The Sneaky Way We Won a Bidding War (and Beat 3 All-Cash Offers)
By Tim McMullenMay 22, 2022 (Getty Images) Here’s one of my favorite stories to tell as a real estate agent, about a young family who achieved what many assume is impossible. Saddled with a mortgage and other baggage, they were nonetheless able to win a bidding [...]
What Can a Landlord Deduct From Your Deposit? A Primer for Current and Former Renters
By Ana DurraniMay 19, 2022 (FotoDuets/Getty Images) Maybe you didn’t think twice when you put a big security deposit on that fancy apartment two summers ago. But now that you’re getting ready to move again, you might be wondering how much of that deposit you’ll actually [...]
What Is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained
By Cathie EricsonMay 15, 2022 (Getty Images) What is a mortgage? In a nutshell, a mortgage is a loan that enables you to cover the cost of a home. Since you probably don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around, a mortgage loan makes it possible [...]
The Cost of Buying a Home Is Up 50% From a Year Ago—but Here’s Where You Could Get a Break
By Clare TrapassoMay 16, 2022 (Getty Images) A year ago, the great majority of American homebuyers despaired over the state of the housing market. Prices had hit record highs. There were so few homes for sale that lines for open houses stretched for blocks and move-in [...]
The New Rules of What It’ll Truly Take To Save Up for a House Today
By Janet SirotoMay 2, 2022 (Realtor.com / Getty Images) If you’re saving for a down payment for a home—particularly your first—you probably know this is one tricky real estate moment. With inflation sending prices spiraling, mortgage interest rates ticking up, and biddings wars on homes more the [...]
Buying a Home As Is? Watch for These 7 Red Flags
By Larissa RunkleApr 28, 2022 (realtor.com) If you’re shopping in today’s uber-competitive housing market, you’ve likely seen homes listed as is for sale. And while you should approach any house being sold under this term with caution, buying a home as is doesn’t necessarily mean you’re [...]