How to be the Most Attractive Homebuyer

by Andrea Murad

Published March 21, 2013

FOXBusiness

 

 

The spring season tends to flood the housing market with buyers, and in markets with low inventory levels, the competition is stiff.

As home prices continue to recover and interest rates remain at near-record lows, some houses are receiving multiple offers and to win the bid, buyers need to stand out from the crowd. According to the National Association of Realtors, houses sold in 71 days in January, down from 99 days a year ago.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/21/how-to-be-most-attractive-homebuyer/#ixzz2Ow8RIRL0

 

 

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February 2013 Real Estate Review

Some house plants present a danger to pets, children

By  Denise Trowbridge

For The Columbus Dispatch Sunday March 3, 2013 5:39 AM

Although anthurium is a beautiful addition indoors, all parts of it are toxic.

Yew is often deadly if ingested.

With houseplants, it’s good to know what you’re getting before you bring one home. Many common indoor plants are toxic to pets. The damage, depending on the plant, can range from a mild rash to death.

If you have curious pets or small children — many of the plants that sicken pets can also harm children — do your homework before buying new houseplants. And do a quick review of the plants you already own to make sure there aren’t any hidden dangers.

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Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Trulia.com's Real Estate Realist | Feb. 27, 2013, 7:30 PM

It is a rare occurrence these days to have a home’s buyer and seller sit down around the kitchen table to make a deal. In some areas, they do still sit around the attorney’s boardroom table to close the deal, but by that time, the deal is done and the ship has already sailed on any avoidable mistakes.

So in the vast majority of home sales, buyer and seller never connect in person, never talk, and never exchange insights or information except in the most formal, written formats - despite being effective business colleagues in one of the single most important transactions of their lives. And here’s the rub: buyers sit on a wealth of knowledge that sellers crave to know, most of which could be filed under how to attract buyers and make them want to buy a home (or at least, not turn them off).  So, since buyers and sellers can’t get together, allow me to reveal a handful of helpful insider insights that the buyers I’ve worked with and connected with over the years would reveal to sellers, if they could.

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Housing Recovery Gains Strength

By Chris Isidore @CNNMoneyFebruary 26, 2013: 12:30 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The housing market recovery picked up steam in the final three months of last year, with prices rising at an annual rate of 7.3%, according to S&P Case-Shiller, while a government report showed sales of new homes also shot up higher.

The home price increase marks the third straight quarter of year-over-year gains. The price report covered 20 major housing markets.

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