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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 words can cost you a buyer, but even more important, choosing the wrong advertising words can result in a fine of $10,000 or more. Many people are unaware of which advertising words constitute discrimination and violate the Fair Housing Act.

The popular online classified site, Craigslist, was sued a while back by a group of lawyers for allowing discriminatory housing ads on its site. Now, you may not agree with the Fair Housing Act, but nonetheless, it is the law, and seven classes are protected. I receive a lot of mail from readers who can’t understand why they are not allowed to advertise that a home is located near a church, for example

. . . read more about advertising words.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• How to Advertise Your Home
• Home Marketing Tips
• 15 Ways to Sell Your Home

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Advertising Words for Home Selling originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 05:00:24.

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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 a payment or two. By the time they realize that foreclosure is imminent, many sellers throw in the towel and do nothing. Some become depressed and stop making payments to any creditor, feeling like their only choice at this point is to file for bankruptcy protection. But even as credit card bills pile up, there are still ways to stop the foreclosure from happening.

The first thing home sellers facing foreclosure should do is make out a list of all debts — including an itemization of principal balances and payment amounts — and then list all available assets, resources and present income potential. This analysis will give home owners a clear picture of their financial status

. . . read more about ways to Stop Foreclosure.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Types of Foreclosures
• How Foreclosures Work
• Stripping Foreclosure Homes

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Ways to Stop a Foreclosure Before It’s Too Late originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 05:00:15.

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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 do it on a regular basis.

But not all buyers have oodles of time to spend house hunting. Most start their home searches online. They scroll through endless inventory, click on virtual tours, examine every photograph, and some even zoom in on the Google map feature to check out the street scene, neighboring homes and the types of trees in the yard.

By the time buyers are ready to view homes in person, they have a pretty good idea of the type of home they want. I respect my buyers’ time and try to save them the hassle of trekking through unsuitable homes by looking at homes for them. If your agent has the time, why not ask your agent if it’s possible?

. . . read more about looking at homes.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Finding the Right Home
• Open House Etiquette for Buyers
• Why Hire an Agent?

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Agents Can Save Home Buyers Time by Looking at Homes in Advance originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 05:00:54.

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Home buyers get so excited after buying a home that they can hardly wait for the home closing.

Some buyers think the seller should hand them the keys and let them move in that weekend, but that’s not really how it happens. Buyers have to wait. They have to wait for the appraisal, for the lender to approve their loan and, more importantly, they have to wait for the inspections to be completed, all of which takes time.

Any little hiccup in the process can delay the home closing as well. It’s frustrating for some home buyers because no matter how proactive your agent or loan officer may be, there are unforeseen circumstances that can crop up, often a few days before a scheduled closing.

So, how you can predict what can go wrong and fix it before it happens? An experienced agent can help you work through the process of home closing and, nine times out of ten, the home will close on time

. . . read more about home closing.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Dealing With Low Appraisals
• Why Pending Sales Fall Apart
• Final Walk-Through Inspections

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The Wait for a Home Closing originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 05:00:36.

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It’s a rare person who invests time to actually read a deed of trust.

Most borrowers just sign their loan documents without reading them. They know if they don’t sign, they don’t get the loan. And besides, the paperwork that’s involved with a loan is simply enormous.

But every once in a blue moon I end up working with buyers who want to read everything they sign, like everybody really should do. Nine times out of ten, questions arise about the deed of trust. Probably the number one question I hear is: “What is a trustee?” Followed by, “And how is a trustee involved in my deed of trust?”

Good questions. Borrowers don’t realize that the trustee possesses power of sale. But wait, don’t you own the home? How can a trustee sell it? To understand the provisions behind a power of sale and how a trustee becomes a third party to a trust deed,

. . . read more about a Deed of Trust.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• About Title Insurance Policies
• Property Deeds That Transfer Title
• Tenants in Common vs. Joint Tenants

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Take the Time to Read Your Deed of Trust originally appeared on About.com Home Buying / Selling on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 05:00:34.

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