I’m getting ready to sell my home, and my agent recommended that I have a professional home inspection before I put it on the market instead of just having the buyer do it prior to closing. Are there advantages to doing it up front? Many times sellers resist pre-sale inspections because they fear the inspections will turn up issues that the sellers then must disclose. It’s a case of ignorance being bliss — but only temporarily. Most buyers will (and all should) complete a home inspection before ... read more

Buying a new home is an exciting prospect. But the fact that it’s the biggest purchase many of us will ever make can make it daunting, even emotional. The highs and lows of buying a home are real and common, and it’s important for buyers to understand that just because they may have some reservations doesn’t mean they’re making the wrong choice. It does mean they need to get to the bottom of their feelings. If you’re riding the ups and downs of an impending real estate transaction, the... read more

Many first- and second-time home buyers are watching mortgage interest rates beginning to climb and worrying they’ve missed the window for buying their next home. But a long-term view of mortgage rates clearly shows now is a good time to buy, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. To illustrate, we pulled 30-year-fixed-rate Freddie Mac loans for the past 30 years. In the early 1980s, those rates exceeded 18 percent! They declined to around 10 percent in 1990 and around 7 percent in the early 2000... read more

As the days get shorter and you start spending more time indoors, fall makes a great time to lighten and expand your indoor space. While you may not feel like actually moving walls or creating more windows, you can achieve the same effect with carefully placed mirrors. Mirrors can be a great way to open up a room while also updating your decor — all without a lot of money. Here are some tips to get you started: To make a room seem larger, prop a large mirror against the wall. For maximum effect, you’ll... read more

If you’re looking for a new home, one of the smartest things you can do is pre-qualify for a mortgage. Pre-qualifying not only helps you understand how much you can afford; it also strengthens your negotiating position when you’re ready to make an offer. The first step is to figure out your budget and how much you can comfortably afford to pay on a monthly basis. This figure will help you determine your price range and the loan terms that may be best for you. Once you have an idea of what your budget ca... read more