When it comes to real estate, the summer home-buying season is the busiest, with many families wanting to be settled in their new homes before school starts. This year, however, home buying and selling activity is expected to remain strong through... (Read More)

Are you thinking about purchasing a home in the future? Here are three important steps to take now to get yourself ready. Supercharge your savings. You'll need to save money for your down payment and closing costs and you'll need to have some... (Read More)

Which renovation projects provide the biggest return on your investment when it comes time to sell your home? You can get a pretty good idea of which upgrades offer a better ROI than others by taking a look at Remodeling Magazine's Cost Vs. Value... (Read More)

"New car smell" is divine, but nothing quite like the smell — and look — of a newly-built home. Pristine carpets, unblemished walls, the smell of freshly-cut lumber lingering in the air — it's hard to beat the excitement of taking ownership of... (Read More)

Do you know the difference between discount points and origination points? These are two important terms any home buyer should understand. Each type of point is equal to 1 percent of your total loan amount. For example, on a $200,000 loan, one... (Read More)

You found a home your family loves. But you're not the only one who wants it. What's the best way to make an offer on a home that other buyers are vying for as well? Here are some ways to put your best foot forward: Start off with your best... (Read More)

The appraisal is an important part of the home buying process. But what happens if the appraisal comes up short of the agreed-upon selling price? Here's an example: A home is listed for sale for $350,000. It's a multiple bidding situation, so you... (Read More)

When purchasing a home, your mortgage pre-approval is based on your current financial situation. That's why once you are pre-approved, you should avoid making big changes to your finances. Here are several things you'll want to avoid doing while... (Read More)

What are the features you want to see in your next home? The National Association of Realtors recently surveyed home buyers nationwide on the home features that are most important to them. They found that the typical home buyer currently is... (Read More)