real estate library

Buying or selling a home is a big move and can be stressful. We have tips and in-depth articles on everything from mortgages to home equity loans in this Real Estate section.

How REITs Work

Featured Article: How REITs Work

Investing in income-generating real estate can be a great way to increase your net worth. But for many people, investing in real estate, particularly commercial real estate, is simply out of reach financially. Enter real estate investment trusts, or REITs See more »

10 First-time Homebuyer Mistakes

10 First-time Homebuyer Mistakes

Buying your first home can be a dream come true, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare. Realistic planning is key to avoiding the pitfalls that await first-time homebuyers.

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How Buying a House Works

How Buying a House Works

"It's still a buyer's market" read the newspaper headlines. Ready to see if it's your time to follow the open house signs?

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How Graduated Payment Mortgages (GPMs) Work

How Graduated Payment Mortgages (GPMs) Work

The apartment you've lived in for the last four years has let you save on rent while you both work to save for a down payment. But now that you have a baby on the way, there's no way you can keep living there. Enter graduated payment mortgages.

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How Growing Equity Mortgages (GEMs) Work

How Growing Equity Mortgages (GEMs) Work

Growing Equity Mortgages (GEMs) are one way to jumpstart your homeownership dream while quickly building equity. If you can afford increasingly higher payments over the years, a GEM may be right for you.

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How Home Appraisals Work

How Home Appraisals Work

You've found your dream home. The asking price is $300,000 -- an amount you've already been pre-approved for by your bank. But is the home really worth that amount? That's the question at the heart of the home appraisal.

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How Home Equity Loans Work

How Home Equity Loans Work

Home equity loans can provide you with valuable financial flexibility, so long as the market is stable. Learn about the types of home equity loans and how to get the best rates.

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How Home Sales By Owner Works

How Home Sales By Owner Works

For Sale By Owner signs are popping up all over the place. More and more people are sidestepping real estate agents and selling homes on their own. Some sellers save thousands of dollars this way.

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How Home Staging Works

How Home Staging Works

Home staging isn't decorating -- it's more like depersonalizing your home to make it more attractive to potential buyers.

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How House Flipping Works

How House Flipping Works

House flipping is buying a house or property and selling it for a profit. If everything works, you could make out well. But if something goes wrong, you could be stuck with an extra mortgage payment.

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How Housing Cooperatives Work

How Housing Cooperatives Work

The Beatles' John Lennon belonged to one. Madonna was rejected by one. So was former President Richard Nixon. What are they? Housing cooperatives, known as co-ops. But what are they? And why are they so exclusive?

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How Mortgages Work

How Mortgages Work

Are you in the market for a new house? That probably puts you in the market for a mortgage, too -- along with dozens of terms, hours of paperwork and decades of payments. Learn how to make the most of your money.

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How Multiple Listing Services Works

How Multiple Listing Services Works

When you buy or sell a house, you'll probably encounter a multiple listing service. But some agents are concerned because people sidestep them and instead use the multiple listing services to share information.

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How NACA Works

How NACA Works

When this non-profit organization isn't storming Wall Street, it's busy hammering out affordable mortgages for low-income and middle-income people. What's the catch?

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How Real Estate Investment Clubs Work

How Real Estate Investment Clubs Work

You may have heard there's still money in real estate, but it seems so confusing. Is there a way to learn more, mingle with some like-minded people, perhaps find a more seasoned investor to mentor you? Absolutely. Just find a real estate investment club.

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How Real Estate Property Taxes Work

How Real Estate Property Taxes Work

In medieval Europe, property taxes were based on the size of a piece of land: the larger the piece of land, the higher the real estate property tax. Today, property taxes in the United States are based mostly what's on the land, too.

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How REITs Work

How REITs Work

Investing in income-generating real estate can be a great way to increase your net worth. But for many people, investing in real estate, particularly commercial real estate, is simply out of reach financially. Enter real estate investment trusts, or REITs

See more »
How Rent-to-own Homes Work

How Rent-to-own Homes Work

So maybe you don't have a great credit history, or you're having trouble coming up with a down payment. Renting to own is one way to become a homeowner -- but it has its pitfalls.

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How Reverse Mortgages Work

How Reverse Mortgages Work

You may have seen advertisements staring celebrities James Garner or Robert Wagner that go something like this... "If you're 62 years of age or older and own your own home..." They're endorsing reverse mortgage loans. But is it a good idea, or are they just trying to make a buck?

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How Section 8 Housing Works

How Section 8 Housing Works

What do you do when you work, but can't pay the rent? Section 8 is a federal housing assistance program designed to help families overspending on rent. However, families must meet stringent income requirements and can spend years languishing on a waiting list for prized housing vouchers.

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How Selling a House Works

How Selling a House Works

Selling a house is a complicated process, no matter how good the real estate market is. Whether you're a first-time home seller or not, you probably have a bunch of questions.

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