Have you ever tried to remove a lockbox by sawing off the shackle? It’s not easy. When I closed on my house, the listing agent never came to ... Read More

It’s like riding a bike. Once you figure out how to do it, you’ll realize that computing mortgage interest is easy, and you’ll never forget it. It will also astound you. ... Read More

Short sale sellers always ask if they should stop paying the mortgage. I never answer that question because I can't give legal advice. I suppose the sellers' rationale is the lender ... Read More

When most people set out to buy or sell, they're not wondering about whether it's a seller's or a buyer's market. Home buyers and sellers are thinking about their own ... Read More

Finally, a comprehensive article that covers everything you ever wanted to know about real estate agents, but were afraid to ask. Chances are if you’re thinking about buying or selling real ... Read More

It's that time of year again to write my real estate horoscopes for the new year. Do you think horoscopes accurately predict your destiny or what you should or should not ... Read More

You may not realize it, but there are a lot of things to buy after home buying. Many of the first-time home buyers with whom I work put down less than ... Read More

There's not a home buyer out there today who doesn't want to make a lowball offer, yet many novices make at least one or more of the 5 lowball offer ... Read More

Some web sites are holding contests to name the biggest real estate stories of 2008, but I didn't enter any of them. I figured my readers would prefer to hear my ... Read More

Homes with a bad layout are always the hardest to sell. Ever walk into a house and say to yourself, “Something is wrong here?” But you don’t know what is bugging ... Read More

Homeowners insurance is one of those things that people rarely think about until they are ready to submit a claim. Few wonder if they are paying too much. If you're buying ... Read More

Come tax time, most home owners who work out of the house are relieved they can count on certain home business office tax deductions. Those tax deductions can come back to ... Read More

Mold isn't the only concern in a home with a wet basement. Shortly after I bought an 1898 Victorian in Minneapolis, my basement flooded. It was a hard July rain, the ... Read More