Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Before you go looking at houses, youll need to find a real estate agent. Hiring a real estate agent takes a little bit of time to do. Youre making one of the most important financial decisions in your life and you want to make sure you hire the right person.You can get recommendations for agents ... more...

Planning Starts with the Basics
When developing a plan for your finances, the toughest question often is: Where do I begin? Before investing in stocks and bonds or buying life insurance, before implementing any change or making any decisions, you first need to analyze and understand your entire financial picture. Two documents ... more...

Homes With Acreage-Ann Arbor Real Estate
Some want to leave the big city and find a home with a lot of acreage. Others want to stay in the city, but would like some land to garden, or for privacy. Whatever the reason, there are many homes with acreage for sale. There are many ways to find and pay for such homes.How much land is an acre, ... more...

Fico Scoring Basics
FICO scoring originated from the Fair Isaac Company. The Fair Isaac Company invented the current credit scoring system that turns all of your credit information into a personal credit score. Today lenders still use this credit scoring system to determine credit risk.The term FICO scoring means, a ... more...

Buy or Sell First?
When it comes to home buying, the ideal situation would be to find a new home, just as you receive an offer on your existing home. You would then be able to close concurrently and move into your new home a few days prior to closing on your previous home. This does happen more often than not, but ... more...

A Fathers Dilemma: Can We Help Our Children, Without Crippling Them?
Breakdown in the Becky Lane!I'd just sat down at my office away from home, the local Panera, when another regular customer, Harold, sidled up to my table. We'd chatted a number of times before, and he was intrigued by my title of Financial Sanity Coach and knew I had been working on my book, "Good ... more...

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Will Mean Increased Costs of Building in the Future, but not Immediately
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will mean increased costs of building in the future, but not immediatelyThe natural disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have left upwards of 200,000 homes either destroyed or uninhabitable and needing rebuilding. This country has never seen a disaster on this scale ... more...

Should You Get a Home Inspection?
Its very important, and in my opinion, mandatory to have a home inspection done before you close on a house. The inspection helps with giving you an objective evaluation of any problems with the home before you move in.Make sure you have a home inspection contingency in your contract before you ... more...

New Home Buyers Who Represents You?
1)Why Buyers Agents The home buying process is full of traps for the unwary, inexperienced, and even the experienced home buyer. A good Buyers Agent can help you stay on course and avoid the problems. Understand that not all real estate agents are equal, spend some time interviewing agents. ... more...

Crossing the Gap from this Home to the Next: Bridge Loan
So youre thinking of getting into a bigger house. You call up the real estate agent and make an appointment to go see what the market has to offer. Then you find it, the perfect move-up home. Its everything youve ever wanted in a home unless your married, in which case its everything your wife ... more...

A Few Basic Tips for First Time Home Buyers
The first time you purchase a home is an exciting experience. You are anxious to call the place yours and maybe a little worried about how the whole thing will play out. Knowing a few basic tips for home buying is important and will help eliminate your fears altogether.Here are some to consider ... more...

Choosing a Maui Condo Rental Agent
Choosing a condo in Maui is definitely a great investment. If you are in the market for a new condo in Maui, you should research the process involved in buying your Maui condo, a good place to start is a visit to as many of the Maui condo rental agents as possible.Maui is a lovely island within the ... more...

Using Your Banks Money To Grow Your Own
Youve just bought your house in Spain and because you got such a good deal you now find you have money in the bank. It isnt a huge amount but with your pension taking care of daily business you decide you want to invest the money. Lets say you have $20,000 to invest.How do you get the best returns ... more...