The Role Of Your Homeowners Association And Property Management Company When You Buy A Condo

When you purchase a condo within a property that has a Homeowners Association, it's important to understand the roles of both the HOA and the property management company hired by the HOA. The Homeowners Association is usually run by a group of volunteers that also own a condo within the property and are elected as a Board of Director. The HOA takes care of how the community is run, and establishes rules regarding how the property is maintained in order to ensure property values. Read More 

Tips For Selling A House When You Have Cats

You may love your cats like members of the family, but if the time has come to sell your home, you need to acknowledge that many home buyers may not feel the same way. Some buyers may be afraid of cats, and others may be turned off at the idea of buying a home that's been lived in by pets because they're worried about odors or stains. To make sure your cats don't keep you from making the sale, follow these tips. Read More 

Selling Your Home In Anticipation Of Divorce? What Should You Know?

If you and your spouse have made a mutual decision to part ways, you may be wondering about the best way to divide your assets -- particularly those that are held in both your names and aren't in liquid form, like your home. In many cases, selling is the best option; but for those in areas with a sluggish housing market, this can be a task easier said than done. What are your options, and how should you proceed? Read More 

Challenges Of Selling A House By Owner

Selling a house can take time and can be done in several ways, and one way you can sell a house is by listing it for sale by owner. This means you will not use a real estate agency to help you sell your house, and most people do this simply to avoid paying a commission on the sale. While some people can successfully sell a house themselves, most people use a real estate agency so they can avoid the following challenges that commonly occur when trying to sell a house by owner. Read More 

Reasons To Avoid Putting Down All That You Have As A Down Payment

When you buy a home, one school of thought suggests that you put down as much money as you can scrape together for the down payment. Doing so will cut down on the amount of your mortgage, which can either reduce your mortgage payments or your mortgage term. While there's nothing wrong with this idea, an alternative approach is to avoid putting down all that you've saved up. For example, if you've saved $30,000 toward a down payment, you might wish to only put down $25,000. Read More