Tools & Resources

Tools & ResourcesCommon Closing Costs for Buyers The lender must disclose a good faith estimate of all settlement costs. A check to cover your closing costs will probably have to be a cashier’s check. The title company or other entity conducting the closing will...

Tools & Resources7 Reasons to Own Your Own Home Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, property taxes you pay, and some of the costs involved in buying your home. Gains. Between 1998 and 2002, national home prices...

Tools & Resources5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. 2. Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it. 3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often...

Tools & Resources5 Factors That Decide Your Credit ScoreCredit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card...

Tools & Resources5 Things to Do Before You Sell1. Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will...

Tools & Resources5 Things to Understand About Title Insurance1. It protects your ownership right to your home both from fraudulent claims against your ownership and from mistakes made in earlier sales, such as mistake in the spelling of a person’s name or an...

Tools & ResourcesReasons You Need a Realtor® A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated...

Tools & ResourcesTips for First-Time Homebuyers Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home. Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you. Get your finances in...

Tools & ResourcesWays to Make Your House More Salable1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. 2....