Author: Mike Otranto

Selling a home on terms can be a great way to find a buyer and get a check in under 30 days. For those of you that have read my article what is rent to own you are already familiar with the process. This can be a very effective technique to sell a home quickly, especially … Continued

I’ve seen the term rent-to-own being decried as a scam all over blogs and local news. Like anything else, you have to be careful who you do business with. I explain rent-to-own in detail in another post in this blog. Here we will explore the question: is rent-to-own a rip off?

For most people the decision to hire a real estate agent in Raleigh, North Carolina is an easy one.  For the do-it-yourself crowd it’s selling a home by owner or “FSBO” (For Sale By Owner) pronounced “fiz-bow”.  The home owners who want to hire a professional to sell their most valuable asset either research realty … Continued

The definitions of a townhouse may vary from state to state. In North Carolina, a townhouse is very similar to a condo except you own the land directly underneath and are attached to another unit on at least one side.  It differs from a condo in that you own more than just the airspace inside … Continued

Part of the challenge of the real estate business is setting correct expectations with regard to the sale of someone’s most valuable asset. Often, this is an asset that the owner is emotionally attached to and is really not ready to sell.

Arkansas real estate agent’s murder highlights perils of the job. Ashley Okland was a real estate agent in Des Moines Iowa. At only 27 she was young, beautiful, and full of enthusiasm. She was killed by 2 gunshot wounds and the police are still trying to solve her murder.   

Many homeowners call me when they are selling a home that needs repairs. Many homes that have been inherited, have been used as rental properties, or have just been left vacant for long periods of time have deteriorated in condition. Whether it be an investment property or an inherited home, if it needs more than … Continued

Typical Closing Costs When Selling Your Own Home If you are thinking about selling your home with a realty company, they will most likely do a net to seller analysis for you. Closing costs when selling your own home will be less than if you hire a realty company. Either way, you should have an … Continued

Rent-to-own may seem complicated but it is actually a very simple concept. Its popularity had waned during the early and mid-2000’s due to the easy access of mortgage funds.  It is currently on an uptrend due to stringent credit requirements that make it difficult to obtain a mortgage.