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buying: How Do I Decide How Much House To Buy? - 06/10/11 08:37 AM
How Do I Decide How Much House To Buy? Dear Holly, I have been working really hard and think I am ready to buy my first home. I am getting conflicting advice; some folks are recommending I buy the cheapest thing I can afford in the area where I want to live, others are suggesting I stretch a little and get an extra bedroom and bath. Do you think I should go cheap or go for broke? Thanks, Confused about my purchase Dear Confused about my purchase, As I am sure you can attest, there is no shortage of advice out … (4 comments)

buying: Thanks, but I don't want that job...I have my house to worry about - 11/15/10 05:36 PM
This afternoon on NPR I heard a story about the ramifications of the housing market affecting job growth,  The Housing Dilemma: It's Holding Workers Back by Yuki Noguchi.
It turns out that when people can't sell or rent their home, they are likely to turn down the opportunity for a better job in a new place. This means fewer opportunities for promotions, since many people improve their living standard by changing companies, which often means a transfer. As a result these workers may experience less upward mobility and, ultimately, less disposable income.
Both companies and the Government are making changes to policies … (6 comments)

buying: We Almost have the Contingencies Removed...Don't We? - 06/18/10 11:11 AM
It has happened often enough this year to be a pattern. A very well qualified buyer with a significant down-payment, a traditional sale (not short sale or foreclosure), standard contingencies (HOA, Inspections, financing and appraisal) and reasonable time frames.
Guess what, we can't get the contingencies removed! Yes, we get the inspections done, negotiate and finalize the agreement.  Check! We provide documents, the waiting period expires and that one is done, too. Check! But the appraisal and financing contingencies--apparently those are just 'guidelines.'
I have read a number of blogs lately saying that communications is the key to this issue. Phooey! … (7 comments)

buying: Coming Around Again in Fashion and Real Estate - 10/22/09 07:19 AM
If  you are a woman of a 'certain age,' you have probably heard the fashion adage 'if you remember wearing it before you probably shouldn't wear it again.'  In case you are not familiar with this concept, examples of  it include: hip-huggers, micro-mini skirts, thigh-high boots and leggings as pants. Like Fashion, the Real Estate industry is experiencing a resurgence/recycling of products and processes from the past. Unlike Fashion, however, the recycled Real Estate practices are worth a second look--both for Realtors and for Buyers and Sellers. There was a time, in the not-so-long-ago-past, when buyers would almost never consider buying … (6 comments)

buying: Is it the House or Is It the Neighborhood? - 09/28/09 01:02 PM
Are you looking for a great house or a great neighborhood?
Luckily, when it comes to buying a home, not everyone is looking for the same thing. Someone who is looking for acreage, is probably less likely to be concerned about finding a very involved neighborhood association. Another buyer who is looking to find a 'Mayberry' type setting,  replete with Memorial Day Parades and Halloween Parties for the tots, is probably not as focused on lot privacy. When you put your wish list together,  most of us focus on the number of bedrooms and the number of baths. Next on the … (7 comments)

buying: A Fresh Look At Buying A Home, Part I - 08/24/09 09:48 AM
Most of us were raised to get an education, start a career and buy a home. So you find yourself having finished your education and happy in the resulting career. The next step, logically, is to buy your first home. Before you pull up Craig's List and start hitting the Sunday Open Houses, there are a number of things you should consider. Most of us think that the number of bedrooms and the location are the big decision factors, but there is a lot more thought that needs to go in to such a large investment.
 This is list is not … (2 comments)

buying: 'How is the Real Estate Market?' - 06/09/09 04:08 PM
Every day, at least once, I am asked, 'How is the real estate market?' Wow.  I used to be able to say, "great" and move on to their specific questions about  their house projects and what has sold recently. These days, I try to be positive, because the truth is that I am super busy.  The difference between now and 'before' is that every transaction is just REALLY hard!  The buyers want to buy, the sellers want to sell, the lenders want to lend and the Realtors want to make it all happen; so why is everything so hard? There is … (2 comments)

buying: Don't Be Seduced By that Pretty House and All That Land - 06/05/09 06:31 AM
Today, I was talking to a friend at my son's class pool party. It was being held at a community pool surrounded by lovely homes on regular, suburban-sized lots. As we got to talking, she shared with me her mild regret that when they moved 'out'--further to the West--they opted for land over community. She said they have a wonderful house on 3 acres, but no one close by for their kids to play with and no where for the children to do swim team. The community where the pool party was being held really suited their family now--but not then.  … (3 comments)

buying: Buying Green - 04/18/08 01:21 PM
There has been a lot written lately about the importance of ‘greening' your home--but it is mostly geared toward remodeling. But buying a new home is a wonderful opportunity to work towards protecting the environment, too.  There are some simple things that you can ask about a house that you are considering that can help you to evaluate how ‘green' the house is and what you can do to improve its carbon emission footprint.
The government has provided a really great website to help you understand the right questions to ask and to find tools to evaluate your current, and future, house.  … (0 comments)

 


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