Blog
Embracing a Bidding War: How to Choose the Best Offer for Your Home
The Greenville market is hot and some sellers are lucky enough to be in a situation where they see multiple offers come through on their property. Now the only decision left is which one to choose. It may be easy to look at the amounts offered and go with the highest one, but that is... Read More
Remodeling 101: How to Create a Proper Budget for Any Renovation, Large or Small
Whether you’re readying to put your home on the market or you haven’t updated your space in a while and want to modernize, approaching renovations can be a struggle. With so many things to fix up, both large and small, it can seem overwhelming to prioritize, set the money aside and get to work. If... Read More
3 Ways You Can Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster
If your personal budget is similar to many other people’s budgets, your home mortgage payment is by far the largest expense that you pay for each month. In fact, this payment may easily account for 20 or 25 percent or more of your take-home income. Understandably, you may be focused on trying to pay this... Read More
The Toates Team 2015 Award
The Toates Team is proud to be named the #3 Team of 2015 at Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner, the #1 Real Estate Company in the Upstate. Read More
Buying for the First Time? The Ultimate Guide to Surviving the Mortgage Process
If you have heard nightmarish stories from friends and family members about the home mortgage application process, you are not alone. In fact, some of these stories may have even been a reason why you have held out on moving forward with your plans to purchase your first-home. While some have indeed had unpleasant experiences,... Read More
How relatives can give a gift for a cash down payment
A new house is a major investment. Even if you have a mortgage, the bank and the seller will still expect a sizeable down payment. That’s why lots of people regularly gift down payments to friends and relatives – it’s a great way to help young people start out on the path of home ownership. ... Read More
How to Improve Your Landscape and Gardens Before Showing Your Home
Curb appeal is often neglected by sellers. So much attention is spent getting the inside of a home cleaned up that the outside is left until last. This is a mistake. Landscaping and gardens are the first things a prospective buyer sees. Following these tips ensures homes look their best and give a positive first... Read More
The Mortgage Pre-approval Letter: Why It’s Important and How to Get One
If you are thinking about buying a new home in the near future, you may already be searching online to get a feel for the different types of homes available in the Greenville area. You may have reviewed your budget, and you may have a fair idea about a sales price that is comfortable for you... Read More
How to Calculate How Much You Will Need for Your Down Payment
If you’re planning to buy a home in the near future, you’re probably already in the process of saving up for a down payment. But if you haven’t seen a mortgage advisor or started looking at properties yet, you probably don’t have a good idea of what a down payment will cost you. Different mortgages... Read More
FICO Scores 101: How to Shop for a New Mortgage Without Harming Your Credit Score
It’s difficult to begin shopping around for a new mortgage without the facts on how this can affect your FICO score. Anybody who is holding off for fear that their credit score will be ruined by multiple credit checks has nothing to worry about. Mortgage brokers require this information to give an accurate quote, so... Read More