As a homebuyer you’re about to embark on one of the biggest, most stressful and exciting journeys in your life. You need to be certain that you can trust your real estate professional to deliver the goods.

However, choosing the right realtor can be difficult. There is a lot to consider, and with fierce competition between agents, all of the information can be a little bit overwhelming. Here are some key steps to help you pinpoint the real estate agent that will be the best fit for you.

1. Speak With Former Clients

When you meet the agent in person, they obviously will be putting their best foot forward. So, for a more unbiased view of their work habits, try to speak with people who have worked with them in the past. Online testimonials are a great place to start. But for more in-depth insight into the agent’s area expertise, check out their Facebook page. If you have friends in common, ask them about their experience with the agent in question.

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First comes love, then comes marriage...but what about the home? Hey, lovebirds: If you’re recently married, you may be thinking of buying a nest together. Indeed, 35% of married Americans purchased their first home together within two years of tying the knot, according to a recent industry study. Yet while we hear plenty about the challenges that many unmarried couples experience,  that doesn’t mean that marriage makes this process a breeze through the park. 

“A lot of factors come into play,” says Brandy Wright, a certified financial planner at Cambridge Wealth Counsel in Atlanta. So before you start swooning over Craftsman bungalows or granite countertops where you envision your bright new future, be sure to sit down and ask each other these crucial questions first.

Click HERE to read the rest of the story.

According to new data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, sales of newly built, single-family homes in the U.S. rose 16.6 percent in April 2016 from an upwardly revised March reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 619,000 units. This is the highest sales pace since January 2008.

"Builders remain optimistic about the housing market, and this month's jump in new home sales is a positive sign that growing demand will keep the housing sector on an upward trajectory through the spring buying season," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill.

"Rising home sales combined with tight inventory will translate into increased housing production as we move onward in 2016, especially as job creation continues and mortgage rates remain low," said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. 

 Click HERE for full story by Monsef Rachid. 

A lot of people take advantage of more well-known tax breaks like deducting your mortgage interest from your taxable income. However, homeowners can take advantage of other benefits come tax time no matter where they own property in North America.

In the U.S. … private mortgage insurance deduction: Private mortgage insurance, an extra cost for homeowners who put down less than 20%, can increase interest rates when paid through a lender. However, this bump in interest rate also means you can boost your mortgage interest rate tax break due to the higher percentage – and it’s been extended through 2016.

In Canada … first time homeowner’s deduction: For first-time Canadian homebuyers, there’s a tax credit of up to $750 that either you or your spouse can claim as a first-time ownership deduction on your taxes.

In the U.S. … energy credits deduction: Another U.S. tax credit that’s been extended through 2016 is the deduction for residential energy credits. Homeowners can access the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit or the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit by making green improvements to a residence that span solar, electric and water, as well as wind energy and geothermal heat pump installation costs.

In Canada … medical expenses deduction: To help homeowners with disabilities, there are Canadian tax credits of up to $7,000 for home renovations that accommodate any impairments to mobility or other home-related medical expenses.

Both … home office deduction: Both in the U.S. and in Canada, homeowners who work-at-home can claim a variety of tax breaks. In the U.S., expenses range from prorated (home expenses where some went to your office) and dedicated (expenses that are only for your office). In Canada, if your employer requires you to maintain a home office, get a federal form signifying this for your tax records – otherwise, if you are self-employed, the range of deductions becomes much larger, as long as it can be legally claimed.

All of these deductions can make the switch from renter to homeowner an attractive option. But be sure to consult a tax preparer or attorney, if you have questions on what you can and cannot claim this April.