• Buying
  • Advantages of Buying
    • Owning vs Renting
    • Renting and Inflation
    • Wealth and Equity
    • No More Landlords
  • Home Finance 101
    • Mortgage Payments
    • Accumulating a Down Payment
    • Closing Costs
    • Homeowner's Insurance
    • PMI/Morgage Insurance
    • Property Taxes
    • Tax Benefits of Ownership
    • Tax Benefits of Selling
    • Maintenance and Other Costs
  • Preparing to Shop
    • Getting Preapproved
    • Good Neighborhoods
    • Evaluating Neighborhoods
    • Used Homes
    • New Homes
    • Condo/Co-Op Advantages
    • Condo Drawbacks
    • Understanding Co-ops
  • Your Real Estate Team
    • The Team and the Players
    • The Perfect Agent
    • Understanding Agency
    • Selecting an Agent
    • Your Agent and You
    • Using a Lawyer
    • Who is the Broker
    • Other Key Advisors
  • Making an Offer
    • Basic Rules of Negotiating
    • Making an Offer to Purchase
    • Getting a Counter Offer
    • Negotiating Credits
    • Major Corrective Work
  • Getting a Mortgage
    • Mortgage 101
    • Fixed or Adjustable?
    • Fixed Rate Mortgages
    • Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
    • 15 or 30 Year Terms
    • Understanding Points
    • Other Lenders Fees
    • Locating a Lender
    • Traits of Good Lenders
    • Loan Prequalification and Preapproval
  • Inspections and Insurance
    • Understanding Inspection
    • Why Properties Should be Inspected
    • Types of Inspections
    • Optimizing Inspections
    • Homeowner's Insurance
    • Title Insurance
    • Title Risks
  • Closing the Deal
    • Final Closing Statement
    • Possession Options
    • Final Verification of Condition
    • Joint Tenancy
    • Buyer's Remorse
  • After You Buy
    • Reassemble Your Finances
    • Ignore Solicitations
    • Tax Assessments
    • Refinancing
    • Keep Receipts for Improvements
  • Buying FAQs
• Selling
  • Reasons to Sell
    • Reasons to Sell
    • Selling in a Strong Market
    • Selling in a Declining Market
  • Getting Financially Organized
    • Trading Up
    • Trading Down
  • Preparing to Sell
    • Timing Your Sale
    • Handling Presale Preparation
    • Key Exterior Improvements
    • Key Interior Improvements
    • Pre-Marketing Property Inspection
    • Staging a House
  • Your Real Estate Team
    • The Perfect Listing Agent
    • Selecting an Agent
    • Other Key Advisors
  • Listing Contracts and Commissions
    • Listings Contract Basics
    • Exclusive Listings
    • Open Listings
    • Commission Basics
    • Seller Disclosure Statements
  • Marketing Your Home
    • Pricing Methods
    • Using Pricing Incentives
    • Overpricing Issues
    • Advertising That Works
    • Open Houses
    • Showing Your House
    • Appraiser's Inspection
  • Negotiating
    • Basic Rules of Negotiating
    • Mastering Your Feelings
    • Receiving an Offer to Purchase
    • Dealing with Contingencies
    • Selecting the Best Offer
    • Making a Counter Offer
  • Closing the Deal
    • Estimated Closing Statement
    • Final Closing Statement 2
    • Possession Options 2
    • Final Inspections and Risks
    • Seller's Remorse
  • After You Sell
    • Taxes and Profits
    • Required Tax Filings
    • Exclusion and Taxable Gains
    • Keeping Documentation
    • Post-transaction Finances
    • Your Next Home
    • Change Your Address
  • Rental Issues
    • Issues for Landlords
    • Key Tax Facts for Landlords
    • Attached Rental Units
    • Accidental Rental Conversion
    • Rental Advantages
    • Managing Your Investment
    • Cash Flow From Rentals
    • Selling Your Investment
  • Selling FAQs
• NYC Buying
  • Co-ops
  • Condos
  • Purchase Process
  • NYC Building Descriptions
  • Renting in NYC
  • NYC Closing Costs
• Maintaining
  • Foundation and Floor Frame
    • About the Foundation
    • Understanding Fungus
    • Avoiding Moisture Under Your Home
    • Being Wise About Cracks
    • Brick and Block Foundations
    • Repairing a Squeaky Floor
    • Leveling Your Floors
  • Your Roof and Siding
    • Your Roof
    • The Impact of Ice
    • Finding a Leak
    • Minding Your Gutter
    • Understanding Siding
  • Windows, Doors and Insulation
    • Saving Energy with Insulation
    • Windows and Screens
    • Doors and Hardware
  • Decks, Fencing, and Walls
    • Preserving Your Wood Deck and Structures
    • Roof Deck
    • Fencing
    • Wood Retaining Walls
  • Swimming Pool
    • The Pump
    • The Skimmer
    • The Filter
    • The Heater
    • Pool Covers
    • Keeping Your Pool Clean
    • Winterizing Your Pool
    • Beginning of Pool Season
    • Balancing Pool Water
  • Landscape Irrigation
    • Your Sprinklers
    • Risers
    • Connecting the Pipes
    • Anti-siphon Valve
    • Winterizing Systems
  • Ornamental Iron
    • The Problems of Rust
    • Shielding Your Metals
    • Removing Rust
  • Walkways, Patios and Driveways
    • Cement and Concrete
    • Cleaning Concrete
    • Patching Cracking Concrete
    • Repairing Steps
    • Sealing Concrete
    • Polishing Concrete with Paint
    • Masonry
  • Your Plumbing System
    • Types of Pipes
    • Replacing a Damaged Section of Threaded Pipe
    • Preventing Freezing Water Pipes
    • Temporary Pipe Leak Fixes
    • Quieting Noisy Water Pipes
    • Turning off Your Water Main
    • Water Heater
    • Softening Your Water
    • Well Basics
  • Plumbing Fixtures
    • Easy Surface Maintenance of Fixtures
    • Cleaning Your Faucet
    • Toilets
    • Maintaining Tubs and Showers
  • Your Drain and Waste System
    • Sewer System Basics
    • Keeping Your System Clog-Free
  • Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling
    • Heating Systems
    • Air Conditioner
    • Ventilation
  • Fireplaces
    • Fundamental Fireplace Facts
    • Maintaining Your Fireplace
    • Fireplace Cracks
    • Dealing with the Damper
    • Caring for the Outside of Your Chimney
    • Cleaning a Soot-covered Brick Fireplace Face
    • Cleaning Glass Doors and Screens
  • Walls and Ceilings
    • Drywall Cracks
    • Putting the Stop on Nail Pops
    • Filling Holes
    • Plaster
    • Interior Painting
    • Maintaining Walls and Ceilings
    • Making Paneling Look Like New
    • Wallpaper
  • Household Appliances
    • Gas and Electricity
    • Cleaning is Job One
    • Range Tops
    • The Oven
    • Range Hood
    • Microwave Maintenance
    • Dishwashers
    • Refrigerators and Freezers
    • Garbage Disposals
    • Trash Compactors
    • Washing Machines
    • Electric and Gas Clothes Dryers
  • Cabinets and Countertops
    • Keeping Cabinets Looking Great
    • Countertop Maintenance
  • Flooring
    • Ceramic Tiles
    • Vinyl
    • Linoleum
    • Torginol
    • Care for Terrazzo
    • Laminate
    • Keeping Wood Healthy
    • Keeping Carpet Clean
  • Household Safety
    • Fire Safety
    • Carbon Monoxide Danger in the Home
    • Guarding Against Natural Disasters
    • Gas Line Safety Tips
    • Maintaining Burglar Alarms
    • Automatic Garage Door Openers
    • Electrical Safety
    • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
  • Shutting Down Your Home
    • Water Floods
    • Your Turn-off Checklist
    • Preventing Break-ins
    • Making it Look like You're at Home
    • Long-term Considerations
• Financing
  • Mortgage Basics
    • Mortgage 101
    • Mortgage Payments
    • Fixed or Adjustable?
    • Homeowner's Insurance
  • Your Down Payment
    • Accumulating a Down Payment
    • PMI/Mortgage Insurance
    • Investing the Down Payment
    • Smaller Down Payments
  • Fixed Mortgages
    • Fixed Rate Mortgages
  • Adjustable Mortgages
    • Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
    • Financial Impact of ARMs
    • Length of Ownership
    • Impact of Interest Rates
    • ARMs Changes and Caps
    • More About ARMs
    • Predicting Interest Rates
  • Other Mortgage Types
    • Balloon Loans
    • Hybrid Loans
  • Applying for a Mortgage
    • Loan Prequalification and Preapproval
    • Buying in December
    • Getting Your Credit Report
    • Mortgage Brokers
    • Locating a Lender
    • Traits of Good Lenders
    • Multiple Mortgage Applications
  • Common Problems
    • Insufficient Income
    • Appraisal Problems
    • Typical Documents
    • Credit Report Errors
    • Excess Debt
    • List of Required Documents
  • Evaluating Mortgages
    • 15 or 30 Year Terms
    • Understanding Points
    • Other Lenders Fees
    • Prepayment Penalties
    • Challenges with Co-ops
  • Tax Issues
    • Tax Benefits of Ownership
    • Property Taxes
    • Taxes and Profits
    • Required Tax Filings
    • Exclusion and Taxable Gains
    • Repairs v. Renovations
  • Reverse Mortgages
    • Reverse Mortgages Basics
    • Costs of Reverse Mortgages
    • Reverse Mortgage Payment Options
  • Financing FAQs
• FAQs
• Glossary
• Feedback

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