthe state provide advocacy and participation ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Bank of America's Grant

Tuesday, April 03, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Homebuyers may be eligible to receive up to $5000.00 in closing cost assistance through Bank of America’s Home Grant program. These funds can be usedto help with nonrecurring closing ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: CMA vs. Appraisal

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: CMA vs. AppraisalTo clear up any confusion, there is a definite difference between a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and an appraisal. Basically, they are two differentlevels of ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Smoke Alarm Law

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: As of January 1, 2018, there are new residential smoke alarm requirements in the state of Maryland, as per a bill passed by the Maryland General Assemblyin 2013. Maryland REALTORS® ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: 2018 Legislative Priorities

Tuesday, February 06, 2018 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Realtors® released their 2018 Legislative Priorities list for Realtors throughout the state to be aware ofthe key legislation being considered that will affect the real estate industry. Here ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: 2017 Year End Figures

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Lauren Bunting

Maryland REALTORS® released their Maryland Year End sales figures, and announced that in 2017, residential sales in Maryland climbed by 3.2 percent,or more than 2,500 homes across the state. Eighteen ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Ocean Pines & USDA Loan Issue

Thursday, January 25, 2018 Lauren Bunting

An important affordable loan product for the Ocean Pines area is in jeopardy—the 100% financing USDA loan. The U.S. Department of AgricultureRural Development Maryland/Delaware State Office has ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Title I Loan

Monday, January 08, 2018 Lauren Bunting

There is a Federal Housing Administration program that allows for the financing of a mobile home. It is called the Title I program, and it allows FHAapproved lenders to make loans from their own funds ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Money to Close Differences

Tuesday, August 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

Some of the biggest misconceptions in buying a home are related to down-payments and closing costs. The first misconception is that a down-payment is thesame thing as closing costs. Down payments are ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Importance First Steps to Buying a Home

Saturday, July 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

 Many homebuyers focus on a max purchase price when searching for a new home. This number is usually based on how much a lender has told them they are approvedfor and/or a total monthly payment that ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Contingencies

Thursday, June 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

Contingencies Provide Buyers an Important Check and BalancePurchasing a new home is normally the biggest investment you’ll ever make and once you’ve bought a home, it’s a decision you can’t easily reverse.Contracts ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Condo Association Fees

Monday, May 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

In the 2016 session of the Maryland General Assembly, legislation under House Bill 1192 was passed that alters the contents of required disclosures, authorizesadditional fees, and sets limits on the fees ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Realtor Ethics

Wednesday, February 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

Most real estate agents are Realtors®, which means they are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). By belonging to NAR, all memberRealtors are bound by NAR’s Code of Ethics. But beyond ...

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LWB Real Estate Report: Tax Prep to Purchase

Sunday, January 01, 2017 Lauren Bunting

For those considering a purchase of a new home in 2017, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself financially. The first step is to contact a localmortgage broker that can help review your current ...

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Like-kind swaps have important tax implications

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) conducted a survey that shows real estate like-kind exchanges are an important vehicle for disposing of andacquiring properties and support the nation's financial ...

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MAR support home-buying bill before house

Sunday, May 31, 2015 Lauren Bunting

The Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) makes great efforts in legislative advocacy at the state level, with a focus on supporting and developing legislationthat helps the real estate industry and ...

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House and Senate approve extensions

Friday, December 26, 2014 Lauren Bunting

The U.S. House and Senate approved a package of tax extensions that include an important provision that helps distressed homeowners through extending theMortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act for all of ...

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Foreclosure inventory down, report states

Friday, October 17, 2014 Lauren Bunting

CoreLogic, a data and analytics company, recently released its National Foreclosure Report with data through August 2014—and it shows foreclosureinventory is down. The report states that 45,000 ...

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Detailed list of requirements to become Realtor

Friday, June 06, 2014 Lauren Bunting

Have you ever wondered what qualifications your Realtor encompasses? To be a licensed Realtor, there is a detailed list of requirements, not only to obtain your license initially, but also to maintain ...

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FHA takes steps to help underserved

Friday, May 16, 2014 Lauren Bunting

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued a news release announcing its "Blueprint for Access". This blueprint outlines the additional steps the FHA is taking to expand access to credit for underserved ...

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Web site offers real estate investment starting tools

Friday, April 11, 2014 Lauren Bunting

Have you ever dreamed of delving into real estate investments but didn't know how to get started? There is an online, free resource called BiggerPockets.com that offers real estate networking and information ...

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Alternative mortgage loans made available

Friday, March 21, 2014 Lauren Bunting

Many buyers are aware of both FHA 3.5 percent down loan and the USDA 100% financing loan. Both of these loans require upfront mortgage insurance fees aswell as monthly insurance premiums that can really ...

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Home purchasing is a process

Friday, February 07, 2014 Lauren Bunting

So you want to buy a home, but don’t know where to begin. Many prospective homebuyers call an agent to see a property before figuring out what they reallywant in a home and also before the other crucial ...

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NAR provides information on Reach program

Friday, January 10, 2014 Lauren Bunting

The National Association of Realtors recently released information about REach, the strategic accelerator for technology startups created and managedby the NAR's investment fund, Second Century Ventures. ...

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FHA Introduces Changes for April 2013

Monday, April 01, 2013 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: FHA Introduces Changes to Help Strengthen Its Financial Health.In a recent Housing of Urban Development (HUD) news release, a series of changes were announced that will allow the agency ...

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Help Navigating the Real Estate World

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Lauren Bunting

Many buyers are aware of both FHA 3.5 percent down loan and the USDA 100% financing loan. Both of these loans require upfront mortgage insurance fees aswell as monthly insurance premiums that can really ...

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Boomerang Buyers

Friday, March 01, 2013 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Real Estate Rebound Buyers There is a contingency of buyers referred to as "rebound buyers" or "boomerang buyers"--these are the people who lost homes in foreclosures or short salesduring ...

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Important First Steps When Thinking of Buying a Home

Tuesday, January 01, 2013 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Important first steps to buying a home With affordability on the rise, and interest rates at all time lows, more people are asking the question—should I rent or buy? The most ...

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2nd Quarter Housing Statistics Analysis for Worcester County

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Lauren Bunting

2nd Quarter Worc. County Housing Statistics.The MD Association of Realtors released their housing statistics for the 2nd quarter of 2012 and the numbers show some mixed blessings for Worcester County.The ...

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Changes Affecting Home Buyers and Sellers

Sunday, April 01, 2012 Lauren Bunting

Changes Affecting Home Buyers and Sellers: Various legislative changes and industry modifications are made throughout the year that can affect both homebuyers and sellers. Here are two of the moresignificant ...

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$25 Billion Settlement Against Banks

Thursday, March 01, 2012 Lauren Bunting

$20 billion in relief for homeowners The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have settled a lawsuit for $25 billion against the country's five biggest banks for foreclosureprocessing and ...

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What to do with your money??

Wednesday, February 01, 2012 Lauren Bunting

Holding out to try and find the lowest price is not always the best strategy...Are your feet stuck in the sand when it comes to investing? Not sure what to do with your money in today’s economic climate? ...

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FHA Waives Anti-Flipping Rules through 2012

Sunday, January 01, 2012 Lauren Bunting

Buyers looking to purchase a home with an FHA backed loan will continue to have more leeway to purchase directly from banks or investors with a recentdecision by the Federal Housing Administration to ...

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Move Up Buyers Stuck in Mud?

Monday, August 01, 2011 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: "Move Up" Buyers Stuck in Mud Our real estate market is missing an important element these days. Many homeowners who would like to upgrade to a larger home, commonly referred to asthe ...

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Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Landlord

Friday, July 01, 2011 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Do You Have What it Takes to be a LandlordInvesting in a rental house can single handedly secure a college education or provide for a more comfortable retirement, but do you have what ...

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What is a QR code?

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 Lauren Bunting

Have you looked at real estate ads lately, and wondered if there was a printing error that caused a box of squiggly lines to appear?? Well, it's no mistake. It's one of the newest mobile internet technologies ...

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3 Helpful Hints to Save on Homeowners Insurance

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Lauren Bunting

Real Estate Report: Three Helpful Hints to Save on Homeowners InsuranceHomeowner’s insurance is a necessity if your home is mortgaged, and this type of insurance covers the structure of your home and ...

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Foreclosures in Our Market--What Role Do They Play?

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 Lauren Bunting

Distressed properties—meaning foreclosures, bank-owned (REO) and short sales, where the property is being sold for less than the mortgage due—areundeniably playing a role in keeping our housing ...

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Thank you so much for all of your hard work. We are so excited to move into the perfect house for us, and couldn't have done it without your guidance.

Megan and Brandon Cater

My friend was right, you are the hardest working realtor, bar none. I honestly don't think that I would have gotten through this house selling process without you.

Brenda Burbage

Lauren made first time homebuying extremely approachable, and took the time to educate me on everything involved in the process.

Amanda Hanke and Keri Swigert

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication that made this purchase possible. You advocate for your clients and I highly regard you for it. You made it possible for me and my family to achieve our goal of homeownership.

Tom Harutyunyan

Thank you so much for the very wonderful, professional job you did with selling our property. You will always be special to me.

Penny Carley

We want to say a sincere "Thank You" for all you've done for us! We know at times the road seemed never ending. Thank you for always staying positive even through our ups and downs of this process. We appreciate all you do!

Mike and Patty Locke

Lauren's extensive knowledge of the local real estate market proved to be invaluable during the purchase of our first home.

Allison Shockley and Patrick Molloy

Lauren is very easy to work with. She has helped me sell and buy homes in the area and has always been hard working and professional.

Jennifer K. Leggour

Lauren went through tremendous lengths to look out for us every step of the way all the way to the very end. If you are in need of a real estate agent who will treat your transaction as if it were their own and provide you with nothing less than A+ service you will be in good hands with Lauren.

Shireen and Mark Ambush

We were referred to Lauren by a good friend, and we couldn’t have been placed in better hands. Lauren went above and beyond in every way, throughout the entire process.

Liz Young

Lauren Bunting was our realtor when we recently sold two homes- one in Maryland and the other one in Delaware. To say we were very satisfied with all she did for us is an understatement!

Janet and Bruce Lathbury

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