How to Prepare to Buy a House

We’ve all been there: scrolling through beautiful home listings late at night, daydreaming about a kitchen island or a backyard for the dog, and thinking, “I’ll own a home someday.” It’s easy to feel like being able to buy a home is always just out of reach. Written for Zillow by May Ortega, Edited by…

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5 Steps for Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs in a Home

You may have been pre-approved and know what you can afford, so it’s time to take your home search to the next phase. Written for Zillow by Susan Kelleher, Edited by Silvestri Properties But the hunt for your home will stall rapidly if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for — or perhaps more importantly, what your…

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Appraised Value Vs. Assessed Value

When determining a property’s values, you may come across two commonly used terms: appraised value and assessed value. Written for Zillow by Jennifer Lyons, Edited by Silvestri Properties The appraised value is determined by a professional appraiser who evaluates a property’s market value, often during the buying, selling, or refinancing process. In contrast, local government authorities…

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What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate?

A pending status may mean different things if you’re the active seller or a newly interested buyer.  Written by Shawna Stiver for Zillow, Edited by Silvestri Properties You may have noticed the words “sale pending” on a property listing or as one of our filter options on Zillow. In real estate, pending means the house…

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