Square footage of a home is sometimes a matter of debate — a homeowner measures it one way, a real estate agent another way, and an appraiser a third way. The local tax assessor has his own method, too.

Who is right?

Until 2003, they all were. That’s when the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Many home sellers prepare their home for listing with cosmetic changes such as paint and reflooring, but “green” thinking can give an additional boost to value and grab a federal subsidy.

Homeowners who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in their home can receive [...]

If you’re currently paying Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and have been for several years, it may be time to petition your lender to have the PMI payment removed.

PMI protects lenders from homeowners that stop making payments on homes with small amounts of equity. It’s an insurance policy that is “cashed in” if the homeowners [...]

If you’re in the process of buying a home and are working without a rate lock, take notice: over the past two weeks, mortgage rates have spiked to their highest levels since November 2006.

Your actual mortgage payment will be higher than you originally anticipated.

Depending on your preferred mortgage product, rates have [...]

Your home is listed for sale and you’ve “neutralized” the place. But, after the fresh coats of paint and new carpeting, what will distinguish your house from the others listed for sale?

To prospective buyers, there is usually one specific thing that catches their eye in every home they tour. It's simply human nature.

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Brick exteriors are low maintenance and have a distinct look. They do require some upkeep over the years, however.

Every few decades (depending on environmental and building conditions), the brick’s mortar should be repaired of cracks and loose joints.

This process is called “tuck pointing” and it’s an expensive job to be handled [...]

The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) — more commonly known as “Fannie Mae” — offers non-biased home buying advice on their Web site.

If you prefer your home buying advice with a side of blandness, Fannie Mae’s Becoming a Homeowner section is sure to satisfy.

Originally founded in 1938, Fannie Mae’s role in [...]

When buyers and sellers look for common negotiating grounds, it’s common for the buyer to request home improvements to be made prior to the sale.

The request may be phrased in any number of ways:

“The hardwood floors are warped and we think the seller should pay for it.” “There is a leak [...]

When you’re buying a home, you’re buying a neighborhood, too.

Evaluate a neighborhood by spending some quality time there. Walk around for a while seeing what is going on.

If you see dumpsters in front yards or parked on the street, it’s a sign that people are upgrading and investing in their houses [...]

Each month, the Commerce Department releases a statistic titled “Housing Starts” that measures residential construction activity.

This morning, the Commerce Department released April’s Housing Starts data (PDF) and the headline data reflected a 2.5% increase in new construction.

Markets had anticipated a 0.8% decrease. This coincided with a decrease in available homes, [...]