As many of you already know, a foreclosure starts with late payments, then the bank repossesses the home, and the property is offered for sale, usually in an auction at the county courthouse.

Typically, though, the bank that owns the property will list it for sale through a local brokerage.

As Katie and I discuss in this week’s Let’s Get Real With Real Estate, though foreclosures are certainly a bad thing for the previous owners that didn’t make their house payments, for buyers, a foreclosure can represent an excellent opportunity.Read more

Buying a new home is definitely one of the most stressful events you’ll undertake in your life. In fact, according to University Hospitals, moving ranks in the top five most stressful events, right up there with the death of a loved one, divorce, losing your job, and a major illness or injury.

However, there are a variety of things you can do right now to help minimize the stress of buying a new home!Read more

To buy a home is probably the biggest financial undertaking of your life. It’s no wonder, then, that some prospective homebuyers feel a little panicked about their investment.

But there are plenty of ways to help defray some of the costs of purchasing a home, from no-money-down home loans that help you keep more money in your pocket up front to grant programs that help reduce your closing costs.Read more

Last week, Brooke and I discussed a situation in which the buyers of a property had an inspection done on the property’s septic system, which found that it needed to be replaced.

Fortunately, those buyers didn’t have to foot the bill for the costly repair, but other buyers haven’t been so lucky because they’ve made a crucial error – skipping the inspection process.Read more