How do you measure house square footage? Square footage is measured in surprising ways, and is done differently around the country. Here’s what you need to know about how Realtors and builders measure square footage and how it affects home buyers. Q: I'm buying a house in Pawling, NY. The measured indoor space (all rooms, [...]
Millennial home buyers are buying up a storm of real estate. Finally. For the past decade, since the Great Recession forced so many Americans to put their lives on hold, the world of real estate has been praying for the arrival of Millennials on the home buying scene, to begin buying, selling, fixing up and [...]
Will Donald Trump affect the housing market in 2017? That's the question on the mind of every Realtor, mortgage lender, home inspector, contractor and housing industry observer. The answer probably won't be known until well after the inauguration - mostly because Trump hasn't been clear about where his priorities or loyalties lie when it comes [...]
You’ve done all the right prep work to buy a home. You saved for a down payment, cleaned up your credit, and got pre-approved for a mortgage. You found a home that you can afford, and now the days are ticking down to closing—and everything seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, it could be. [...]
Crushing student loan debt is making it harder for some Americans to buy a house. With the cost of a college education growing much faster than average salaries and inflation rates, it’s no wonder families are struggling to participate in the housing market as early as they’d like. Student loan debt is usually considered a [...]
(Scroll down for video) If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home, this could be the year to finally pull the trigger. But with all the information out there about the real estate market, it can be difficult to determine what it all means for a first-time homebuyer like yourself. Before plunging headfirst into [...]
Now that prices are rising and the number of homeowners defaulting on their mortgages has slowed to a trickle, you might think it’s impossible to find a deal on a foreclosure. There’s no doubt the foreclosure picture has changed dramatically in the past two years, but there are still many discounted properties available if you [...]
Foreclosed homes present an interesting opportunity for those struggling to buy. The selling season should be in full swing but our economic issues have caused a housing slowdown. There are not enough homes available and many are way above what people can afford. Buying a foreclosed home may help you take advantage of the historically [...]
You’ve saved for a down payment and worked hard to get approved for a mortgage. After months of looking, you find a great house that meets your needs and fits your budget. Your offer has been accepted. Then you receive a letter from your lender. Your dream home has appraised 10 percent lower than you [...]
It's that time of year again when Ilyce give you her home buying tips for the new year along with her personal financial resolutions for 2010.
