Buying a Home

Buying a home can be a daunting task, no matter how many times you've done it before. Find tips and tricks to finding the perfect house in these articles.

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Should you buy a foreclosed home?

That stately brick home with the foreclosure sign out front looks like a great deal, but investing in a foreclosed property is a risky venture. What you see isn't always what you get, and you could lose your shirt.

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  • 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Realtor
    10 Questions You Should Ask Your Realtor

    Buying or selling a home can be stressful, but choosing the right real estate agent can reduce the hassle. Proper interviewing will help you find one who sees you as more than just a fat paycheck. See more »

  • 10 Things a Home Inspection Doesn't Cover
    10 Things a Home Inspection Doesn't Cover

    Before you buy a house, it's recommended that you always get a home inspection to weed out any problems. But the inspection doesn't cover everything, so you'll have to be a super sleuth yourself to expose potential issues. See more »

  • 10 Things to Do When You Arrive at Your New Home
    10 Things to Do When You Arrive at Your New Home

    Your friends are meeting you to help unload the truck and arrange furniture. But what else do you need to do when you arrive at your new home? See more »

  • 10 Things Your Home Inspector Doesn't Want You to Know
    10 Things Your Home Inspector Doesn't Want You to Know

    Nearly two in five existing homes suffer from some type of major defect. Will your home inspector catch those problems? See more »

  • 5 Things You Should Do Before Buying a Foreclosed Property
    5 Things You Should Do Before Buying a Foreclosed Property

    Foreclosed properties are not hard to find in today's housing market, but you can't just walk up to a bank and buy one. Well, technically you could, but you wouldn't want to. There are things you need to do before purchasing a foreclosed home. See more »

  • 5 Tips for Settling In to a New Town
    5 Tips for Settling In to a New Town

    All your stuff is finally at the new house and most of it is unpacked. So your house is starting to feel homey, but you're not quite as at home in your new town. What can you do to fix that? See more »

  • Buying Homes on the Cheap: How Much Do You Know About Foreclosures?
    Buying Homes on the Cheap: How Much Do You Know About Foreclosures?

    It seems today like you can't drive through a neighborhood -- regardless what part of the country you're in -- without seeing at least a few bank-owned properties for sale. But while it's never good news when people can't afford to stay in their homes, foreclosures aren't all bad. They also represent a chance for buyers and investors to score great deals on properties. Take our quiz to see how much you know about foreclosures, real estate and the home-buying process! See more »

  • Can you really live there?
    Can you really live there?

    Life in a suburban split level isn't the only option if you're daring, desperate or have some architectural savvy. The old lady who lived in the shoe may have been an extreme home pioneer. These days, people feather their nests in some pretty peculiar places. Let's see if you can suss out fact from fiction when it comes to some notably weird, wacky and futuristic dwellings. See more »

  • Home Downsizing 101
    Home Downsizing 101

    Downsizing your home could mean saving some serious cash, but it isn't just about money. Before you consider sizing down, you may want to ask yourself these 10 questions. See more »

  • How to Buy a Foreclosed Property
    How to Buy a Foreclosed Property

    Ready to jump into the real estate market? Whether you're looking to buy your first home or invest in some rental property, foreclosed properties often offer up great discounts for those willing to put in a bit of extra effort. See more »

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  • You should save your tax returns and all relevant backup documentation for seven years.
  • If you have a hard-water ring in your toilet, use white vinegar to help remove it.
  • A cotton swab dipped in furniture polish is a great tool for shining your furniture.
  • Create a calendar with a cleaning checklist to really get organized.
  • Baking soda is an excellent green cleaning product to use throughout your home.