5 Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes

Tips
A home inspection is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure your new home is a sound investment and a safe place to live. But, many people don’t fully understand what happens in a home inspection or what they need to do to get the most out of it. Find
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Should You Buy a ‘Starter Home’ or Wait?

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In many parts of the country, the real estate market seems to be rebounding. “As buyers seek to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates, the supply and demand imbalance threatens to further limit deals as the key spring selling season approaches,” reads a recent Bloomberg article. For the first time in a long time, homebuyers
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A MORE GRANULAR LOOK AT HOME PRICES

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By Danielle Hale, Research Economist: Previously, we looked at the FHFA and Case-Shiller release focusing on national data trends. Today, we’ll dig a bit deeper to look at more local data at the regional, state, and city or MSA level. Monthly FHFA releases data at the Census division level and quarterly it releases state and
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Home Appraisal: How to Get Maximum Value

Tips
FOR SELLERS: So, you’ve got an offer on your house from a qualified buyer and you’re ready to call the movers. Before you pick up the phone, remember that a few hurdles still have to be overcome before settlement day—in particular, the home appraisal. An appraisal, paid for by the buyer, is required by the
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5 Creative Ways to Come Up With a Down Payment

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To successfully purchase a home today, you will need a down payment of at least 3.5% of the purchase price. Gone are the days of no down payment alternatives, down payment assistance and seller-offered programs to come up with the money needed to buy a home. Instead, let’s look at the five ways you can
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14 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home

Tips
When you’re buying a home, it’s easy to let emotions get in the way of reality. “Sometimes we want something so badly, we’re not willing to ask all the questions we should,” says Leslie Levine, author of “Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home?” To make sure your dream home isn’t a mirage, follow these
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Why We Fall in Love—With Houses

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Falling in love can be wonderful—and finding the perfect house can make a house-hunter weak in the knees. As Valentine’s Day approaches, a survey by Realtor.com shows that falling head-over-heels for a house is fairly common—69% of respondents reported that they have had a home crush. House-hunters with a “home crush,” as defined in the
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