Make an offer that sellers can’t refuse (6/13/2013)
Shrinking inventories means buyers need competitive offers to get the house they want. Helpful tips: Be preapproved, don’t lowball and add earnest money.

5 ways sellers can prepare for a home inspection (6/11/2013)
An expert is about to tell a seller everything that’s wrong with his house. To stay on an inspector’s good side, be honest and make items accessible.

Most renters plan to buy, but fear lending standards (6/10/2013)
Fannie Mae survey: 90% say they expect to buy a home in the future, but 42% think they won’t be able to do so financially for at least five years.

‘Cozy’ in real estate code usually means ‘small’ (5/28/2013)
If describing a home’s character, avoid “cozy” – it means small to most buyers. But small varies by area. In Dallas, it’s 1,500 square feet; in NYC, it’s 900.

More buyers including a heartfelt letter with bid (5/22/2013)
A personal letter from buyer to seller could provide an edge over competing bids, but only if the letter writer’s money and terms are in the right ballpark.

Distressed homes lure cash investors (5/21/2013)
House hunters looking to buy a foreclosure in South Fla. often lose out to cash investors, leaving many to wish banks would release more distressed properties.

Many buyers confused about mortgage process (5/10/2013)
Survey: One in four thinks a preapproval commits them to that lender, and 34% think lenders must, by law, charge the same fee for credit reports and appraisals.

Even in hot market, some listings turn off buyers (5/6/2013)
Even in a market where listings fly out of the MLS in a matter of hours or days, a few properties might languish for months, a year or longer.

HUD homes could add to inventory-starved market (5/3/2013)
RealtyTrac report: Patient buyers could benefit from an uptick in distressed properties owned by HUD expected to hit market over next two years.

Nip the ‘nibbler’ in the bud (4/29/2013)
Some buyers make a small request; then another; then another. An initial success breeds more requests, but an early “no” protects sellers and commissions.

Need-to-know home buying info for first-timers (4/29/2013)
Advice for buyers: A little planning can ease headaches. Potential buyers should first check their credit score and determine how much house they can afford.

Finding the right home can be easy (4/18/2013)
Miami author/architect says buyers should start with a what-I-want list to avoid after-the-purchase remorse – a home’s live-in value is greater than resale value.

Web makes a home’s custom blueprints cheaper (4/17/2013)
A growing number of buyers visit a website to create a blueprint for high-end properties. While an as-is plan can go for $500, custom designs cost up to $5,000.

Buyers of foreclosures need to act fast (4/12/2013)
Banks often list foreclosures low to encourage multiple bids, and some buyers need to lose out a few times and learn a lesson before landing a signed contract.

Boomerang buyers to make strong comeback this year (4/4/2013)
Foreclosed ex-homeowners can rebuild credit in three to seven years if diligent. Consultant expects 3.3 million likely to “return to homeownership.”

Cheaper to own than rent regardless of mortgage rate (3/20/2013)
Trulia: A home purchase in Miami, for example, could be 43% cheaper than renting, assuming a 30-year FRM, 20% down, seven-year stay and 25% IRS tax rate.

When prices of homes with pools take a dip (3/19/2013)
Study: A home with a pool sells for about 0.22% more in the dog days of summer, or $2,500 more on a $500K listing. But pool homes net about 1.5% less in Jan.

NAR: Buyers value storage space, in-law suites (3/13/2013)
Survey: Buyers in the South, including Fla., predictably prefer A/C. Compared to other areas, many also want a home less than five years old on a wooded lot.

Foreclosed homeowners seek second chance (2/26/2013)
80% of people who chose foreclosure in a strategic default are ready to buy again – and those current on other loans may have a window of opportunity to do so.

Rising home prices may spur relocations (2/21/2013)
A homeowner that’s no longer underwater thanks to rising home prices has flexibility to move – and more could head to a city with a lower unemployment rate.

Could that listing have been a meth lab? (2/13/2013)
It’s expensive to clean up the toxic-yet-unseen chemical residue, but sellers don’t always disclose it or even know it exists. There could be clues, however.

Survey: Economic uncertainty keeps renters renting (2/6/2013)
Why don’t renters become buyers? 22.2% consider renting cheaper; 15.7% see it as more flexible; 11.2% lost a home to foreclosure, up from 5.9% in 2012 survey.

4 ways buyers can mess up a loan approval (1/22/2013)
Buyers can lose a home and agents can lose a sale if prospective home purchasers make one of these mistakes between loan approval and closing.

Real estate brokers report unseasonably high interest among shoppers (1/22/2013)
More people seem to be home shopping. Websites report extra hits, and more brokers see increasing foot traffic in offices and at open houses.

Buyers: Don’t just list a home – prepare it first (1/16/2013)
To sell a home or get top dollar, sellers must look at their property through the eyes of a potential buyer. Consider these five tips.

First-time homebuyers may have to compromise (1/10/2013)
It takes more than cutting back on expenses. As lower-end home inventory shrinks, buyers may need to expand their search or change tactics.

Owners overly optimistic about home’s value (12/20/2012)
HomeGain: 63% of buyers think listings are overpriced, but 75% of sellers think their agent underrated the true value.