Sellers

During a recent tour of a town-home for sale, I was struck at the owner's apparent apathy for increasing her odds. My Realtor and I tripped over a pile of tennis shoes in the front entryway. Newspapers were littered about the living room floor. A pile of shirts drooped over the recliner. The morning's breakfast dishes were still on the table, being hungrily eyed by a pair of dogs confined to another section of the kitchen behind a baby gate. We walked out to the backyard to discover overgrown grass, chipped and peeling paint, and dog toys strewn about the lawn. The truth is that the town-home had potential, but after being met with this display, I had little interest in heading upstairs to view the bedrooms. It didn't dawn on me until that moment that how owners display their homes during showings is critical. Even in hot markets like Dallas, buyers are savvy enough to know that they have plenty of other options -- homes which have been well-maintained and convey the owner's sense of pride…

As we enter the sweltering days of late spring and early summer, homebuyers' thoughts will naturally turn to patios, decks, landscaping, air conditioning, and in some cases, pools. So if your home is on the market, you'll want to make sure your house is in top order and summer-friendly. Spring, particularly March and April, is typically the time of year that garners the most home sales; summer runs a close second…

The trend in residential construction is definitely "build bigger". In the last 30 years, the square footage of a typical single-family house has increased by 40 percent. Yet there are some buyers looking for smaller houses. Many empty nesters are looking to downsize from houses that often exceed 4,000 square feet to ones that are 2,000 square feet or smaller. Another segment is the first-time buyer. Typically just starting out and cash-poor, the first-timer in the new-house market wants an affordable house that will launch him or her on the road to equity. However, while both segments want smaller, they want to have the appearance of bigger…

What do many homeowners want to hear after a long day at work? Perhaps it's the sound of nothing. In the age of talking appliances, chiming pagers and musical cell phones, Americans tend to savor their quiet times above all. The problem is most homes are not built for quiet…

Getting help to spruce up the inside of your home is as close as the phone, mouse or remote control. Today's homeowners have lots of options when it comes to interior design. While hiring a professional to turn your house into a dream home is certainly one way to go, there are lots of other places you can turn for help that won't cost a penny. With enough time and effort, anyone can become a Martha Stewart by turning to Martha Stewart herself…

A growing number of people are getting into the swing by buying a home at one of the nation's many new golf communities. The National Golf Foundation reports that since 1986, the number of golfers in the United States has jumped 34 percent. During that time, the number of residential golf communities has also been on the rise. In fact, the NGF says about 45 percent of golf course construction today is part of a residential community. Golf communities are alluring to golfers and non-golfers alike and appeal to a wide range of age groups. In addition to the golf course, many of the communities offer a host of other amenities, such as swimming pools, baseball and softball fields, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Some also feature a community recreation center, club house, restaurant, and reception areas…

If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new dream house or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new adventures. Whatever turbulent feelings you're experiencing right now, there are plenty of practical matters that need your attention…

If you believe what it says, late night TV is full of great ways to invest in real estate. Most investors - they seem to suggest - are looking at big paybacks with no money down. That's unlikely, like going to the store to buy a watermelon and offering to pay for it with a paperclip (a highly-unlikely feat which my daughter successfully managed to do this summer at camp). It takes forethought and preparation to be successful in real estate. You also need to realize that buying real estate is investing and with investing there is risk: If you don't know what you're doing, you can make a costly mistake…

While it may sometimes appear that your home inspection is the end-all, tell-all, it isn't. Home inspectors occasionally make mistakes, which is why it's important to carefully review everything that comes to light in the inspection process and question findings that don't add up. The average home has more than 60,000 pieces and parts to it. Short of being able to see through walls, predict cracks where none is showing, and test every single element of your home, even the best home inspector has to rely on representative samplings, coupled with experience and up-to-date product and systems information in tracking down faulty points…

Generally speaking, and in the absence of a contractual agreement to the contrary, fixtures remain with the house. Personal items can be removed by the seller. As one can see, it certainly makes a difference if an item is characterized "personal property" or "fixtures." For example, can a seller take a removable wet bar from the basement, even though the plumbing is hooked up? Does a window air conditioning unit convey with the property? There are no easy answers to any of these questions…

President Bush has signed a funding bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development that gives life to a housing program first proposed by then candidate Bush during the 2000 campaign. The measure also authorizes the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to begin backing hybrid adjustable rate mortgages and increases the loan ceiling on FHA-insured multi-family mortgages. Under the "American Dream Down Payment Assistance" program, Uncle Sam would match $3 for every $1 contributed by a bank or other private lending institution or individual towards a down payment, closing costs or a "soft" second mortgage that need not be paid back as long as the borrower meets certain conditions. The appropriations bill earmarks $50 million for the program, enough by Administration estimates to get 30,000 potential buyers over the hump and on their way towards home ownership. Assistance of up to $1,500 would be available to first-time buyers with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median for their areas…

House hunting for first-time homebuyers- It's an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking, experience. If you're like others in the market for their first home, you probably have in mind exactly how your soon-to-be home will look. But it's important not to fall into the bad decorating, dingy walls, and dirt-bare back yard equals bad-home trap. If you don't see past the hideous wallpaper, funky light fixtures, and avocado green carpeting, you may miss out on a home with great potential. And, if you're looking for a home in a seller's market where homes are being snatched up as soon as they go on the market, you'll come to realize you can't be choosy if you want to make a competitive offer…

In the Southern U.S. it is not unusual to pass by many mobile home parks on the way to an everyday destination. They were - and still are - considered a vital part of many communities across the country and may offer a viable alternative to traditional housing for households seeking an affordable home of their own.. For some, a manufactured home can fulfill their dream of homeownership. Fortunately, the industry has gone through many changes in the last 25 years to assure quality and safety in the construction of manufactured houses…

Couples today are breaking away from the typical crystal, China and silver gift registries when it comes to asking for wedding gifts. Since a new marriage can often mean time for a new house, many couples are throwing tradition to the wind and asking for extremely practical gifts -- like money toward a down payment or tools to keep their new house humming. Money has always been a popular wedding gift, and now some couples are making it clear it would be the gift of choice. They're going to their brokers to set up special joint accounts that are targeted toward a down payment…

If you're close to buying a home in the coming year, then you'll want to keep a close eye on your holiday spending. You don't want to hamper your chances of getting a loan, and you'll want to be sure you have plenty of cash on hand in your first year of homeownership. The International Mass Retail Association in a late October survey estimated that holiday shoppers will spend an average of $863 on gifts this year. However, they ultimately end up spending some 15 to 30 percent more, the association says. Because your credit history is so important in obtaining a loan, you'll want to refrain from opening any credit accounts for major appliance or electronic purchases. You'll also want to avoid running your existing credit cards to their limits. Why? When you apply for a mortgage, the lender may request a credit score as well as a credit report…

Many would-be home buyers are dismayed at the ever-increasing price of their rent and housing in general. In addition, they just can't seem to make enough money top afford the purchase of a home. They are in industries that will not provide them more opportunity than what they have now. As an example, someone who's salary was at $15,000 and though there are houses priced about $50,000, their debt to salary ratio knocks them out of the buying arena at this time. They can't see homeownership as a part of his future. For people in this situation there is hope.. Someone making $15,000 could purchase a house in several markets with today's interest rates…

Thinking about a second home? In 2001, nearly 6 percent of the record 6.2 million sales of single-family homes were of second homes. According to the most recent data, there were 3.6 million vacant seasonal homes in the third quarter of 2002, up from 3.1 million in 1990 and only 1.7 million in 1980, the U.S. Census Bureau said. "That category often is cited as the total number of vacation homes," David Lereah, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, says. "However, we believe that assumption misses many recreational properties that are not vacant." Other census data show there are 9.2 million homes held by owners in addition to their primary residences…

Most of the time, people have good intentions, but as a buyer, you need to protect yourself from mistakes the seller may make in giving you proper disclosures. This is especially important when it comes to environmental issues such as water damage that can lead to mold. While Realtor organizations are attempting to make it more difficult for sellers to conceal defects from buyers, state-mandated disclosures are often still a matter of interpretation. Some sellers may intend to provide proper disclosure, but may leave off material facts because they don't realize the significance…

If you're preparing to buy a house during what is typically the busiest buying and selling time of the year, then offers may be flying, loans may seem confusing, and everything may be moving way too fast. This is why it's important to do everything you can to protect yourself throughout the entire home buying process. Low mortgage interest rates and a strong underlying demand for housing drove total state existing-home sales to a new record in the first quarter of 2003 with 34 states experiencing sales increases over the first quarter of 2002, according to the National Association of Realtors. According to the NAR, many states that saw sales decline actually had a shortage of homes for sale - and the biggest price increases…

There's no question that men and women are different. Even when it comes to their housing choices, men and women are often profiles in contradiction. According to the National Association of Realtors' latest profile of home buyers, three of every ten single females purchase either a condominium or townhouse. Only two in ten males make the same choice. Part of that, of course, has to do with money. Rookies who are women earn significantly less than their male counterparts. The median for women is $35,500 vs. $44,800. So it's not surprising that women spend far less than men -- $88,900 vs. $101,700. Still, previously-owned houses of the single-family variety are the overwhelming choice of both men and women. Men were more likely to buy single-family houses, 74 percent to 66 percent, though. But at least that shoots holes in the theory that women prefer townhouse or apartment living…

Deferred Maintenance vs. Subject To. Live it, love it, and learn it. These terms are sometimes bandied about without much thought when getting a property appraised. But knowing the difference between the two and how it can make or break your deal may be your biggest concern when reading an appraisal. What is Deferred Maintenance? Deferred means that you put it off. Maintenance means taking care of something. Put the two together and it all makes sense…

While discussing this subject, we should keep in mind loan payoffs. Millions of Americans are taking advantage of lower interest rates and refinancing their mortgage. For those folks who have FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans, it's important to know that FHA collects the entire month's interest when the loan is paid off. Basically, this means that if you pay off your FHA loan on the first of the month, FHA will charge you interest for the entire month. So for people who are refinancing their FHA loan, it's best to settle at the end of the month. With any luck your loan officer will already know this and have you scheduled to close at the appropriate time…

I remember in the spring of 1998, sitting at an awards ceremony for one of the nation's largest independent real estate companies when the president/founder of the company predicted: "Anything with a door on it will sell in the next 12 months." He was dead-on. What began that year was one of the largest real estate value surges in the markets where his company sold real estate. History has proven him right, as well, with average appreciation growing in many regions in double digits every year. If you're buying a house to live in, the three key aspects of real estate are: location, location, location. If you're looking to buy real estate as an investment, however, the three key aspects are: timing, timing, and timing. Robert M. Campbell notes this principal very well in his book "Timing the Real Estate Market," published last fall…

With thoughts of how you're going to arrange the furniture in your new home, whether you'll make the deadline for registering the kids for their new school and how you'll find a mover on short notice, the home inspection process sometimes takes a back seat. But it shouldn't. A home inspection is perhaps the most important chapter in the home-buying saga. You've seen the beautiful tile floors, the new carpet and the freshly painted walls, but do you know what lurks in the bowels of the heating system, what lies in the crevices of the roof, and if anything -- other than water -- can be found in the interior plumbing? You should -- you're about to plop down a huge down payment and commit to a 15- or 30-year mortgage…

It's not that home warranties or those who issue them are deceptive. It's all right there in the small print -- disclaimers, exclusions, "weasel" clauses. The contract tells you what isn't covered and that's no small matter. The problem is many home owners don't discover just how limited home warranties truly are until they need coverage they think they have. So says the 13-page "New Home Warranties: Deception or Protection? A Consumer's Perspective" prepared by John R. Cobarruvias, president of the Texas Chapter of Homeowners against Deficient Dwellings (HADD). Home warranty protection is an issue that has confounded home owners for years. Founded in Liberty, MO, HADD is a nationwide, non-profit, grass roots organization created by home owners with unresolved complaints, most often about new home defects…

When you purchase homeowners insurance, you expect that it will be there when you need it. That means that if there is a natural disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane or a flood, it will be there. And in the environmental context, if oil is leaked from your heating oil tank, you expect that it will be there. The relationship between homeowners and their insurance companies has been described as a fiduciary relationship. A fiduciary status means that this is more than just a contract relationship…

Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture for regulations regarding moving plants from one state to another. Many states have restrictions on certain plants to prevent importing bugs or pests that can destroy valuable cash crops. A couple of weeks before you move, prune plants to facilitate packing. Consult a florist or a plant book for instructions. A week before your move place your plants in a black plastic bag, along with a bug/pest strip, conventional flea collar or bug powder…

Never mind that the commute time to work is long. Never mind that the kids may have to take an extended bus ride to get to school. There are far more important issues for us as new home buyers: You want maximum house for your money. You want lot sizes that give you plenty of room between yourself and your neighbors. You want to be located in a neighborhood that you consider "right" for all your needs, even at the cost of more time spent on the road. Those are some of the key findings of a comprehensive new national study of what matters most too recent American home buyers…

The fact that you're planning out your steps is to be commended. When it comes to purchasing your private residence, it makes complete sense to sign an exclusive buyer's agreement to guarantee you're represented in the home buying process. Some buyers are misguided in believing that they can somehow get a better deal on a home purchase by just working with one agent: the listing, or seller's, agent…

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. The standard home inspector's report will include an evaluation of the condition of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement, and visible structure. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check©up. If problems or symptoms are found, the inspector will refer you to the appropriate specialist or tradesperson for further evaluation…

The Federal Reserve reports that the Chicago "economy expanded solidly." In this quarter's report the Fed states that Chicago's expanding economy is due in large part to a "broader-based advance in manufacturing." The Fed reported that "Economy expanded solidly in late April and May, due in part to a stronger, broader-based advance in manufacturing. Consumer and business spending increased and hiring picked up…

Baltimore Hangs On To Industrial Growth. The Baltimore market has remained steady throughout the recession years. In 2003 it absorbed as much space as it added - 2.3 million square feet of bulk distribution, flex, and office-warehouse space. This consistent behavior is expected to be the foundation for greater economic growth in the coming year…

Boston is enjoying the fruits of an increasingly robust economy. The Federal Reserve just issued a positive economic report for both commercial real estate markets and the commercial sector as a whole. The Fed reported that "Boston activity continues to gain strength, retailers and manufacturers report growth in sales and orders. Demand for software and information technology services as well as temp workers are also rising." The Fed further reports that "Commercial real estate markets may be stabilizing."…

When buying commercial real estate it is vital that you carefully consider its location. Buying in the correct location for you and your business can make or break the money making potential of your purchase. The first thing you must determine is what exactly your needs are. Take the time to make a careful list of all the things that you will need from your commercial property…

As this year marches on, Bakersfield CA continues to show strong returns in the commercial real estate sector. The strong commercial market is being fueled by a robust internal population growth. Bakersfield grew 28.1% from 1990-2000, compared with a 13.8% state average for the same period. The city of Bakersfield is expected to grow by 14.4% over from 200-2007 (compared to a 7.5% state rate)…

Now could be a good time to begin thinking about investing in commercial property in Alabama. Properties most likely to make money are those in heavy industrial or business leases…

Boise Remains Stable amidst uncertainty. Investment real estate demand remained strong in Boise during 2003 and is expected to expand during the coming years. The highest premiums have been paid for single-tenant, triple-net leased properties with credit tenants and remaining terms greater than five years. Additionally high vacancies have seemed to stabilize in what analysts predict is a preparation to lowering…

Detroit is currently experiencing an overall shift of much of its industrial and office activity from the city center to the suburban markets. With this in mind the Detroit market is staying pretty level in vacancy rates for both industrial and office space at 14.04% and 16.71% respectively. While leasing activity has increase dramatically for both Warehouse/Manufacturing and Research and Development/High-Tech…

The Federal Reserve reports that the economic environment in Cleveland "remains strong."Cleveland is coming off of an economic slump in 2003 and is enjoying gains in manufacturing sectors for the first half of this year. The Fed reported that "The economic environment remained strong. In the manufacturing sector, increases in production continued to be broad-based, something that could not be said before the beginning of this year. Retailers reported steady conditions in recent weeks as well. Many firms reported that their hiring is likely to be limited for the remainder of this year."…

There are several advantages to having a realtor when buying commercial estate. Realtors will almost invariably save you money, by lowering your opportunity costs. The following are three specific ways a realtor will save you money…