All Articles

137 articles on buying, selling, financing, insuring, and maintaining a home — newest first.

Escalation Clauses: How They Work When You're Competing for a Home

You’ll learnHow an escalation clause works, with a hypothetical example

Which Home Records to Keep, and for How Long

You’ll learnWhich purchase and closing documents to keep for as long as you own the home

Selling Your Home and Capital Gains: How the Home Sale Tax Exclusion Works

You’ll learnHow gain is calculated from your amount realized and adjusted basis

The Listing Agreement, Explained: What You're Signing When You Hire an Agent to Sell

You’ll learnThe three common types of listing agreements and how they differ

Full MLS, Coming Soon or Office Exclusive? How Sellers Choose How Their Home Is Marketed

You’ll learnWhat the MLS does and how listings reach public home search sites

Living in Your Home While It's for Sale: Showings, Security and Everyday Life

You’ll learnHow to set showing notice, windows, access and feedback with your agent

Ordinance or Law Coverage: The Rebuilding Cost Many Homeowners Policies Limit

You’ll learnWhy repairing to current building code can cost more than repairing what you had

Renovation Loans: How FHA 203(k) and Conventional Rehab Mortgages Work

You’ll learnHow a renovation loan combines the home and the repair budget in one mortgage

Selling an Inherited Home: Probate, Taxes and the Decisions Heirs Face

You’ll learnWho has the authority to sell, and how probate, trusts and other transfers differ

USDA Home Loans: How the Rural Housing Program Works and How to Check Eligibility

You’ll learnThe difference between USDA guaranteed and Direct loans

Home Maintenance

Fall and Winter Home Prep: What to Do Before the First Freeze

You’ll learnWhy heating service, alarm testing and dryer vents come first, before the first cold night

How to Choose a Loan Officer: Interview Questions That Reveal More Than a Rate

You’ll learnHow banks, credit unions, non-bank lenders and mortgage brokers differ