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Moms Who Wrangle Real Estate

I don’t quite know how it happened, but somewhere along the way I started reading mommy blogs. Not because I am a mommy, nor because I want to be one anytime soon; I must’ve read an article somewhere about how prolific these blogs have become, and a few clicks later I got hooked. These ladies (more&hellip)

8 Things to Understand About Home Warranties

Home warranties are a random add-on that often pops up during the chaotic closing period. Suddenly buyers are faced with the option to buy a warranty to “protect their home.” What does that even mean? What does it cover? Here are the essentials: Warranties usually cover things that aren’t generally covered by home owner’s insurance: (more&hellip)

Selling New York: Show Review

Don’t say I didn’t warn you–I told you I was getting cable. And get cable I did. Naturally, the first thing I did was set my DVR to record the HGTV shows I’d been dying to watch. Top of my list was Selling New York, a new reality show featuring two sets of high-profile real (more&hellip)

Creative Real Estate: Tenancy in Common (TIC) Agreements

In many parts of the US and the world, real estate and zoning restrictions force people to devise creative ways of owning and transferring real estate titles. One such market work-around I’ve encountered lately is the tenancy in common, or TIC. TICs are common in San Francisco, and to a lesser degree in New York (more&hellip)

A Mortgage Primer: Understanding Loan Types, Benefits, and Pitfalls

Fixed, variable, jumbo, reverse, subprime–there seems to be a mortgage for every color of the rainbow. But what’s the difference between these mortgages, and which one is best for you? The mortgage market has gotten complicated with the advent of new loans and fancy financing options. Over the past decade, with the housing bubble growing (more&hellip)

Negotiate Like a Pro

You’ve found your dream home and are ready to make an offer. Awesome! Now it’s time to seriously play ball. Offer writing and negotiation are the crux of real estate. This is where your realtor earns his or her commission. It’s where the boys are separated from the men. Where the true artists stand apart (more&hellip)

Closing Costs Come out of the Woodwork

At least, they may seem to come right out of the woodwork. Closing is not a simple proposition, and as with most complex transactions, there are costs associated with it. Most buyers don’t factor in closing costs when they calculate what they can afford, and these costs can really hurt if you’re unprepared. The first (more&hellip)

Closing and Escrow Basics

“Closing” is not something most buyers focus on during their home search. It’s the part that comes after you and the seller have a mutually agreed upon offer, and once it’s done the house is yours. Most people assume closing just kind of works itself out, but this is a naive assumption. Closing–or rather, the (more&hellip)