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Real Estate Articles

The below articles cover such topics as buying real estate, selling real estate, arranging for a mortgage, relocating, buying a home for the first time, and homeownership. Click the icons below for information in each category.

Or you may visit the following articles directly:

BUYING REAL ESTATE

• Buying Strategies
• What are some tips every home buyer should know to get started?
• What would you recommend as the best first step in home buying?
• What is the single most important rule in house hunting?
• What are the essential steps every first-time buyer should know?
• Are there any inside tips on down payments for first-time buyers?
• Shopping For an Agent
• What are some questions I should ask a prospective agent?
• What can a real estate agent do for me that I can't do for myself?
• I've heard about 'agency.' Who does a real estate agent really work for?
• Who pays the fee of a buyer's agent?
• Buying a home directly from the owner will save on the cost of the house, right?
• Choosing a Neighborhood
• What do real estate agents mean when they say the three most important factors in selecting a house are 'location, location, location'?
• Why is it smart to size up the schools before buying a house?
• Is it better to buy in a new home area or a resale community?
• Finding a Home
• What advice would you give to help me decide between my two favorite houses?
• Beyond the house itself, what should I look for in the property?
• How can I be certain I'm getting what I think I'm paying for?
• Are there guidelines to how much a buyer should offer?
• Negotiating the Contract
• Should I ask for a home inspection before I buy?
• What happens after I present my offer?
• How does a 'drive-by appraisal' help me bargain better?
• What are some inside tips to close a deal if the seller won't budge on price?
• We're in a competitive market. What can I do to make my offer look better than another buyer's offer?
• Closing For Buyers
• What do I need to know about closing on my home?
• What are some typical closing costs?
• We're a little short on cash. How can we shift some settlement costs to reduce out of pocket expenses?
• What are some sources for out-of-pocket cash to pay closing costs?
• What should I expect at the final 'walk through?'
• Once a settlement date is set, can it be changed?
• Special Topics
• What is earnest money?
• What is a contingency?
• Which settlement expenses can buyers deduct on their taxes?
• How do I buy a house at auction?

• Selling Strategies
• What are the basic steps to selling my home?
• What are the six biggest mistakes home sellers make?
• Can a used house compete effectively against new construction?
• If I try to sell my home myself, I know I can save the sales commission. So what could I lose?
• How can a home warranty help me sell my home?
• Will the new lead paint rules affect my sale?
• Pricing
• Who says what my home is worth?
• Why is it dangerous to overprice my home?
• What factors do NOT affect my price?
• My house is one of a kind. How do you put a price on a unique property?
• Fixing Up
• How much fixing up is enough?
• How can I jump-start my home sale with a stunning entrance?
• What should I replace and update now when I'll be moving out soon?
• Do buyers like a furnished house better?
• Is it better to replace the carpet or offer a carpet allowance to buyers?
• What's a cheap and easy way to make my home more attractive to buyers?
• Negotiating Offers
• What happens when a buyer makes an offer?
• How do agents turn a 'Tire-Kicker Wannabe' into a 'Sign-Here Buyer?'
• Is negotiating with out-of-town buyers any different?
• Who pays the fee of a buyer's agent?
• What is a contingency?
• Closing For Sellers
• In general, what should I expect to happen at closing?
• Should I make the payment on my old mortgage a few days before closing on a new loan?
• Do I need to reinvest my proceeds to avoid taxes?
• Are there any tax consequences to closing?
• What happens if the appraisal is too low?
• Special Topics
• How can I reduce the hassle of keeping my house in showcase shape?
• How do I overcome a sluggish market to sell my house?
• What is the difference between a 'Buyers' Market' and a 'Sellers' Market?'
• Is it a good idea to put the house on the market through the holidays?
• What is earnest money?
• Why do I pay a commission on the sale of my house?
• What is a 'walk-through' and what should I expect?

FINANCING A HOME

• Financing Strategies
• There are so many types of mortgage loans available today, how do I know which one is best for me?
• How can I figure outhow much I can afford to pay for a new home?
• I'm concerned I might not have saved enough money for the down payment. What can I do?
• What is the difference between loan pre-approval and pre-qualification? Which is more beneficial?
• My credit rating isn't so good. Is there anything I can do?
• When is it a good idea to look for an assumption?
• Shopping For a Lender
• How should I go about looking for a mortgage broker?
• Are there any questions I should be sure to ask a potential lender?
• What do lenders look for in borrowers?
• Is it true that VA loands are easier to get these days?
• Can you tell me about recent lending regulations that might help me find a lender?
• Selecting a Loan
• Can you tell me some things I should consider when shopping for a loan?
• What happens if we get near closing on my new house, but my old house hasn't sold?
• I've found the house I want, but it needs a lot of repair. Can I borrow money for both the mortgage and the repair?
• What are some creative loan options I might want to consider?
• Applying For a Mortgage
• What practical steps can I take to improve my chances of getting a loan?
• Timing seems to be critical. Should I wait until interest rates drop?
• Will I have to get mortgage insurance?
• What, exactly, is escrow?
• What does it mean to be an A, B, C, or D borrower?
• What can you tell me about the debt-to-income ratio lenders use to qualify borrowers?
• Loan Processing
• Will I be able to find out the results of the appraisal?
• If the price we offer on a house is higher than the appraisal, can we get our deposit money back if the loan falls through?
• What is a two-step mortgage?
• How does a 'no-cost loan' work?
• What do you advise in the event I'm turned down for a mortgage?
• How strict are lenders when it comes to credit standing?
• Closing
• How much money should I plan to take to settlement?
• Once set, are settlement dates irrevocable?
• What can I do to prepare for a smooth settlement?
• What are my responsibilities before settlement, and what are the seller's responsibilities?
• What are the ways to hold title to a property?
• Why do lenders want a survey before settlement?
• Special Topics
• Can you give me some help with understanding financial terms?
• Are FHA loans really assumable these days?
• When unmarried people buy a home together, what is the best way to hold title?
• What can you tell me about equity-sharing?

RELOCATING TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

• Relocating Strategies
• What are some proven tips to make a relocation go as smoothly as possible?
• When I'm offered a transfer, what are some critical questions I should ask my employer?
• What advice would you give to help me decide whether to sell or rent my house when I move?
• Are there some inside tips to win the mortgage game when I'm relocating?
• How do I carry my credit history with me when I relocate?
• Moving With Kids & Teens
• Can you share some practical ways to reduce the trauma of moving for all children?
• How do you smooth the move for school-age children?
• What tips can you give to take the pain out of a teen move?
• Are there special first-day move-in secrets for tots?
• Seeking a New Hometown
• Beyond the basics what should I look for in a new community?
• We may be transferred again. What is the single most important suggestion you can give us?
• What should we look for in choosing a quality school?
• When and how do you determine the differences between schools?
• When looking for a community what are some advantages of buying a used house?
• We like new homes, but what are some mistakes we should take care to avoid?
• Packing and Moving
• Are there any tips on how to get ready to move?
• What are some proven ways to make sure movers measure up?
• How can I cut the cost of a move?
• What should I know in order to be ready in case an item is lost during a move?
• What are some moving tips for family pets?
• Any tips on how to keep kids happy during the trip to our new home?
• Settling In
• In your experience, what are some basic steps to settling in?
• What are your suggestions for starting to feel at home immediately?
• How can I make settling in easier for my children?
• What can I do to help my kids get off to a good start at school?
• What are some critical steps to making a good childcare choice?
• Transferring Abroad
• Being assigned abroad is both exciting and worrisome. What are some key elements to ensure a successful assignment?
• What are some proven ways to avoid culture shock?
• What are some quick tips for easing kids into life abroad?
• Special Topics
• How do I decide if accepting a transfer is a good move?
• What relocation solutions do you suggest for single parents?
• I'm moving by myself. What do you recommend?
• What do you suggest if I have to close a real estate deal from a distance?
• What do I do if I can't move into my new house for quite some time?

OWNING A HOME

• Remodeling
• What's the best way to choose a contractor?
• Should you do it your self when you remodel?
• What are some tools and gadgets for holiday home gifts?
• Are today's homes built and modified 'eco'nomically?
• How do you buy the right carpet?
• Where can you put that new bath?
• What kind of return can you get on your remodeling?
• How can alternate technology offer better insulation?
• What are glass choices when replacing windows?
• How can you get the most bang for your remodeling bucks?
• How can fixtures add beauty, value and convenience to your home?
• Maintenance
• Is your home's atmosphere healthy?
• How much water do you use?
• What shape is your garage in?
• How long will your house last?
• When should you prune your trees?
• How can you keep cool all summer long?
• Fix-Ups
• How can you be safe at home?
• How can you keep your tubs and sinks clean?
• What colors help set the right mood?
• When should you work in your flower bed?
• What can you do to spruce up the patio?
• Taxes & Financing
• What are some strategies for saving?
• Do you know how to choose a tax professional?
• Should you save your tax records?
• Should you refinance?
• Is there new hope for home owners in trouble?
• Which improvements can be added to your home's cost basis?
• Special Topics
• Why buy title insurance?
• Are you ready for any emergency?
• Is your pool safe?
• Are you too well insulated?
• How can you guard against one of the greatest dangers in your home?
• Does home ownership benefit kids?
• What do you know about utility prices?