Home Loans (Buying a Home)

Appraisals and Market Value

• What's a house worth?
• Can I find out the value of my home through the Internet?
• What are the standard ways of finding out how much a home is worth?
• How do you determine the value of a troubled property?
• What is the difference between market value and appraised value?

Condominiums and Townhomes

• Where do I get information on condos?
• Can a condo association ban nudity?
• Where do I get information on condo association laws?
• How do I figure out the homeowners association?
• Do condos have to be made accessible to the disabled?
• Can condos ban smoking?
• How do you choose between condos and single-family homes?
• Are one-bedroom condominiums a good investment?
• Are condominiums risky to buy?

Co-ops

• Can a co-owner force someone off a shared deed?
• Where do I get information on co-ops?

Finding the Right Home

• Do we dig deep and buy a dream home or settle for a starter home?
• How do you choose between buying and renting?
• What are the pros and cons of adding on or buying new?
• What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean?
• How do I get the real scoop on homes I am looking at?

Fixer-Uppers

• What kind of return is there on remodeling jobs?
• How do building codes work?
• Are there government programs for rehab?
• Are there any special tax breaks for historic rehab?
• Where are fixer-uppers found?
• Are there programs for fixer-uppers?
• What are some resources for info on home improvements?
• What are some guidelines to follow when trying to find a contractor?
• Are fixers a good idea in bad areas?

Foreclosures

• How do you find government-repossessed homes?
• What about buying a foreclosure "as is"?
• How does a home go into foreclosure?
• What are problems buying foreclosures?
• Are foreclosures an option?
• Do you have to buy HUD homes through a realty agent?
• How do you get financing for a foreclosure?
• What types of foreclosure are there?
• What happens at a trustee sale?
• Where can you find foreclosed HUD homes?
• Can I get a HUD home for as little as $100 down?
• Where can you find foreclosures?
• Where do I learn about HUD foreclosures?

Getting Help

• Where can I get information on buyer agents?
• Where do I get information on home market stats and trends?
• Where do I get information on filing consumer complaints?
• How do I reach the IRS?
• What standards do appraisers use to estimate value?
• Where do I get information on housing market stats?
• Where do I get information about housing discrimination?
• Where do I get information on manufactured housing?
• Where do I get information about finding a real estate attorney?

Home Inspections and Warranties

• How do I find a home inspector?
• Do I need a home inspection?
• How do I find a home inspector?
• What's a home inspection?
• Should I hire a home inspector for a new home?

New Homes

• What are considerations to buying a new home?
• Do builders give financing?
• What about new versus previously owned?
• What is the return on new versus previously owned homes?
• Can you negotiate the price on new homes?
• Where can I get a list of home builders?
• What are some new-home cautions?

Real Estate Agents

• What about a buyer's agent?
• Are commissions negotiable?
• Do you need an agent for a new home?
• How do I find a real estate agent?
• How many people sell their homes themselves?
• How do you find a good agent?

Vacation Homes

• Should I buy a vacation home?
• What do you think of a vacation home as an investment?

What Can I Afford

• Where do I get information on housing market stats?
• How much does my real estate agent need to know?
• How long do bankruptcies and foreclosures stay on a credit report?
• What is Fannie Mae's low-down program?
• What is the standard debt-to-income ratio?
• What can I afford?
• When is the best time to buy?
• How much will I spend on maintenance expenses?