Ilyce's Blog

Seller disclosure helps homebuyers understand the condition of a home before they make an offer. It requires the home seller to explain any defects that could hurt a house's value, such as a leaky basement, mold or damaged foundation. The home seller will list these problems for the potential ho...

If you're on the hunt for your first home, it's important to know there's more than one right house for you. Getting emotionally invested can make you fixate on one property and prevent you from seeing other great investments. Rather than searching for your dream home, try to find the house that...

The real estate market is on the slow road to recovery, with many homeowners looking to the suburbs for affordable living. I recently wrote an article for CBS MoneyWatch that focused on the top 10 growing suburbs in the U.S. National real estate firm Coldwell Banker studied 1,500 suburbs by looki...

When shopping for a house, there’s one major feature that affects any homeowners’ decision: the location. I recently wrote an article for CBS MoneyWatch about how commitment to location can work against buyers, especially in a seller's market. Buyers are snapping up homes within days of the homes...

The American Dream means opportunity, success and prosperity to millions of people. But after the Great Recession, one must ask: Do people still believe in the American Dream? I recently wrote a story for ThinkGlink.com addressing this issue.  In a recent poll by insurance giant Northwestern Mutu...

During the Great Recession, mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac took $8.1 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively, from U.S. taxpayers. Fannie is now paying off its $117 billion debt, while Freddie is working on its $72 billion debt. I recently wrote a story for CBS MoneyWatch about what st...

Are you looking to get involved in the world of real estate investing? Whether you want to purchase investment property for yourself, or aid your clients in building their investment real estate portfolios, that fact is this: Now is a great time to invest in real estate. With historic low intere...

Recently, I answered a question from a reader about what they could do to refinance their underwater rental property. Here’s a summary of what I talked about: If you have a home that’s underwater, you won’t be able to qualify for a traditional refinance. At this point you should see whether you ...

The Internet has changed the way we buy homes. Last year, 90 percent of all homebuyers—and 93% of first-time homebuyers—used the Internet to find a home. Shopping online can certainly save you a lot of time because the photos and details of thousands of homes are right in front of you. But as pow...

For the past five years, most homeowners have been watching their homeowners insurance rates go up, even as their homes drop in value. This has led some homeowners to wonder: If my home is worth less, shouldn’t it cost less to insure? Short answer: No. Insurance companies value homes differently ...