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Tips for Buyers & Sellers

Bob's Quick Tips for Buying and Selling Real Estate

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Low Cost Ways to Spruce-up Your Home

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Reasons to Own your Own Home

Taking the Trauma out of Homebuying

How to Prepare for Home Ownership

Finances in Order?

Pros and Cons of Condos

Tips for First Time Buyers

Tips for Buying in a Tight Market

What Your Home Inspection Should Cover

Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

What not to Overlook on your Final Walk-through

Common Closing Costs

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What to know about Title Insurance

What to Watch for in a Purchase Contract

Understanding Capital Gains

Tips for Pricing Your Own Home

Jeep, Car and Van Rentals

Tips for Buying in a Tight Market

Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps.

Get prequalified for a mortgage. In this way, you'll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.

Stay in close touch with your real estate sales associate to find out first about new listings that come on the market. And be ready to go see a house as soon as it goes on the market.

Scout out new listings yourself. Look at Internet sites, newspaper ads, and drive by the neighborhood frequently. Maybe you'll see a brand-new "for sale" sign before anyone else.

Be ready to make a decision. Spend lots of time in advance deciding what you must have so you won't be unsure when you have the chance to make an offer.

Bid competitively. You may not want to start out offering the absolutely highest price you can afford, but don't try to go to low and get a deal. In a tight market, you'll lose out.

Keep contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as needing to sell your home before you move or wanting to delay the closing until a certain date can make your offer unappealing. In a tight market, you'll probably be able to sell you house rapidly. Or talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages for a short period.

Don't get caught in a buying frenzy. Just because there's competition doesn't mean you should just buy anything. And even though you want to make your offer attractive, don't neglect inspections that help ensure that your house is sound.