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General
Should I use a Real Estate agent or try to sell my home myself?
Why should I pay for reports offered by the Real Estate Advisor when other sites give the information for free?
What Is the Real Property Law?
What Is Adverse Possession?
What Is a Lien?
Who Is Responsible When a Person Is Injured?
What Happens if My Dog Bites Someone?
What Is “Slip and Fall?”
What Is Family Law?
What Are the Rights in an Existing Family?
What Is Separate Maintenance?
What Is a Trust?
What Are the Requirements for Will Execution?
What Is a Contested Will?
What happens to a deed after it is signed and notarized?
What is joint tenancy?
What are some typical restrictions imposed on property owners?
What is a disclosure statement?
What are deeds for?
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?
When I find the home I want, how much should I offer?
What does my Realtor mean when referring to a "closing"?
What is "escrow" and what does it mean to buyers and sellers?
Do I have enough homeowner's insurance?
Buyers
Once I find a home that I like, how do I know how much to offer? Buyers should never pay full price, right?
What amount of homeowner's insurance is required?
How do I know if I need flood insurance?
Why is a home appraisal necessary for getting financing? Can't you just use the tax value of the home?
How do I find out how much my closing costs will be?
What does my mortgage payment include?
When should I submit a loan application to the bank?
Do the appliances stay when a home is sold?
Under what circumstances could I lose my deposit?
What if I don't like the results of my inspection?
Should I have a home inspection?
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?
Do I need an attorney when I buy a house?
Whose obligation is it to disclose information about a property?
What about HUD homes?
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 is a buyer's agent?
Who chooses the Title Company?
What law establishes escrow account guidelines?
Closing: What is equity?
What is earnest money?
What is an escrow account?
What if my offer is rejected?
What are 'contingencies' and why are they important?
Is a pre-closing inspection -- that is, an inspection of the property by the buyer before they move in -- really important?
Does a home warranty protect a buyer in the event something goes wrong after they have purchased a property?
Is real estate a wise investment?
Should I get a professional inspection before buying a home?
What are five common mistakes made by first-time buyers?
Can I qualify for a mortgage if I have past credit problems?
How do I go about finding a mortgage?
How much should I budget to own my own home?
How do I know 'how much' house I can afford?
Sellers
What are some of the worst mistakes home sellers make?
What documents should I leave in the house for the new owner?
Should I keep making my mortgage payments if I'm selling my home?
What is a home inspection contingency?
What if the offered price isn't what we wanted?
What happens when a buyer makes an offer?
Is a pre-approved buyer better than a pre-qualified one?
Whose obligation is it to disclose information about a property?
Is taking pictures of the inside of my house a security risk?
How can I sell my house in a slow market?
Is it better to make repairs before I sell or lower the price for the buyer to do them?
What repairs should I make before selling?
Should I price my home high for a little while to see what happens?
How should I prepare to sell my house?
What is a seller's agent?
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?
What are my options if I am thinking of selling my home?
Why do some homes sell quicker than others?
How much is my home worth?
Inspections
What does the term "as-is" mean?
What are the facts on mold?
Is a termite inspection required?
Timing of the Home Inspection
Selecting a Home Inspector
Other Inspections and Tests to Consider
Do I need to be present During the Home Inspection
Home Inspections?
Closings
Where do you go to close on a property?
What is an escrow account?
What are closing costs?
Can I bring a personal check to a property closing?
Where do you go to close on a property?
What are closing costs?
So what will happen at closing?
Can I bring a personal check to a property closing?
Buyers/Sellers
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?
What if I decide I want to change something in the contract?
Who pays the fee of a buyer's agent?
How do you determine the value of a distressed property?
What do I need to bring to the closing?
What is a final walk-through?
What is an "earnest money" deposit?
What is a mortgage contingency?
What contingencies are usually put in an offer?
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?
What is the difference between sales price and assessed value?
How is an asking price determined?
Can I buy a home below market value?
Where do I contact utility companies?
How can I reach city and county government?
What is a transaction broker?
Agency
What is a Buyer Agent?
What is a Seller Agent?
What is a Disclosed Dual Agent?
Can I buy a house through a Seller Agent?
What are the benefits of a Buyer Agent?
How do I find out whom an agent works for?
What is Agency?
Lead Paint
What liability do rental property owners have if they don't comply with the state Lead Law?
What is the best time to delead or undertake interim control?
Does my family have to be out of the house during deleading or interim control work?
What is interim control?
Does deleading improve the value of my property?
Can I do some of the deleading myself?
Can routine home repairs cause lead poisoning?
What are the dangers of lead paint in homes, and when was it used?
Are children under six years old the only ones at risk of lead poisoning?
What is the treatment for lead poisoning?
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning? How is it detected?
What is lead poisoning? How do children become lead poisoned?
Taxes
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?
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?
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?
Is the mortgage interest and property tax on a second residence deductible?
Is personal credit card interest tax deductible?
Our garage caught fire this last July. Can we claim a loss on our income tax return?
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?
May I deduct my home improvements and repairs to my home?
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 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?
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?
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?
Is interest paid on a construction loan for a new home considered deductible mortgage interest?
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?
Is interest on a home equity line of credit deductible as a second mortgage?
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 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?
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 just bought a home. What can I deduct from the settlement statement?
How are property tax bills paid?
Are discount points tax deductible?
Title Insurance
How much title insurance do you need?
What types of risks are covered by title insurance?
If my lender obtains title insurance, why do I need it?
If I have a problem, will I lose my property to make a claim?
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
Loan Fees, are they negotiable?
When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, does that mean mortgage rates will also drop?
What or who controls mortgage rates?
What happens in a mortgage foreclosure?
If I have title insurance, why do I need to buy again?
Why do I need another title search?
What will the title company need?
When should I contact the title company?
What are points?
What types of fees should I expect to pay?
Is there anything I should consider before refinancing?
Should I refinance if I plan to move soon?
Is there a best time to refinance?
Should I refinance?
Why is private mortgage insurance (PMI) required?
You found a great house but you don't have much money for a down payment. What are your options?
Why is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) different from the interest rate?
Where can you go to get a loan?
What's the difference between installment and revolving debt?
What paperwork will be necessary during the mortgage process?
What is the Mortgage Good Faith Estimate?
What is seller financing?
What is rate protection and how does it work?
What is a balloon mortgage?
What is a Truth in Lending statement?
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?
What are VA Loans?
What are FHA Loans?
What are ARM Loans?
So what will my mortgage cover?
In addition to the mortgage payment, what other costs do I need to consider?
If you finance 100% of the sales price, why can't you finance the closing costs on a VA loan?
I have poor credit, and I don’t have much for a down-payment, can I become a homebuyer?
I am a single parent, how would I go about buying a home?
How often do mortgage interest rates change?
How much of a down payment will you need to purchase a home?
How much money will I have to come up with to buy a home?
How do I know if I can get a loan?
Can you apply for a loan before you've found a property?
Do you need help choosing a lender?
Radon
EPA Radon Hotlines*
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 Recommends the Following Testing Steps:
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
HOW DOES RADON GET INTO YOUR HOME?
New homes can be built with radon-resistant features.
You can fix a radon problem.
You should test for radon.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.
EPA Recommends: