Brint's Blog

Don’t be afraid of those two words-expert advice. Remember: An expert doesn’t mean you’re going to give perfect advice. An expert means you’re going to give excellent advice. Here’s the difference: If you go to a doctor with a serious illness, she can’t tell you how it’s all going to wind up in t...

Whose Commission Is It? - 5/13/2013  One of the most common reasons buyers want to deal directly with the seller is because they feel they can save the commission. It’s a valid consideration but interestingly, it’s the same reason the seller isn’t employing an agent. Both parties cannot save the ...

I've been keeping an eye on sales volume and trends in the Missoula MLS and I wanted to quickly share some numbers that have stood out to me.  In particular April, which was a huge month for our area.  This is not just sales in the Missoula valley but within our entire MLS.  What we're seeing so ...

The "Right Size" Home - 5/9/2013 Work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade your home until everyone has enough room. This has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners for the last fifty years but there is certainly a shift in thinking that could change all of that. Interestin...

It’s interesting that the housing climate has changed so quickly. Some buyers, who think they’re still in the driver’s seat, find the market is now going up and they’re losing the home that they really want. Multiple offers are increasingly more common and buyers are frustrated because even full-...

It's a beautiful Sunday morning, I've got a group of friends on their way over to my house for brunch, and life is good.  Spring in Missoula has been cold and snowy up until this weekend when we've finally had some warm weather and clear skies.   This weekend as an alumnus member of the local Sig...

Cut Refinancing Expenses - 4/29/2013  Every single day, homeowners who are excited about lowering their rate have a tendency to ignore the refinancing costs because they’re being rolled back into the new mortgage. If the payment is lower than what they’re currently paying and there’s no money out...

Shifting Debt to Tax Deductible - 4/24/2013  The Mortgage Interest Deduction is available to homeowners for up to $1,000,000 of acquisition debt on the combination of their first and second home.  They can also deduct interest on up to an additional $100,000 of Home Equity debt. While Acquisition...

When to Sell the Temporary Rental - 4/15/2013  Some homeowners, who were not able to sell during the recession, chose to rent their homes instead.  In some cases, they didn't need to sell their home at the depressed prices and opted to rent it until the market recovered. It's a valid strategy but...

Boomerang Buyers - 4/8/2013  It's estimated that 10% of the homes sold in 2013 will be to buyers who lost a home in the past five years.  Approximately 500,000 buyers who may have thought they wouldn't own a home anytime in the near future will be homeowners again. It's estimated that several mil...