PURE Blog

Arguably one of the most important parts of purchasing a home, inspections are a critical step to ensure buyers are informed about the home they intend to purchase. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, a home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation.

Due to the current sellers' market, inspections have become a common step that some buyers have chosen to skip in an effort to navigate a competitive market. However, regardless of the age of the home or the competitiveness of the market, inspections are important for most, if not all, home buyers. Inspections can uncover hidden issues that may not be immediately visible, find updates that may be needed, and they provide an overall assessment of the home. Additionally, the information gathered from an inspection can provide buyers with the ability to ask the seller to repair any health and safety issues that may be present.  In worst case scenarios the buyer has the ability to walk away from a home purchase if extensive problems are found.  Lastly, one of the less obvious benefits of an inspection is that it gives the buyer the ability to spend time in the home, getting to know it better.   So where does a buyer start?

1. Decide on a property to be purchased! With the help of your Realtor, come up with a fair offer, submit and have the offer accepted.
2. Once the offer has been accepted, it is now time to schedule the inspection. Don't have a preferred home inspection professional? Ask your Realtor! Most Realtors have relationships with various industry professionals and should be able to provide you with a trusted name.
3. Complete the inspection! Pay close attention to the professional during inspection; they will oftentimes briefly alert buyers to various points of interest. This is also an opportunity for buyers to speak with an expert and ask questions. 
4. Take a look at your report. Determine if the work needed to be completed is within the scope anticipated by the buyer. Home inspectors will look for any and all flaws, no matter how small. When you receive your report, understand that not all items are a cause for concern. Your agent and inspector will be able to assist you in determining what are red flags.
5. Consult with your real estate agent!  Within your inspection period you need to respond to the seller either accepting the home as-is or asking them to complete some repairs.  Your Realtor will draw up a Removal of Contingency Addendum.  This form releases the inspection contingency in the contract and allows for repairs mutually agreed upon by the buyer and seller.  In some circumstances the repairs may be such that the buyer decides to walk away from the purchase seeking a release of the contract or at times the seller may decide to offer a lower price for the buyer to continue with the transaction.    

Now that the inspection has been completed, you are ready to move on to the next step! Still in need of a real estate agent? Click here to read about Why You Should Hire a PURE Realtor?

Moving is a consistently stressful task that can seem to be never-ending and discouraging. To make the moving process easier, we put together a list of moving tasks and a few pro-tips to make the process much simpler. Have any tips that we missed? Let us know!

1. Schedule a moving day! Make sure this day works with your schedule and try to avoid holidays or weekends. Those times tend to be busier for rental or moving companies.
2. Schedule your moving crew ahead of time. As soon as you have your moving date set and you plan on hiring a crew, be sure to schedule as soon as possible. The Housing Market - rental and ownership - is highly competitive and that extends to associated services such as moving crews or even rental trucks. Plan ahead!
3. Declutter all of your spaces, sell any furniture you do not intend to take with you, and donate any remaining items. The less stuff you will need to sort through at your new place, the less potential for headache. 
4. Collect boxes! Whether you have a friend who frequently receives shipments, know a local small business looking to get rid of some empty boxes, or order a lot through Amazon, start gathering boxes and get to packing. Unless you need a specific size there is no reason to spend extra money on buying new boxes. 
5. Label your boxes! One of the most helpful things you can do is label boxes with what room the items belong to and even include a small list of items that may be of importance. 
6. Pro-tip: Consider packing a weekend bag with essentials to make your first few days of unpacking easier. With so many boxes to go through and unpack, having a bag with a few days worth of clothes, your bathroom essentials, a phone charger, wallets, keys, etc. can provide an easier transition for a new home.
7. Pro-tip: Put together an "necessities pack" with any household items you will likely need in the first few days. These items can include various tools such as a hammer, screw driver (both flathead and phillips), batteries, flashlight, cleaning supplies, broom and dust pan, soap and hand towels, toilet paper, extra light bulbs, and any other items you may want on hand for before all boxes have been packed.
8. Set up mail forwarding! Visit usps.com to update your address and have any future mail be sent to your new home. There is even an option to have your voter registration address updated!
9. Transfer all utility accounts. This is a tedious but necessary process and should be done right before moving. 
10. Treat yourself to takeout from your favorite local restaurant! Long day(s) of moving is a great excuse to support your local neighborhood spots. 

Summertime in Cleveland is an especially eventful time with an abundance of festivals featuring arts, music, food, and lots of good, local beer. In last week's blog post, we touched on 10 Reasons that Cleveland is the Best Kept Secret. For those not familiar with Cleveland, this city is a seedbed bursting with culture, innovation, and a large concentration of locally owned businesses. One thing Clevelanders love about this great city is the neverending lineup of festivals. And In an exciting turning point, a number of festivals are expected to make a triumphant return this summer. We put together a list of this summer's festivals including dates and a link to the event website. Check them out and let us know which ones you visit!

Tremont Greek Festival

Friday, May 27th to Monday, May 30th

Click here for more details

Cleveland Pride 2022

Saturday, June 4th

Click here for more details

Larchmere PorchFest

Saturday, June 25th

Click here for more details

Summer Solstice 2022 at the CMA

Saturday, June 25th

Click here for more details

Cleveland Tall Ships Festival

Thursday, July 7th to Sunday, July 10th

Click here for more details

Taste of Tremont

Sunday, July 17th

Click here for more details

BorderLight: Festival of International Theatre

Wednesday, July 20th to Sunday, July 24th

Click here for more details

Feast of the Assumption

Friday, August 12th to Monday, August 15th

Click here for more details

Waterloo Arts Fest

Saturday, August 27th

Click here for more details

Cleveland Garlic Festival

Saturday, August 27th to Sunday, August 28th

Click here for more details

Cleveland Oktoberfest

Friday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 5th, 

Friday, September 9th to Sunday, September 10th

Click here for more details

Cleveland National Airshow

Saturday, September 3rd to Monday, September 5th

Click here for more details

IngenuityFest

Friday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 25th

Click here for more details

The city of Cleveland has long been the subject of jokes for several years. Having gone through a handful of transitions, Cleveland is seeing a renaissance of innovation and development across the city. While Clevelanders have always known what makes this midwestern city on Lake Erie great, we put together a list of reasons Cleveland is on track to be a leader in metropolitan living.

1. Affordable cost of living. In comparison to the national average for other metropolitan cities, Cleveland falls below the line. For a detailed breakdown of the buying and selling market in recent years, check out our latest blog posts by clicking here.
2. An incredible restaurant scene featuring award winning chefs and specialties. In addition to an array of fantastic cafes, restaurants, and food trucks, the city also hosts a number of festivals which include the Independent Restaurants Week, Cleveland Pizza Week, and more. 
3. The restaurant scene is closely followed by a vibrant collection of breweries that continue to grow by the year. Many of these breweries are nationally recognized and award-winning. 
4. Access to an abundance of parks and an ever increasing number of walking/biking trails. The Cleveland Metroparks system is an award-winning collection of 18 nature reservations, over 100 hiking trails, 8 lakefront parks, and 5 nature centers. This system of parks and recreation is meticulously maintained and continuing to grow.
5. Access to Lake Erie! One of the main attractions to the Cleveland area, Lake Erie is a unique and picturesque part of the city landscape. In recent years, there has been an increase in proposed development of the somewhat underutilized lakefront, with several innovative and creative plans in the works for future enjoyment.
6. A group of nationally and internationally renowned museums. Cleveland's University Circle is home to a collection of magnificent museums including the Cleveland Museum of Art, MoCA Cleveland, the Natural History Museum, and more.
7. Festivals! Music, arts, farmers markets, etc. Whether Clevelanders are celebrating the summer solstice or wandering the yearly beloved garlic festival, there are always fun ways to explore different neighborhoods while also supporting local makers, growers, and artists.
8. Innovation - hospitals, tech, real estate, sustainability. Cleveland is one of the top leaders in innovation across a number of industries. Most well known is the city's strong presence and influence in the medical industry. Home to some of the top hospital systems, Cleveland continues to cultivate innovation nd is constantly making big changes in impactful ways.
9. Lots of new community and residential development. Cleveland is also re-making a name for itself in the architectural and real estate industry. In recent years, Cleveland has become a popular place for architects to see their designs come to fruition and for new living concepts to provide the different communities with a steady flow of new development.
10. A collection of professional and semi-professional sports teams for year-round entertainment. 
11. A little something for everyone! The city offers a variety of neighborhoods and micro-neighborhoods to provide residents with different lifestyle options all within a short distance from one another. In addition, the first suburbs are all within a short distance to downtown and offer their own unique appeals.

Last week we featured an infographic break down of the real estate market in Cleveland using data from Ohio Realtors' 2021 Housing Market report. They recently published an eZine with a breakdown of data to show who bought homes in 2021, what they bought, and what they purchased for. Using the data, we put together a part 2 featuring the statistical breakdown of Cleveland's real estate market.

Over the last few years, the industry has seen a shift in the real estate market with the current trends favoring a seller's market. Ohio Realtors recently published an eZine with a breakdown of data to show who bought homes in 2021, what they bought, and what they purchased for. Using the data, we put together a further breakdown of Cleveland's real estate market.

The financial requirements for obtaining a mortgage and purchasing a home can be a common real estate question frequently misunderstood by many potential home buyers. We put together a quick and easy guide for potential home buyers to identify which loan option is best for them and the minimum financial requirements needed.

Common Real Estate Myths, Continued

Last week, we published a few common real estate myths relating to the current housing market. In an effort to clarify some common misconceptions that we frequently hear, we put together another list of common real estate myths and the reality behind each of them. 

MYTH: You need to put 20% down when purchasing a home.

TRUTH: Some loan types offer the option to put as little as 3.5% of the purchase price down. This option does depend on the buyer's credit score and the down payment requirement may vary. For example, FHA loans will accept between 3.5-10% of the purchase price as a down payment depending on the buyer's credit score. 

MYTH: You need perfect credit to buy a home.

TRUTH: You do not need a perfect credit score to buy a home. Depending on the lender and your credit score, you may be required to pay a higher down payment. In general, having a higher credit score will increase your chances of approval and a lower interest rate in comparison to a lower credit score.

MYTH: You should wait until the spring season to buy or sell a home.

TRUTH: The Real Estate market over the last two years has been deviating from the not-to-distant past market norms. Due to low inventory and high demand, there has been a steady flow of buyers and not enough sellers. If you are ready to sell your home, you do not need to wait for a specific season. Find a timeline that works well for you and make the jump. For buyers, being flexible and having your finances ready to go will make the process that much easier.

MYTH: A down-payment is the only upfront cost you will endure when purchasing a home.

TRUTH: The down payment is only one of the few upfront costs that buyers will need. Other upfront costs include closing costs, earnest money, inspection fees, and potential moving costs. 

MYTH: Getting pre-approved for a loan doesn't need to be a priority when you are just preparing for a home search.

TRUTH: The current market is competitive and homes are moving fast. Having a pre-approval before beginning a home search will help speed up the process. Due to the high competition, many sellers will only accept offers accompanied by a preapproval letter. When searching for a home, having a pre-approval letter in hand will only increase your chances of purchasing a home that is a good fit for you.