Homeowners and appraisers rarely agree on a property's value, and for the vast majority of the past decade, homeowners have been overvaluing their homes. This year there has been a steadily increasing gap between what consumers thought their houses were worth and the worth determined by appraisers it's the first time in 24 months that homeowners overvalued their properties by greater than 9%. Home values...

The ratio affects your buying power... Your debt to income ratio is a simple way of showing what percentage of your income is available for a mortgage payment after all other continuing obligations are met. The ratio is one of the many things a lender considers before approving your home loan. A qualifying ratio of 28% is indicates the maximum percentage of your monthly gross income that the lender allows...

Once you find the home you want to buy, the next step is to write an offer, one which is not as easy as it sounds. Your offer is the first step toward negotiating a sales contract with the seller. Since this is just the beginning of negotiations, you should put yourself in the seller's shoes and imagine his or her reaction to everything you include. Your goal is to get what you want, and imagining the...

As a tenant your responsibilities include: Reporting any maintenance issues with the property. Paying for all damages you cause. NOT making alterations to the property without due authorization from the landlord. Maintaining the landscaping as provided in your lease. Taking care not to cause damage to the property. Respecting your neighbors quiet enjoyment of their property. Adhering to the...