Michael Sinton's Real Estate Blog

Yes, there's been trouble in real estate paradise, and no matter the causes, the dramatic results have been experienced across the country.  Before assuming that housing is a risky investment, please understand that owning a home offers countless advantages over stocks and other securities. First...

With global climate change and rising fuel prices, more people are growing interested in boosting energy efficiency, and homebuyers are among them.  What improvements might you consider in order to make your home more marketable in the Environmental Age? Believe it or not, simply caulking and wea...

It's probably no surprise that nearly all buyers require financing for their home purchase.  The real challenge is not so much in getting the loan as it is in finding the loan that's right for you. The time to start your loan search is before you begin looking at homes.  After you've reviewed you...

There's been discussion among professionals in the real estate business for years now regarding the value of holding open houses.  The National Association of REALTORS® conducted a survey last year that revealed 80 percent of buyers used the Internet for property searches, but only 42 percent vis...

 You'd have to be living on another planet if you haven't heard reports of subprime mortgages and their effect on the real estate industry.  If you're planning to buy a home, it's apparent that loan qualification these days is more challenging.  Sellers also feel the effect from fewer qualified b...

 If you're looking for a competitive edge in the sale of your home, your real estate agent may have an unexpected suggestion.  Although many sellers assume that it is the responsibility of the buyers to pay for an inspection, having one performed before you even list your home can go a long way t...

Larger home inventories coupled with tougher financing requirements have made it difficult for both sellers and buyers to achieve their respective goals.  In the search for creative solutions, one has recently begun catching on - Rent To Own. The advantage for buyers is that a portion of your ren...

Selling a house in a buyers market Ray Martin Suggests Strategies Offered By Real Estate Prosas seen on CBS New York, May 22, 2008.

Foreclosure is forcing the sale of many homes in New Jersey, putting homeowners in a very stressful and challenging position.  While most people think of real estate agents as mediators between buyers and sellers, realty professionals also work with lenders, who are likewise facing challenges. Fi...

While many areas around the country are experiencing a "buyer's market," you need to exercise caution when offering to purchase at below asking price.  Bargaining is indeed an art, and the last thing you want to do is to insult the sellers. An unreasonably low offer risks angering the sellers to ...