Real Estate

Real Estate Adviser

By Steve McLinden • Bankrate.com

Can I get a fair deal on vacant land?

Want to tackle something difficult and complex? Buy an unoccupied lot and build a house on it.

Archive

Can't ignore the hoarder next door

Article: Someone must confront your hoarding neighbor. Enlist others first, but it might have to be you.

Seller was deceptive about triplex defects

Article: The seller didn't mention that the building is unsafe. Should we tattle, or shrug it off?

What are the options besides walking away?

Article: When a family outgrows a house but can't afford to sell, the situation isn't hopeless.

Contract probably obliges you to pay agent

Article: A buyer showed up after the home was taken off the market. Does the agent merit a commission?

Lease to buy a house: What's the catch?

Article: I have iffy credit, and I can buy my house at the end of my lease. Is it a good idea?

Is there really a new tax on home sales?

Article: Worried about a home-sale tax to pay for health care? That's just an "Obama-scare."

Neighbors over the line with gate, fence

Article: Look for a disability exception to the law that lets people snag pieces of neighbors' land.

Now's the right time for going green

Article: The stimulus package offers incentives for going green on homes.

Can I prune neighbor's sap-dripping pine?

Article: The "heritage" pine next door has a tradition of dripping sap on cars. Time for a chainsaw trim?

Flapping, snapping flag drives nappers mad

Article: Who's more American: The guy who flies a noisy flag all night, or his sleep-deprived neighbors?

Who has to fix neighbor's retaining wall?

Article: An uncomfortable talk with the guy next door won't be as messy as a collapsed retaining wall.

Split ownership through tenants in common

Article: Banks offer fractional loans that make it possible to divide ownership of a home.

Wait how long to rent out your home?

Article: Consider these factors before you rent out a house that's been on the market for a while.

How can I time a home sale and purchase?

Article: Mess up the timing, and you end up with two homes -- or none. Here's how to avoid that fate.

Downsize for a tiny profit now, or wait?

Article: When you move from a stagnant housing market to a livelier one, timing is only one factor.

Neighbors funnel their rain into our yard

Article: When the adjacent property uses your backyard for drainage, try diplomacy first, then threats.

Grill the owners, locals when buying 'raw' land

Article: You don't want to spoil your purchase of unimproved land, so ask plenty of questions first.

Avoiding capital gains tax on sale of home

Article: A home sale delay endangers the owners' capital gains tax exclusion. Can this break be saved?

Make sure to have easement to get to house

Article: Before you buy, make certain that you have road access to your new home.

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30 yr fixed average
3.65%

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Mortgage Overnight Averages

Product	Rate	+/-	Last week
30 yr fixed mtg	3.65%		3.65%
15 yr fixed mtg	2.80%		2.78%
5/1 ARM	2.59%		2.60%
30 yr fixed mtg refi	3.64%		3.63%

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