Category: General

Whether you plan to co-own property with a United States citizen or a non-U.S. citizen, the rules of the game aren’t too different. Noncitizens can inherit property. They may be named as beneficiaries on financial and insurance accounts, just as citizens may. And whether you own jointly with citizen or resident, you’ll each qualify for…

Navigating Mortgages, Titles and Deeds Co-buying a home as a couple signifies a serious commitment on multiple levels. If you have spoken with your real estate lawyer and financial expert, and decided to buy property together as a couple, congrats! You’ll want to make informed decisions about financing and titling your property together. You’ll be…

As a general rule, real estate values have risen through the decades. Today, a force is challenging that rule, and we all need to know about it before heading for the closing table. It involves the risk of weather damage and disasters.   Emergencies are affecting more real estate as the years go on. Whether…

Married couples still make up the bulk of U.S. home buyers. Yet single buyers make up a good portion, too. Some are going solo on account of divorce or a loss of a former life partner. Some, happily independent, are making a commitment to a place for years into the future. And some just want…

Home buying is a wealth-building strategy, as well as a way to own a living space. As a homeowner pays off the mortgage over the years, the home becomes a store of value. That equity can be useful for making renovations or pursuing new business investments. A home equity line of credit, abbreviated as HELOC,…

In early March, the pandemic placed U.S. real estate transactions on hold. A few weeks later, Realtor.com created its weekly Housing Recovery Index, to track changes since Covid-19 gained a foothold. The name of the index itself suggests confidence in the market’s rebound. According to the recovery index, home sales took a turn upward in May. Traditionally,…

Buying a condo is a trade-off. On the plus side, it’s the perfect way to downsize. To avoid doing outdoor chores yourself, to save energy, to live simply and frugally. Buying a condo is also a great way to make the jump from apartment living to homeownership on a limited budget, or in uncertain times.…

Some sellers offer the option of a seller-financed deal to home shoppers. Seller financing can be very attractive when a hopeful buyer can’t obtain a loan approval. After 2020, we could see an uptick in such situations, as a good number of sellers and buyers try to restore their pandemic-battered finances and seek alternative ways…

Many international buyers — often from Canada, China, Mexico, India or Great Britain — buy U.S. real property to offset the risk of their country’s currency devaluation, or simply to diversify their assets. If you’re a buyer from outside the United States, or a seller making an international sale, advance knowledge can help you navigate…

For generations, real estate has been at the core of wealth for people, families, and organizations. Today, a home is the most valuable asset owned by most people in the U.S. middle class. It’s the largest investment and a central retirement asset for most of the population. Of course, a home should be a safe,…