Highlights
Buying a house, condo or other real estate the largest and most complex purchase most Americans will ever make -- remains a huge part of the economy. In 2007, a dismal time for the business, about 6.3 million housing transactions occurred in the United States, according to the Realtor's trade group. But the market has taken a serious body blow in recent years. The National Association of Realtors predicted the sales of existing homes in 2007 would be 10.8 percent below 2006. Sales of new homes were expected to be at the lowest level in a decade. The Internet has made it much easier for a layperson to locate properties that fit their needs and budget. As a result, while about 90 percent of tr...
Buying a house, condo or other real estate the largest and most complex purchase most Americans will ever make -- remains a huge part of the economy. In 2007, a dismal time for the business, about 6.3 million housing transactions occurred in the United States, according to the Realtor's trade group. But the market has taken a serious body blow in recent years. The National Association of Realtors predicted the sales of existing homes in 2007 would be 10.8 percent below 2006. Sales of new homes were expected to be at the lowest level in a decade. The Internet has made it much easier for a layperson to locate properties that fit their needs and budget. As a result, while about 90 percent of transactions involve a real estate agent, the rest were simply buyers and sellers hooking up independently. By-owner sales are popular among many people, in part because it saves on commissions. But even more buyers favor using a real estate agent who has the expertise and time to negotiate the complex processes. It may be obvious that no purchase in your life will ever be as crucial, but the good news is that it does not have to be as intimidating as you think. The single best piece of advice is not to let the big numbers and the jargon unnerve you. Simple, easy-to-understand step-by-step advice and instructions are available in literally hundreds of books in the library, on-line articles and websites (enter the words "real estate tips" and "selling" or "buying" in any search engine). Most give the exact same information although each may have a bit of a bias such as favoring by-owner or using a Realtor. Other significant advice: have patience; this can often be a long process and time usually is on your side. Trust your instincts; if a deal seems too good to be true, there's often a reason. Believe in options; just like buying a used car, there is always another house out there. Buying a home is essentially a lengthy parade of complex decisions, starting with whether this is the right time to be making a transaction. But the websites and books lay out the specific criteria you can use to make an informed judgment call rather than just making a blind guess. For buyers, the process includes finding out precisely how much you can spend on a house without destroying your standard of living; locating financing; identifying a large array of potential homes so you are not focused on one choice; visiting, inspecting and evaluating properties; negotiating a deal, and closing the deal.
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Free Mortgage Help Event Kicks Off at L.A. Convention Center
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A free mortgage convention aimed at saving struggling homeowners and helping buyers kicks off at the L.A. Convention Center on Thursday. People camped outside for hours ahead of the start of the event, set for 8 a.m. Thursday....Tags: Mortgages
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South Central Farmers Fight For Promised Park
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Local activists are fighting a plan to sell of a plot of land earmarked to be a public park to a developer who wants to build a clothing factory. The 2.6 acres in question was purchased from the city by real estate developer Ralph...Tags: Real Estate Sellers, Human Interest, Jan Perry, Real Estate
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Free First Time Homebuyers Seminar
Thinking About Buying a Home? Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions invites first time homebuyers to a FREE seminar this Saturday, July 16th that covers the most vital aspects of purchasing and maintaining a home, including: the real costs of home...Tags: Consumers, California, Rentals, Foreclosures, Real Estate
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Home Sales Drop 27% to 15 Year Low
Associated PressWASHINGTON -- Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas. July's sales fell by more than 27 percent to a seasonally adjusted...Tags: Real Estate Agents, Human Interest, Mortgages, Clubs and Associations, Economy, Business and Finance
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Tags: Islam, Politics, Justice System, Property, Manhattan (New York City)
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Stocks Plunge As Japan Nuclear Crisis Worsens
Associated PressNEW YORK -- U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday in a global selloff as fears that Japan's nuclear power crisis could turn into a larger catastrophe sent investors in search of safety. In a second straight day of losses tied to Japan, the S&P 500 fell to...Tags: Unemployment Benefits, Consumers, Sales, Barack Obama, Politics
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Tags: Long Island, Florida, Entertainment, Italy, Steinway Concert Grand Piano
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Deadline to "Save the Peak" Extended
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES -- Today marked the deadline to "Save the Peak" beside the world famous Hollywood sign, and to add a bit of Hollywood drama, the effort has been continued. The Trust for Public Land says it has received a 16-day extension to finish raising...Tags: Forests, Real Estate Sellers, Hollywood (Los Angeles, California), Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers, Natural Resources
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$4 Million More Needed to "Save the Peak"
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES -- Environmentalists have raised $1 million in less than a week to help "Save the Peak" beside the world famous Hollywood sign, but they still need an additional $4 million. Trust for Public Land President Will Rogers says his group raised $1...Tags: Forests, Real Estate Sellers, Hollywood (Los Angeles, California), Natural Resources, Los Angeles
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Thieves Steal Dollar Bill Wallpaper From Local Restaurant
INYOKERN -- For 60 years, happy diners at the now-shuttered Homestead tacked dollar bills to the walls, dated and inscribed with a line or two to mark the occasion. A tradition in the high-desert hamlet of Inyokern, it made the cozy, wood-...Tags: Foreign Exchange Market, Real Estate Agents, Punishment, Crimes, Fines
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Economic Crisis Could Help Southland Home Buyers
ONTARIO-- 'Going once, going twice... third and last call, sold! For $354,000!' And just like that, more than 100, once-pricey pieces of southland real estate were gone... sold at auction this weekend in Ontario. Some 500 people packed the Convention...Tags: California, Marketing, Hawaii, Auction Service, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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33RD Annual Home Remodeling & Decorating Show-
Buyers, House Sellers & Real Estate Investors Expo When: Saturday, February 21st 10a.m.-8p.m. Sunday, February 22nd. 10a.m.-6p.m. Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall-Kentia...Tags: Real Estate Sellers
Feb 16, 2012
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Aug 4, 2011
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Jul 14, 2011
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Aug 24, 2010
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Sep 9, 2010
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Mar 15, 2011
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Nov 13, 2010
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Apr 14, 2010
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Feb 17, 2010
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Sep 30, 2008
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Sep 28, 2008
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Feb 20, 2009
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