Home Buying Tips

• Property Lines Not Always As They Appear
  Fences do not always follow the boundaries of the property. This will only be the case if the seller had the property surveyed and had the fences built on the property line. Often, sellers do not go to the expense of having surveys performed when they put in fences. The fences end up where the owners think the property lines end. Sellers may replace old fences that were built by previous owners who may not have known the location of property lines. Continue article...
• How can I improve my real estate purchase offer?
  Few failed endeavors can match the frustration of losing out in a multiple-offer competition. But, almost as disappointing is making the only offer—and a strong one—and having the seller outright reject it. Here are a few tips on how to sweeten your offer without jeopardizing your financial security. Continue article...
• Too many houses, but only one fits
  Finding a home to buy is rarely easy. Some buyers look for months, even years, before finding the right house. When you do find the right house, a mixed bag of emotions can cloud your good judgment. You'll probably wonder if you're making the right decision. Continue article...
• Over-Improving May Hurt Resale
  Resale value is very important if you plan to refinance or sell soon. Many factors affect it, including economic and housing market conditions, quality of the house, and desirability of the neighborhood. One measure of a home's resale value is the length of time it spent on the market before you bought it. To improve resale value, consider improvements such as landscaping or an updated kitchen. But be careful not to over-improve for the neighborhood. You may scare off buyers and you aren't likely to recoup much of your improvement costs. Continue article...
• How to avoid buying bad real estate
  Ask any experienced residential real estate attorney about his or her most difficult case. The answer will probably involve a "bad house." While not exactly a legal term, a bad house is one where the buyer alleges the seller knew about a serious structural defect, but failed to disclose it to the buyer before purchase. Continue article...
• Do You Know The Real Price Of Your ARM?
  Adjustable-rate mortgages are complicated instruments. No one characteristic fully describes one. Continue article...