Buying a home comes with a lot of responsibilities: You need to figure out the right community, the right size of house, the location, and especially the price. You have to negotiate with sellers and real estate agents. To cut down on the time it takes to do this, you might… read more →
Would you go to a friend’s dinner party, nibble every course, drink a glass or two of wine, and then leave—without ever speaking to the host? I hope not. And I hope you wouldn’t treat open houses the same way. And yet home buyers often do, refusing to sign in… read more →
“Foreclosure” is a frightening word for a number of reasons. Topping the list? If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you’ll lose your home. However, the misery doesn’t end there. Foreclosure ripples out and affects your credit score, which can hurt your chances of qualifying for a new loan—or another home—in the… read more →
Normally when you buy a house, you don’t want a home with any outstanding liens against it (that’s also why you pay for a title company). But what happens to those houses with outstanding taxes? You can buy those, too. Or you can just buy the lien and profit from that.… read more →
With spring being the busiest time for real estate, homeowners planning to put their homes on the market shouldn’t wait for flowers to bloom before getting ready to sell. Having a few months to prepare can make for a much smoother selling experience. If you’re a prospective home seller, here… read more →
You find a great apartment online, call to schedule a showing, only to find out the apartment was just rented. So you head out on the road, find another rental, take a tour and fall in love with the place. But when you call back the next day to say… read more →
The reality of finding a new place to live on your own can be scary because it encompasses an incredibly large numbers of factors. When you add a new marriage to the mix, it can be downright frightening! Deciding where to live can be one of the most difficult decisions… read more →
When you’re considering buying a house, there are two sides to the story: the sellers asking price and the actual value of the property. This is where an appraiser steps in. What is the Job of an Appraiser? An appraiser’s job is to determine the current value of a property. Most of the… read more →
What clinches the deal for you when you’re weighing two similar rentals? It could be which place has more room for your clothes. But your closet does need to be in a desirable location. A tenant-screening company, surveyed renters on amenities they want. They found a handful of must-haves, including the following: A… read more →
Holding an open house is an act of faith. You clean, declutter, and prepare your home to look its best, hoping at least one of the visitors will fall in love enough to make an offer, preferably all-cash. At the same time, open houses are invitations to strangers to walk among your… read more →