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...
• Pros and cons of old and new homes
  When deciding between an old or new home, the list of pros and cons is lengthy. Continue article...
• How much work should you do before selling?
  Recently a couple that owned a home in Berkeley, Calif., decided to move to neighboring Piedmont. They started their search by visiting Sunday open houses. It was quite apparent to them which listings had been prepared for sale and which ones had not. They were invariably drawn to listings that were charming, clean, and uncluttered. Continue article...
• Does Home Remodeling Always Pay Off?
  Perhaps you've heard stories about homeowners who've greatly improved their net worth by remodeling homes and selling them. Continue article...
• 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...
• Determining Your Offer Price
  When you prepare an offer to purchase a home, you already know the seller’s asking price. But what price are you going to offer and how do you come up with that figure? Continue article...