Straight answers about buying, selling and paying for a home, written in plain English. Pick your goal below and start with the first article. Each one links to the next step, so you never have to guess what to read next. New here? Buyers start with the checklist, sellers start with the cost of selling, and everyone should know their budget first.
Buying a home
- First-Time Homebuyer Checklist: Step by Step
- How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
- Buyer Agreements Explained: What You Sign Before You Tour
- What Is Earnest Money? How Much, Where It Goes and How to Protect It
- Home Inspection Checklist: What Inspectors Check and What to Ask
- Understanding Closing Costs: What Buyers Pay
- Relocating to a New State: A Buyer's Guide
- Is It a Buyer's Market? How to Tell and What to Do
Full walk-through: home buying guide.
Selling a home
- How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?
- How to Price Your Home Right in a Shifting Market
- Home Staging Tips to Sell Faster
- Selling a Home When Interest Rates Are High
- Seller's Market Trends: When to List Your Home
Full walk-through: home selling guide.
Paying for a home
- How to Budget for a Home When Rates Are High
- How to Improve Your Credit Score for a Better Mortgage Rate
- FHA vs. Conventional Loans: Which Is Right for You?
- Down Payment Assistance Programs: How They Work
- What Moves Mortgage Rates, and the Parts You Control
Full walk-through: home financing guide.
Local market guides
Prices, taxes, neighborhoods and closing rules change by city. Read the guide for where you want to live, or see the national housing market. New to the lingo? Start with the real estate glossary.
Where to start
Where should a first-time buyer start?
Start with the first-time homebuyer checklist, then get pre-approved so you know your budget before you tour homes.
Where should I start if I am selling?
Start with what it costs to sell a house, so you know your real take-home number, then get a free home value estimate.
Are these articles financial or legal advice?
No. They are general information. Rules change by state and loan type, so talk to a licensed agent, loan officer or attorney about your situation.
What Is a Capped Real Estate Brokerage?
A capped brokerage takes a split or a fee from each of your deals until you have paid it a set amount for the year. That amount is the cap. Once you hit it, you keep 100% of your commission, minus any fees that keep going. Then the cap resets and you start again. How does a brokerage cap work? You p
What Is a Broker of Record, and Why Does It Matter to Agents?
A broker of record is the licensed broker who is legally responsible for a real estate brokerage and every agent under it. States call this person the designated, managing, principal or qualifying broker. Your license is placed under them, your deals run through them and your commission is paid thro
What Happens If a Home Appraises Low?
A low appraisal does not have to end the deal. Your lender bases the loan on the appraised value, not just the price you agreed to. If the value comes in low, you can ask the seller to lower the price, pay the gap in cash, split it, ask the lender to reconsider the value, or cancel if your contract
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