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  Owning a historic home certainly comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. You need to make sure that you are ready for the challenges and responsibilities—financially, emotionally and even physically. Beyond its unique and charming characteristics, it is also important to determine wheth

What is escrow and how does it work? At some point in a real estate transaction, you will encounter the word “escrow.” If you're the buyer and you make an offer on a home you like, you’ll provide an earnest money deposit in the form of a check that will be placed in this escrow. But what does it rea

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016, more than 42 percent of people said they moved for a housing-related reason. Many of them either wanted a new home or a better apartment. Other reasons people cited for moving include family and employment-related reasons. “The decision to move can be per

Let's face it: there’s already a growing number of freelancers, contract workers, and gig economy workers in the U.S. It’s not surprising, given that many people now want to be their own boss or work from their own homes while sitting comfortably in their sofa. In a 2017 survey conducted by Upwork a

Planning to buy a home while the market is tight? Don't dive in unprepared! Understand what makes up a seller’s market, and follow a plan to make your offer stand out. A lot of home buyers tend to make rookie mistakes that get their offers rejected in a seller's market. If you want to be successful

In an analysis conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), it was found that there was a larger percentage of new homes, especially single-family homes, that cater to the preferences of many home buyers today. Significantly, new construction is addressing the substantial demand fo

For some people with enough funds and other houses to live in, selling a home and buying one at the same time can be relatively easy since there is not much pressure involved. But for those who need the equity from their old house to buy a new one, things can get quite stressful--especially so when

In simplest terms, a mortgage is a long-term loan designed to help borrowers purchase a house. It allows individuals to become homeowners without making a large down payment and thus, fulfilling The American Dream. Once you become a homeowner, a mortgage represents one of your life's biggest financi

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or a third-time home seller, the real estate transaction can be confusing and stressful enough even without the many terms and acronyms used during the process. But don't be overwhelmed — we’ve compiled a mini-glossary of the important terms you should know an

The viewing is usually the most exciting part of looking for and purchasing a home. It is the biggest purchase anyone ever makes, and home sellers usually go above and beyond when staging their homes. Because of this, home buyers find it so easy to fall in love with a home that looks great at first

You may think that buying a house still isn't in your realm of possibility. In fact, you may even feel a wave of panic just thinking about where to get the money for your down payment. For many young people, saving up to buy a house is the least of their priorities, especially when you’re still in d

Are you considering buying a house with an interest-only loan? We rounded up the 5 most common questions about this type of loan and came up with the best answers from the experts. What is an interest-only loan? The interest-only period typically runs for 5 years (10 years max), after which the loan

In a very competitive housing market, buyers need to step up their game in every way possible. They need to establish that they have a good credit score, a mortgage pre-approval, and a reasonable offer with fewer contingencies. However, if sellers are faced with multiple offers from buyers who are a

An appraisal is an integral part of the home buying process as it determines the objective value of a property. Lenders require an appraisal to help them evaluate a home before they issue a mortgage. Appraisals are done by trained and licensed appraisers, who will then give an unbiased report of the

The process of looking for a home in your golden years could be a bit different from when you were looking for a home to build a family in. Now, you can focus on what will make YOU happy. Your children have found homes of their own, and you're now free to choose a new home to create new memories in.

According to the National Association of Realtor's Schools and Home Buying Decision article, proximity to good quality schools is one of the most influential factors in a buyer’s decision when purchasing a home. It is a major factor especially for buyers with families or young couples who are planni

What is an appraisal? An appraisal is a professional estimate of the value of a home done by a certified appraiser. It is a critical process for buyers because lenders always require a home appraisal before they issue a mortgage. Meanwhile, for sellers, a good understanding of the appraisal process

You are finally done with house hunting, and you think you're ready to make an offer. What are the things you have to consider in settling on a price? Here are the top 10 things you should know to successfully close the deal with your offer. 1. Your budget Before even thinking about looking at house

They say buying a house together test a couple's relationship like no other. It’s undoubtedly true because many factors come into play when it comes to real estate, and little challenges can become difficult problems in a relationship later on. If you both share the same preferences, then it shouldn

As a home buyer, there were many tips you must have followed to ensure a smooth flow in your home purchase. And finally, after the actual closing, congratulations on being a new homeowner! However, the work doesn't stop after arranging for movers to bring your stuff and ordering new appliances. Ther