If you are active military, the first time home buyer tax credit contains additional provisions and extended deadlines just for you. If you were out of the United States for 90+ days anytime in 2009 your tax credit deadline is NOT April 30, 2010 but May 1 2011 instead. Also, you do NOT have to [...]

I am frequently asked these days “what kind of home can I get?” Many first time home buyers are still assuming the only thing they can afford is a condo. (As a side note, the FHA rules regarding loans and condos will change on December 7, but more about that in a later post.) Yes [...]

Know how your credit score is determined. I think pretty much everyone knows that the better your credit score, the easier it is to get a mortgage and the better the interest rate you’ll get. What not everyone knows is how that credit score is actually determined. For instance, I once had a woman call [...]

Don’t be afraid to negotiate! It never ceases to amaze me why people seem so reluctant to engage in a little back and forth dickering. This is actually where a real estate agent can come in handy when you are looking to buy a house – your agent can easily investigate (and save you a [...]

Check out any neighborhood that you’re considering very carefully. Visit the neighborhood at various times of the day to see what foot and car traffic is like. Check out neighborhood schools and visit the nearest police station to inquire about crime rates. Search the local newspaper websites for important issues as well as the city [...]