Archive for: July 2008

Homeowners insurance, also known as hazard insurance, is a major expense for homeowners, usually between $100 to $200 per month for a basic policy on an average-sized home.  Additional “riders” (extra insurance premiums) may be needed to cover belongings (like expensive jewelry or valuable collectibles) or specific damages (like mold growth) that are not covered under the basic policy.  But there are ways to save on your homeowners insurance policy.

If a home inspection arranged by the seller (or the seller himself) uncovers detrimental information about the condition of a home for sale, the seller  is legally obligated in most jurisdictions to disclose any problems discovered to potential buyers.  Otherwise, the seller could be guilty of fraud.

Buyers can and should take the opportunity to ask the seller or sellers’ agent some direct and pointed questions about the condition of their home for sale before the home inspection takes place.  Buyers can then pass on information to the real estate inspector and request extra scrutiny for potential problem areas. 

The understanding of mortgage loan terms, how the term affects the home buyers monthly mortgage payment, and how it impacts the total cost the

Before the agent selling your house starts bringing in prospective buyers, you probably have some work to do to prepare your house for sale.  What exactly does getting your home ready to show entail? The job at hand depends largely on the age and condition of the house, your cleaning habits, and the budget you have to spruce the place up.   

A professional real estate inspector will typically spend several hours evaluating a home. He could spend half a day or more, depending on the size of the home, and a considerable amount of additional time completing the written home inspection report. Fees for the services of a real estate inspector typically range from $200 to $500 or more, depending on the size (and age) of the home and the time it takes to conduct the inspection and compile the final report of the real estate inspection.