Skip to content DearMonty: No-nonsense real estate advice
  • Home Buying
  • Home Selling
  • Home Owning
  • Navigate
  • Ask Monty A Question
  • Buy Monty's Book
  • Post Archives

Archives

  1. My agent is insistent I use their recommended lender when I found a better option. Am I breaking some unwritten rule?

    Reader Question: My offer was accepted, and I was thrilled. Before making the offer, my agent had instructed me to obtain a pre-approval letter and recommended I use a particular loan officer. I went ahead and did so after confirming with the loan officer that doing so wouldn’t lock me into using his services. I […]

    Categories
    Home Buying
    Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
  2. A low appraisal was adjusted higher without my knowledge. I could have negoitated for more had I known. What can I do now?

    Reader Question: I had a low appraisal. I recently closed on a home for $180,000. I just learned the appraiser along with the agent and lender adjusted the appraisal from $176,000 to $179,000. They never informed me of the original price. Had I been informed, I could have negotiated for the $4,000. What can I do […]

    Categories
    Applying for a Mortgage
    Home Buying
  3. Tree trimming is in order because their tree is polluting our pool. They say no. Can we rid ourselves of this mess?

    Reader Question: Our neighbor has a tree with branches that encroach on our property and pollutes our swimming pool. Our neighbor says we cannot touch their tree, as it will ruin its shape. Can we rid ourselves of this nuisance? Monty’s Answer: Many property owners see trees as a valuable resource that adds value to […]

    Categories
    Home Owning
    Neighbor Relations
  4. Why recommend multiple choices when hiring a real estate agent?

      Reader Question: Why do you recommend interviewing multiple people when choosing a real estate agent? Honestly, it seems unwieldy but I would like to understand the logic. Paul H. Monty’s Answer: Interviewing all service providers, not just real estate agents, is a practice that improves the consumer experience. It does take some time to […]

    Categories
    Choosing a Selling Broker
    Home Selling

More Home Buying Categories

  • Applying for a Mortgage
  • Choosing a Broker
  • Closing
  • Determining Preferences
  • Gathering Information
  • Inspecting the Home
  • Making an Offer
  • Moving Day
  • Negotiating
  • Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
  • Satisfying Contingencies
  • Viewing Homes
  • More Home Owning Categories

  • Home Finances
  • Home Improvement
  • Home Maintenance
  • Income Properties
  • Neighbor Relations
  • More Home Selling Categories

  • Accepting an Offer
  • Choosing a Selling Broker
  • Closing as the Seller
  • Determining Price
  • Inspecting the Home as a Seller
  • Marketing and Showing
  • Moving Day for the Seller
  • Negotiating for Sellers
  • Planning with Experts
  • Preparing Your Home
  • Receiving Offers
  • Satisfying Seller Contingencies
    • Home
    • Ask Monty A Question
    • Check out Monty’s book
    • Terms of Use
    • Navigate
    • Newspaper Partners
    • Home Selling
    • Home Buying
    • Home Owning
    © 2023 DearMonty, LLC, All Rights Reserved

    Subscribe To Our Newsletter

    Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

    You have Successfully Subscribed!