The decision to buy
May 6, 2011
Market climate warms for house hunters
Traditionally, spring is when prospective homebuyers come out of hibernation and begin the hunt for their next residence. But with the economy still in flux, budget battles raging in Washington and a housing market on shaky ground, many house hunters are wondering whether it is the right time to buy.
April 29, 2011
Calculate the real cost of homeownership
Homes are more affordable these days, the selection is abundant, and interest rates are still fairly low. For some people, it could well be a great time to buy.
September 25, 2009
6 homebuying mistakes and how to avoid them
If you've been thinking about buying a home, especially if you're a first-time buyer, folks in the real estate industry want to send you a message: Come on in, the water's fine. This may indeed be a great time for you to buy. But learn about common buying errors before you jump in.
June 22, 2008
Mary Umberger: Agents and brokers are holding the foreclosure door wide open for buyers looking for a bargain
Two years ago, Jason Pietrucha read the foreclosure writing on the wall.
May 23, 2008
What to know before choosing a developer
With some home builders and developers buckling under the strain of slow sales, tight credit and falling prices, buyers worry about finding a financially sound seller that will be around to fulfill future promises.
May 9, 2008
Launch 4-step plan to save for first home
Housing prices have slipped in many neighborhoods. But that doesn't mean it's easy for everyone to become a homeowner. Many young singles and couples still struggle to obtain even the most basic entry-level home. To qualify, they must first slash their spending and build a savings account.
May 4, 2008
Is it time to buy or time to stand pat?
Some question to consider when deciding whether to buy a second home:
April 25, 2008
10 things every new homeowner should know
You bought the house and secured the keys. Now what?
April 13, 2008
GETTING STARTED
Value, not price, key factor when looking to buy home
Today, buying a home may feel a lot like buying stocks: You'd prefer to wait until the market finally bottoms out.
April 6, 2008
How to ensure the bid is right
You love the fireplace, the hardwood floors, even the slightly dated kitchen.
February 24, 2008
Should you buy or should you hold off?
With humble apologies to William Shakespeare, the question in today's housing market is "To buy or not to buy?"
February 10, 2008
Tax hike burdens buyers
The cost of Mario Greco's new home just went up by $7,000.
January 18, 2008
Turning point
For those who believe that housing is going to stage a turnaround, the next month may be a last chance to get a home at a bargain price.
January 18, 2008
Bargain seekers stay on sidelines amid weak prices
Some people are cheering for a plunge in housing prices: Those who watched the market rocket skyward and waited patiently for the return trip, resisting the temptation to spend more than they could afford.
January 11, 2008
Realty group says it's time to get off sidelines and seek bargains
Home construction in 2008 is expected to fall for the second year in a row, but consumers aren't likely to see prices this low for years to come, according to Metrostudy, a housing research and construction firm.
December 23, 2007
'Bottom' proving elusive
With prices predicted to keep falling through the coming year or even longer, one might question the wisdom -- even the sanity -- of buying a home now when even better bargains probably await.
December 7, 2007
WINTER HOME BUYING
A warm reception
Tinsel and lights still gleamed on Christmas trees and New Year's Eve was only days away in 2006 when Richard Gustafson signed a contract to buy a condominium in Forest Park.
November 22, 2007
SMART MOVES
1st-timers can get bargains in buyer's market
It's no secret that home buyers can grab real-estate bargains during an economic down cycle. Even in many prime neighborhoods, homeowners who wouldn't budge on price just a few months ago are now willing to negotiate in earnest, says Mark Nash, a real estate broker and author of "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home."
November 18, 2007
Which is just right?
There it sits, like a big, inviting slice of cake at the all-you-can-eat-buffet: The heaping helping of mortgage that a lender says you're qualified to borrow. Should you put it on your plate?
November 18, 2007
THE NATION
Don't overlook taxes, insurance
The potential pitfalls of home buying don't disappear when the purchase offer has been accepted and the loan has been lined up.
November 18, 2007
Mary Umberger: Purchase price just the start
Separate from the monthly mortgage bill, would-be home buyers have to factor in numerous costs to determine their affordability comfort level, financial counselors say. Some of the considerations:
October 21, 2007
THE NATION
Incentives, prices, fine print worthy of car lot
Won-Ki Choi and his wife Janice had their eye on the Fairfax, Va., townhouse for some time. But the $536,449 price tag was much too high for them.
October 19, 2007
Proper planning is vital for buying second home
Like many people approaching retirement, Kathryn Scruggs and her husband dream of a second home in which to spend leisure time. Her dream is a house on a 550-acre lake in Orange County, Va., only about an hour and 15 minutes from her home in Arlington, Va.
October 5, 2007
Class open on foreclosures
Foreclosures class comes to order -- in the bustling public aisles of a records room in the Cook County Circuit Court clerk's office.
September 8, 2007
COVER STORY
DEAL ESTATE
Free parking for one year! A free flat-screen plasma TV! Your choice of a free car or furnished condo!
August 31, 2007
HOUSING
Not all first-time buyers are 20-year-olds
Chalk it up to rising home prices. Or, the fact that people are getting married and starting their families later.
June 22, 2007
ASK AN EXPERT
Budgeting, saving are keys to home ownership
Buying a home for the first time is a lot like bungee jumping, says Richard Cohen, author of "It's Not About Rate: The Right Way to Get a Mortgage."
June 7, 2007
OWNING & RENTING
Getting a good deal on a home
You've been thinking for a long time about buying a home but haven't done so because you tend to be risk-averse. But according to some real estate specialists, this could be an opportune time to shed your inhibitions and act.
May 17, 2007
Plan a move-up without becoming 'house poor'
The apartment Sheree Bykofsky owned in Manhattan was widely admired by her friends. It had two bedrooms, two baths and a fireplace -- plus a top-rung address, even by the patrician standards of her area.
May 6, 2007
The journey
Make retirement purchases before leaving work
Dreaming of retiring and then sailing the world? You may want to try it the other way around.
April 20, 2007
Buying a condo is not as simple as it may seem
New Yorkers consider themselves among the savviest and nerviest consumers in the world. But when it comes to buying real estate, what they forget to ask is startling.
April 19, 2007
Imagine lifestyle you want when picking home
The veterinarian and his wife, a teacher, knew they had to move because their house wasn't large enough to accommodate them and their five school-age children. Their only question was where to go.
March 29, 2007
Fixer-uppers aren't for faint of heart--or wallet
Like people, pets and gardens, old houses need love.
March 29, 2007
BUYING AND SELLING: TIPS AND ADVICE ABOUT REAL ESTATE
To have and to hold new home Save on wedding, spend on the house
Over an average lifetime, few transactions are more financially challenging than buying a first home or paying for a posh wedding. Imagine what it's like to get slammed with the costs of both almost simultaneously.
March 22, 2007
Buyer beware when it comes to 'as is' house
Whether you are a home buyer or seller during the peak home sales season of April through June, you will probably encounter the term "as-is" sale. Just as used-car dealers sell thousands of automobiles "as is" without any warranty or representations, houses and condominiums are sold using the same term.
February 4, 2007
CANINE CLOUT
Kelly and Matt Elvin with Sammy (from left), Mandy and Boomer. The Elvins relocated to Oak Park partly so their golden retriever would have a yard. They have since added two Labradors. Now they have a farm in Michigan, where the dogs can really romp.
January 21, 2007
FINANCING
Buying a home with no regrets
It's routine for buyers to hire a home inspector to scour a property for flaws that could haunt them later.
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