Highlights
Buying a house, condo or other real estate the largest and most complex purchase most Americans will ever make -- remains a huge part of the economy. In 2007, a dismal time for the business, about 6.3 million housing transactions occurred in the United States, according to the Realtor's trade group. But the market has taken a serious body blow in recent years. The National Association of Realtors predicted the sales of existing homes in 2007 would be 10.8 percent below 2006. Sales of new homes were expected to be at the lowest level in a decade. The Internet has made it much easier for a layperson to locate properties that fit their needs and budget. As a result, while about 90 percent of tr...
Buying a house, condo or other real estate the largest and most complex purchase most Americans will ever make -- remains a huge part of the economy. In 2007, a dismal time for the business, about 6.3 million housing transactions occurred in the United States, according to the Realtor's trade group. But the market has taken a serious body blow in recent years. The National Association of Realtors predicted the sales of existing homes in 2007 would be 10.8 percent below 2006. Sales of new homes were expected to be at the lowest level in a decade. The Internet has made it much easier for a layperson to locate properties that fit their needs and budget. As a result, while about 90 percent of transactions involve a real estate agent, the rest were simply buyers and sellers hooking up independently. By-owner sales are popular among many people, in part because it saves on commissions. But even more buyers favor using a real estate agent who has the expertise and time to negotiate the complex processes. It may be obvious that no purchase in your life will ever be as crucial, but the good news is that it does not have to be as intimidating as you think. The single best piece of advice is not to let the big numbers and the jargon unnerve you. Simple, easy-to-understand step-by-step advice and instructions are available in literally hundreds of books in the library, on-line articles and websites (enter the words "real estate tips" and "selling" or "buying" in any search engine). Most give the exact same information although each may have a bit of a bias such as favoring by-owner or using a Realtor. Other significant advice: have patience; this can often be a long process and time usually is on your side. Trust your instincts; if a deal seems too good to be true, there's often a reason. Believe in options; just like buying a used car, there is always another house out there. Buying a home is essentially a lengthy parade of complex decisions, starting with whether this is the right time to be making a transaction. But the websites and books lay out the specific criteria you can use to make an informed judgment call rather than just making a blind guess. For buyers, the process includes finding out precisely how much you can spend on a house without destroying your standard of living; locating financing; identifying a large array of potential homes so you are not focused on one choice; visiting, inspecting and evaluating properties; negotiating a deal, and closing the deal.
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Orleans Parish: Some Lost Real Estate Records Back Up By Tuesday Morning
ABC26 NewsIt was the computer crash heard round the New Orleans real estate world, and if the problem has had your transaction in limbo, you're wait is over. ABC26 News Reporter Vanessa Bolano has the update. "It was a rough time and we had one or two sales that...Tags: WGNO, Real Estate, Mortgages, Insurance, Homes
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Real Estate Market Great for Buyers
A lot of New Orleans homeowners are trying get rid of property. But not too many potential homeowners are paying attention to for sale signs. It's hard to drive down any street in the metro area without seeing lots of homes for sale. Kathy Collins'...Tags: Homes
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Doctors Plan To Buy Plaquemine Hospital
Staff reporterA group of doctors plans to sign a deal to acquire River West Medical Center's physical facility, a key step in transforming it into a locally owned, nonprofit hospital. Craig Ortego, speaking for the group, said purchase of the building on Thursday is...Tags: California, Hospitals and Clinics, Health, Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers
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64 Year-old Des Allemandes Man Dies in Plane Crash
Tragedy tonight for a St. Charles Parish family when a plane went down in Des Allemands killing a 64 year old man. The plane went down in an open field raising a lot of question how this happened to an experienced pilot. Around four o'clock this...Tags: Sports, NASA, Dance, Canoeing and Kayaking, Death
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For Many The American Dream Can Come True at Anderson Place
Staff reporterA non-profit housing group is hoping to make the American dream come true for at least 26 families. Homes at "Anderson Place" (off Ames Blvd.) in Marrero are valued at $176 thousand dollars. But, in the end that's not what you will pay. Potential... -
'Indy's most infamous home' on northeast side for sale
Dubbed ‘Indy’s most infamous home’, it is one of the most unique houses in the area. However, if you like dolphin fountains, one-of-a-kind designs and spiral staircases, this house is for you! That is, as long as you have $2.2...
Tags: Real Estate, Services and Shopping
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Neighborhood objections delay new 'workforce housing' near Boynton Beach
Growing opposition to an influx of price-controlled homes helped temporarily delay plans for a 400-home development proposed west of Boynton Beach. Neighboring residents this month flooded county commissioners with emails objecting to the Toscana Isles...Tags: Personal Income, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Rentals, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida)
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Home tweet home: Agents turn to social media
Your real estate agent wants to be your friend. Not your bowling or bridge partner, or a confidante to phone after a particularly tough day, but your social media buddy, a person who will keep you up-to-speed with newsy updates and insider information...Tags: Twitter, Inc., Real Estate Agents, YouTube, Starbucks Corp., Media Industry
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Housing market improves as prices rise in April
Palm Beach County home prices rose in April as the recovering market continues to strengthen. The median price for existing homes last month was $210,100, up 5 percent from $199,900 a year ago, the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches said Tuesday....Tags: Real Estate, Palm Beach County, Services and Shopping, Homes
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FDLE: Man posed as real estate agent, took down payments on homes not for sale
Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents say a Central Florida man posed as a real estate agent and collected down payments on homes that were not for sale. Paul Vencatasawmy was arrested by FDLE agents last week on a charge of scheme to defraud, and...
Tags: Real Estate, Mortgages, Orlando Real Estate, Law Enforcement, Services and Shopping
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Florida Crystals advances plan for cargo hub in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County's Florida Crystals, the big sugar producer and landholder, has taken another step toward starting an inland warehouse and distribution center by partnering with a leading logistics firm. Florida Crystals said Thursday that it has teamed...Tags: Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Miramar, Palm Beach County, Walmart
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APM Terminals angling to operate Virginia ports
A unit of Danish shipping conglomerate Maersk is proposing to take over operations of the Port of Virginia's cargo terminals as part of a deal that could be worth billions of dollars for the state over the next 48 years. APM Terminals Inc. President Eric...
Tags: Real Estate, Regional Authority, Bob McDonnell, Washington, DC, Company Privatization
Jan 3, 2011
|Story| WGNO-LTV
Mar 6, 2009
|Story| WGNO-LTV
May 7, 2009
|Story| WGNO-LTV
Apr 23, 2009
|Story| WGNO-LTV
May 20, 2009
|Story| WGNO-LTV
May 25, 2012
|Column| WXIN-LTV
May 25, 2012
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
May 25, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
May 25, 2012
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
May 24, 2012
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
May 24, 2012
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
May 24, 2012
|Story| Hampton Roads Daily Press
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