HowToDoThings.com Recent Real Estate Articles

How To Save Money on Moving

jasonkeeley — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:36:00 -0600

How To Buy a Foreclosure

coffeebuzz — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:54:51 -0600

How To Sell Your Home Faster By Staging It

coffeebuzz — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:29:14 -0500

How To Make an Offer on a House

jasonkeeley — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:34:12 -0500

How To Prepare Your House to Sell

jasonkeeley — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:17:40 -0500

How To Have an Open House

jasonkeeley — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:03:54 -0500

How To Photograph Your Home for Sale

jasonkeeley — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:04:53 -0500

How To Sell Your Home Without a Realtor

jasonkeeley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:12:48 -0500

How To Buy Your Dream Home

Toronto realtor — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:04:54 -0500

The process of buying a home is not an easy one. Choosing your dream home is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. So you have to prepare yourself for this process well and in advance. When buying a home, be sure to avoid some of the critical mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars. As a Toronto realtor I know they are crucial.

How To Inspect a Fixer Upper

ramb37 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:17:44 -0500

How To Get a Home Appraisal

ramb37 — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:20:26 -0500

How To Make an Offer on a Home

ramb37 — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:23:52 -0500

How To Locate Sex Offenders in a Neighborhood

Van — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:51:38 -0500

How To Screen a New Prospective Rental Applicant

firsttroycorp — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:24:09 -0500

Landlords should try and find the best renters available who they think will pay the rent in a timely manner and not damage the rental property. This can be accomplished by performing credit checks and other pre-leasing tests. Here are the proper ways to screen a new applicant for a rental apartment or rental townhome:

How To Sell Your Home in This Tough Market

Billcherry — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:46:56 -0500

Often times, trying to sell a house today has become as difficult as trying to dump a gas guzzling Chevy Suburban in a four bucks a gallon gas market. And it doesn't have to be.

As I have for most mornings for the past forty-three years, I check our multiple listing service (MLS) to see which houses have sold and which ones have seen their Realtor listing expire without a sale. Some that sold were on the market for just a few days. Some that didn't sat there untouched for six months, a year, and sometimes even longer.

I look at the expired listings and often feel my head shaking in sorrow for the owner and disbelief for the agent. It doesn't seem to occur to either of them that no one has the magic power to get a prospect to buy what doesn't appeal to him. And when you've had, say, twenty people look at your house without a sale, or you have no people looking at all, more often than not it's a direct result of the marketing.

How To Bid on Hudson and Marshall Auction Properties

justsold — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:24:16 -0500

Hudson & Marshall has auctioned more than 8,000 foreclosures on a national basis during a two year time period. They are qualified to conduct auctions in every state in the nation and have done so in most. Their client list is quite impressive; it includes Bank of America, Bank of New York, Chase Bank, Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo Bank, CitiFinancial and so many more. Since they are the premiere auction house, below we have detailed the steps in bidding and buying at a Hudson & Marshall Auction.

I would strongly suggest that you hire an agent who is an expert in the auction process before you start. The banks pay the agent's commissions and it literally costs you nothing, but could save you thousands. As well as helping you research the properties, the agent can help you determine a maximum bid price for each property you are interested in and make sure you don't get caught up in the buyer's frenzy!

How To Sell a Home Quickly

ronwexler — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:44:02 -0500

Of course you can give your home away... but is that what you want to do? Selling quickly while protecting your equity is the goal. Here are the steps to get your home sold quickly in a buyer's market.

How To Buy a House

abarker — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:43:10 -0500

Purchasing a house is a lot more difficult than buying a taco. The key complication comes from the fact that we have to borrow money to buy real estate. Houses are expensive--you and your lender both want to make sure that you are getting a good deal.

How To Determine a Real Estate Short Sale Purchase Offer

coryboatright — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:43:29 -0500

The word "short sale" has certainly been a buzz word in the distressed real estate market we are experiencing in 2008. However many realtors and investors are still unclear on how to determine a real estate short sale offer that is acceptable to the lender.

The following steps are to be used as a basic guideline on determining what to offer the lender for a short sale acceptance.

How To Organize a Move

margnorton — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:48:27 -0500

Moving is one of the most stressful things a person can do. It doesn't matter if you are staying in town or going to another state -- basically you have the same preparations. Moving does not have to be a dreaded chore, but instead can be an opportunity to take inventory of your possessions and your life.

It is easier for someone who is organized, as there are many little details to handle. But even an unorganized person can have a successful experience if they follow these easy steps. Doing these things when you first learn of the move can save you time in the weeks and months ahead.

How To Make Money on Your Home in a Down Market: Interiors

margnorton — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:44:04 -0600

What do you feel as you walk into a model home? Everything looks new and clean. Furniture is well arranged with adequate space to walk. Each room is tastefully decorated with a minimum amount of accessories. You don't smell fish left over from last night, but the aroma of home-baked cookies is in the air. It is well lit and the temperature is comfortable. In winter, there is a roaring fire, and in spring, the windows are open with a light breeze. The bathrooms have accessories that call out to you. The bedrooms invite you to nap. Come in and stay awhile. You are at home. This is part 3 of a 3-part series; parts 1 and 2 explore landscaping and exterior preparations to sell. Here are my recommendtions on how to make your home look like a model:

How To Make Money on Your Home Even in a Down Market: Exteriors

margnorton — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:42:38 -0600

"First impressions are everything" -- it's a phrase we hear frequently. This can apply to many situations but it is absolutely true when it comes to selling your home. A buyer today has unlimited choices of inventory when shopping for a home. A serious seller must do all they can to make their home stand out from the competition. One good way to do this is by making sure their home is visibly appealing from the street. This will take a little time and perhaps some money, but the efforts should pay off. This is part 2 of a 3-part series; part one explores landscaping, while part 3 explains the importance of preparing the interior of the house. My recommendations on how to make sure your home has the proper curb appeal are:

How To Make Money on Your Home in a Down Market: Landscaping

margnorton — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:41:22 -0600

Prior to becoming a life coach, I was in the mortgage business for 15 years. We've never seen a market like the one today. Some of us in the business were not surprised with the downturn. For years I thought we were selling products that were too risky, collateralized by property, in some areas, that was overpriced. With declining values, a seller in today's market wants to make as much profit as possible.

Before you list your house for sale, there are certain things you need to do to make it more presentable to prospective buyers. The three areas you need to look at are landscaping, the exterior and the interior. This article highlights landscaping issues, though there is some overlap in the three. The next two articles will focus on the exterior and interior.

How To Find Foreclosure Listings

Van — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:10:19 -0600

So you want to know how to discover information on foreclosures. Hey! It’s on TV and there is easy money to be made, according to the info-commercial. Well for the price of FREE, here is how you can find the information. First a few basic facts:

A home enters the foreclosure market when the previous owner no longer pays on their debt established in the promissory "note" and the new owner obtains possession (usually the lending or guaranteeing organization) and markets the home for sale.
A mortgage, the promise of the previous owner to "pay" or "not stay" secures the debt for the lender.
Both the note and mortgage are publicly recorded documents providing constructive notice.

Here's how to find foreclosure listings.

How To Get Financing for New Homes in Iowa

kcarrillo — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:57:59 -0600

Getting financing in any state can be troublesome and Iowa is no exception.

How To Get Foreclosure Assistance

laphillips — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:38:11 -0600

Any of us can suffer from a financial setback for any number of reasons...unemployment, illness or injury, divorce. Now with payment increases due to payment resets at the end of a fixed-rate payment period, tens of thousands more have been forced into default. The national foreclosure rate has become staggering with a projection of 1.2 million to be added in 2008.

Due to what have become widely spread myths such as:

How To Choose a Loan

laphillips — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:33:15 -0600

Are you buying your first home? Maybe you're planning to retire soon, buying a second home or planning on an owner occupied investment property. Real estate loans are not one-size-fits-all. How do you find the right loan?

As with all major expenditures you should first assess your life situation both for the present and for possible future life changes. Are the kids just starting school, leaving for college, do you foresee a job transfer? How much of a down payment can you make, do you want the security of a fixed rate payment, what about cash flow?

How To Shop for a Loan

laphillips — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:24:48 -0600

You're ready to become a homeowner, but you'll need to finance your dream. This could be the most important transaction of your life. Where do you start, what questions should you ask?

Start by finding the financing. This may seem like putting the cart before the horse, but there are definite advantages for having your financing in place. By being preapproved, you:

Save yourself time by looking only at houses you can afford.
You'll avoid last-minute anxiety wondering if you'll be able to qualify for the home you want.
The closing time will be shorter.

You could contact any one of many sources. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions and mortgage companies all offer home loans. A mortgage broker allows you many choices and loan programs to consider, even government programs. With any of these sources, there are questions that will need to be answered. The first question and answer is for you.

How To Prepare Your House for Sale

afriedl — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:56:09 -0600

The thought of moving into a new house can be exciting. New rooms, new colors, new options all waiting for your creative and "homey" touch. But your current home is more than "lived in," isn't it? What can you do to make your current home ready for sale while still remaining livable for you and your family?

How To Make Moving with Children Easier

afriedl — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:01:54 -0600

The house is chosen, the paperwork is started and the bank visit is scheduled. In theory, your move from one house to another is going smoothly. However, the packing is taking longer than expected and now the children are upset about a new house. Where do you start? How can this possibly go smoothly? And will it be better once we're in the new place? Some simple things to consider can make moving much easier for children to handle. Older children can be easier to reason with and coerce into involvement. But what about younger kids?

How To Get Through Your Home Inspection Period and Keep Your Sanity

skiernanc21 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:03:42 -0600

From the moment you come to an agreement to purchase a new home, the clock starts ticking on that big to-do list. This article will help you navigate through the inspection period successfully.

How To Survive Escrow Without Losing Your Mind

skiernanc21 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:11:15 -0600

An escrow account is one that is created by a purchase contract. The escrow holder is a neutral third party which is the depository for all monies, instructions and documents involved in the transaction.

How To Find a Real Estate Agent

murry — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:41:34 -0600

In our current real estate market, arguably the best market for buyers and worst for sellers in several decades in most regions, agents who have stayed the course and remain active have to be a very resilient group. And you want one of them to help you buy or sell a home, right? Here are some of the best ways to find the perfect agent.

How To Use a Blog to Promote a Real Estate Business

RobP — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:26:31 -0500

This article assumes that a Realtor already has a website to promote their business. If not, getting involved with a blog (web log) is really putting the cart before the horse. For Realtors with their own website, having a blog can be an invaluable tool to promoting their site and themselves.

For those not familiar with blogs, a blog is a web-based method for an individual to provide commentary or news on a particular subject. They typically can combine text, images, and links to provide information that will be of interest to their audience. Blogs allow readers to leave comments and thus promote an interactive exchange of ideas and information.

Why Should a Realtor Have a Blog?

There are two reasons for a Realtor to include a blog in their on-line web presence:

How To Use Electronic Newsletters to Promote a Real Estate Business

RobP — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:20:28 -0500

It is not necessary to already have a website or a blog to get involved with electronic newsletters. However, having a website and/or blog will help to support your electronic newsletter marketing. In addition. using an electronic newsletter will support your website and blog. Think of them as three legs to an online promotional stool. The stool works much better with all three... Each of the tools complements each other and provides a well rounded electronic approach to marketing.

Why Should a Realtor Use Electronic Newsletters?

There are many reasons that a Realtor may wish to include electronic newsletters in their marketing mix:

How To Use a Website to Promote a Real Estate Business

RobP — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:08:27 -0500

With the advent of the Internet, selling real estate has changed dramatically. It is now very important for a Realtor to have a web presence - their own website. It is also important that they follow a few simple steps to set up and promote that site properly. Doing so can make the difference between a website that languishes and a website that stands out above the rest and helps to generate prospects and business.

Obtaining a Real Estate Website

The first step to obtaining a website is obtaining a domain name. The domain name is the URL by which the site will be known (e.g., www.my-real-state-web-site.com). The second step is to find a vendor who will host a website for you.

How To Stop Foreclosure

laphillips — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:25:58 -0500

Anyone can find himself in a foreclosure situation, whether because of a divorce, the loss of a job, or a higher monthly payment due to a reset on your adjustable mortgage. If you have received a Notice of Default (the first step in the official foreclosure process) there's no need to feel powerless. There is still time, but usually only 90 to 120 days.

How To Avoid Foreclosure

skiernanc21 — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:43:50 -0500

Foreclosure is a procedure whereby a bank, or other secured creditor, takes back real property that had secured a loan. Usually, the procedure is prompted by the borrower defaulting on the promissory note.

How To Settle into Your First Apartment

MissySJ276 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:47:53 -0500

So, you did it. You've accomplished what most twenty-somethings everywhere are dreaming of...settling into your own place. It's the ultimate step in independence. You've stepped out of the shadow, and out from under the roof of Mom and Dad. Congrats!

But now what? Before you head to the mall to start shopping for all the gizmos and gadgets you've been dreaming up for your new pad, you might want to read the following steps. From conquering those ugly bills to the most overlooked apartment necessities to tips on how to save the green stuff (aka cold, hard cash), this article has got you covered.

How To Choose the Right Style Home

Youshouldown — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:38:40 -0500

Homebuyers often confuse one style of home for another. When searching for your next home or trying to determine the style that matches your needs, it's important to know the different styles of homes available and on the market. Below is a breakdown of the many styles and their descriptions.

Bi-Level: A bi-level style home is typically a one-story floor plan that has been raised above ground level, where another level of living such as a basement or additional rooms resides. They are often considered ranches or split-level homes. In fact, when you enter the front door and have to climb stairs to get to the kitchen or main living space, you're typically in a bi-level style home.
Bungalow: A bungalow style home is a compact 1-1/2 story house that contains smaller rooms. There will typically be 2 or more bedrooms on the main floor, along with a bathroom and living space.

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How To Wholesale Single Family Houses for Profit

toby6s — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:14:40 -0500

You, too, can start living the life of financial freedom by starting your real estate investing career the quick and easy way: Wholesaling single family houses. It was said to me many years ago by one of my many real estate investing coaches that, "Any brain-dead moron can wholesale single family houses and make a boatload of money doing it." You know what? He was exactly right. I'll admit it; I was the brain-dead moron that he was referring to, and yes, I make a boatload of money doing it. Here's how:

How To Negotiate a Good Deal on a House

Roselind — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:36:21 -0500

Some people imagine that getting a "good deal" on a house involves stumbling onto an unsuspecting and desperate seller who is willing to give the house to the first willing taker. Dream on.

Home sales are normally negotiated between two informed parties who are going to act in their own best interests. In balanced markets, the seller will have other interested buyers to choose from. Here are some strategies to help you negotiate a good deal on a house in the real world.

How To Make Your Home a Resort

Youshouldown — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:53:38 -0500

In today’s world of home channel popularity and all things fashionable, making your home magazine-perfect and envied by all isn’t such a hard or expensive thing to do. Even the smallest changes and additions can make a huge difference for less than a weekend getaway. After all, you live in your home before and after the getaway.

How To Successfully Sell Your Home in a Soft Housing Market

Grace170 — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:29:00 -0500

You've been hearing it every day. It's a buyer's market. The market is soft. Interest rates are up. In other words, if you are trying to sell your house, it will be tough. While a soft market can be a hassle for a home seller, it does not mean getting an offer on your home is an impossibility. Here are some tips on how to sell your house in a soft market.

How To Buy a Tenancy-in-Common (TIC)

Grace170 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:19:00 -0600

A tenancy-in-common (TIC) is a legal scenario where several owners buy a building together which has not been divided into condos. This arrangement can be a confusing one for those new to the system, and even gives the old pros difficulty at times because of its complicated nature. Here are some tips on how to buy a tenancy-in-common.

The Pros. First, examine the pros that a TIC will bring you. In this arrangement, you, as an individual owner, have the right to sell your interest or part of the building if you'd like. Also, if the building produces income, one owner may complete a tax-deferred exchange into another "like-kind" income-producing property. This allows the owner to avoid capital gains on the first property. All in all, if you are outpriced in the market and cannot afford a property on your own, this is one of a few solutions.

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How To Avoid Real Estate Scams

Grace170 — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:11:00 -0600

If you are in the market to buy or sell a house, refinance your mortgage, or if you are considering investing in the real estate world, beware-there are scams out there that the smartest of people fall for. Here some of the classic real estate scams and tips on how to avoid them.

Who is the ideal Con Artist? The most savvy of con artists are those who have already attained some level of trust in your life. People you deal with daily, even family members, prove the most successful of con artists. When we "go along with others" our brains' defense mechanisms soften, and our skepticism is reduced. Con artists use this neurological trick to get you. It is ok to place trust your friends, family, and co-workers, but be skeptical about any business pitches they may give you. Always seek the advice of two or more financial advisors or confidants before proceeding.

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How To Decide Whether to Downsize

Staff468 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:27:00 -0600

The kids have flown the coop and you're left with more house than you can manage: You are officially an empty nester (though there ought to be a better term for it, don't you think?!). If you're considering moving from a family size home to something more modest, here are a few things to help you decide if it's time to downsize:

Do you have an entire floor that you don't use? Do you live in a three-story house but primarily use only one of the floors? This is one of the biggest clues that it's time to go smaller. Even if those floors are full of stuff, remember that downsizing is the perfect excuse for your kids to finally get their junk out of the house. Items you want to hold onto can always go into a storage locker at a much more affordable price.

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How To Choose Plumbing Fixtures for Your Home

Tonya249 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:30:00 -0600

The plumbing fixtures that you choose for your kitchen or bathroom can alter the entire style of the room. After all, a plain white sink and a ordinary bathtub don't really have a style, right? Add elegant faucets with a high arch in a polished stainless steel finish. You now have the beginning of a formal, possibly contemporary, look. There are many other things to consider when choosing plumbing fixtures, too, such as finish, function and installation method.

How To Create a Spa Bathroom

Tonya249 — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:06:00 -0600

Building a new home or remodeling an existing one should be a fun and exciting process. Unfortunately, it's usually not! It's a lot of hard work - after all, you have to pay attention to every detail, communicate with your architect, general contractor and various subcontractors, and generally spend a lot of time to be sure that your home is exactly the way that you want it. So if you're going to all of this trouble, you deserve a space of your own where you can sit back, relax and shut out the rest of the world. Creating a spa bathroom can fulfill all of these wishes!

How To Choose Windows for Your Home

Tonya249 — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:28:00 -0600

You probably already know that if you are building a new home or remodeling your current one, the windows that you choose will significantly affect the overall look. What you may not know is that they will also affect how energy-efficient your home is. However, it can be difficult to know what the difference is between the R-value and the U-factor. And what about all of those windows that claim to be low-E? It's time to clear up all of the confusion!