Welcome to the Trank Real Estate Blog!

Now that we are deep into August, with summer in full swing, there might be vague thoughts running through your mind about some potential real estate moves—but certainly not until the fall. Right now all most of us are thinking about is whether another chilled glass of summer-something-or-other is in order. Western New York mortgage rates and what the folks in Washington might be doing to affect them are not exactly what occupies an idyllic July afternoon.

But if you’ve been paying attention...

Historically low mortgage interest rates have been a lifeline for many Elma first time homebuyers in recent years, keeping home ownership within reach for many who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to make the leap. For them, and for all the other than first time area homebuyers, the fact that home values have continued to rise has been an added boon.

But, as just about every mortgage industry expert will tell you, the gig is almost up for those rock bottom rates. Yet the question for many fi...

The good news is, yes, you read that headline correctly: there are drop-dead gorgeous oceanfront island vacation homes on sale for you right now—this summer! The bad news, however, (depending on your vacation and travel plans) is that these homes for sale aren’t as convenient (geographically speaking) as some others.

They are in Greece. There’s always a catch, isn’t there?

CNNmoney’s website reported last week that the recent escalation in Greece’s financial trouble has produced a notable in...

You want your approach to finding a new home in East Aurora to be at least somewhat hard-headed and businesslike. The financial stakes are certainly major, and to some extent, much of what your future lifestyle will be like will depend on making a good choice.

This is not to totally discount the emotional component that’s inevitably part of finding your new East Aurora home. You do want your family to feel good about the final choice—you’ll be moving to the dwelling that will become everybody’s...

You may have wondered why there are credit repair companies out there, since the credit reporting agencies have to allow any East Aurora consumer to dispute incorrect line items on their own. The big Credit Reporting Agencies (“CRAs”) even have online systems for challenging erroneous information. The Agency must act speedily to investigate and correct any false information. Soooo, why pay someone else to just fill out their form?

The answer seems to be the same one that makes practitioners in...

 Here is a one-question True or False exam that every future East Aurora first-time home buyer should take:

True or False:

One sure way to build a strong credit report is to pay your bills on time.

(Answer: False)

Particularly for a first-time East Aurora home buyer, being able to present a strong credit report can make the difference between being able to afford a quality home that satisfies all your ‘must haves’—or one you just sort of settle for.

It’s about how much you can comfortab...

 Just as with movie credits, the features you find in Elma listings have a “billing order.” The “stars” may not be printed in gigantic superstar type—but the order in which they appear do reflect changes in current buyer priorities. For a homeowner soon to add their property to this spring’s Elma listings, it’s important to learn which features currently tend to attract the most favorable attention from prospective buyers. It’s of more than marketing interest, as well: knowing what’s in and what...