BUYERS - Buying Your Home

Appraisals & Market Value

Can I find out the value of my home through the Internet? How do you determine the value of a troubled property? How is a home's value determined? What are the standard ways of finding out how much a home is worth? What is the difference between list price, sales price and appraised value? What is the difference between market value and appraised value? What is the return on new versus previously owned homes? What standards do appraisers use to estimate value? What's a house worth?

Common Q&A About Selling Your Home

Do sellers have to disclose the terms of other offers? How do I prepare the house for sale? How long do bankruptcies and foreclosures stay on a credit report? Should I add on or buy a bigger home? What are some tips on negotiation? What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean? Who gets the furnishings when a home is sold?

Condominiums & Townhomes

Are condominiums risky to buy? Are condos a good investment? Are one-bedroom condominiums a good investment? Can a condo association ban nudity? Can condos ban smoking? Do condos have to be made accessible to the disabled? How do I figure out the homeowners association? How do you choose between condos and single-family homes? Where do I get information on condo association laws? Where do I get information on condos?

Escrow & Closing Costs

How can I save on closing costs? What are closing costs? What contingencies should be put in an offer? Where do I get information about closing costs? Who pays the closing costs? Why do I need a title report?

Finding the Right Home

Do we dig deep and buy a dream home or settle for a starter home? How do I get the real scoop on homes I am looking at? How do you choose between buying and renting? What are the pros and cons of adding on or buying new? What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean?

Fixer-Uppers

Are fixers a good idea in bad areas? Are there any special tax breaks for historic rehab? Are there gov't programs for rehab? Are there programs for fixer-uppers? How do building codes work? What are some guidelines to follow when trying to find a contractor? What are some resources for info on home improvements? What kind of return is there on remodeling jobs? Where are fixer-uppers found?

Foreclosures

Are foreclosures an option? Can I get a HUD home for as little as $100 down? Do you have to buy HUD homes through a realty agent? How do you find government-repossessed homes? How do you get financing for a foreclosure? How does a home go into foreclosure? What about buying a foreclosure "as is"? What are problems with buying foreclosures? What happens at a trustee sale? What types of foreclosure are there? Where can you find foreclosed HUD homes? Where can you find foreclosures? Where do I learn about HUD foreclosures?

Home Inspections & Warranties

Do I need a home inspection? How do I find a home inspector? What's a home inspection?

Insurance

What is guaranteed replacement cost insurance? What kind of home insurance should I get?

Lease Options

How do lease options work and what are the benefits? What is a lease option? Where do I get information on lease options?

Making an Offer

Are low-ball offers advisable? Can you buy homes below market? Do I need an attorney when I buy a house? How do you determine the value of a troubled property? Is a low offer a good idea? What are some tips on negotiation? What are the standard contingencies? What contingencies should be put in an offer? What is the difference between list and sales prices? What is the difference between list price, sales price and appraised value? Who gets the furnishings when a home is sold? Whose obligation is it to disclose pertinent information about a property?

Negotiating and Closing a Good Deal

Are interest rates negotiable? Are low-ball offers advisable? Can you buy homes below market? Can you negotiate the price on new homes? Do I need an attorney when I buy a house? How is the price set? How much does my real estate agent need to know? Is a low offer a good idea? Is there a secret to good negotiating? Should I include an inspection contingency in my offer? What are some tips on negotiation? What contingencies should be put in an offer? What do you think of get-rich-quick real estate schemes? What is the best time to buy? What is the difference between list price, sales price and appraised value? What is the first step to buying a home? What repairs should the seller make? Who gets the furnishings when a home is sold?

New Homes & Vacation Homes

Can you negotiate the price on new homes? Do builders give financing? Should I buy a vacation home? Should I hire a home inspector for a new home? What about new versus previously owned? What are considerations to buying a new home? What are some new-home cautions? What do you think of a vacation home as an investment? What is the return on new versus previously owned homes? Where can I get a list of home builders?

Property Taxes

Are property taxes deductible? Are taxes on second homes deductible? Do all loans require impound accounts? How do property taxes work? How is a home's value determined? What is an impound account? Where can I learn more about appealing my property taxes?

Tax Considerations

Are points deductible? Are seller-paid points deductible? Are taxes on second homes deductible? Are the costs of a natural disaster deductible? Are there tax credits for first-time home buyers? Can I deduct the loss I suffered when I sold my home? Can you deduct the cost of home improvements? Explain the home mortgage deduction . . How are fees and assessments figured in a homeowners association? How do I reach the IRS? How do I save on taxes? How do you choose between buying and renting? Should I buy a vacation home? What are the rules for mortgage credit certificates? What are the rules on capital gains when inheriting a house? What home-buying costs are deductible? What is the Mortgage Credit Certificate program? What tax benefits are there to homeowners? When is the best time to buy? Where do I get information on IRS publications?

Tenants-In-Common and Co-ops

Can a co-owner force someone off a shared deed? Where do I get information on co-ops?

What You Can Afford

How do you determine the value of a troubled property? How long do bankruptcies and foreclosures stay on a credit report? How much does my real estate agent need to know? How much will I spend on maintenance expenses? What can I afford? What is Fannie Mae's low-down program? What is the standard debt-to-income ratio? When is the best time to buy? Where do I get information on housing market stats?

Whom to Contact (How to Buy)

How do I find a home inspector? How do I reach the IRS? What standards do appraisers use to estimate value? Where can I get information on buyer agents? Where do I get information about closing costs? Where do I get information about finding a real estate attorney? Where do I get information about housing discrimination? Where do I get information on home market stats and trends? Where do I get information on housing market stats? Where do I get information on lease options?

Whom to Contact (Where & What to Buy)

Where can I get a list of home builders? Where do I get information on co-ops? Where do I get information on filing consumer complaints? Where do I get information on housing market stats? Where do I get information on manufactured housing?

Working With a Real Estate Agent

Are commissions negotiable? Can I use an agent for a new home? How do I find a real estate agent? How do you find a good agent? How many people sell their homes themselves? How much does my real estate agent need to know? What about a buyer's agent? Where can I get information on buyer agents?