A lot of us get our real estate news from the national media. The headlines may be positive (“Strongest Home Sales In 4 Years”) or negative (“Help! Every Home On My Block Is For Sale!”).

Regardless of the message, though, it’s important to recognize that real estate is a local business.

It’s impossible to [...]

Home shoppers know to consider the impact that a new home will have on their household budget and that is called keeping your eye on the ball.

Unfortunately, most shoppers are keeping their eye on the wrong ball.

The proper way to answer the “How Much Home Can I Afford” question is to think [...]

In a lot of towns across the country this week, it’s not quite warm and it’s not quite cold. But don’t let that stop you from some at-home outdoor dining.

Homeowners with an itch for fresh air can use outdoor heating products to make any season, “Outdoor Season”.

Ranging in price from $300 to [...]

For the budget-aware, buying a new home involves calculating how new PITI payments will impact the household budget.

For in-town moves, the math is fairly simple — consider your existing budget and replace your old housing cost with your new housing cost.

For non-local moves, however, the budgeting grows more complicated because each city [...]

Lofts are a type of living space once home to a warehouse, but now used for residential living.

Because of their ancestry, lofts tend to have several warehouse-like characteristics:

High ceilings Open floor plans Exposed pipes and ductwork Large windows

For first-time (and experienced) loft buyers, decorating a large, open area can pose a [...]

Yesterday, several large mortgage lenders stopped offering 100% financing to applicants as our nation’s lending institutions continue to tighten up their respective mortgage guidelines.

Since early-January, lenders specializing in “sub-prime” mortgages have repeatedly narrowed the credit profile to whom they will lend.

12 months ago, a 575 credit score was required to borrow 100% [...]

Historically, Spring is a popular time of year to put a home up for sale. But, is it the best time of year?

In most locales, there are more new homes listed for sale in Spring than during any other season.

This creates additional supply which, in theory, should create price competition and push [...]

Whether it is truth or superstition doesn’t matter; the fact is that statues of St. Joseph are hot commodities for worried home owners hoping to sell their houses quickly.

Roman Inc., a Chicago-based company, has produced St. Joseph home-sale kits since 1996. Complete with a statue and a prayer card, the kit consistently ranks [...]

One of the major reasons to keep an open mind about older homes is that all homes — new or old — require maintenance.

As a home buyer, you should always hire a home inspector to examine the insides and outsides of a prospective home. If you don’t have an inspector in your Rolodex, you [...]

Many of us are knee-deep in paperwork from our banks, our advisors and lenders as we prepare for the April 17, 2007 tax deadline.

Yes, I said April 17, 2007.

April 15 is a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. So, this year, we all [...]