There are a lot of perks to owning a condo that you don’t find with a single-family home in the suburbs, and also some drawbacks that can be deal breakers. Here are 19 tips for condo-buying before you sign any contracts or hand over any money.   Tips: 1. Consider the social aspects You’ll be sharing common areas with neighbors, running into them at HOA meetings, seeing them in the hallways, dealing with individual properties that have adjoining walls, and more. What’s your comfort level with a more social lifestyle?   2. Determine your ideal building size How big is too big, how smal ..read more

Are you interested in making your home more energy-efficient — and saving money? Discover whether there are some big (or small) energy-saving opportunities that you’re missing. Energy auditor:Get an energy audit from your utility company. Light bulbs: Swap out incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent or LED options. Sun/window treatments: Use the light and heat from the sun to selectively warm your house by opening your blinds or curtains. Power strips: Flip the switch on power strips when you’re done using electronics. Weather-stripping on windows: If windows aren’t airtight, you ..read more

Suddenly, a place that was perfect for you a decade or two ago might feel cavernous. If you’re starting to dream about trading in your rambling old house for a smaller cottage or new condo, here are the steps you’ll have to take.   1. Consider your finances How much your home is worth Where you want to buy or rent HOAs New taxes if you leave your area Mortgage rates Your credit scores     2. Think about space Visit smaller homes at open houses Walk through IKEA showrooms Record square footage and your impressions of space Don’t forget lot size   3. Could you change e ..read more

A home inspection is part of many real estate transactions. Here’s how it works.   1. The inspector walks through the house to assess its condition and look for major problems.   2. The buyer and buyer’s agent are usually there for the inspection.   3. The inspector will look outside at the home’s gutter and drainage systems, and to make sure there aren’t any external safety hazards.   4. They’ll look at the roof and attic to make sure everything is leak-free and in good working condition.   5. They’ll check the plumbing by making sure all the sinks and toile ..read more

The nice thing about buying a home that you plan to make your primary residence — even though the search and transaction processes aren’t always a cakewalk — is that you know what you like. When you buy a home to fix-and-flip or buy-and-hold as an investor, though, it’s really not about what you like at all. Instead, it’s about what’s popular in the locale, what rents and what sells, and how you can find a deal that will maximize your return. So what do you need to know about buying an investment property if that’s always been a dream (and even if it hasn’t)? Here’s a quick rundown of the most ..read more

Who doesn’t love the idea of collecting rent on a home in a beautiful vacation-friendly location — and visiting for free when there aren’t any guests? It’s a lovely concept, but there are several “hidden” costs to owning a vacation home that your daydreams don’t encompass. If you’re about to make the goal of owning your own vacation home a reality, then you’ll need to brush up on how much it’s going to cost you and budget accordingly. Don’t buy a vacation home without considering.   Down payments and mortgage loans The credit requirements for buying a home to live in full-time are looser ..read more

Pets are a joy and a delight that help make our lives feel more meaningful — but let’s face it: The folks who have a problem with pets because of the mess and wear and tear on an average home kind of have a point. Pets shed their fur everywhere. They don’t always smell pristine. If they’re not well-trained, you might have to clean up their refuse, which is never an enjoyable task. Having a pet is absolutely worth the hassle they can cause, but there are also steps you can take to maintain your home so that it’s perfectly habitable for you and your family while you enjoy your fur babies. By ta ..read more

Buying a home is always an anxiety-ridden process, and that goes triple for anyone who’s embarking on homeownership for the very first time. There’s so much to do and so much you don’t know that “overwhelming” hardly seems like an appropriate description of how it feels. And even though you don’t want to scare yourself away from the entire process, you still need to be wary of falling into a few common traps that first-time buyers generally don’t avoid. If you’re aware of these five potential mistakes — and able to keep yourself from making them — then you’ll be saving yourself some significa ..read more

Moving to the suburbs can be a real toss-up when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. On one hand, you probably have access to clean sidewalks, big parks, and more room to wander, which is very helpful when you’re trying to squeeze in exercise around your work and family life. On the other hand, some suburbs are a lot more “walkable” than others, and it’s not always as easy to sneak in “extra” movement like walking to the store or the bus stop or train station. Things in the suburbs are more spread out than in the city. So when you’re getting ready to buy a home in the suburbs — and yo ..read more

Living a healthy lifestyle seems like a simple choice to make: You get one body and one mind, so it’s best to take very good care of both, right? As anybody who lives in reality knows, it’s not quite that simple. But there are some things you can do to help boost your chances of establishing and maintaining healthy habits — and your home is one often-overlooked area where you might be able to improve your chances of health success significantly. What does a “healthy” home look like? Here are some ways you can find the perfect healthy home for you.   Seek out opportunities to move more ..read more