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Money Saving Tips
Rules of Engagement With Agents
Question: I’m developing a business plan to purchase real estate as an investment. This will be primarily single-family homes that will either be rehabilitated, flipped or lease op
Questions You Should Ask About Property Taxes
Property taxes are a major expense, one which often totals thousands of dollars per year. But property taxes are not the same for like properties or for every owner.
Property tax
Price and Home Size Matter Far More Than Commute Times to Work or School
Never mind that the commute time to work is long. Never mind that the kids may have to take an extended bus ride to get to school. There are far more important issues for us as new home
Moving Up What You Need to Consider to Accommodate Your Growing Family
One of the most common reasons to buy a home is to accommodate your growing family. Perhaps you want to live in a neighborhood with better schools and more services, or maybe you need a
Moving Tips Ease Your Pain
I know the moving season is almost over. But, I've had folks write me with their horror stories and extra tips for moving this summer, ideas I feel compelled to share.
These aren't
Marriage Presents Real Estate Investment Opportunity
Q: I read your article about the new tax laws and their benefits. It was great information and I appreciate you sharing it. I have owned a condo since 12/21/01. I am getting married and
Tell All
Question: Recently, it was reported that baby bones were discovered in the attic of a home. Also, there have been a lot of reports about arsenic and other toxic materials which have been found in a resi
Inspecting Your Home Inspector
While most people (almost 80%) have their homes inspected prior to purchase, just who is it that is inspecting the inspector? We've all seen those hidden-camera stories of home inspector
In Love With Two Houses What to Consider When Making the Final Decision
As you find yourself heavily immersed in house-hunting mode, you may encounter a situation in which you're torn between two houses. Perhaps you and your spouse each have a favorite, or p
How To Take Title With A Friend
Question: My fiancee and I have just signed a contract to purchase a house, and we expect to go to closing in late August. We do not plan to get married until the end of next year.
How to Help Your Kids Adjust When You Move in the Middle of the School Year
Going through the arduous process of buying a house may leave you with all the stress you can handle. But don't forget your kids. The thought of a new house usually brings pangs of anxie
How To Handle Lender Questions
You've been pretty good about keeping your credit rating up. Always paid on time, every time. There may have been a late payment or two a few years back but you never took anyone for the
How To Avoid Rookie Mistakes
First-time homebuyers face a steep learning curve. There's much to know, much to learn, and a great potential for "rookie mistakes" -- with potentially costly consequences.
How Energy Trends Impact Home Prices & Mortgage Rates
The price of oil has shot up in recent weeks, a matter which could seriously impact the real estate marketplace.
Huh? What's the tie between energy costs and real estate?
O
Homeowners Insurance Are You Really In Good Hands
When you purchase homeowners insurance, you expect that it will be there when you need it. That means that if there is a natural disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane or a flood, it
Moving Tips
Preparation | | One Month Before Moving | |
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Home Inspection
Q. WHAT IS A "HOME INSPECTION"?
A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and s
High Tech Or Low What's Your Preference
High-tech advances hold out the promise of home computers that can adjust the thermostat, control the lights, start dinner, track appointments, entertain the kids, mow the lawn, let th
HADD Report Home Warranty Coverage 'Extremely Limited
It's not that home warranties or those who issue them are deceptive.
It's all right there in the small print -- disclaimers, exclusions, "weasel" clauses.
The con
Great Reasons to Invest in Real Estate
According to recent statistics published by the U.S. Census Bureau, 75% of multifamily investors are over the age of 45. Over half of these (51.6%) own less than five units, and they ear
Got Condos Record Sales Reported in 2002
What do you get when you combine low interest rates with eager first-time homebuyers faced with ever-increasing home prices and retirees looking for convenient and affordable homes? A su
Getting the Most From Your Home Inspection
With thoughts of how you're going to arrange the furniture in your new home, whether you'll make the deadline for registering the kids for their new school and how you'll find a mover on
Get a CLUE About Homeowners Insurance
As the busy spring real estate season opens in just a few weeks, smart buyers are doing their homework by getting loan pre-approval, scouting out neighborhoods, and getting a realistic idea
Funds in Escrow Whose Money Is It
Q: We recently signed a contract to purchase a house, and thought we were smart enough to insist (over the real estate broker’s objections) on having the contract contingent on our
Forget Location, Timing Key To Real Estate Investing
I remember in the spring of 1998, sitting at an awards ceremony for one of the nation's largest independent real estate companies when the president/founder of the company predicted: &qu
Finding a Good Home Inspector What You Should Ask
You've found the house, your offer has been accepted, and funding is in place. But before you start packing, be sure you hire a professional home inspector to make sure your house doesn'
Energy Improvements Add $18,000 To Homes, Say Studies
Replace old appliances with Energy Star rated appliances, turn in all your incandescent lamps and fixtures for fluorescent lamps and fixtures, perform several energy efficient home impro
Don't Forgo Inspections As a Negotiating Tool
In a housing market in which supply is woefully short of demand, some buyers have been willing to forgo a home inspection in an effort to get a leg up on the competition.
Wrong.
Does Your Closing Date Make A Difference
Question: I have recently signed a contract to purchase a home. I would like to settle in the first week of December but my real estate agent says that I should settle at the end of Nove
Counting The Extended Cost of Homeownership
Can you afford to buy a home? The first person you’ll want to talk with about your qualification will obviously be a lender or real estate agent. Once you find out your buying powe
Condos Labeled Prime Realty Investment
It's not just that condos are comparatively cheaper and relatively more easy to maintain than a single-family home.
In recent years, they've become the prime residential real esta
Buyer and Seller Never the Two Shall Meet
Is there any event in life more stressful and laden with conflicting emotions than buying a home? The answer is yes -- selling one's home can be equally trying.
As Is, Subject To, or Deferred Maintenance
Deferred Maintenance vs. Subject To. Live it, love it, learn it. These terms are sometimes bandied about without much thought when getting a property appraised. But knowing the differenc
The Chicken-and-Egg Question Buy or Sell First
For homeowners aiming to sell their home and buy another, it's the classic real estate, which came first, the chicken or the egg, question - buy or sell first?
If you sell first,
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