Mortgages: Fixed-Rate Versus Adjustable-Rate
Both of these have advantages and disadvantages depending on your financial needs and prospects.
Facing Co-Op Bankruptcy
Co-op investors can often be penalized for other people's actions. Read on to learn about the most common types of co-op default.
Do You Need A Real Estate Agent?
There's no guarantee that realtors will act in your best interest, but it may be worth hiring one anyway.
4 Steps To Attaining A Mortgage
It starts with knowing your choices as well as your price range. We show you how to get there.
Foreclose On High Housing Prices
Foreclosed homes may be financially appealing, but there are many obstacles to consider before buying.
Score A Cheap Mortgage
Hidden costs can create what looks like a good deal. Find out how to find the best mortgage possible.
Conquering The Terms Of Your Mortgage
Buyers with big down payments should get the best mortgage terms. Unfortunately, the equation isn't that simple.
4 Overlooked Homeownership Costs
Mortgage payments aren't the only expense. Find what else you'll be on the hook for.
Becoming A Landlord: More Trouble Than It's Worth?
On the surface, being a landlord seems likes like a surefire bet, but it's usually more headache than it's worth.
Avoid Capital Gains Tax On Your Home Sale
If you have property to sell and want to avoid capital gains tax, a Section 1031 exchange may be the answer.
Take Advantage Of A Housing Crisis - Rent!
When a housing crisis strikes, the big winners are often the renters.
6 Questions To Ask Before You Refinance
Refinancing your mortgage can be a quick way to save on payments, but it's not for everyone.
The New Mortgage Business: More Than Just Loans
Many mortgage brokers adapted to the post-subprime environment by becoming loan modification specialists.
Equity Stripping Leaves Creditors Empty-Handed
Add additional debt to your real estate assets to keep the creditors at bay.
Top 10 Features Of A Profitable Rental Property
Find out what factors you should weigh when searching for income-producing real estate.
Understanding the Mortgage Payment Structure
We explain the calculation and payment process as well as the amortization schedule of home loans.
Real Estate Speculation In College Towns
Is this an investing option you should consider? Find out here.
Things To Know About The Home Modification Plan
This program allows FHA borrowers to reduce monthly mortgage payments through negotiation with lenders.
Top Tips For First-Time Home Buyers 
Follow this step-by-step guide to make your homeownership dreams a reality.
Closing A Real Estate Deal In A Down Market
We provide top tips on how to help sell your home in a rough market.
5 Mistakes Real Estate Investors Should Avoid
Don't let a slow real estate market drag you down - steer clear of these pitfalls.
To Rent or Buy? There's More To It Than Money
Your lifestyle, level of commitment and the trade-offs need to be carefully weighed.
5 Tips For Recession House Hunters
Follow these five tips to get a leg up on rival bargain hunters.
To Rent or Buy? The Financial Issues
Thinking of buying a home? We look at the initial and ongoing costs as well as the so-called benefits.
10 Tips For Getting A Fair Price On A Home
Don't let buying a home bust your budget. Make sure the house you choose is worth the price you pay.
Self Employed? 5 Steps To Scoring A Mortgage
Convince lenders that you're a good bet despite your lack of a steady income.
Understanding Your Mortgage
We walk through the steps needed to secure the best loan to finance the purchase of your home.
7 Steps To A Hot Commercial Real Estate Deal
For savvy real estate investors, times of lower prices reveal investment opportunity.
Top 4 Things That Determine A Home's Value
Your house depreciates over time, while the land beneath it is likely to do the opposite.
Financing Basics For First-Time Homebuyers
If you're looking to get your first mortgage, there are many financing options available.
Short Sales And Foreclosures: When It's Time To Move On
Sometimes it's better to cut your losses, but foreclosures and short selling can have devastating impacts on your credit score.
Should You Refinance Your Mortgage When Interest Rates Drop?
Refinancing is a great way for many homeowners to improve their financial situation - but beware of the downsides.
Rent To Own; Own To Rent
This method can help first-time buyers afford a home using a rent-to-own strategy, and it can also be good for investors.
Battling Foreclosure: The HOPE NOW Alliance Strategy
Hope Now was formed to help prevent foreclosures. Are the organization's strengths enough to overpower its weaknesses?
The Hidden Costs Of Home Ownership
Mortgage lenders don't factor the extra costs into your loan amount. Make sure you save for the "little" things.
Understanding Mortgage Impound Accounts
Home buyers with low down payments may get stuck with higher mortgage payments. Find out what you get for the extra money.
How Does The Economy Affect House Size?
The better the economy, the bigger the house. But beware - everything that glitters isn't gold.
10 Hurdles To Closing On A New Home
It's the biggest purchase of your life - find out what can go wrong before you even close the deal.
A Career In Real Estate Portfolio Management
Find out why this job more closely resembles the role of a CEO than an asset manager.
Paying Off Your Mortgage
This may be the biggest debt you'll ever incur. Learn why you should retire it sooner rather than later.
Protect Yourself From HELOC Fraud
Identity thieves are using home equity lines of credit to commit their crimes.
7 Smart Steps Every New Homeowner Should Take
Don't let the excitement of owning your own home lead you to make bad financial decisions.
Buying Real Estate In Canada
This property market is easy to access and provides profitable opportunities.
Can't Sell Your Home? Rent It
Find out how to profit from your property when the housing market dips.
How Refinancing Affects Your Net Worth
Find out how to determine whether refinancing will put you ahead or even more behind.
Insuring Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Mortgages
This insurance has an edge over private mortgage insurance. Find out why.
Housing Deals That Fall Through
Find why buyers back out and what you can do if you're left holding the bag.
Rental Properties: Cash Cow Or Money Pit?
Create a valuation system to forecast the profitability of an income-producing property.
Selling Your Home For Less Than The Loan
Find out what options are available when your mortgage is bigger than the value of your home.
The Reverse Mortgage: A Retirement Tool
Discover another way to fund your retirement without having to make payments on a loan.
Top 8 House-Hunting Mistakes
These mistakes will blow your cool - your budget is likely to follow.
Making Money In Residential Real Estate
Even in a down market, local real estate properties have inefficiencies that investors can exploit.
Mortgages: The ABCs Of Refinancing
Learn how the various reasons for doing it can mean the difference between financial prudence and ruin.
Can Real Estate Stabilize Your Portfolio?
Real estate can provide diversification and a hedge against inflation. Find out why it works.
Watch Out For "Junk" Mortgage Fees
So many fees are tacked on to a mortgage, that it's easy to pay more than you have to.
Creating A Tax-Deductible Canadian Mortgage
Find out how to get a tax benefit from your mortgage like your neighbours to the south.
Add Some Real Estate To Your Portfolio
From REITs to owning your own home, find out how diversify your portfolio with real estate assets.
Foreclosures: Bargains Or Money Pits?
Find out if the house you're eyeing is really a good deal.
10 Reasons Why Moving Might Not Make You Richer
Find out why moving to a less expensive city may not reduce your expenses.
Do You Need A Home Inspection?
This step is important when purchasing a property because it may save you thousands.
Understanding FHA Home Loans
Don't be overwhelmed when filling out these forms. Find out what you need to do here.
Holding Titles On Real Property
Find out how best to claim and convey ownership on your assets.
The Risks Of Mortgage-Backed Securities
Find out how weighted average life guards against prepayment risk.
Staging Your Home For A Quick Sale
Make your house appealing to the largest number of buyers to ensure a sale.
Add Value To Real Estate Investments
Find out how you can remodel your home and pass some of the expense onto future owners.
Make Yourself A More Attractive Mortgage Candidate
Find out what you can do to get approved despite having a low credit score or debt.
Purchasing A Short-Sale Property
If you are looking for a good deal and have time to wait, a short-sale house may be for you.
7 Things To Consider Before Selling Your Own Home
A "for sale" sign won't sell your house. Find out what it takes and whether you can do it all yourself.
Homeowners, Beware These Scams!
If you're in a pinch for money, you're the prime target for con artists and thieves.
12 Worst First-Time Homeseller Mistakes
Don't put the sale of your home at risk by committing one of these dirty deeds.
Understanding The Escrow Process
Learn the 10 steps that lead up to closing the deal on your new home and taking possession.
How Interest Rates Affect Property Values
When interest rates fall, real estate prices tend to increase. Why? Find out here.
9 Things You Need To Know About Homeowners' Associations
Restrictive rules and high fees are just some of the things to watch out for before joining an HOA.
What To Do If Your Mortgage Application Is Rejected
There are six ways to change your bank's answer to a loan request from 'No' to 'Yes'.
Is A Reverse Mortgage Right For You?
Home equity can be a viable financing alternative, but it depends on how you spend the funds.
10 Worst First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes
These errors could wind up costing you more than the coveted key to your first home.
Do-It-Yourself Projects To Boost Home Value
These simple projects can add value to your property without taking too much out of your wallet.
Analyzing A REX Agreement
These contracts can be an effective way for homeowners to hedge against declining house prices.
Payment Option ARMs: A Ticking Time Bomb?
With these mortgages the loan's principal can continue to increase - even as payments are made.
Foreclosure Investing Not A Get-Rich-Quick Venture
Investing in this kind of real estate takes capital, time and careful planning.
REX Agreements Climb As House Prices Decline
These purchase options let you hedge against a decline in your home's value without having to sell the house.
Reverse Mortgage Pitfalls
Before tapping your home equity, find out what can go wrong.
Flipping Houses: Is It Better Than Buy and Hold?
Real estate investors can flip a property or use it for cash flow. Find out which will work in your neck of the woods.
Cut Commissions With "For Sale By Owner" Sales
It takes a lot more work, but selling your home without a realtor can have benefits.
Should You Buy Property On Leased Land?
Find out what to consider before investing in a leased-land property.
Get Your Foot In The Door With Rent-To-Own
Will this agreement help you keep a home you love, or squash your homeowner dreams?
All-In-One Mortgage A Good Option For Thrifty Buyers
"Offset" mortgages combine a checking account, home-equity loan and mortgage into one account.
Trade Properties To Keep The Taxman At Bay
Swapping baseball cards in your youth can help you understand these like-kind exchanges.
The Benefits Of Using A Real Estate Attorney
Property transactions are complex and subject to specific state/local rules. A professional can simplify the process.
Finding A Listing Agent
Don't go it alone in the real estate market. We'll show you how to find the help you need.
Measuring The Benefits Of Home Ownership
Price appreciation is the biggest factor, but it's not the only thing to consider.
Five Mistakes That Make House Flipping A Flop
If you're just looking to get rich quick, you could end up in the poorhouse.
Get A Round-Trip Investment With International REITs
Avoid being left behind as REITs expand beyond U.S. borders.
Interest-Only Mortgages: Home Free Or Homeless?
These loans can be beneficial, but for many borrowers, they present a financial trap.
Selling Your Home In A Down Market
Find out what you can do to improve your chances of having a quick sale.
Defeasance Reduces Commercial Real Estate Fees
Try this alternative to short-term variable-rate financing when using leverage to buy property.
Is A Housing Co-op Right For You?
Find out the rules and obligations before buying.
Sell Your Rental Property For A Profit
Being a landlord can be taxing, especially when you want to sell. Find out how to reduce your burden.
Rate Freeze To Cool Mortgage Meltdown
The U.S. government is offering help to subprime borrowers. Is this a cure or a curse?
Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac, Boon Or Boom?
These two companies are crucial to the mortgage market, but are they ticking timebombs?
CDOs And The Mortgage Market
These structured products contribute to keeping borrowing rates low.
No Longer Nomads: The History Of Real Estate
From caves to condos, we look at how homo sapiens hunted for a home.
The Rise And Demise Of New Century Financial
A case study in how poor planning toppled a subprime mortgage giant.
Who Is To Blame For The Subprime Crisis?
From lenders to buyers to hedge funds, it appears everyone has blood on their hands.
The Fuel That Fed The Subprime Meltdown
Take a look at the factors that caused this market to flare up and burn out.
Why Housing Market Bubbles Pop
Home price appreciation is not assured. Can you withstand the volatility in this market?
The Emergence Of Global Real Estate
Find out how this sector can occupy a unique role in a diversified investment portfolio.
American Dream Or Mortgage Nightmare?
Option adjustable rate mortgages could make or break your home-buying experience.
Tips For The Prospective Landlord
Investing in rental property can generate serious income, but there's more to it than collecting rent.
ARMed And Dangerous
In a climate of rising interest rates, having an adjustable-rate mortgage can be risky.
Mortgages: How Much Can You Afford?
Answering this means number-crunching as well as factoring in other considerations and expenses.
The Impact Of Interest Rates On Real Estate Investment Trusts
REITs are high-yield investments, but do they have an inverse relationship with interest rates? Find out here.
Basic Valuation Of A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
Find out why funds from operations is a superior measure of REIT performance.
What Are REITs?
Looking for an income security that rivals small-cap stocks? It may be time to learn about real estate investment trusts.
