Foreclosure Counselors: What They Can and Can’t Do

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: August 4, 2010

Foreclosure counselors can make the difference between losing your home and keeping it. Here’s how they work and how to choose one.

If you’re facing foreclosure, your foreclosure counselor will be a key part of your foreclosure team. As you start looking for one, however, you need to know what exactly they do, what they don’t do, and how to choose one who’s legitimate and qualified.

What a foreclosure counselor does
•    Reviews your finances
•    Helps you establish a budget
•    Explains your non-foreclosure options, such as loan modification, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure; helps you navigate the process with any chosen option
•    Advocates on your behalf with lenders and loan servicers
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6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer on Your Home

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-10 11:32:13

Have a plan for reviewing purchase offers so you don’t let the best slip through your fingers.

You’ve worked hard to get your home ready for sale and to price it properly. With any luck, offers will come quickly. You’ll need to review each carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks and pick one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers.
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Home Inspections 101

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 2001, 97 percent of home buyers who received home inspections believe they received a good value for their money. A home’s history gives it character and charm, but also takes a toll.

Over time, roofs sag, mortar cracks, and furnaces lose efficiency. Beyond this normal wear and tear, older homes can harbor mold, water damage, termites, or other structural threats that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
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Homeowners Insurance Checklist

A home is the single biggest investment most Americans will ever make. Protecting that investment is not just a legal responsibility, but the smartest move you can make. Here are 7 tips for getting the most out of your homeowners insurance for the smallest premium.

1. Research Early and Often
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Dos and Dont’s of Homebuyer Incentives

Evaluating Homebuyer IncentivesBy: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-09-01 08:57:14

Homebuyer incentives can be smart marketing or a waste of money. Find out when and how to use them.

Incentives such as a new grill out on the patio can set your home apart from the competition. Image: Weber-Stephen Products Co.

Be sure you’re sending the right message to buyers when you throw in a homebuyer incentive to encourage them to purchase your home.

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7 Tips for a Profitable Home Closing

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-10 09:46:23

Be sure you’re walking away with all the money you’re entitled to from the sale of your home

When you’re ready to close on the sale of your home and move to your new home, you may be so close to the finish line that you coast, thinking there’s nothing left for you to do. Not so fast. It’s easy to waste a few dollars here and for mistakes to creep into your closing documents there, all adding up to a bundle of lost profit. Spot money-losing problems with these seven tips.
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Fielding a Lowball Purchase Offer on Your Home

By: Marcie Geffner
Published 2010-06-10 09:53:36

Consider before you ignore or outright refuse a very low purchase offer for your home. A counteroffer and negotiation could turn that low purchase offer into a sale.

When you receive a low offer on your house, the best response is to counter with a price you’re willing to accept.

You just received a purchase offer from someone who wants to buy your home. You’re excited and relieved, until you realize the purchase offer is much lower than your asking price. How should you respond? Set aside your emotions, focus on the facts, and prepare a counteroffer that keeps the buyers involved in the deal. Continue reading

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