As fall comes and we are all spending more time indoors, many of you will begin to look more critically at your current home and decide to finally build your dream house. Now is the time to sit down with your favorite mortgage lender and determine just how much house you can afford. The design [...]

It is time, once again, when our real estate tax bills are arriving and there are some things we nood to be aware of. Taxes are due no later than December 31. Late penalties begin accruing January 1. If you mail your payment, it must be postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalties. If you [...]

As computers have become a way of life and more people are using the internet, the information available to buyers and sellers has increased dramatically. If you are net savvy, you have probably already found several real estate sites. However, there are four REALTOR web sites that I recommend because they give you the most [...]

If you find yourself in the financial position to do so, making larger-than-required payments on your mortgage may be a good idea. Most mortgage loans allow prepayment of any amounts applied directly to the principal balance. While this does not reduce your required monthly payment, it does reduce your loan balance more quickly. Even an [...]

There are a number of variables that come into play when deciding whether or not to refinance your home—an option that becomes particularly attractive to homeowners when interest rates are under 7.5%, as they are currently. Generally speaking, it is considered smart to refinance if you can make up the costs of the new loan [...]

If you own property you don’t live on–such as a vacation home, inherited property, or any vacant property that you do not visit regularly, be sure to pay the taxes when they are due. Otherwise someone could move in and “steal” your property–legally–through “adverse possession.” It works like this: when a property is unoccupied and [...]

Federal regulations requiring sellers or lessors of residential dwellings to disclose the presence of known lead-based paint went into effect September 6, 1996, for owners of more than four residential dwellings, and December 6, 1996, for owners of one to four residential dwellings. Sellers and landlords must give buyers and renters a federal pamphlet titled [...]

A real estate appraisal is the determined value of the property. An appraisal can focus on cost, income, or market data. All three approaches are considered; but one will be given more weight than the others based on the reason for the appraisal. The market data approach is most commonly used for single-family residential housing. [...]

Homes are better insulated now than they used to be. That’s great for keeping cool in summer and warm in winter, but in one way it’s not so good. Tight homes mean less fresh air is circulating–and that can lead to indoor pollution. In fact, indoor air may be 100 times more polluted than outdoor [...]

In a recent survey of REALTORS May and June were named as the months having the highest rate of home sales. That means this is a good time to sell or buy a house. According to the survey, sellers and buyers should avoid the following mistakes. Once homeowners decide to sell, they should take care [...]