November 14, 2008
- Making the Most of a Buyers Market
Making the Most of a Buyers Market
Here's what you need to know in order to make the most of this buyers' market:
Get a Great Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent can be an invaluable resource in helping you find and buy the perfect house. Agents work on your behalf to locate potential homes for you. [...]
October 13, 2008
- 10 BIGGEST Home Buying Mistakes
10 BIGGEST Home Buying Mistakes
Based on 25 years of home-building experience for 30,000 people, here are the 10 biggest mistakes in home buying:
1. Not doing your homework. Knowledge is power. Tremendous information is available on the Internet. There is no excuse for entering the market unprepared.
2. Trying to make a shrewd investment. People need to [...]
September 19, 2008
- Real Estate Auction Warning
Real Estate Auction Warning
Ever been to a real estate auction? Ever been told you can pick up a steal at a real estate auction?
our Money Editor, Stacy Johnson, explains why the highest bid at a real estate auction DOESN'T necessarily mean you've won the bidding and bought the property.
Video runs 1:18…
Keep these points in mind [...]
September 11, 2008
- Real Estate: What Are Short Sales?
Real Estate: What Are Short Sales?
Short sales may mean major money to real estate buyers and easy exits for troubled homeowners. But if you're a first time homebuyer, our Money Talks editor Stacy Johnson explains, it's not as easy as some may want you to think it is. This video runs 1:33…
Know anyone who has [...]
August 22, 2008
- Foreclosures: We Have to Warn You!
Foreclosures: We Have to Warn You!
Seems everyone these days thinks they can score a house on the cheap by buying a foreclosed property. There are good deals to be had, but we have to warn you, the process is complicated and risky. Foreclosure properties are much like fire, and you know the old saying, "play [...]
August 17, 2008
- Home Buying Techniques
Home Buying Techniques
Buying a home is an exciting and important life event. Being a first time home buyer means that you will have many decisions to make — and just as many questions that need answering.
Buying your first home is a huge step. These helpful home buying tips may reduce confusion about mortgage payments and [...]
June 25, 2008
- Buying A House With A Low Credit Score
Buying A House With A Low Credit Score
If your credit problem isn't too serious, you may still be able to get a traditional loan. First, you should correct any errors on your credit report, and challenge any entries you think shouldn't be there. This is your legal right. If you can get it changed, then [...]
June 17, 2008
- Real Estate: It's a Buyer's Market
Real Estate: It's a Buyer's Market
It's a wonderful time to be a home buyer. An opportunity like this comes around every eight to thirteen years. Whether you are a first time home buyer, an investor; or if you have been part of the real estate market for the last several years and were hoping to [...]
March 31, 2008
- Playing the Housing Slump
Playing the Housing Slump
Financial lore says you should buy when there's blood in the street — which suggests real estate is a bargain, because there's blood all over the neighborhood right now.
Time to invest? Now could spell opportunity for this year's buyers. But what if you already own a home — and have no desire [...]
March 26, 2008
- Closing Escrow: What Does it Really Mean?
Closing Escrow: What Does it Really Mean?
Escrow is a written agreement between the seller and buyer of a property. The moment escrow comes into existence, a third party person, known as an escrow holder, comes into existence. An escrow holder is liable for all the activities executed by both the parties for the purpose of [...]
March 24, 2008
- People to Know in the Real Estate Transaction
People to Know in the Real Estate Transaction
When you're thinking about buying a house… there are a lot of people you need to get to know who will assist you along the way.
This video clip will give you a quick summary of some of the people you'll get to know when buying a home. [...]
March 16, 2008
- Why Use A Real Estate Agent?
Why Use A Real Estate Agent?
In an effort to avoid paying commissions to a real estate agent, many people opt for the for sale by owner (FSBO) route. While this may seem like an enticing option for most homeowners, the reality can be much darker.
Real estate is fraught with legal complications. Buying and selling [...]
March 5, 2008
- Homes: Rent or Buy?
Homes: Rent or Buy?
Owning your own home: an idea so popular it's known as the American dream. But as prices fall and foreclosures rise, for many it's become a nightmare instead.
How do you know whether renting or owning is the way to go?
Stacy Johnson looks at some ways in this video (runs 1:18).
If you [...]
February 2, 2008
- House or Condo: Which is the Better Investment?
House or Condo: Which is the Better Investment?
Although houses historically appreciate better than condos, occasionally the reverse happens. It's really a case of supply and demand, driven by demographics.
Typically, condos appeal most to the youngest and oldest segments of the population.
But keep in mind, one of the downsides of condo ownership is that you have [...]
January 31, 2008
- When is the Right Time to Buy Carmel Real Estate?
When is the RIght Time to Buy Carmel Real Estate?
The right time to buy Carmel Real Estate is when you are completely ready to do so . This will not be same for every person, so it is to make your own mind up. But fortunately, there are a few things which you have to consider if [...]
January 28, 2008
- Owning vs. Renting: Still Not Even Close
Owning vs. Renting: Still Not Even Close
U.S. house prices "likely would have to fall considerably" to return to a normal relationship with rents, says a study by one former and two current Federal Reserve economists.
The study, which doesn't necessarily reflect the views of Fed policy makers, suggests prices would have to fall 15% over five [...]
January 24, 2008
- No Time Like Now for Buying Carmel Real Estate
No Time Like Now for Buying Carmel Real Estate
Despite what you've heard and read and despite what others are telling you, now is one of the best times in history to be in the market for a home, especially if you're interested in moving on up, or getting a more expensive home. The other two [...]
January 23, 2008
- Opportunities Abound to Profit in 2008
Opportunities Abound to Profit in 2008
Tumbling home values. Soaring energy prices. A topsy-turvy stock market and a gazillion other financial worries, not the least of which is whether we'll spend the coming year mired in recession.
Considering all the black clouds hanging over the economy, you probably think there's no way you can really expect to [...]
January 11, 2008
- Real Estate Investing Tips
Real Estate Investing Tips
There are at least four key issues you need to consider regarding investing in rental real estate. And while there are several ways to invest in Real Estate, this particular list offers just some of the advantages of owning rental property.
1. "The Buy"- As is the case with any investment, the goal [...]
January 8, 2008
- An End to the Housing Slump?
An End to the Housing Slump?
After a year of falling house prices in numerous parts of the country and a meltdown in the mortgage market that affected borrowers regardless of their ZIP code, many hope that housing markets will finally start to get better this year.
But if there's any improvement in 2008, it may be [...]
