Buying a Home

Homeowners associations have often been notorious to deal with, especially when it comes to violations or disagreements. So if you want to get the most out of yours, you have to know how to deal with it properly.

By Sarah Alban

Finding affordable housing can be a daunting prospect. But there are still some creative ways you can save money on the cost of putting a roof over your head.

By Matt Sailor

While NACA’s goal is to provide financial assistance to lower-income Americans, there aren’t any income limitations for becoming a member. You can learn more about how to become a member of NACA by reading this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Lenders give loans to prospective homeowners for a number of reasons.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

More than 17 million Americans live in manufactured homes. What do they know that the rest of us don't? Read on to find out the 10 advantages of a manufactured home.

By John Perritano

Slowly, the manufactured home is gaining respect. Could it be because the houses, with all their perks and benefits, are less expensive than traditional homes, too?

By John Perritano

The mortgage crisis has forced many homeowners into foreclosure, and this comes with an added risk: Con artists use a variety of fraud schemes that target the people and lenders involved in foreclosure. What are some examples of this fraud?

By Matt Cunningham

REITs generate income from real estate, and distribute dividends to the shareholders. Learn how REITs make money in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

You can invest in real estate without buying a property yourself. Learn about the pros and cons of REITs from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

The Federal Housing Administration changed the way Americans buy their homes.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

A certificate of appropriateness must be issued by a historic preservation committee to approve any additions or changes to a building in a historic district. Learn about certificates of appropriateness in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

A sandwich family is a family in which a couple is "sandwiched" between their young children and their aging parents. Learn about sandwich families in this article

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

There's no point in falling for a house in a neighborhood you can't stand. And if you realize after you move that the area's not for you, it's too late. Find out what to look for to find the perfect neighborhood before you look for your next house.

By Danielle Fisher

Maybe you've recently won the lottery and are in the market for a private island. But you have no idea where to begin. We'll tell you everything you need to know about buying your own island getaway.

By Beth Brindle

Buying a vacant lot can be complicated, not to mention expensive. There are several things you should know before you make such a major purchase. We've outlined 10 of them to help simplify the process.

By Wesley Fenlon

It's reasonable to feel slighted when a co-op board rejects your application or oversteps the bounds of its written rules. But do you have a valid reason to sue the co-op board?

By Garth Sundem

Believe it or not, but a deed restriction could be the roadblock to your dream home. But what exactly are some of the most common ones, and how can they sideline your big build?

By Matt Sailor

Maybe you've seen ads for raw land at low prices and think this could be a good investment. Before you buy any, read our 10 tips so you won't be left high and dry with some useless swampland.

By Jodie Schneider

Most of the water we drink and use is groundwater coming from rain or snow that has collected in the ground. The groundwater level on your land can impact the type of house, complex or well you're planning to build. We'll show you how.

By Jodie Schneider

Restrictive covenants help enforce standards and uniformity in neighborhoods. But they can also ban you from building fences, adding a pool and even cutting down trees. So how can you get out a restrictive covenant?

By Matt Sailor

There are many sneaky pitfalls that can hurt your chances of being accepted by a co-op board, because they have the legal right to be rather arbitrary. What are some things that might cause the board to reject you?

By Garth Sundem

It's true that anyone can shop for a house, and even get a peek inside, without formally signing on with a real estate agent. But what are some of the benefits of using an agent to buy your new home?

By Rebecca Fairley Raney

Buying a house is a bit easier these days thanks to technology. There are now so many tools to aid us in the process that we can do much of the work from home. These are 10 tools that harness the power of modern technology and make the home buying process as painless as possible.

By Wesley Fenlon

When the economy sours, home vacancies dramatically increase. But who is responsible for abandoned properties, and what can you do about it? We have the answers.

By Sarah Winkler

Your friends are meeting you to help unload the truck and arrange furniture. But what else do you need to do when you arrive at your new home?

By Katherine Neer