Eight seconds. Not much time, right? But that’s how long you have to catch a buyer’s attention when selling a home. So, you’ve got to make those seconds count from the moment a prospective buyer arrives on your property. It’s not just... (Read More)

Think that you need a 20 percent downpayment to purchase a home? Many prospective home buyers buy into this myth, studies show. Yet research shows that among those who take out a mortgage to purchase a home, the median downpayment is about 10... (Read More)

Whether you're buying or refinancing, you have a number of choices. One of those is your loan term. While the overwhelming majority of home buyers and home owners elect to go with the 30-year mortgage, you may be wondering if a 15-year home loan... (Read More)

Do you have a fire extinguisher? If you don't, it's time to add it to your shopping list. Every homeowner should have one on each floor or area of their home and know how to use it. Fire extinguishers are life savers. Make sure to purchase one... (Read More)

Ever hear the terms REO, bank-owned, short sale or HUD home? And have you even wondered what the heck all those terms mean? Here are some definitions used to describe common types of distressed properties: Foreclosure: This refers to the process... (Read More)

Whether you're buying or selling a home, you're likely to encounter a host of mortgage terms and acronyms along the way. Find them a bit confusing? You're not alone! Real estate really has a language of its own. You'll feel a lot better on closing... (Read More)

Buying your first home? Here are three real estate professionals who will play a big role in your leap from renting to owning your own home: Mortgage loan officer. Before you look at a single home, you should get pre-approved for financing from a... (Read More)

The appraisal is an important part of the home buying process. But what happens if the appraisal comes up short of the agreed-upon selling price? Here's an example: A home is listed for sale for $350,000. It's a multiple bidding situation, so you... (Read More)

There’s more to your monthly mortgage payment than the amount you borrowed to purchase your home. When you’re calculating how much house you can afford, be sure to consider all of the components that typically make up your monthly home loan... (Read More)

In the market for a new home? Purchasing a home is definitely something we don't do every day. So it's easy to make mistakes, and when it comes to home buying, mistakes can be costly. Here are some of the most common errors made by first-time... (Read More)