Ask the Agents #29: What’s the Point?

October 15, 2023October 16, 2023Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: We’re looking at ads for mortgage rates. So high! What, exactly, are the “points” that some mortgage companies offer? Answer: Points, also called discount points, are a way for the borrower to prepay some of the interest on a loan right away. Mortgage points are essentially a form of prepaid...

Ask the Agents #28: Do I need flood insurance?

August 10, 2023August 11, 2023Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Do I need flood insurance even if my house is not in a flood plain? Answer: Our answer is a hard yes. But for a little more nuance, we put your question to Leash Yu, president of Agency Yu, Inc., an insurance agency in West U. Here’s what he wants...

Ask the Agents #27 – Old Roof, New Roof

May 21, 2023May 21, 2023Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: My shingled roof is 15 years old. When should I replace it? Answer: We touched briefly on this subject last fall in 9 Things to Ready Your House to Sell. At that time we advised that, if you’re putting your home on the market, you should probably replace a shingled...

Ask the Agents #26 – Is homeowners insurance required?

January 17, 2023January 17, 2023Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Is homeowners insurance required? Answer: There is no Texas law that requires you to buy homeowners insurance. But no mortgage company or bank will offer you a mortgage without it. You can roll the payments into your monthly note to your mortgage holder, or you can pay it yourself. Even...

Ask the Agents #25: 9 Things to Ready Your House to Sell

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What kind of improvements should I make to my house before putting it on the market? Answer: That’s a simple question that can have a lengthy answer. It seems to us that fewer buyers are looking for a project these days; rather, more buyers want a home that is move-in...

Ask the Agents #24: How important is an open house?

July 17, 2022July 17, 2022Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: How important is it to have an open house? Answer: Very. It’s the best way to get the most traffic through your home. And even in our age of the online video tour, there’s nothing quite like letting potential buyers into your house to let their imaginations begin to percolate....

Ask the Agents #23: What is a hydrostatic test?

June 16, 2022June 16, 2022Cameron Ansari

Question: What is a hydrostatic test? Do I need one? Answer: One of the most important systems in any home is the plumbing. Incoming fresh water is essential, of course. But just as important is the egress of used water from washing machines, bathtubs, kitchen sinks and, of course, toilets. No...

Ask the Agents #22: What is a title commitment?

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What is a title commitment? Answer: A title commitment is a commitment by a title company to issue title insurance. We discussed title insurance and why it is necessary in 2019. Today let’s take a closer look at the four parts – called schedules – of the title commitment. They...

Ask the Agents #21: What is a CMA and Final Walk-Throughs?

August 16, 2021August 27, 2021Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What is a CMA? Answer: A CMA – or comparative market analysis – is an excellent way to determine the sales price of your house or the value of a house that you wish to buy. It’s a data-crunching exercise that compares recent sales of similar properties while taking in...

Ask the Agents: Our 20th Installment

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

In 2017 we began a new feature on our blog called Ask the Agents. Since then, we have answered many, many questions from clients, friends and perfect strangers. This is our 20th installment of questions and answers. Question: What is a sellers’ market? Answer: Typically, a sellers’ market is one in...