Home Buying Tips

• What Type of Real Estate Makes the Best Investment?
  During the economic downturn of the early 1990s, a home in the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland, Calif., sold twice in two years. The house did not change substantially during this time, nor did its price. But, average prices in the neighborhood dropped about 15 percent during the same time. Continue article...
• How to buy profitable real estate
  Are you the adventurous type of home buyer who wants to make a profitable purchase? Or are you looking for a near-perfect "model home" acquisition where all you have to do is turn the key in the front door and move in? Continue article...
• Try selling home without agent
  About 85 percent of home sellers use real estate agents to list and sell their houses. Continue article...
• What is the disadvantage of an older home?
  Maintenance will be higher on an older house if major components such as the plumbing, heating and electrical systems, roof, major appliances or drainage system need repair or replacement. Before you purchase the home, find out the age of the major systems. Have they been updated or are they original? Ask the sellers to provide a list of repairs and modifications they have made to these systems, including the date the repairs were made. Also, find out how much it costs to heat the house and if it is insulated. Another consideration is that most older homes often do not meet modern building code requirements. Older houses can be updated or retrofitted to conform to current code—but the price can be steep. Also, older houses may contain materials that are hazardous, such as asbestos or lead. 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...
• Dream homes on eBay (Barbie not included)
  Suzanne "Mercedes" Hayes sells a lot of stuff on eBay. Continue article...