Published February 12, 2026
TL;DR Military families relocate every 2-3 years through PCS orders, turning real estate into one of the biggest recurring costs of a military career. This guid...
Published February 10, 2026
TL;DR
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying your home's assessed value by local tax (millage) rates, and they vary dramatically by location. The ...
Published February 10, 2026
TL;DR
Real estate contingencies are contractual safety nets that let you walk away from a deal without forfeiting your earnest money if specific conditions ar...
Published February 9, 2026
TL;DR: VA Home Loan Benefits
VA home loans are one of the most powerful mortgage programs available, offering qualified veterans, active-duty service member...
Published February 9, 2026
TL;DR
Buying a house in another state is more achievable than ever thanks to virtual tours, remote online notarization (now legal in 45 states), and lenders who...
Published February 6, 2026
TL;DR
Closing costs for buyers typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price, adding $7,000 to $18,000 or more on a $350,000 home. These fees cover lender char...
Published February 7, 2026
TL;DR
A home inspection report can be dozens of pages long, listing everything from hairline cracks to major structural failures. The key is knowing which findi...
Published February 6, 2026
TL;DR
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the single most important step you can take before house hunting. Unlike a basic pre-qualification, a mortgage pre-...
Published February 5, 2026
TL;DR
Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and the margin for error is razor thin. First-time buyers who skip pr...
Published January 31, 2026
TL;DR
Relocating for work while coordinating a home sale and purchase across state lines requires strategic planning, but success is achievable with the right...
Published January 30, 2026
TL;DR
Your home probably has not tripled in value over the last quarter century. When measured in gold, oil, or other commodities instead of dollars, housing ha...
Published January 29, 2026
TL;DR
Selling a home after a loved one's death involves navigating probate (typically 6 to 18 months), understanding executor responsibilities, managing...
Published January 28, 2026
TL;DR
Real estate markets move through four predictable phases: recovery, expansion, hypersupply, and recession. Economist Homer Hoyt identified an approximatel...
Published January 27, 2026
TL;DR
Housing economists project the 2026 market will bring gradual improvements for buyers and sellers alike. Mortgage rates are expected to hover between 6% a...
Published January 26, 2026
TL;DR
Even a 1% change in your mortgage interest rate can dramatically impact your buying power and total cost of homeownership. On a $400,000 loan, a singl...
Published January 26, 2026
TL;DR
The viral "2026 is the new 2016" trend captures real nostalgia for a simpler economic era, but housing economics tell a different story. In 2016, the medi...
Published January 25, 2026
TL;DR
The housing affordability crisis has reached historic severity, with home prices now five times the median household income and 57% of American househ...
Published January 25, 2026
TL;DR
Buying a home with bad credit is challenging but achievable with the right strategy. FHA loans accept credit scores as low as 500 (with 10% down) or 580 (...
Published January 23, 2026
First tool to let home buyers search agents by actual negotiation results and savings delivered to past clients, covering vetted agents nationwide.
Published January 24, 2026
TL;DR
The price gap between new construction and existing homes has narrowed to historic lows, with Q1 2025 showing just a $14,600 median difference. New cons...
Buy a House
Published January 23, 2026
TL;DR
Student loan debt does not automatically disqualify you from buying a home. The key factor lenders examine is your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which measu...
Published January 23, 2026
TL;DR
Earnest money is a good faith deposit, typically 1% to 3% of the purchase price, that buyers submit with their offer to demonstrate serious intent. This d...
Published January 22, 2026
TL;DR
Winning a bidding war requires strategic preparation, not just throwing more money at the problem. The most successful buyers combine financial strength (...
Published January 21, 2026
TL;DR
A pre-listing home inspection is a proactive strategy where sellers hire a professional inspector before listing their home. With contract cancellation ra...
Published January 15, 2026
TL;DR
Selling a home during divorce requires careful coordination between both spouses, legal professionals, and a neutral real estate agent experienced in divo...
Published January 14, 2026
TL;DR
Selling a tenant-occupied property is legal in all 50 states, but requires careful navigation of lease agreements, tenant rights, and buyer expectatio...
What's My Home Worth?
Published January 2, 2026
TL;DR
Appraised value is what a licensed professional determines your home is worth for lending purposes, while market value is what buyers are actually willing...
Published January 2, 2026
TL;DR
Yes, you can sell your home even with an outstanding mortgage. The process involves requesting a payoff statement from your lender, listing your propert...
Published December 29, 2025
TL;DR
When your home lingers on the market without offers, take immediate action. The most common culprits are overpricing (which deters 36% of buyers), poor pr...
Published December 19, 2025
TL;DR
A comprehensive analysis of 389 U.S. metropolitan areas reveals that 106 markets now require household incomes exceeding $100,000 to afford a median-price...
Published January 1, 2024
An Exclusive Partnership Program for Real Estate & Financial Creators
Monetize Your Audience by Connecting Them with Top-Tier Agents
Help your f...
Published December 2, 2025
Selling real estate often triggers one of the largest tax bills homeowners will ever face. The IRS can claim up to 23.8% of your profits at the federal level al...
Published November 23, 2025
On This Page
TL;DR
Understanding Days on Market in 2026
National Benchmarks: What the Data Shows
Metro-Level Tr...
Published September 17, 2025
Top 10 Realtors in Scottsdale, Arizona (2025)
Our comprehensive analysis of Scottsdale real estate professionals identifies the top performers based on...
Published August 20, 2025
Contents
When to Start Worrying
...
Published August 20, 2025
Selling to an Investor vs Working with a Realtor: Complete 2025 Guide | EffectiveAgents
...
Published September 2, 2025
On This Page
TL;DR Summary
The Rise and Fall of Costco’s Mortgage Program
Why Costco Discontinued Its Program
Current Mor...
Published September 19, 2024
Important: This article provides general information about working with realtors when you have bad credit. Always consult with qualified financial and real esta...
Published September 2, 2025
On This Page
TL;DR
What Realtors Can & Can't Do
CMA vs. Appraisal
Licensing, Standards & Law
When You...
Published September 16, 2024
On This Page
TL;DR
2024 Commission Changes
Traditional Commission System
...
Published September 25, 2024
On This Page
TL;DR
What Is Stagflation?
Historical Lessons on Stagflation
How Stagflation Impacts the Real Estate Market
...
Published December 2, 2025
Hiring a real estate agent is one of the most consequential decisions you will make when buying or selling a home. The right agent can save you tens of thousand...
Published November 3, 2025
When and How to Cancel Your Listing Agreement: A Seller's Guide
Entering into a listing agreement with a real estate agent is a significant step that requires ...
Published October 31, 2023
Selling your home without a real estate agent might seem like an attractive way to save money on commissions. After all, keeping an extra 2.5% to 3% of your hom...
Published October 31, 2023
A 2% real estate commission sounds like an easy way to save money when selling your home. But before you sign with a discount agent, you need to understand what...
Published November 7, 2025
Capital Gains Taxes on the Sale of a Second Home: Complete 2025 Guide
Updated December 2025 | 12 min read | Tax Planning & Real Estate
Selling a second home or...
Published December 6, 2025
Your home has been on the market for weeks, maybe months, and the phone is not ringing. Showings have slowed to a trickle, and the offers you expected have not ...
Published November 21, 2025
On This Page
Quick Summary
The Agent Advantage
Strategic Pricing
Home Preparation
Marketing & Exposur...
Published December 2, 2025
Selling Inherited Real Estate: A Complete Guide to the Advantages and Disadvantages
Inheriting a home from a loved one brings both emotional weight and complex...
Published May 22, 2023
Updated for 2025. Originally published in 2023
Published December 7, 2025
Real estate transactions involve complex legal documents, significant financial commitments, and binding contracts that can have lasting consequences. Whether y...
Published November 30, 2025
Selling your home represents one of the most significant financial transactions of your lifetime. The agent you choose to represent you can mean the difference ...
Published December 11, 2025
TL;DR
Despite widespread concerns about a housing market crash, expert consensus and market fundamentals suggest a 2008-style collapse is highly unlikel...
Published December 11, 2025
The reverberations of the pandemic mortgage refinance boom continue to shape the housing market, creating significant challenges for prospective homebuyers seek...
Published November 14, 2025
Selling your home represents one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime. The agent you choose to guide this process can mean the difference betw...
Published December 3, 2025
Selling your home represents one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime. While every homeowner wants to maximize their sale price, only a select...
Published December 7, 2025
Housing affordability has emerged as one of the most consequential political and economic issues facing American families. From suburban homeowners watching pro...
Published November 24, 2025
Economic uncertainty raises difficult questions for prospective homebuyers. Should you wait out a market downturn, or could challenging economic conditions actu...
Published December 11, 2025
TL;DR
Baby boomers own $19.7 trillion in U.S. real estate, and 62% of younger Americans expect to inherit property in the coming years. If you inherit a home, y...
Published December 11, 2025
If you are wondering what salary you need to afford a $500,000 house, you are not alone. With the median home price in the United States hovering around $417,00...
Published December 11, 2025
TL;DR
Move-up buyers have largely vanished from the housing market due to the mortgage rate lock-in effect, where homeowners with rates under 4% face payment in...
