Home Buying General
Home Buying 101 - Escrow? Jumbo loan? PMI? Before your head is
swimming with these house-buying terms, get a quick vocabulary lesson in
some real estate and mortgage terms.
8 tips for House-Hunting on Vacation - Some say it's no way to
spend a vacation, but checking out the real estate market in your
favorite corner of paradise actually may be a smart way to multitask.
What's Better: New or Existing Home? - Different strokes for
different folks. Here's a review of the pros and cons of each.
10 Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Make - If you can avoid
falling into these traps you're likely to get a much better deal.
Condo or House? What's Best For You? - Condo units sometimes
appreciate faster than single-family homes, but that's just one factor
to consider when deciding between the two.
Who Should NOT Buy a House - It's not for everyone, you know.
Some people in some circumstances shouldn't even think about it.
Vacation Homes: Not Just for the Rich and Famous - You, too,
can own a vacation home, even if you're not rich. The trick is in
avoiding the property-management middleman.
Six Top Benefits of Owning a Home - The responsibilities that
go with homeownership can be a pain, but the financial and "feel good"
rewards make it all worthwhile.
Foreclosures & Real Estate Investments
The Truth About Buying Foreclosures - Everyone wants to buy a
foreclosure for a song. But they're not that easy to find and there's no
guarantee it's a good investment.
Investing in Foreclosures: For Novices it's a Crapshoot -
Getting rich from buying foreclosures is the fantasy of many
Americans, but it's much like most other things that seem too good to
be true.
Top Ten Mistakes by Novice Real Estate Investors - Real estate
has become the investment everyone sees as their ticket to easy
wealth. It's not that easy.
Avoiding Foreclosure-Rescue Scams - The convergence of
economic and political forces may soon bring about a home-equity
version of the stock market crash of 1929.
7 Tips About Foreclosure from the National Consumer Law Center
- Avoid slick sales talk and seek advice from your lender if you find
yourself in a bind.
Real Estate Gurus - If Only it Were that Easy - The road to
riches sure isn't as easy as advertised.
Anti-Flipping Rules Aimed at Investors - Stricter lending
rules on homes that are bought and quickly resold are having a
negative effect on investors.
Your Finances & Your Mortgage
A New Way to Grow Your Money Tax Free - Proposed Roth 401(k)
will offer significant benefits for savers.
Interest Only Mortgage Deja Vu - That last craze for
interest-only mortgages craze ended with a Depression-era wave of
foreclosures. The new variety of this loan is even riskier, says Jack
Guttentag, the Mortgage Professor.
Locking a Rate vs. Paying Discount Points - Those waiting for a
house to be finished often spend thousands on long rate locks, but there
is an alternative: Pay that same money for discount points.
Shop Wisely for a Real Estate Investment Club -
You can learn a lot, both good and bad, so check them out thoroughly.
6 Money Mistakes Even the Experts Make - Everybody messes up.
Smart people learn from the experience.
Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle - If your money runs
out before the month does, this eight-step plan will help, says the
Debt Adviser.
Breaking an ARM's Grip - Those who took out adjustable-rate
mortgages (ARMs) when rates were at record lows are now looking for ways
out.
Adding Up Deductible Sales Tax - The new sales tax deduction
gives many filers another chance at cutting their federal bills. Our
expert looks at how the law applies to some specialty sales taxes.
8 Calls to Make if Your Identity is Stolen - A step-by-step
guide to clearing your good name.
Quiz: Do You Protect Your Identity? - Check to see if you're
protecting yourself from identity thieves.
14 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft - Former thief Frank Abagnale
offers some suggestions to protect your credit.
Good News, Bad News: Credit Card Minimum Payments Doubling -
Ballooning minimum monthly payment on credit card balances could help
you reduce debt faster or push you closer to bankruptcy.
Before you Move
Get Rid of Your Junk - Choose one of several methods to sell
your old belongings and make some money.
Now You're A Homeowner!
How to Hire a Contractor - Remodeling or repairing your home is
not something you do every day. Here's how to be selective when choosing
a contractor.
Ten Mistakes Do-it-Yourselfers Make - Home improvement
projects often require more time and money t han you expect. Four
experts share the ten most common mistakes.
How Much do you Know about Home Equity? - Take this quiz to
see if you understand how home equity loans and lines of credit work.
Beefing Up Your Home's Security - You can keep the bad guys at
bay without having to rob a bank to pay for the cost of additional
security.
16 Ways to Get Better Insurance - What you say and how you say
it can make a big difference.
Reverse Mortgages: Retirement's On the House - Among the
faster growing products in the home finance industry today is a
mortgage that puts money into the pockets of borrowers -- and they
don't have to pay it back until after they move out.
Cutting Your Home Energy Costs - Cooling your home this summer
will be pricey, but a few changes can make a big difference. And, many
changes don't cost much in cash, or comfort.
A few tips for Sellers
Be Safe While Selling Your Home - When you're selling your
house, you're letting strangers into your home. Make sure you're safe.
Price Your Home at the Top, but Not Over the Top - Pricing it
lower than it should be is cheating yourself, but going overboard can
lead to no sale at all.
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Willow Realty
