Fixing to sell: Don't go overboard
Fixer-uppers with upside potential were in high demand when the market was appreciating at a fast pace. more>
Sellers face new dilemma in timing the market
Some sellers have been biding their time for three years and now wonder if they should continue to wait or bite the bullet and sell now. more>
Good Faith Estimate contains some "quirks"
As of Jan. 1, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires lenders to provide mortgage borrowers with a new three-page Good Faith Estimate (GFE) to protect consumers who are applying for a mortgage. more>
Two strategies to combat rising interest rates
Inman News
In mid-April, mortgage interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans increased to 5.21 percent, an eight-month high and a reminder that low interest rates won't last forever. more>
Short sale success strategies
Inman News
Some buyers have made offers on short sales, then waited as long as six months to a year, only to be denied lender approval. Approval from the seller's lender(s) of current loans secured by a short-sale listing is necessary if the proceeds from the sale aren't enough to pay back the lender and cover the seller's closing costs. more>
The truth about short sales
Buyers often shy away from considering short-sale listings, either because they've had a bad experience or have heard horror stories about the deals that take forever and never close. more>
Closing costs vary by location
Inman News
Closing costs, the costs associated with buying or selling a home, can add up. It's wise to get an estimate of how much you're likely to pay in closing costs before you make an offer to buy a home or accept an offer to sell.
Closing costs reduce the amount the seller nets from the sale. more>
Death of a real estate deal
Inman News
Take a proactive approach to buying or selling a home. By anticipating what could go wrong with your real estate transaction, you can take care of potential problems before they derail the deal. more>
Sizing up purchase deposits
Inman News
In most states, it's customary, or required by law, for the buyers to include a good faith deposit when they make an offer to purchase a home. more>
Presale inspections for smoother sales
Homes are selling for less. Everyone's trying to cut back. Yet, many real estate agents think it's wise for sellers to provide presale inspections for buyers to review before they write offers. Is the cost, which could run from a few hundred to $1,000 or more, worth the expense? more>
Multiple home inspections pay off
Inman News
Buyers often assume that if a house is new there's no need to inspect it. What could possibly be wrong with a brand-new house? You'd be surprised. more>
Final walkthrough a buyer's best friend
Inman News
Imagine this. You move into your new home for the first time after closing and, although you transferred the utilities into your name, the lights don't turn on. There isn't a single light bulb left in the house, the yard is overgrown and the leaky faucets the sellers were to have fixed still leak. more>
Tech playing key role in real estate deals
Inman News
Invariably, buyers or sellers are faced with important decisions at the most inconvenient times. They may be on vacation or on a business trip. Even if you're in town, you may be tied up in meetings and unable to take time to drive to your real estate agent's office. more>
Staging could land sellers in trouble
Inman News
Fixing your house up for sale is highly recommended in the current market if you hope to sell within a reasonable period of time and for an acceptable price. Today's buyers want turnkey houses that they can move right into without having much work. more>
Deferred maintenance often a deal breaker
Inman News
Three years ago, when the home-sale market peaked, buyers frequently bought "as is" regarding deferred maintenance, like wood-destroying pest or "termite" work. more>
Facing neighbor complaints on eve of sale
Inman News
When the for-sale sign goes up, it's not uncommon for a neighbor to come forth with a complaint -- perhaps about an issue that has never been mentioned to the seller before. more>
Contingencies frustrate buyers, sellers
Inman News
There are many frustrating aspects associated with buying or selling a home today. One is that contract contingencies -- such as inspections, financing or the sale of another property -- often aren't removed on time. It's not uncommon for closings to be delayed, usually due to the buyer's lender. more> | 
