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When it makes sense to overpay for house
No one likes to overpay for a home, particularly in a soft market. Yet, even in the current beleaguered housing market, there are pockets of strength. In these areas, buyers can find themselves in competition. Multiple offers can drive the price up, but not always.
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Buy now, sell later?
Plan for the worst and hope for the best. This is a reasonable course of action if you're planning to sell your current home and buy another one in the current market.
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Credit crisis delaying home purchases
Changes in the housing market can change the nature of home-sale transactions. For instance, before the boom in the home-sale market that began in the second half of the 1990s, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) purchase agreement used by most California REALTORS® included a clause in which the seller warranted the condition of the property.
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Buying fixer-upper? Don't expect goldmine
Fixer-upper properties come in many varieties. Cosmetic fixers usually offer the biggest return on your investment. And, they tend to be a lot less costly than homes that require major renovation.
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Composite decking not infallible
Check over the results of virtually any home improvement survey, and you will see that adding a deck consistently ranks at or near the top of the list in terms of both desirability and payback on investment. If a deck is high on your wish list, one of the primary decisions you are no doubt struggling with is what type of decking material to use -- natural wood, or one of the new plastic composite materials that have been getting so much attention lately.
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Choosing the right weather stripping
Air infiltration -- the movement of outside air into and out of your home -- can account for a significant amount of heat loss, and the resulting air currents can make a home feel uncomfortably drafty. When it comes to air infiltration some of the most common culprits are exterior doors, so a few weekend hours devoted to some new weather stripping can have some pretty dramatic results.
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GFCI electrical outlets are lifesavers
Q: What is a GFCI electrical outlet? Are outlets of this type required in all homes, and if so, where? --Allen D.
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Want a fancier-looking room? Try wainscoting
One way to really dress up a room and try your hand at some different decorating techniques is to consider wainscoting. There are a number of ways to combine materials to create some very attractive wainscoting effects, and the cost doesn't need to be prohibitive.
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Price it right when selling in today's market
We're in the midst of a challenging home-sale market in many areas. However, soft markets can provide opportunities for some home sellers. The trick is to price your home right for today's market.
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Foreclosures drying up flow of HOA fees
DEAR BENNY: I live in a 12-unit condominium complex. We self-manage. One of the units will probably be going into foreclosure in the very near future. What does the complex need to do to collect the monthly dues and yearly assessments once the unit is in foreclosure? –Sara
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Curb appeal tips that pay off
Imagine going on a job interview looking shabby, or trying to sell your car for a good price when it's filthy and loaded with stuff. In a competitive market, you wouldn't do well.
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Top ways to boost curb appeal
You've no doubt heard the term "curb appeal," which is the first impression that your home makes when a visitor arrives. Whether you have your home up for sale or just want things to look a little nicer when you or someone else pulls up out in front, the best place to start is by giving the front of your home a critical examination.
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Virginia Homeowners Alliance Empowers Homeowners
The Virginia Homeowners Alliance is a new Web site dedicated to empowering homeowners and potential homebuyers through informat
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Mortgage approval is no easy task
It wasn't too long ago that home buyers made offers without financing contingencies and closed the deal in as short as 14 days following acceptance. Quick closes are virtually impossible today if you're buying a home with the aid of a mortgage. And, it's highly recommended to include loan and appraisal contingencies in your offer.
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Pest repairs are turnoff for buyers
In a perfect world, houses wouldn't deteriorate over time. In reality, the wear begins as soon as a house is built. Older houses tend to have more maintenance issues. But even new homes can develop problems within a few years if they were poorly constructed.
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Selling home to offspring has its benefits
SCIN. No, it's not the stuff that covers our body. It's a highly complex legal and financial transaction that may be of interest to elderly homeowners.
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Top home-buying mistakes revealed
The first rule of inspecting a home you want to buy is to stay intimately involved in the process, and to leave no stone unturned. If you're busy or traveling during the time period, you have to complete your due diligence investigations by enlisting the aid of a friend you trust to stand in on your behalf -- someone who will keep you well informed as inspections proceed.
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