Bargains Hard to Find in Attractive Areas

Potential buyers in areas that were hard hit by the housing downturn have read about bargains, but only find it disappointing when they go shopping.
“Every open house I’ve been to has been a zoo,” says first-time home buyer Sam Rivero, who has looked at 35 properties during the last three months. “If you follow what [...]

Fight Inflation – Buy a Home

Some economic analysts say that the possibility that the economy will go into overdrive and inflation will skyrocket is a much more frightening possibility than the current recession.
One inflation hedge nearly all of them point to is real estate. Owning it outright is the best scenario, but if that’s not possible, a low-rate, 30-year fixed [...]

Market Snapshot by NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said first-time buyers continue to influence the market but there also is a seasonal rise of repeat buyers. “Most of the sales are taking place in lower price ranges and activity is beginning to pick up in the midprice ranges, but high-end home sales remain sluggish,” he said. “The Federal [...]

Foreclosure Help & Mortgage Servicing Contact Phone Numbers

With all the dubious assistance programs and out-right scams preying on home owners facing foreclosure, it can be difficult to find legitimate help.Here’s a list of programs that are either operated by the U.S. government or have its seal of approval:
To find a counselor, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at [...]

Homeowners: Take Advantage of Available Tax Deductions!

Here is a list of the top tax deductions for homeowners:
Mortgage Interest – Mortgage interest on a home is usually fully tax-deductible. You can deduct interest on multiple mortgages, as long as they do not exceed $1 million. The purpose of the mortgage must specifically be to buy, build or improve a home.
Points Paid [...]

Is Your Feng-Shui Mojo Working for You!

I recently had the opportunity to meet with some new clients who happened to be the inventors of the World’s 1st Feng-Shui Compass!  Being quite intrigued as we used the compass to determine the Feng-Shui of some beautiful North Scottsdale homes, I asked my clients to give me a 10 minute Feng-Shui 101 crash course [...]

Help Your Agent Help You!

Remember the 80/20 rule? Well, when it comes to the residential real estate industry, it’s even more lop sided than that. I remember hearing the following statistic while attending a recent real estate conference: Nationally, 93% of the gross commissions are earned by only 7% of licensed real estate agents! It goes without saying that [...]

The $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit

First-time buyers can claim the credit worth $8,000 or 10% of the home’s value, whichever is less either on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.  
This credit will be refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill – the amount of withholding they paid during the year plus [...]

5 Tips for Homebuyers Seeking a Mortgage

Here’s a warning for potential borrowers: Nervous lenders have tough new rules and are paperwork crazy.“Borrowers are going to have to prove they are the borrower they say they are,” says Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH Associates, a mortgage-industry publisher in Pompton Plains, N.J.
Gumbinger says homebuyers should consider these things before they apply for [...]

HGTV’s Top 35 Selling Secrets

#35: Declutter
People won’t buy a house if they can’t see the square footage, so clear it out and clean it up. “Clutter gives the perception that there’s not enough storage in the house,” says real estate expert Shannon Freeman of the L.A. team.A basic rule of thumb to decide whether or not something is clutter [...]