It’s hardly page-turning literature, but there are many reasons why you should read these documents before making any property purchase: Title abstract Title insurance policy and schedule of exclusions Plat or a survey while you walk the property boundaries Homeowners’ association documents (bylaws, board of directors minutes, etc.) What if you inspected a foreclosure, and […]

Source: People.com Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a new job or any major life change usually impacts real estate. And if you’re a celebrity, the changes can affect a whole lot of real estate. From Kobe Bryant deeding over several of his estates to his estranged wife to Kelsey and Camille Grammer listing […]

Undisclosed address, Annapolis, MD For sale: $32 million With its secret passages and a reputation for hiding gold, guns and liquor, this house doesn’t sound like the kind of place the Catholic Church would turn into a monastery. Yet, in the 1940s, the Church purchased this large estate and transformed its five-part Georgian residence into […]

When I was a little kid, I spent countless hours every week in my friend’s garage playing basketball. The ceiling was only 9 feet high, but I was so tiny the garage felt like a basketball gymnasium. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, my friend’s family garage renovations were quite innovative. My friend’s […]

A listing agent may have shown a prospective buyer a specific house two or three times. Now the buyer wants another showing, which is surely a good sign that she’s ready to make an offer. The buyer also tells the agent that she wants to bring her new boyfriend, best friend, out-of-town parents or co-worker […]

Bring on inflation? The debate was escalated in April when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke rejected economist Paul Krugman’s suggestion that regulating 3-to-4-percent higher rates of inflation could raise housing prices, thus relieving many homeowners who are underwater in their mortgages. Since the housing bust and economic downturn in 2008, some economists have been trying […]

When you’re faced with a choice between two different things, be it shoes, phones or flights, most websites let you view options side by side, enabling you to weigh the pros and cons of all your choices without having to click back and forth between pages. This is equally as important in real estate. Comparing […]

How well do you know your U.S. history? It might have been awhile since your eighth-grade civics class, so we’re giving you a brush up on Colonial events with a real estate twist this Independence Day. From homes of Declaration signers to estates near from Revolutionary battlefields, we’re touring 13 historic homes from the 13 […]

Credit reports are an indispensable tool for agents and property managers because they help you filter out the most qualified renters. Following your gut about an applicant isn’t reliable, and it could get you in trouble under Fair Housing laws. Looking at credit and background checks gives you documentation and grounds for either accepting or […]

Soccer star Landon Donovan in 2010 as he joins FC Everton, the English Premier League team that wants Donovan back. SOURCE: ELPTalk.com It’s been a huge week for U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan. First, the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. national team earned Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week honor last week for […]

We’re excited to announce that RentSentinel and Property Solutions are now syndicating rental listings to Zillow as a part of the Zillow Listings Feed Program. RentSentinel and Property Solutions provide marketing management software tailored to meet the needs of the apartment industry. Together they will be syndicating listings from property management companies across the country. […]

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? According to Zillow’s Chief Economist Stan Humphries, there may be. Humphries and other economists have predicted a bottoming out of U.S. home values in 2013. Some areas that have already hit bottom are now seeing gains in home values. The current home value hovers around […]

As prospective homebuyers look for deals, they’re becoming increasingly interested in foreclosed homes.  In fact, 20 percent of all sales in April were foreclosure re-sales. Interested in buying a foreclosed home? Here’s what you bargain hunters need to know: Where to buy Even though the national foreclosure rate appears to have peaked (In April, the […]

Mike Love and The Beach Boys played the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee. SOURCE: Rolling Stone Mike Love has not changed his mind. The Beach Boys’  baritone front man still wants to sell his  Pebble Beach, CA, home, which has been re-listed for $5.995 million. The Tuscan-style home has been on and off the market since […]

Incorporating seasonal style into your home doesn’t have to be an expensive or exhausting undertaking. Just a few changes can dramatically change the feel of your home, says west elm Creative Director Vanessa Holden. And just in time for summer, here are four ways to brighten your home’s look. Bring the outside in Source: west […]