Resales
With lots of jobs coming to the city, San Antonio, Texas offers opportunity along with cultural diversity and beauty.
Local Realtors are reporting that buyers are still flocking to scenic Vancouver, Washington, one of the most beautiful places along the Pacific Coast.
Condos have doubled in price, and single-family homes have risen 68 percent in La Jolla, California, a community of San Diego which is experiencing one of the hottest housing markets in the country.
Toronto Realtors report a strong seller"s market in waterview condos.
Dayton, Ohio, birthplace of flight pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright, is leveling off between a buyer"s market and a seller"s market, with prices gaining slightly in altitude.
Higher interest rates and interest rate hike fears are beginning to weigh on homebuyers nationwide, but Realtors in Rhode Island towns report that sales are still brisk, even as they begin to slow due to overinflated home prices.
Realtors in Wisconsin communities such as Rice Lake, Lake Geneva, and Legend Lake are reporting brisk sales in homes.
"Centrally located in the Treasure Valley and known for its quality of life, the Meridian area offers excellent schools," says Realtor Tom Zumwalt, " and affordable housing, a growing business climate, and an active community life. A wealth of recreational opportunities are within easy access of the city. Just 10 miles from Idaho"s capital city of Boise, Meridian residents can take full advantage of the cultural offerings and professional sporting events offered there. Meridian, however, retains its unique identity as a place that treasures its past, appreciates the present, and looks to the future with a spirit of harmony and prosperity."
Local Realtors in the Louisville, Kentucky area report rising housing inventories, and rising sales as buyers try to buy before rising interest rates puts them out of the home of their dreams.
Rising interest rates have slowed housing sales slightly in Fort Worth, Texas, but local Realtors say this is the place to put your money for a terrific place to live.
North Las Vegas Realtors report a continuing housing boom with new homes available in all sizes and price ranges.
San Antonio, Texas is historically significant, romantic to visit and offers good quality of life, say local Realtors.
A brisk spring market and continuing low interest rates have helped many buyers get into their first homes and others to move up to larger homes, say local Chesterfield, Missouri Realtors.
One of Illinois" largest towns and a Chicagoland suburb, Aurora is a fast-growing upscale housing market, say local Realtors.
Columbus, Ohio existing home sales have slowed, but builder products continue to move quickly.
Rocky Mountain-loving Colorado Springs Realtors are shifting into high gear as real estate sales start to climb again.
Everyone knows the Washington, D.C. market is hot, but the area known as Kalorama Heights is particularly popular, say local Realtors, where homes are selling in a matter of hours.
Realtors in San Diego report that the strong sellers" market continues with prices escalating daily.
Upscale Yorba Linda, California is rapidly appreciating, say local Realtors.
Between retirement homes, getaway homes, air base housing and working family homes, Whidbey Island, Washington offers diversity along with its beautiful scenery.
What goes up must also come down, says the law of physics, and that is also true of real estate, except that if home sale prices soften, they don"t tend to soften much in a low interest rate environment.
South of Dallas and nearer to Fort Worth, without nearly the traffic congestion of North Metroplex bedroom communities, Mansfield, Texas has a lot to offer residents, and it is booming with new homes, say local Realtors.
As a coastal community, Charleston has a strong housing market, which is getting better due to its business opportunities, cultural opportunities and charm, say local Realtors.
Cape Cod has been one of the fastest growing southern New England mainland areas with the highest rate of homeownership in any county in Massachusetts, say local Realtors.
The city of Yonkers still offers one of the world"s most beautiful and astonishing views, plus suburban charm, some big-city attitudes and a very strategic location, says Realtor Ben Borenstein.
While not a large market, the Casper, Wyoming, real estate marketplace has skyrocketed in 2008. Pending home sales over the last few months (which is a sign of future business) have shot up dramatically month after month each month in 2008 to as much as 1,000 percent in January when 56 homes went under contract. Last January only 5 homes went under contract in the same market.
Known for jazz, barbecue, and much more, Kansas City, Missouri is attracting homebuyers with its diverse economy and affordable housing, say local Realtors.
Columbus Realtors believe spring will produce an improved market, but meanwhile cold weather has temporarily frozen buyers.
Green Bay, Wisconsin area waterside towns are summer resorts, yet their ice-frozen winters also have a unique appeal, says a local Realtor.
Maybe it"s the "kid-friendliness" of the community, but local Realtors in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, are saying that sales haven"t dipped for winter"s chill, and home sales are on the increase.
Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland Realtors report low tides for listings and quick sales for homes.
Home sales continue to be brisk in University and Highland Park, known colloquially as the Park Cities, twin townships in the center of Dallas, Texas. Local Realtors, in the wake of improved economic news, anticipate a good spring homeselling season.
Washington state towns and counties near the Canadian border are experiencing brisk housing markets.
Local Realtors say home values are rising but sales are moderating slightly in the beachfront community of San Clemente, California.
The Merrimack Valley Region"s past is every bit as colorful as its maple trees in fall, says a local Realtor.
Grand Rapids, Michigan is a friendly community offering the warmth of a small town with the employment and cultural opportunities of a big city, says Realtor Bobbe Horton, "only 30 minutes to swimming in Lake Michigan in the summer, or skiing down the hills of Grand Rapids in the winter. Take your pick of seasons and activities."
Milwaukee housing sales are slowing down for the season, say local Realtors, but the city"s location on Lake Michigan make anytime the right time to buy.
Although inventories are higher, housing prices are, too, say local Irvine, California Realtors.
Tampa Bay, Florida has a lot of fans in its Realtors who say that the market continues to be strong.
Austin, Texas, still recovering from the dot-com meltdown, has been in a buyer"s market for several years, but local Realtors say that is changing.
Toronto is a cosmopolitan harbor town on the north side of Lake Ontario, and its 60 plus neighborhoods have converged into a dynamic multicultural arts center. Oh, and housing sales are red-hot.
Situated just north of Santa Monica and minutes from the ocean, Brentwood, not to be confused with Brentwood in northern California, is showing quick sales in most price ranges as well as rising home prices, say local Realtors.
Juneau, Alaska is a mid-size city where residents and visitors can enjoy all the recreation offered by the beautiful frontier.
Influenced by the still-slow Atlanta market, outlying communities such as Lawrenceville, Georgia are also experiencing buyer"s markets, but local Realtors say real value is there due to rapid growth, good schools and quality of life.
One of the most famous residential names in the world is Beverly Hills, a wealthy star-studded section of Los Angeles, California.
One of the latest reports fro HUD shows good news. There has been a drop in the number of chronically homeless persons in this county.
Scottsdale, Arizona buyers are jumping in before rates go any higher, report local Realtors.
Long Grove and Buffalo Grove, suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, are up and down in closings respectively over last year, but local Realtors say both markets continue to be healthy.
Tampa Bay Realtors say the area offers affordable homes, lower taxes, a strong job market, easy commutes, great weather, and beaches. What more could buyers want?
Ranked by AAA as tenth among America"s favorite beaches, Naples, Florida offers upscale vacation and retirement homes. Now"s the time, say local Realtors, before interest rates head back up.
Despite California"s now-famous affordability problem, buyers are still flocking to its coastal communities like Capistrano Beach to enjoy the incomparable views, weather and lifestyle, say local Realtors.
Local Realtors promote that the Vail-Beaver Creek areas are as much fun in the summer as they are in the winter, making the area a great place to visit or live.
North Las Vegas is experiencing rapid growth due to more favorable pricing on new homes, but Realtors report prices are also rising rapidly.
Local Realtors say the Austin, Texas market is showing decreasing prices in homes for the first time in 10 years, yet the desirability of the area has them encouraged that activity on homes will continue.
Wilmington, North Carolina Realtors say that sales remain strong in their city of 75,000. Maybe it"s the location - only minutes to the Atlantic beaches or Cape Fear riverfront that makes the area popular.
As reports of economic recovery increase, financial experts are quick to discount rising bankruptcies as expected delayed reactions and expected casualties. To those directly and indirectly involved in a bankruptcy, "How did this happen?" is a common reaction to the unexpected nightmare of financial collapse.
Only a quick commute to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jackson is in a buyer"s market and that is one reason why it offers more for the money, say local Realtors.
Smaller, lower-priced properties are selling well but overall the Manhattan marketplace has plateaued, says a local Realtor.
Peachtree City, Georgia offers an abundance of new homes, say local Realtors.
The largest metropolitan area in Idaho, Boise is a recreational hub situated on the western edge of the Rocky Mountains and the edge of the high desert.
Realtors in communities such as Lincoln Park, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, and Long Grove are reporting increases in housing activity.
Realtors in Grand Rapids, Michigan describe the community as a great place to live, with four distinct seasons, a diversified economic base and new growth.
Houston is hot.
Buyers in Atlanta, Georgia are still waiting to see what"s under the tree, according to local Realtors, but those who open their presents early may find house bargains are already here.
As early winter storms batter the east coast, warm, sunny spots like West Palm Beach, Florida look pretty appealing to homebuyers.
Located between Beverly Hills and the main area of Hollywood, West Hollywood is close to the bustle of shops along the famous Melrose Ave and home to some of the finest restaurants in the city, says Realtor Laura Zajdman.
Realtors report a more balanced market in Falls Church, Virginia over the last few weeks, with home prices and concessions slightly more favorable to the buyer than in the past seller"s market.
Middlesex County towns which offer quick commuter access to Boston are experiencing rising prices.
Worried that your town can"t offer you the job you need? Why not move where the economy is hoppin".
"The Contra Costa County real estate market seems more well balanced than in quite some time," says Realtor Ken Jacobs. "Prices are relatively stable, and most accurately priced homes are selling within 30-45 days. With interest rates so low, this appears to be a terrific time for buyers to be able to enter the real estate market, without having to compete with other buyers through multiple offers for every home that becomes available."
A desirable Valley location and lack of much more buildable land is helping Tempe hold on to its seller"s market despite local tech layoffs.
The island of Oahu, the main port of call for the Hawaiian Islands, famous for its Waikiki Beach, international shopping and tourist attractions such as Pearl Harbor, is starting to have a real estate comeback.
Some Virginia commuter towns are worth the train ride, say Realtors, especially when you move a little further away to take advantage of land values.
The volatile Silicon Valley market has been news in California and the nation for years. Now it seems to be taking a temporary breather in the near normal range.
Boston, Massachusetts town Acton offers terrific town services and amenities, and a great lifestyle to commuters who would rather ride the train than drive.
In the Triad area of North Carolina, which includes Winston-Salem, prices are trending downward, and sales are below seasonal volume. Local Realtors say this is the time to buy, as the area has much going for it.
While most regions can trace their geology back millions of years, Fargo"s Red River Valley plains are the result of prehistoric Lake Agassiz that ebbed away only 10,000 years ago. The result is a clay-based ground that yields as waters from the Red River ebb back into the area. Occasionally, as in April 2001, the region suffers floods over wide areas.
Right about now for many of you, the summer season is taking its toll. Your child has that look. You know the one that stops you in your tracks and makes parochial school guilt look like amateur hour. Susie"s mom is making homemade fruit sorbet or watermelon boats, has daily activities schedules and prepared from here until Labor Day and you are trying desperately to keep your head above water in a changing market with way more low tides than high. Makes a day at the beach is sound pretty appealing to you to given the circumstances -- right?
Enjoying all the benefits of living near downtown Dallas and its Arts District, Lakewood area homeowners reside almost exclusively in older single-family residences, with few apartments or other multi-family properties in the community.
Within an hour or two drive of the ocean and mountains, as well as big cities Seattle and Portland, with many rivers, forests and rural areas, residents of Thurston County"s Olympia and neighboring towns enjoy easy access to the splendors of the Pacific Northwest.
Coastal cities along Orange County are on the rise.
Located between Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, Paradise Valley is an affluent area of about 14,000 residents whose higher homes values are helped by favorable zoning. Only single-family homes are allowed as residences, with the majority of homes built on one-acre lots or larger. In addition, there are no property taxes charged to homeowners. In exchange for such hands-off governance, residents forfeit full-service city amenities, and they have to contract separately for such services as waste removal, fire protection and water service.
Palm Beach County in Florida offers some of the most desirable waterfront communities and homes along the Atlantic coastline, and the area is being energized by beautiful new developments.
Centrally located at Routes 24 and 495, the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts provides easy access to Boston, Cape Cod, and Providence, Rhode Island. A far-from-the-madding-crowd lifestyle, coupled with affordable housing, is beginning to attract attention from weary city dwellers and retirees. New growth is starting in this area where the population had remained relatively unchanged since the early 1990s.
Vail, Colorado is a world-renowned ski resort town, and has evolved into a year-round resort destination. And nearby sister resort Beaver Creek has also come into its own.
The most visited city in Tennessee is the heart of country music, Nashville. Home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the incredible Opry Mills entertainment and shopping center, Nashville is known as "Music City," and it offers the visitor and lucky resident plenty to do and see, including frequent glimpses of famous residents.
My team and I flip houses in Michigan, where the housing market is currently experiencing a significant slump. Wherever these dips in the market occur, they often discourage investors, particularly novice investors, from flipping, but you don"t need to get discouraged. With the right adjustments, you can flip houses profitably in a depressed market. I suggest three strategies for successfully flipping houses in a down market:
The real estate marketplace has undergone dramatic change in recent months. The exuberant seller"s market of the past year has transitioned into a more moderate buyer"s market, leaving in its wake an expected $1 trillion of adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans that will need to be refinanced in 2007. As higher home prices made home ownership more difficult for most buyers, especially those entering the market as first-time homebuyers, lenders introduced new adjustable loan options to help buyers qualify. The backlash, however, is that many buyers have gotten in over their heads struggling to maintain homes they cannot afford.
Jackson, Mississippi has grown from a riverside trading post into a city of culture and pride in its Southern heritage, hospitality and quality of life. Once burned by the Union armies during Sherman"s march, and a hub for the Civil Rights movement of the mid-20th century, the city has grown to over 200,000 residents who have pulled together to become the "Best of the New South."
If you weren"t there to see War Emblem win the first leg of the Triple Crown at Louisville"s Churchill Downs in May, (before he stumbled last week at Belmont, losing to a 70-1 long shot named Sarava,) there"s always next year. You can come anytime to the only place this side of the pond where wearing outlandish hats is as ordinary as drinking a mint julep on a hot day.
With city after city experiencing record number foreclosures, one government agency is taking a creative approach to getting the word out on fair lending rights.
Calgary, located in the Canadian province of Alberta, is known for more than its terrific ski resorts near Alberta"s Rocky Mountains. Once the host city for the winter Olympics, Calgary is a beautiful city on the banks of the Bow River, the home of progressive technology, oil and forestry companies, as well as great real estate buys.
Orlando, the home of Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Sea World, and numerous other family-style attractions is as delightful a place to live as to visit, a rising sellers" market attests. Located in central Florida, just one hour from the coast, and boasting excellent air service, Orlando is also a popular relocation and retirement destination.
Picturesque Alexandria, Virginia is best known for its" "Old Town," an 18th century seaport and favorite haunt of George Washington, says Realtor Karen Kruschka.
Promising to never again be caught with its pants down, the 802,000-member National Association of Realtors has created a regulatory and industry relations division to lobby federal regulators and other housing-related organizations.
The Republican Platform contains a strong statement in support of homeownership, including an endorsement of the mortgage interest deduction. It also supports policies to encourage affordable housing and homeownership for low-income American families, and promotes policies to protect Internet data, including real estate brokers" listings, from piracy.
California"s relentless march toward the $500,000 median priced home is leaving many households behind the eight ball to the tune of more than $60,000.
A record number of real estate boom towns reads like the lyrics to a Johnny Cash ditty and that isn"t music to the economy"s ears.
Florida will pass New York as the nation"s third most populous state by 2011, according to the latest government projections.
First American Corp. has added a credit scoring system to its suite of services designed to give borrowers with non-traditional credit histories a home-buying boost.
It"s a constant challenge, coming up with ways to help first-time, low-to-moderate income homebuyers qualify for California"s high-priced housing market. But it"s a task that the California Housing Finance Agency takes very seriously.
In many markets across the country where housing prices are escalating (some would say out of control), the condominium purchase has become very popular once again. In the Washington, D.C., region, condos have arisen to the introductory purchase for many first-time home buyers -- the median price of housing having reached $371,000.
When you buy a home, filling out all the paper work is a tedious process. Now imagine if in order to qualify for your home your beloved four-legged friend had to qualify as well!
Question: I am considering buying a single-family house, and the real estate broker has presented me with a form contract to sign. I am concerned that I may be acting emotionally and not rationally. How do I determine the value of the house? I have a nagging feeling that I may be paying too much for this property, but do not know how to solve this problem.
With a 21 percent spurt in applications in mid-August, lenders say they are seeing signs -- maybe fleeting, maybe not -- of a refinancing revival.
When it comes to second homes, most buyers want them not as investments but as playhouse getaways where the living is easy.
Two of the biggest players in the mortgage market -- Bank of America and Fannie Mae -- are teaming up to make home buying easier for teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, hospital workers and other community service professionals.
Question: My husband and I are recently retired and living on a fixed pension and social security in Oakland, California. We own a townhouse with a $130,000 mortgage balance. We could probably sell it for at least $350,000 and net well over $200,000. Our plan is to sell it this year and move to the west coast of Florida where the weather is nice and the real estate is cheap. I think we should purchase our new home in Florida with the proceeds of our Oakland house and carry no mortgage because we are on a fixed income. My husband thinks we can afford a mortgage and that we should invest the equity instead. We don"t have a lot of savings but we don"t have big spending habits. Is there a rule of thumb as to how large of a mortgage retirees should take?
A sales contract is usually a complete form in and of itself, however, you will find that rare is the case where the contract is complete in and of itself. The buyer will write a contract with addenda attached. These "extra" parts of the contract can cover a plethora of issues, such as financing contingencies, purchase home of choice and home sale clauses, government-required addenda and disclosures. These are a few of the addenda you may find attached to the contract you will either write as a buyer or receive as a seller.
Question: We have just arrived in the Washington area, and want to buy a house while interest rates are still low. We are very confused about the different procedures that are used here in this area, and would like to know what we should include in the real estate contract that we sign with the seller.
Decisive moves from government agencies have helped the stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rebound.
After a five-year hiatus, a recent "Spring Into Your First Home Affordable Housing Fair" in the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, IL, population about 225,000, drew 500 people looking to learn how they can afford to buy a home.
Question: We are first time homebuyers, and plan to stay in the new house for a long period of time. We have been offered two kinds of mortgages: a fixed 30-year mortgage for 5.5 percent with no points, or a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) at 4.25 percent, again with no points. We recently read that Alan Greenspan, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, indicated his preference for an ARM. This has been a difficult decision for us, and we seek your opinion.
The lease option path to home ownership is a hard sell for the tough, high-cost Northern California market, but it is a home buying option to purchase a home years from now at today"s prices.
Have you heard the horror story? You know, the one about the homebuyer showing up at closing only to see their closing costs hundreds of dollars more than the loan officer told them? It"s an oft-told story. But who just might be your first line of defense against such charges? You might be surprised. It"s your Realtor.
Appraisers hate the idea. But major lenders this summer have begun offering the fastest-growing alternative to traditional, full-cost appraisals: insured site-inspected electronic appraisals at deeply-discounted prices.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking a major step toward preventing an abusive lending practice known as flipping that has left thousands of unsuspecting home buyers on the hook for properties worth far less than what they owe on them.
Question: My wife and I have been looking for the right house to buy for the last year or so. Property values have skyrocketed so we have been searching for well-priced "handyman specials", figuring we could buy at a good price and make improvements ourselves, over time. We found the perfect house in a great neighborhood for $230,000. Similar houses in the area are going for nearly $300,000. The only difference is that this house needs major cosmetic improvements. There are holes in the plaster, the kitchen is outdated, and the siding is falling apart. Need I say more?
Thinking about a second home?
[Note: To follow is an excerpt of a radio show interview conducted by Peter L. Mosca, host of Income Property Investment Talk dot com, with Scott Griffith, President, ERA Griffith Realty, Rob Verhaaren, Managing Director of Universal Equity Group, and Blaine Walker, President, RealSource. The guests explore the driving forces in today’s distressed market activity, the importance of conducting due diligence and ways to maximize profitability. To listen to the show archive or download an MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com/110409.]
If you"re close to buying a home in the coming year, then you"ll want to
Q: Within the next year, I will be purchasing property in the District of Columbia. The property and the mortgage will be in my name, but my boyfriend will be living in the property with me. Is there a domestic relations law that would allow the house to be split and sold if in the future, we should split up while we are both living in the property? Is there some way that I would have to relinquish half of my rights or ownership in the property because he will be paying half of the mortgage and utilities?
As the holidays draw near and the cold sets in we tend to become more
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 optioned. I have been in contact with a Realtor who wants me to sign an exclusive buyer’s agreement. Is there a particular advantage/disadvantage in limiting myself to one Realtor?
California"s median home price sank at a record level in May, but home sales came hard about in the state"s choppy sea of housing.
Just as summer temperatures heat up in sections of the country, home sales in pockets of the nation are sizzling, too. That"s great news for sellers, but is enough to make a potential buyer"s stomach churn watching prices mount on a monthly basis.
It appears fewer singles are buying homes. And competing against dual-income bids in a period of low interest rates and a dearth of available homes could
Looking for a home in a community that"s adapting well to the new economic order?
Sometimes real estate transactions call for creative negotiations. Owner financing, seller subsidies, paying off a buyer’s debts, 100 percent financing are all creative ways of getting a buyer into a house who might not otherwise be able to buy without extraordinary moves.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.91 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.92 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.39 percent.
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 earned approximately 31% of their income from ownership of rental properties.
"Say what you like"" isn"t one of the catch phrases of the real estate industry.
Since Sept. 11, more and more Americans have pushed safety and security high on their list of requirements for the community where they might buy a home.
Given the terrorist attacks in September, massive layoffs, and declining corporate profits it"s not unreasonable for would-be purchasers to ask if now is the time to buy real estate.
Alas, none of us are getting any younger and as we age our housing needs will evolve. Is your home ready to age along with you? It can if you do a little planning ahead.
Home inspections are necessary and usually reassuring, but paying a professional to check out the house you want to buy doesn"t absolve you of the need to familiarize yourself with how things work.
Each year more than 40 percent of all homes are purchased by first-time buyers according to the National Association of Realtors, a percentage which should offer some comfort if you"re about to buy a first home. Others have done it, others are doing it, and you can too.
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.
WASHINGTON -- The ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee has introduced legislation to allow first-time home buyers to borrow up to $10,000 tax-free from their Individual Retirement Accounts to use as a downpayment.
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.
Question. My parents are in the mid-seventies, and are retired. They have some money in their IRA account and have offered to help me purchase a condominium unit. The price is approximately $150,000. I am a first-time homebuyer and would like to know how this works?
The stock market is in turmoil, mutual fund returns are unnervingly dismal and Canadians are left wondering how best to invest their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions before the March 1, 2001 deadline. Perhaps it"s time for more Canadians to direct RRSP contributions towards home ownership through the federal Home Buyers" Plan.
When people are elected to positions of power, there is always the chance they may knowingly or unknowingly engage in a conflict of interest. Conflicts of interest come in several shapes and sizes. It is almost impossible to avoid them but how they are handled is critical.
By Jim Lee
Ever noticed how even the most palatial home can look, well, vanilla when there"s nothing inside of it? Turning an empty home into a model home can turn a "maybe" into a "yes" in no time at all. The problem is, it"s easy to become intoxicated by a model home. A professional interior decorator has worked his or her magic. The drapes are perfect. The French impressionist artwork on the walls perfectly matches the color scheme in that overstuffed chair upon which no shedding dog has ever set foot. The immaculate white carpeting has no Kool-Aid stains. Toys don"t litter the stairwell, and a week"s worth of newspaper isn"t strewn haphazardly on the kitchen table. Wow ... from which strange alien planet do model home families hail? It"s as if the Neat-Home Fairy waved her magic wand and erased reality. So you find yourself asking that question: "How much for the furnished model?"
The kids are warring over bedroom space -- even the dog wants more room! So one Saturday you innocently load everyone into the car, in search of a larger home. Emotionally, it makes sense.
It"s ironic that a document of such great importance to homeowners is one that they often don"t consider until disaster strikes. Unfortunately, that"s precisely the time when they discover that they"re not covered for the things they desperately need when nature rears its sometimes ugly head or when a simple case of bad luck strikes. As we"ve mentioned before in
The importance of performing your own inspection of a home before you
[Note: To follow is an excerpt of an interview with Dr. Jim Gillespie, America"s premier commercial real estate coach, with over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate as both a successful agent and manager. To listen to, or download the show archive MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com.]
There are three major benchmarks of a successful home buying candidate: commitment, credit and cost. As a preliminary step to the homebuying plunge, see how you fare in these three categories:
If you"re a potential first-time buyer wishing you"d taken the home buying plunge while rates were low, it"s not too late to dive into the market. In fact, even with interest rates on the rise, waiting to purchase a home could end up costing you money.
Your title insurance policy will list certain exceptions that will be
You may be in a market in which finding homes to buy is difficult. Or you
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.92 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.04 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.30 percent.
Most consumers do comparative research before making a major purchase -- a new car, refrigerator, home entertainment center or certainly, a house. But how many consider the environmental factors surrounding a home or land sale?
With all the choices in today"s market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover - single family, city loft, townhome, zero lot line, condominium, duplexes and more.
If you"ve ever scanned the real estate category of your newspaper"s classifieds section, you"ve probably been stumped by cryptic abbreviations. Realtors, otherwise known as CRSs, CDEs, CBAs, GRSs, and other abbreviations understood only by themselves, often use the same method of shorthand when advertising their listings in the newspaper. For example, does any consumer out there know what the abbreviation "LA" stands for? No, it"s not "Los Angeles." It"s Living Area.
As Americans add on to their houses in increasing numbers, many are looking
Try to make up for rising home heating oil prices by investing in commodity futures that promise to warm up your portfolio and you could lose your flannel shirt and suffer an especially frosty winter.
It"s a dream for some and a reality for others -- running your own business from home. For many, it"s often tricky knowing how to start. There are many technical, legal and familial issues that can crop up, especially for those who are self-employed with no employees.
As fall settles in and we spend more time indoors, it"s a perfect time to think about transforming your interior wall colors to bring freshness, seasonal warmth, or just plain change.
I wanted to make sure that everyone knows that several litigations have been filed concerning Zonolite - which is a home insulation material. If your home has zonolite, you may want to seek legal assistance to determine whether you need to take any legal action - if you have not done so already.
As kids head back to school, you"re bound to notice the kindergartner whose wrist is in a cast after falling from the monkey bars. But it"s not just on the schoolyard and neighborhood park that injuries occur - in fact, more deaths to children occur in backyard playgrounds than on public play equipment.