Answers

Ask it. Answered.

Direct, plain-English answers to the real estate questions everyone asks — buying, selling, mortgages, renting, insurance, and maintenance. Free, no account needed.

Getting started with Lotum AI

What Lotum AI is, who it's for, and how the six experts work together.

What is Lotum AI?
Who is Lotum AI built for?
Does Lotum AI replace my real estate agent?
How do the six experts work together?
How much does Lotum AI cost?
Why is Lotum AI free? What's the catch?
Do I need to create an account?

Buying a home

Affordability, offers, neighborhoods, and the buyer journey.

How much house can I afford?
How much should I put down on a house?
What's the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?
How do I make a competitive offer?
How long does it take to buy a home?
What are closing costs and how much should I budget?
Should I rent or buy?

Selling a home

Pricing, listings, marketing, and timing your sale.

How do I price my home correctly?
What's the best time of year to sell?
Should I make repairs or upgrades before selling?
What makes a listing description sell?
How much does it cost to sell a home?
How much will I actually walk away with after selling?
Is staging worth it?

Financing & mortgages

Loan types, rates, credit, and what lenders look for.

What types of mortgages are there?
What credit score do I need to buy a home?
What documents do I need to get a mortgage?
How do interest rates affect what I pay?
Should I get pre-approved before house hunting?
What is PMI and how do I avoid it?
What's the difference between interest rate and APR?

Agents, brokers & lenders

Choosing the professionals who change your outcome the most.

Do I need a real estate agent to buy or sell a home?
How do real estate agents get paid now?
What's the difference between an agent and a broker?
What is dual agency, and should I agree to it?
How many lender quotes should I get before choosing?
Does shopping mortgage rates hurt my credit score?
Can I switch agents or lenders in the middle of a deal?

Valuations & market data

How estimates are produced and how reliable they are.

How accurate are Lotum AI's valuations?
What is a comparative market analysis (CMA)?
How do I know if it's a buyer's or seller's market?
Why do online home value estimates disagree?
What's the difference between assessed value and market value?

Renting & landlording

Rentals, tenants, leases, and being a good landlord.

How do I set the right rent for my property?
What should be in a residential lease?
How much should landlords budget for vacancy and repairs?
Can I manage a rental myself or should I hire a manager?
What's the process for raising rent?

Insurance & protection

Policies, coverage, claims, and protecting what you own.

How much homeowners insurance do I need?
What's the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Do I need landlord insurance for a rental property?
Is flood insurance worth it outside a flood zone?
When should I file a claim versus paying out of pocket?

Maintenance & repairs

Keeping your home healthy and knowing what things cost.

How much does home maintenance cost per year?
What maintenance actually prevents expensive damage?
How do I know if a contractor's quote is fair?
How long do major home systems last?
Should I repair or replace a failing system?

Privacy, accuracy & trust

How your data is handled and how to use AI guidance responsibly.

Is my data private?
Is Lotum AI's guidance legal or financial advice?
Which markets does Lotum AI support?
How current is the information?