Advice4Homeownership — Straight Answers on Buying, Selling and Owning a Home

Seller Financing Explained: When Carrying the Note Can Help You Sell

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This weekPending Home Sales Fall as Rates Stay High. What a Wait-and-See Market Means for You

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Selling
Getting Ready for the Appraiser: What Sellers Can (and Can't) Do
The buyer's lender orders the appraisal, and the appraiser must stay independent. Here's how sellers can prepare the home, share facts the right way and avoid steps that cross the line.
You’ll learnWho orders the appraisal and who the appraiser works for
Selling
Selling Your Home for a Job Relocation: Timelines, Relocation Packages and Guaranteed Buyouts
Moving for a new job? Your relocation package may shape how you sell. Here's how lump-sum and managed packages, guaranteed buyouts and buyer value options generally work, and what to ask HR first.
You’ll learnHow lump-sum and managed relocation packages differ, and which home-sale benefits they may include
Buying a Home
How Much Do You Really Need to Put Down? Minimum Down Payments by Loan Type
The down payment you need depends on the loan type, your credit, the property and the lender. Here's how conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo minimums compare, and what else to budget for.
You’ll learnHow published minimum down payments generally compare for conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans
Buying a Home
Do You Count as a First-Time Homebuyer? You Might, Even If You've Owned Before
"First-time homebuyer" doesn't always mean never owned. Many programs use a look-back period, and some add exceptions. Here's how definitions differ and how to check.
You’ll learnThe first-time homebuyer definition many programs use, and what "ownership interest" and "principal residence" usually mean

This Week's News

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Housing News, Week of Nov. 2, 2026: Pending Home Sales Fall as Rates Stay High. What a Wait-and-See Market Means for You
What NAR reported about September pending home sales, nationally and by region

Buying a Home

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How Much Do You Really Need to Put Down? Minimum Down Payments by Loan Type
How published minimum down payments generally compare for conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans
Do You Count as a First-Time Homebuyer? You Might, Even If You've Owned Before
The first-time homebuyer definition many programs use, and what "ownership interest" and "principal residence" usually mean
Under Contract! What Happens Next: A Buyer's Timeline from Offer to Keys
Which contract deadlines to find and track right after your offer is accepted

Home Ownership

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See also: Insurance · Home Maintenance
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? Extra Payments, Recasting and When to Leave It Alone
How extra principal payments reduce interest and why they usually don't lower your required payment
The CLUE Report: How a Home's Past Insurance Claims Can Follow It
What a CLUE report is and who maintains it
A Buyer's First 30 Days After Closing: Locks, Utilities, Records and What to Do First
Why rekeying locks and resetting codes and smart devices comes first

Selling a Home

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Seller Financing Explained: When Carrying the Note Can Help You Sell
How seller financing works and how it differs from a loan assumption
Getting Ready for the Appraiser: What Sellers Can (and Can't) Do
Who orders the appraisal and who the appraiser works for
Selling Your Home for a Job Relocation: Timelines, Relocation Packages and Guaranteed Buyouts
How lump-sum and managed relocation packages differ, and which home-sale benefits they may include
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Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans, compared in plain language.

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Southern Coastal NC

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Living in Wilmington, NC: What Buyers Should Know Before Moving
Why Wilmington, the three beach towns, and the unincorporated county are separate jurisdictions, and why that changes taxes, rules, and utilities
Buying an Investment Property on Oak Island, NC: What to Check Before You Buy
Calabash, NC: What Buyers Should Know
Why Calabash is a creek and waterway town built around a working seafood waterfront rather than an oceanfront beach town
The Benefits of Living in Southport, NC Year-Round: Why Full-Time Residents Get the Best of the Town
What the roughly October-to-April off-season gives Southport residents: a calm waterfront, open restaurant tables, and downtown returned to locals