Here's something most homebuyers don't think about. When the housing market slows down, homeowners and builders don't always respond the same way. Think about it. If you're selling your house and aren't getting the offers you want, you could make the choice to take it off the market and stay put, and wait for things to improve. But builders? They may be more motivated to stay the course. They've already...

When mortgage rates climb, buying a home can start to feel like trying to hit a moving target. Every jump in rates makes monthly payments bigger, and that pushes a lot of buyers to look for another way in. More and more of them are finding it in the adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM. The ARM Option   Here’s how an ARM differs from a more traditional mortgage. With a regular fixed-rate mortgage, your...

Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan. But the reality is, while renting can work well for some people, it’s also a big commitment. So before you decide, it helps to see the whole picture first. Why Some Sellers Are Deciding To Rent Instead Lately, some...

Whether you own a house already or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s really happening right now, especially if you look at the headlines. One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re still climbing. So, which one’s right? It comes down to where you live. What’s Really Going on with Asking Prices Part of the...

You know you want more space. The harder question is how much.Five acres sounds manageable. Ten gives you a little more breathing room. Then you see a listing for 20 acres with a wooded back corner, and suddenly your plans have grown.When shopping for acreage in East Texas, the right size depends on what you want to do, how the tract is laid out, and how much upkeep fits your life. A smaller property with...

When you picture buying your first home, chances are you’re imagining a traditional single-family house with its own yard, maybe a garage, and little extra room to grow. But with affordability still tight, getting everything on that list right away may come with a higher price tag than you’re comfortable with right now. So, if you’re running the numbers and buying a house like that feels like a...

What's the biggest payment you make every month? If you’re a renter, it's probably your rent.  But did you know that you can pay your rent on time, every time, for years, and it may never show up in your credit history? It's pretty frustrating, especially if you'd like to buy a home someday and you’re trying to build your credit. The good thing is that’s changing right now. Here’s what you need...

If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are slowing down, you may be wondering: is this really a good time to sell? While the latest numbers show sales picked up slightly in September, they're still down compared to last year. But here’s the perspective the headlines can miss. Homes are still selling every single day. Because no matter what’s happening with mortgage rates or the economy, life...

One property has a winding entrance through mature trees. Another opens onto a broad field where you can picture a home, a shop and a garden almost immediately.Both are appealing. Living with them would be very different.When comparing land in East Texas, wooded tracts may appeal to buyers who want visual privacy and a forest setting. Open tracts may better fit plans that need clear space, while mixed...

Mortgage rates being back above 7% isn't exactly the news most people wanted. But it’s changing the market in ways that matter whether you’re buying or selling. The number of homes for sale is growing faster than it was this time last year. And interestingly, the main reason isn’t a flood of new listings. It’s because homes aren’t selling as quickly. Here’s why – and what that means if...