Articles Index
How To Do a Short Sale
The fundamentals behind a short sale in real estate, why lenders may accept a real estate short sale, how to do short sales, and how a short sale financially affects sellers, whether or not the seller is in foreclosure.
Tenants' Rights in Foreclosures
Tenants can find out if a landlord is in foreclosure way ahead of time. Here's how to request a copy of the notice of default if you're a renter and want to know if your landlord is in foreclosure. Tenants' rights in a foreclosure.
Will a Short Sale Ruin Credit?
Will a short sale ruin your credit rating? What is better: a short sale or a foreclosure? Length of time before a home owner can buy another home after a short sale or foreclosure.
HOPE for Homeowners Refinance Through FHA
The HOPE for Homeowners program allows an FHA refinance for upside-down home owners, touted as relief from foreclosure or short sales, providing home owners qualify for the FHA program.
Best Places to Live
How to choose the best places to live. If you could live anywhere in the United States, which places would you choose that are best for you? Here's how to help you decide where you would love to live.
Tips for Buying a Vacation Home on the Beach
Great tips that you've probably never considered about buying a vacation home on the beach. How to safely buy a second home on the ocean. Drawbacks to buying a vacation home near water.
About the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Explanation of the 2009 $8,000 home buyer tax credit. How to qualify for the home buyer tax credit.
The Top Three Lies Told By Real Estate Agents
Is your real estate agent lying to you? How to tell if your agent is dishonest or an imposter. Ways to find out the truth about your real estate agent.
VA Loans
What is a VA loan? Who qualifies to obtain a VA loan? What is a certificate of eligibility and how does a veteran obtain such a document? What are the pros and cons of a VA loan?
Beware When Buying a Flipper Home
Before buying a flipper home, find out the history of that flipper because you may get turned down for a mortgage. Why lenders reject loans on flipper homes from qualified borrowers.
Do First-Time Home Buyers Need an Agent?
Tips for buying your first home and whether you should hire your own agent, buy a home without an agent or let the seller's agent represent you.
Dumping an Underwater Home Without Doing a Short Sale
Alternatives to selling that underwater home as a short sale. To fully protect your credit, if you home is underwater, you might want to explore other options to a short sale.
How to Find a Bad Credit Mortgage
How a bad credit mortgage can help poor credit risks re-establish credit after a bankruptcy, foreclosure, short sale or other financial crisis. How to find a bad credit mortgage, and types of bad credit mortgages to avoid.
The Roommate Nobody Wants to Live With
Safety first when searching for a roommate. How the roommate can help to pay your mortgage. Tips for sharing a home with a roommate or renting out a room to a roommate.
12 Days of Christmas for Home Sellers
Real estate angle on the 12 days of Christmas. What do agents give to home sellers during the 12 days of Christmas?
How to Do 1031 Exchanges
The specifics of a 1031 exchange; why 1031 exchanges defer capital gains taxes and how to qualify for a 1031 exchange.
How a Qualified Intermediary Faciliates a 1031 Exchange
What does a Qualified Intermediary do to facilitate a 1031 exchange? Why 1031 exchanges may require the services of a third party, called the Qualified Intermediary, to comply with IRS regulations.
How to Do Tenants in Common 1031 Exchanges
How to defer taxes for investment purposes through Tenants in Common 1031 Exchanges. Types of property that qualify for a tenants in common 1031 exchange, understanding section 1031 of the IRS tax code and completing tax-deferred exchanges.
Is a Delaware Statutory Trust a Safe Real Investment Investment?
Is a Delaware Statutory Trust a safe real estate investment? How you can do a 1031 Exchange or buy directly into a Delaware Statutory Trust.
Who Pays the Real Estate Commission?
How does a real estate agent get paid? Who pays the real estate agent's commission? Can real estate agents get paid by both sellers and buyers. Is it legal? Just how much money do real estate agents make anyway?
Home Inspections - Six Reasons to Inspect an Attic
Home inspections can go wrong. Undoubtedly, this is one of the worst home inspections I've ever witnessed throughout my real estate career; read this nightmare and view the graphic photographs that illustrate the horrors that can lurk in an attic.
Loan Preapproval - The Advantages of Loan Preapproval
Why should a first-time home buyer get preapproved for a loan? Here are reasons why it's to a homebuyer's advantage to get preapproved for a home loan over being pre-qualified.
While Your Home is on the Market - Protecting Your Privacy
Are your secrets safe? Before a home goes on the market and home buyers start to traipse through, savvy sellers will hide confidential information. Even so, you might be astonished to learn what home buyers can figure out about you.
Green Moving Tips
Using green moving tips when relocation or moving into a new home. How to continue protecting the environment after moving in.
Before You Sign a Buyer Broker Agreement
Exclusive buyer broker contract elements. Before signing a buyer broker agreement with a real estate agent, here are the four most important components of the contract.