Home Buying Tips

• Unhappy customers can do more than write to HUD
  The great majority of loans today are serviced by firms that don't own them. The servicer is paid by, and is beholden to the owner of the mortgage. Borrowers have no say in who services their loan, and if they get poor service, about all they can do is write a letter of complaint to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Therefore, it is hardly surprising that servicing does not generally meet the needs of borrowers. Continue article...
• What is the Alternative to a Lock-In?
  The alternative to locking in an interest rate is to let it float. Continue article...
• What Is Title Insurance? Why Do You Need It?
  You're having breakfast. There's a knock on the door. A former owner's brother introduces himself. He was out of the country when his sibling passed away and didn't sign-off his interests as an heir to the estate. Could this be a problem? Continue article...
• Should I Buy Real Estate at the Top of the Market?
  Buying a first home is a scary experience. It's easy to imagine the worst. How will I know a good house when I see it? What if I buy a house I can't sell? How can I make sure I'm making a good investment? What if I pay too much and home prices drop? Continue article...
• If your suburb sprawls, your gut is more likely to sprawl, too
  Car-loving suburbanites pack on about six more pounds than those who live in dense cities, where people tend to keep off weight by walking more. Continue article...
• Traps all home buyers should avoid
  At the beginning of a new year, it's natural to make resolutions. For instance, you may have been putting off buying a home. Now you've resolved to buy before interest rates rise and you're priced out of the market. Before forging ahead, consider the following tips and traps. Continue article...