Home Inspection & Appraisal
![A conceptual image me of a magnifying glass over a bar chart, meant to represent waiving the contingency.](https://moneytips.com/wp-content/uploads/Homes_HomeInspection-800x535.jpg)
Should You Ever Waive the Inspection Contingency?
When the housing market gets competitive, people will pull out all the stops they can to win a bidding war. One tactic available to potential buyers is to wave the inspection contingency. In May of 2023, 25% of buyers waived the inspection contingency. That’s a significant number, especially given how risky the move is. We’ll...
![Yellow houses against blue sky](https://moneytips.com/wp-content/uploads/Homes_WhatAreRealEstateCompsandHowToFindThem-800x535.jpg)
What Are Real Estate Comps and How To Find Them
Whether you’re buying or selling a home, comparables (aka comps) are one of the most important pieces of information you can use to gauge the value of a property. Before a house sells, you need to figure out how much it’s really worth. Comps help sellers set their asking price and help buyers determine how...
![Close up of electrical outlet with piece of blue painter's tape above it that has "Move" written on it](https://moneytips.com/wp-content/uploads/Homes_BlueTapeWalkThrough-800x535.jpg)
Blue Tape Walk-Through: Your Guide
If you’re purchasing a newly constructed home, the blue tape walk-through is an integral part of the buying process. Blue tape walk-throughs can be stressful if you go in blind. So you’ll want to have a plan of action to ensure you get everything you need from the builder of your new home by the...
![Marble Kitchen](https://moneytips.com/wp-content/uploads/Mortgage_WhatisAppraisalWaiver-800x535.jpg)
What Is an Appraisal Waiver?
Getting an appraisal waiver could help you keep money in your pocket. The waiver lets you skip the cost of an in-person appraisal. That’s the upside. Now, here’s the potential downside: Like many services you might go back and forth on during the home-buying process, appraisal waivers come with some risks, and they can only...