Gallup: Only 50% of Americans Believe It’s a Good Time to Buy a Home, an All-Time Low roc8jas/Getty Images Americans have quickly soured on the prospects of the nation’s real-estate market as the coronavirus pandemic has swept the country. Only 50% of Americans said that now is a good time to buy a home, according […]
Should You Buy a Home If a Recession Is Imminent? Answers Ahead Updated March 20, 2020 Between the coronavirus pandemic, the shutdown of nonessential businesses in outbreak areas and a plummeting stock market, many may wonder: Are we headed for a recession? Anyone hoping to buy a home anytime soon would probably like to know […]
6 ‘Dream Home’ Hopes That Are Completely Delusional erng99/iStock; realtor.com Many home buyers start out starry-eyed when they first embark on shopping for a house, with visions of a big backyard, a home office, a cute coffee shop down the block—and much, much more. The problem? If budgets are tight (as they usually are), then […]
What Is a Right of First Refusal in Real Estate? Getting First Dibs on Making an Offer BernardaSv/iStock; realtor.com Imagine being able to make an offer on a house before any other interested home shoppers can even have a look-see. If you have a right of first refusal negotiated into a lease or other housing agreement, […]
The 10 Cities Where It’s Becoming More Affordable to Buy a Home—and 10 Where It’s Not Allentown, PA: Ultima_Gaina/iStock; Tulsa, OK: Sean Pavone/iStock After nearly a decade of ever-escalating home prices and frenzied bidding wars, many buyers are wondering if finding an affordable piece of real estate has become about as likely as discovering a […]
Rent-to-Own Real Estate: The Benefits and Risks for Home Buyers Tempura/iStock Rent-to-own real estate may sound like a dream come true. Under the best circumstances, everyone benefits: Sellers collect rent and have a purchase commitment from the buyers, and the buyers can move in right away. In addition, credit score problems or other financial issues that could hamper […]
Do You Get Your Earnest Money Back at Closing? Sargis Zubov/iStock Do you get your earnest money back at closing? If you’re buying a house and planning to finance the purchase with the help of a mortgage, the question is bound to come up. The short answer is: You don’t usually get your earnest money […]
Should You Skip the Starter Home and Buy a Forever Home? dpproductions/iStock If you’re out there shopping for your first home, you might swoon over that four-bedroom Colonial and imagine growing old there—but wait a minute! Sure, you might be jonesing to put down permanent roots, but your bank account and life circumstances might beg […]
How Much House Can You Afford? Down Payment and Mortgage Rates Explained urfinguss/iStock How much house can you afford? Knowing you want to buy a home is one thing; knowing how much of a mortgage payment you can handle is quite another. Too often, dreams and reality collide: You’re yearning for a four-bedroom Colonial, but […]
Buying a House Remodeled Without a Permit? Here’s What You’re on the Hook For Kerkez/iStock Imagine attending an open house and stepping into a newly remodeled master bathroom complete with brand-new Carrara marble tiling and a luxurious free-standing tub. Home improvements like this are enough to make potential home buyers fall in love, and it […]
