Sellers who anticipate losing money if they sell their home may wonder why they should spend a dime fixing the place up for sale. Isn't this throwing good money after bad? Even sellers with plenty of equity in their homes often figure the way to get the most out of the sale is to cut sale costs to a minimum.

This attitude is...

Several years ago, a home listed for sale developed a stigma if it didn't sell within a month or two. Today, many sellers have homes listed that have been on the market for six months or longer. In fact, it's so commonplace for it to take a significant time to sell a house that it is no longer a disgrace if a listing doesn't sell...

It is common for sellers to obtain inspections of their homes before they put them on the market. These reports, called presale inspections, are then assembled with the sellers' disclosures into a disclosure package of documents about the property. Disclosure packages are made available to prospective buyers who have serious interest in the...

Generally, existing-home sales have declined broadly over the past year. Some economists don't see a significant improvement in the home-sale market happening for perhaps another year or so. However, according to a report issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in November 2007, home prices in most metropolitan areas rose or were...

In most areas of the country, 2007 marked a change in the residential home-sale market. Buyers gained clout for the first time in over a decade. Inventories of homes for sale grew to record levels in some places. Price reductions, which carried a negative stigma when listings were easy to sell, came to be seen as a necessary part of the home-sale...

Mortgage interest rates dropped recently and home prices have moderated in many areas, making it a good time to buy. If you've never bought a home before or if you currently own a home but have never bought and sold at the same time, the process can seem intimidating.

You can ease your anxiety by formulating a game plan and by assembling the best team...

When the housing market slows down, buyers often wait on the sidelines for a clear sign that the market has recovered. The only problem with this strategy is that you can only know for sure that a market has turned through hindsight. In other words, you can't time the market.

A slow market is perceived as an opportunity by some...

People attend Sunday open houses for all sorts of reasons. There are curiosity seekers; neighbors might stop by to see a house if it hasn't been on the market in years; and some come in search of decorating ideas or to check out prices in the neighborhood. In other words, most people who walk through an open house aren't really buyers....

Few homeowners cheer when home prices soften, but a soft market can actually benefit homeowners who have been waiting for a prime time to move up to a larger home or to a more expensive home in a better neighborhood.

Let's say home prices declined 10 percent in your area during the past year. This decline affected all price ranges...

It wasn't too long ago when it didn't matter as much which real estate agent you chose to sell your house if it was located in one of the many hot seller markets. Listings sold without much assistance; many soon after the for-sale sign went up. Today, choosing the right agent for the job can make the difference between a sale and no...