The federal homebuyer tax credit has received a lot of coverage over the past several months, but one thing not widely publicized is that the April 30 deadline doesn't apply to everyone..... more >>
It's coming down to the wire. You have only until the end of April to get a house under contract if you want to take advantage of the federal homebuyer tax credit..... more >>
Closing is a process that begins weeks before the actual closing date, and follows an outline dictated largely by the buyer's original offer..... more >>
If governmental entities had full discretion on what was a public good, all private real property would be at risk of being appropriated for the public good..... more >>
If you were thinking of buying your first home but just couldn't get it together in time to take advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit, you have an extension. Congress gave you about five more months...... more >>
A pair of researchers at CERGE-EI, a Czech university, examined evidence about the origins of the housing bubble and whether it ever existed at all..... more >>
Texas ranks 14th in the amount residents pay in property taxes. Our state is also first in how much we pay in property taxes. How can that be?..... more >>
On Nov. 3, 2009, the voters of Texas will once again have an opportunity to take a stand against the burdensome and uneven taxation of residential property..... more >>
Don't confuse the appraisal with market value. The appraised value is a certified appraiser's opinion of the worth of a home at a given point in time...... more >>
No, it's no joke. As a first-time homebuyer with a moderate income, you may be able to save $68,000 on a home. That's $8,000 on the purchase and $60,000 over the life of a 30-year loan..... more >>
If you've been paying attention to the recent "stimulus" activities in Washington, you already get the reference to 8,000 reasons in the headline above. It's really only one reason, but it could be worth $8,000 to you..... more >>
There are few things more frustrating to a seller than a home that sits on the market. It's stressful to keep a house in showing condition, and not selling can cost you lots of money..... more >>
After you buy an existing home, let's face it - the last thing you want to worry about is a broken big-ticket item like the air conditioner or oven..... more >>
Aside from the necessary intrusions, the most inconvenient aspect of having your house on the market may well be keeping the house in showing condition..... more >>
This month on our "Inside Texas Real Estate" podcast you can learn how the Housing and Economic Recovery Act helps first-time homebuyers and homeowners struggling to afford their mortgages..... more >>
There's a common statistic in the real estate world called Days on Market, or DOM. Some people believe a property that has been on the market for a while must have serious problems, but this is not necessarily the case..... more >>
If you're selling your home and you require advanced notice, ask your agent to put the restriction and reason in the private remarks section of MLS..... more >>
When your house is on the market, it's important to be flexible with your showing times. Part of that flexibility is having the capacity to ..... more >>
Are you one of the people who is trying to "time the market" and wait for home prices to go down before you make a purchase? Doing so may not be as wise as you think...... more >>
"Now's not the best time ... can we set something up for later?" These are words that a buyer and his agent do not want to hear when they're out looking for a property..... more >>
You'll be given all kinds of advice and pointers about what you should do and how you should do it, but there are things you shouldn't do that are equally important...... more >>
From the way consumers acquire information about properties and neighborhoods to the way agents market themselves and their listings, real estate, like so many other industries, has been fundamentally altered by the Internet...... more >>
There are many factors that can affect the sale of your home. Many of these, like interest rates, number of buyers, and amount of competing inventory, are simply out of your control. There are, however, things that you..... more >>
Muchas personas cuando deciden comprar una vivienda, la primera imagen que les viene a la mente es una casa, con un bello jardín, tal vez bordeado de una linda cerca de madera y con un bonito patio..... more >>
A partir del primero de enero del 2008, toda persona interesada en solicitar una licencia de agente de bienes raíces en Texas, como vendedor o como corredor, ahora debe proveer sus huellas digitales para un chequeo del FBI sobre antecedentes criminales..... more >>
Many consumers believe that they can't qualify for a home loan because of a variety of reasons, including spotty credit and no money for a downpayment..... more >>
If you're putting your home on the market, or if it has been on the market for a while without solid offers, you may consider including some appliances, furniture, or other extras in the asking price..... more >>
It's common to consider the kitchen, bathroom, living space, and other indoor amenities, but don't forget the outside, especially the trees..... more >>
Many times, when an offer is made on a residential property in Texas, the prospective buyer will cut two checks: one for the option fee, another for the earnest money..... more >>
During the process of buying your home, you'll hear the word escrow thrown around. It's easy to get confused because the term can refer to different things that occur at different times..... more >>
