Buying

If it’s been a while since you bought a house, you may be surprised to learn how things have changed. In the decade prior to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, buying a home was a relatively straightforward task: You identified the house you wanted, applied for a loan, and then moved into your new home within 30 to 60 days. Alas, the process has become a bit trickier, and you may need to wise up before you jump into the buying and selling process once more.

Your home search and purchase will go more smoothly if you’re prepared. Here’s your to-do list.

If you’re green to the real estate game, target these ultra-livable, wallet-friendly cities in your search for your first home.

Living in a tiny house can be a refreshing way of scaling down and living simply. Tiny-house costs typically range from $30,000 to $60,000, with a national average of $45,000, depending on the design and amenities.

You may be a homeowner or a potential buyer, or you might just be addicted to the real estate listings, but whoever you are, you know that the best direction for a home’s value to go is up. But the value of a home is contingent on many things, both inside and outside a homeowner’s control.

A new construction home offers the ultimate blank canvases for a homebuyer who has a long house-hunting wish list. Do weigh these important considerations before designing and building your dream home.

A competitive housing market may require fast action, but buyers, sellers, and renters still need to proceed with extreme caution. Home-purchase and rental transactions both involve large amounts of cash, and cash attracts scammers. Before you start your hunt for a new home, read up on 9 common real estate swindles and how to avoid them.

A home inspection can be a pain point for buyers and sellers, but knowing these insider secrets can save a lot of headaches on both sides.

If you’ve recently taken the home-buying plunge, our survival guide is a must-read that will help you avoid common pitfalls, budget your time and money, and glide smoothly into the joys of owning your own home.

Although certain features may be appealing, they’re not worth paying more for.