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General
What does my Realtor mean when referring to a "closing"?
What should I expect from my BUYER AGENT? (See answer above in "Why should I use a REALTOR®?
What law establishes escrow account guidelines?
What is equity?
What are deeds for?
What is a disclosure statement?
What are some typical restrictions imposed on property owners?
What is joint tenancy?
What happens to a deed after it is signed and notarized?
What Are the Rights in an Existing Family?
What is "escrow" and what does it mean to buyers and sellers?
When I find the home I want, how much should I offer?
What Is a Contested Will?
What Is Adverse Possession?
What Is Family Law?
What Is “Slip and Fall?”
What Happens if My Dog Bites Someone?
Do I have enough homeowner's insurance?
What Is a Lien?
What Are the Requirements for Will Execution?
What Is the Real Property Law?
Why should I pay for reports offered by the Real Estate Advisor when other sites give the information for free?
Should I use a Real Estate agent or try to sell my home myself?
What Is Separate Maintenance?
What Is a Trust?
Who Is Responsible When a Person Is Injured?
Buyers
What is an escrow account?
Once I find a home that I like, how do I know how much to offer? Buyers should never pay full price, right?
What is earnest money?
Closing: What is equity?
What about HUD homes?
Under what circumstances could I lose my deposit?
Do the appliances stay when a home is sold?
When should I submit a loan application to the bank?
What does my mortgage payment include?
How do I find out how much my closing costs will be?
Should I have a home inspection?
How do I know 'how much' house I can afford?
What happens to my deposit if my offer is accepted?
What happens after I present my offer?
How can I make my offer stand out against competing buyers?
Do I have to put down a deposit with my offer?
What law establishes escrow account guidelines?
Whose obligation is it to disclose information about a property?
Who chooses the Title Company?
How can I find bank-foreclosures or government-owned homes?
What is the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval?
How do I find out how much house I can afford?
What is the first step in the home-buying process?
How should I prepare for buying a home?
Could you give me a rundown of the entire buying process?
What if I don't like the results of my inspection?
Why is a home appraisal necessary for getting financing? Can't you just use the tax value of the home?
What amount of homeowner's insurance is required?
What is a buyer's agent?
How do I know if I need flood insurance?
Do I need an attorney when I buy a house?
What are five common mistakes made by first-time buyers?
How much should I budget to own my own home?
How do I go about finding a mortgage?
Can I qualify for a mortgage if I have past credit problems?
Should I get a professional inspection before buying a home?
Is real estate a wise investment?
Does a home warranty protect a buyer in the event something goes wrong after they have purchased a property?
Is a pre-closing inspection -- that is, an inspection of the property by the buyer before they move in -- really important?
What are 'contingencies' and why are they important?
What if my offer is rejected?
Sellers
What is a home inspection contingency?
How should I prepare to sell my house?
What repairs should I make before selling?
Is it better to make repairs before I sell or lower the price for the buyer to do them?
How can I sell my house in a slow market?
Is taking pictures of the inside of my house a security risk?
Whose obligation is it to disclose information about a property?
Is a pre-approved buyer better than a pre-qualified one?
What happens when a buyer makes an offer?
What is a seller's agent?
What if the offered price isn't what we wanted?
Why do some homes sell quicker than others?
Should I keep making my mortgage payments if I'm selling my home?
Should I price my home high for a little while to see what happens?
What are some of the worst mistakes home sellers make?
What documents should I leave in the house for the new owner?
What is an MLS?
Should I appraise my home before putting it on the market?
Can I make my home "better" looking without spending a cent?
Which home improvements will add decent value to my property and which won't?
How much is my home worth?
What are my options if I am thinking of selling my home?
Inspections
Home Inspections?
Is a termite inspection required?
What are the facts on mold?
What does the term "as-is" mean?
Timing of the Home Inspection
Selecting a Home Inspector
Do I need to be present During the Home Inspection
Other Inspections and Tests to Consider
Closings
What are closing costs?
Can I bring a personal check to a property closing?
What are closing costs?
What is an escrow account?
Where do you go to close on a property?
So what will happen at closing?
Can I bring a personal check to a property closing?
Where do you go to close on a property?
Buyers/Sellers
What do I need to bring to the closing?
What is an "earnest money" deposit?
What is a final walk-through?
What happens if the buyer's loan is denied?
What happens if the buyer's loan is not approved by the deadline in the contract?
What happens if the appraisal is too low?
Who pays the fee of a buyer's agent?
How do you determine the value of a distressed property?
What is a mortgage contingency?
What contingencies are usually put in an offer?
What if I decide I want to change something in the contract?
What is the difference between sales price and assessed value?
What is a transaction broker?
How can I reach city and county government?
Where do I contact utility companies?
Can I buy a home below market value?
How is an asking price determined?
Can I make a verbal offer on a property?
Explain the difference between a "Buyer's market" and a "Seller's market."
What is the difference between an appraisal and a CMA?
Agency
How do I find out whom an agent works for?
What is Agency?
What are the benefits of a Buyer Agent?
Can I buy a house through a Seller Agent?
What is a Disclosed Dual Agent?
What is a Seller Agent?
What is a Buyer Agent?
Lead Paint
Does my family have to be out of the house during deleading or interim control work?
What is lead poisoning? How do children become lead poisoned?
What is the treatment for lead poisoning?
Are children under six years old the only ones at risk of lead poisoning?
What are the dangers of lead paint in homes, and when was it used?
Can routine home repairs cause lead poisoning?
Can I do some of the deleading myself?
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning? How is it detected?
What is the best time to delead or undertake interim control?
What liability do rental property owners have if they don't comply with the state Lead Law?
What is interim control?
Does deleading improve the value of my property?
Taxes
Are discount points tax deductible?
If I must deduct points over the life of my mortgage, and I have a 30 year mortgage, does this mean that I divide the points paid by 30 and enter that amount on Schedule A?
I refinanced my home mortgage and had to pay $2,000.00 worth of points to get the mortgage. Can I claim these points as a deduction on my tax return?
I refinanced my home and paid closing costs. Are the loan origination fee, appraisal fee, document prep fee, closing fee, and title insurance or any of the other expenses deductible? Are any of the fees I paid to the bank for the loan deductible?
I took out a home equity loan to pay off personal debts. Is this interest deductible? Where do I enter this amount on my tax return?
What are the rules for mortgage interest on a manufactured home? Can I deduct the interest on the mortgage for the manufactured home if it is on a rented lot? Can I deduct the interest for the manufactured home and for the lot if I buy a lot for the home?
I bought a 5th wheel trailer for vacationing. Can I deduct the interest on the loan for this 5th wheel? Where would it be listed?
How are property tax bills paid?
I just bought a home. What can I deduct from the settlement statement?
I have a mortgage for my primary residence and a second mortgage for land that I intend to build a home on. Can the interest be deducted for the second mortgage?
I paid my mother's mortgage and real estate taxes last year. The house and land secured by the mortgage are in her name. Can I deduct the mortgage interest and property tax on my tax return?
My daughter and I own a house together. Her name is on the mortgage, but both our names are on the deed. Can we each claim half of the yearly interest and real estate tax on our income tax returns?
I pay interest on money borrowed to purchase land on which to build my home. I built a home on that land, but have no mortgage. Is the interest I pay for the land deductible? Where is it deductible on the return?
May I deduct my home improvements and repairs to my home?
Is interest paid on a construction loan for a new home considered deductible mortgage interest?
Is the mortgage interest and property tax on a second residence deductible?
Is interest on a home equity line of credit deductible as a second mortgage?
Is personal credit card interest tax deductible?
Our home was seriously damaged by flooding last year. Are there special provisions for claiming a loss since our home is located in a declared disaster area?
If I borrow money from my 401(k) to purchase a home, is the interest I pay back to my 401(k) deductible as mortgage interest on my return?
I refinanced my home on January 1 and paid $1,230 in points. On Schedule A, line 12 (points not reported on Form 1098) I have listed $41 each year. I refinanced my home again with a different lender and paid off the entire previous loan. Am I entitled to include the $984 (remaining points not yet paid off) on Schedule A this year?
I got a loan to buy some land. Later I got another loan for the construction of the house. After the house was built I got a third loan which paid off the first two loans. Is the interest on any of these loans deductible?
We purchased land to build a home on. Is the interest on the mortgage secured by the land deductible?
Is the interest paid on the loan for a lot (with no home on it) deductible as mortgage interest?
I refinanced my home last year and paid points. Are they all deductible this year?
Our garage caught fire this last July. Can we claim a loss on our income tax return?
Title Insurance
How much title insurance do you need?
If I have a problem, will I lose my property to make a claim?
What types of risks are covered by title insurance?
If my lender obtains title insurance, why do I need it?
What does title insurance cost?
What is a HUD-1 Settlement Statement?
Are there any issues a title search may not reveal?
What issues can a title search reveal?
What is a title search?
Why do I need title insurance?
What is title insurance?
Financing
How much money will I have to come up with to buy a home?
What types of fees should I expect to pay?
What is the Mortgage Good Faith Estimate?
What paperwork will be necessary during the mortgage process?
What's the difference between installment and revolving debt?
Where can you go to get a loan?
Why is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) different from the interest rate?
You found a great house but you don't have much money for a down payment. What are your options?
Why is private mortgage insurance (PMI) required?
Should I refinance?
Do you need help choosing a lender?
What is seller financing?
Can you apply for a loan before you've found a property?
Is there a best time to refinance?
What are points?
When should I contact the title company?
What will the title company need?
Why do I need another title search?
If I have title insurance, why do I need to buy again?
What happens in a mortgage foreclosure?
What or who controls mortgage rates?
When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, does that mean mortgage rates will also drop?
Loan Fees, are they negotiable?
Should I refinance if I plan to move soon?
How much of a down payment will you need to purchase a home?
Is there anything I should consider before refinancing?
How do I know if I can get a loan?
What is rate protection and how does it work?
How often do mortgage interest rates change?
I am a single parent, how would I go about buying a home?
I have poor credit, and I don’t have much for a down-payment, can I become a homebuyer?
If you finance 100% of the sales price, why can't you finance the closing costs on a VA loan?
In addition to the mortgage payment, what other costs do I need to consider?
So what will my mortgage cover?
What are ARM Loans?
What are FHA Loans?
What is a Truth in Lending statement?
What are VA Loans?
What is a balloon mortgage?
What does it mean to have a floating rate and what does it mean to lock-in a rate?
What does a mortgage lender consider when reviewing a loan application?
What does "Pre-Qualification" mean?
What documents do you need to complete a loan application?
What are the different type of loans available?
What are points?
What are lease-options and lease-purchase options?
What are fixed rate loans?
Radon
You can fix a radon problem.
EPA Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
THE RISK OF LIVING WITH RADON
Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs.
RADON AND HOME RENOVATIONS
HOW TO LOWER THE RADON LEVEL IN YOUR HOME
RADON IN WATER
Test your home now and save your results. If you find high radon levels, fix your home before you decide to sell it. RADON AND HOME SALES
WHAT YOUR TEST RESULTS MEAN
EPA Radon Hotlines*
Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.
How To Use a Test Kit:
There are Two General Ways to Test for Radon: SHORT-TERM TESTING:
HOW TO TEST YOUR HOME
EPA Recommends:
New homes can be built with radon-resistant features.
You should test for radon.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.
HOW DOES RADON GET INTO YOUR HOME?
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