Washington Post's Real Estate section is your source for buying and selling a home and finding open houses in Washington,DC,Maryland and Virginia. DC,Virginia and Maryland. Post Real Estate also includes discussions and blogs on DC metro area real estate issues.
The recession has hurt many people's credit scores. How to fix it?
The recession may have done a number on your credit score, even if it spurred you to reform spendthrift ways and cut up your credit cards. For many, the drops have come at the same time that lenders have tightened their standards and demanded higher scores to get the best interest rates.
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Mansions go modular as costs, timeline lure high-end buyers
One day in February, it was an empty, snow-covered lot in Bethesda. In 32 hours, the property held a six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath French country mansion with a walkout basement.
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Huntington Terrace: An eclectic 'American village' in Md.
Pedestrian-friendly Huntington Terrace in Bethesda is celebrating its centennial this year. Narrow streets -- about 20 feet, curb to curb -- pass homes with mature trees and modest front yards. Children can walk to Bradley Hills Elementary School without having to cross busy streets.
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Do-it-yourselfers can shell out for a real estate 'bargain'
We are a nation of bargain hunters, especially when it comes to real estate. And what could be a better bargain strategy than this? Snap up a foreclosed, partially completed house for a song, finish it up and own a really nice home for less money than buying a finished house.
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Lamond Riggs, D.C., residents love it enough to stay for a long time
Caesar Dudley moved to Lamond Riggs in 1959, attracted to the affordable, well-built brick homes, the civic involvement and the convenience of city living.
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Testing the waters: This year, vacation buyers can afford to be picky
As every beachcomber knows, salvaging treasure can require patience. ¶ Vacation areas around the Washington region have been buffeted by the real estate market collapse and the recession. Going into spring, optimistic market watchers are focusing hard on any glimmers of a revival while bargain...
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Sometimes losing a home is just the beginning of the pain
As if losing one's home in a foreclosure or short sale were not already sufficiently traumatic, many former homeowners are learning that the day they turn in their keys may be only the start of an even more prolonged housing-induced misery.
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Squatters in their own house: When banks don't foreclose
It's been more than 16 months since Eugene and Patricia Harrison last paid the mortgage on their Perris, Calif., home. Eleven months since the notice got slapped on their front door, warning that the house would be sold at auction.
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Real estate news and commentary from RealtyBaron.com
Announcing the RealAnswers WP Plugin: Own the Real Estate Q&A Conversation
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Top REALTORS Featured in Home Search Results
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The World’s First Risk-Free Listing
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Introducing the ListingHedge(TM)
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Tweet Your AgentRank(TM), Realtors
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ReferralAuction Scenario #2: Personal Referral
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ReferralAuction Scenario #1: Client Referral
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Four Reasons for Agents and Brokers to Use ReferralAuctions(TM)
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Introducing the ReferralAuction(TM)
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“My current Realtor raised her commission…
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Get the latest headlines from the About.com Home Buying / Selling GuideSite.
Tearing Down a House Tuesday, March 9, 2010
It costs less than you may think for tearing down a house. While it's often sad to witness the demise of a long-standing structure, sometimes tearing down a house is the...
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Why Wachovia Short Sales Are Special Sunday, March 7, 2010
I can't begin to sing the praises loudly enough of a Wachovia short sale. It's not that so many short sale banks are so totally messed up that they can make...
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Writing Off a Home Loss When Turning a Residence Into a Rental Thursday, March 4, 2010
Since so many sellers are taking a financial hit to sell in our soft real estate market, it really adds insult to injury if a seller can't write off that...
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Advertising Words for Home Selling Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Before you place an ad in the newspaper to sell your home or post an online listing, stop to think about the advertising words you choose. Choosing the wrong advertising...
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Dangers of Buying a Foreclosure Flipper Home Sunday, February 28, 2010
There is a huge difference between buying foreclosure flippers and homes that regular owner occupants have remodeled. If your agent hasn't done a little research on the history of the home,...
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Removing Assets From Homes in Foreclosure Thursday, February 25, 2010
A seldom-discussed issue concerning homes that are in foreclosure is the rising practice of removing assets from foreclosures. Many home owners do not understand what constitutes a fixture in the home...
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Ways to Stop a Foreclosure Before It's Too Late Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The best way to stop foreclosure is to make up your back payments before the bank forecloses. But not all home owners realize that foreclosure is pending when they miss making...
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Mortgage Fraud on the Rise at Major Short Sale Banks Sunday, February 21, 2010
An alarming number of banks recently have been urging sellers to commit short sale mortgage fraud as a condition of short sale approval. It's happened to me in Sacramento several times...
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How to Protect Your Pets During a Power Outage Thursday, February 18, 2010
Most people don't think in advance about their pets and power outages until they're in the middle of a power outage. The thing is you don't normally know how long a...
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Agents Can Save Home Buyers Time by Looking at Homes in Advance Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Looking at homes is the fun part when you're a buyer. Heck, it's fun to look at homes even if you're not a buyer. I love previewing homes and try to...
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Get all the latest real estate news from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Big banks to attend Miami housing forum March 13
Here's another opportunity for Florida homeowners facing foreclosure to get help.
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Extend Florida condo fire safety retrofits deadline, says Broward County Commission resolution
The Broward County Commission has just passed a resolution to extend the deadline for state-mandated condo fire safety retrofits, paying heed to critics who say condo associations across Florida can hardly afford to pay for such upgrades.
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Bill allowing home insurance rate hikes advances
The Florida Senate's insurance committee passed a broad property insurance bill Wednesday that would essentially allow additional property insurance rate increases and reduce fraudulent claims and discounts that can drive up insurance costs.
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Loan modification terms can be tough for those few who get them
Balloon payments can wreck the deal
For William and Lida Negron, their lender's decision to modify their mortgage seemed to be the key to holding on to their home.
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Appraisers: Broker price opinions in short sales could increase mortgage fraud
New rules governing short sales are set to take effect April 5. But four groups representing more than 35,000 real estate appraisers already have taken a stand against the guidelines.
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Loan modifications made easier
The government's Home Affordable Modification Program sounded good, but it hasn't been as much of a success as first thought, in part because of the red tape involved in the application process.
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To walk or not to walk: underwater homeowners face dilemma
Michael Keigans is "underwater" on his mortgage, owing $80,000 more than his Deerfield Beach house is worth.
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Florida gets $418 million for distressed homeowners
Florida was awarded $418 million of federal stimulus spending on Friday to help homeowners who are unemployed or who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.
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April 30 is deadline for home buyers to get tax credit
Barbie Villacis and her boyfriend are getting panicky.
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Most South Florida condos reselling for less than $250,000
More than two-thirds of the 41,000 condominium units and town houses available for resale in South Florida region have an asking price below $250,000
More than two-thirds of the 41,000 condominium units and town houses for resale in South Florida region have an asking price below $250,000.
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