Home, sweet home. A house -whether it is a condo, townhouse, duplex or single family home - is typically the largest single investment most Americans make during their lifetime. While the joys of homeowership are many, the buying and sellling process can be stressful and fraught with hidden pitfalls.
Figuring out how much house you can afford, choosing the right real estate agent, choosing the right mortgage and protecting yourself during the home-buying process are critical. Visit our Real Estate Guide for important information on these and other key topics.
In addition, our suite of on-line mortgage calculators can assist you in choosing the right loan, the benefits of pre-paying your mortgage and deciding whether you should rent or buy, based on current housing and rent prices.
Many military members, lured by the easy credit terms offered a few years ago, are now being hit by the double-whammy of rising mortgage payments as the adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) that many of the use start to reset and rapidly falling housing prices. The biggest mistake many of them are making? Waiting too long before seeking assistance.
These helpful financial tips are reprinted with permission from the book Just Give Me the Answer$: Expert Advisors Address Your Most Pressing Financial Questions by Sheryl Garrett, CFP® with Marie Swift and The Garrett Planning Network.
Helpful do-it-yourself real estate articles and guides from NOLO.