http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=LendingTree+Editorial+Staff Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43814&ca=Real+Estate Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash for what seems to be the perfect home, step back and take time to consider the following: A Comparative Market Analysis Ask your real estate agent to provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). A CMA compares similar homes in the same neighborhoo... Finances LendingTree Editorial Staff Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43815&ca=Finances Your mortgage may have a 30-year term, but not many homeowners stay with the same loan for that long. In fact, the average American refinances his or her mortgage every four years, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. That’s because paying off your present mortgage and taking out a new one... Finances LendingTree Editorial Staff Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43817&ca=Finances With most mortgages, your payment is the same every month. But what if your paycheck isn’t so regular? Would you like to be able to vary your mortgage payment depending on your cash flow? An option ARM -- also called a flex-ARM or pick-a-payment loan -- allows you to do just that. How does it work?... Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43810&ca=Real+Estate Almost one in six people in America live in a community regulated by some kind of homeowners association, according to the Community Association Institute, a national non-profit group that provides resources to such organizations. They may live in the city or the suburbs, in a common interest develo... Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43811&ca=Real+Estate Buying a house is the largest investment most people ever make. Yet, all too often it’s a decision made in haste without adequate preparation. Use our list of common house-buying mistakes to avoid costly regrets. Buying at first sight. You may be in love with the place, but does it fit your family’s... Finances LendingTree Editorial Staff Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43812&ca=Finances Understandably, when most home buyers look for a mortgage, their top priority is to get the lowest monthly payment. But it’s a better idea to look at how much it’s going to cost you over the long term, in both interest payments and fees. By looking at these costs, you can save a significant amount o... Finances LendingTree Editorial Staff Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=43813&ca=Finances Interest rates can affect the type of mortgage you choose and dictate when it’s wise to make a change. Here are a few of the factors that can be affected by a swing in interest rates: Choosing a mortgage When interest rates are rising, a fixed-rate mortgage is usually a good choice, since it locks... Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=37640&ca=Real+Estate The most important features that help sell a home are the three you hear about all the time: location, location, location. But beyond neighborhood, there are a number of factors that influence resale value. This is an important consideration. Even if you believe you’ve found your dream home and will... Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=37641&ca=Real+Estate You fall in love with a house – the elegant front porch, the wood-burning fireplace in the living room, the roomy eat-in kitchen, the expansive master bedroom. All it needs is a little TLC. You’ll just fix the rotting floorboards on the porch, get rid of the raccoons in the chimney and put a coat of... Real Estate LendingTree Editorial Staff Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=37637&ca=Real+Estate It can be daunting to sell your current home and buy another home at the same time. Who wants to pay two mortgages or move twice? Use our tips below to help you get organized and plan your move, so everything goes smoothly. Teamwork Is Important Use the professionals you have hired to ease you throu...