Finding the right agent takes balancing credentials and chemistry. You want to choose someone you like—after all, you might spend the next six months working together. But your agent also needs to be ...

Finding the right loan officer is very important - even more important than choosing the lender itself. There are many types of mortgages and many types of borrowers with various mortgage needs. Do yo...

Real estate moves fast these days, and that means you may not have as much chance to look at a home as you would in a slower market. Often, you must decide whether to make an offer on a house within h...

Have you found the home you want to buy? If so, you may be ready to bid full asking price or even more to ensure you beat out any potential buying competitors out there. This is where emotions can som...

A good home inspection should include observation, and when appropriate the operation, of the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, and appliance systems, as well as observation of structur...

If the seller accepts your offer, it's time to finalize your mortgage application. The lender will formally evaluate you through a process called underwriting. The goal is to assess your ability to pa...

Closing (also referred to as completion or settlement) is the final step in executing a real estate transaction. The closing date is set during the negotiation phase, and is usually several weeks afte...