http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com When you set up shop in your first new home it isn’t unusual to be lacking in some very vital areas like household tools; while you are moving in, as well as for day to day living, a well stocked tool box is a great resource to have. ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1244700_27.html 23rd November 2009 While many homes on the market right now are newly finished homes, there are always many more that are older, in need of renovations, or are just a little run down and in need of some TLC. While many home owners paint their houses before they put t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1244556_33.html 23rd November 2009 Cases of mortgage fraud have surged since the beginning of the housing boom, with con artists taking advantage of the time's lax lending standards in order to acquire property under false pretences. Despite more stringent lending practices being in pla... http://www.articlealley.com/article_841383_33.html 30th March 2009 If you're new to the real estate industry, chances are you're feeling overwhelmed by the amount of new information swirling around your brain, but you're also eager to get your feet wet. Before you get any practical experience though, you need to choos... http://www.articlealley.com/article_841382_33.html 30th March 2009 Any business that involves interaction with the public requires a certain amount of patience and understanding. In the real estate business, you come across people from all walks of life, so you need to be prepared to deal with clients who are demandin... http://www.articlealley.com/article_840166_33.html 27th March 2009 Miriam-Webster defines networking as "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically, the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business." A large number of people who are... http://www.articlealley.com/article_840165_33.html 27th March 2009 There are quite a few superstitions in the world of real estate, but none seem to have captured the public consciousness like the legend of St. Joseph.  According to conventional lore, burying a statue of the saint will cause your house to be most ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_837630_33.html 27th March 2009 When enthusiastically penning your witty, pithy discourse on the manifold value and charms of your sterling real estate listing, you may want to give some concentrated thought to the number of iridescent adjectives with which you hope to capture the... http://www.articlealley.com/article_834805_33.html 25th March 2009 Mortgages have been much in the news with the vilification of the ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) and the foreclosure crisis.  To make a good choice of mortgage, you must have a good working knowledge of different mortgage types.  The amount you en... http://www.articlealley.com/article_823896_33.html 13th March 2009 65 is a number with quite important meaning in North American society. It is the traditional age for a person to leave the work force behind, and to enjoy their golden years in a warm locale. Retirement is a reward for decades of hard work, and is a ti... http://www.articlealley.com/article_823022_33.html 13th March 2009 While many Americans are being adversely affected by the slumping economy, there is also a large segment of the population who is doing quite well, and is able to consider purchasing a second home. The majority of second home buyers are of t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_819232_33.html 10th March 2009 Let's say that your mortgage is for $300,000, but thanks to the housing slump, your property is only worth about $280,000 in today's market. You're now what is referred to as being "upside down" on your mortgage—owing more than your home is worth.... http://www.articlealley.com/article_819118_33.html 10th March 2009 Having an eco-friendly home requires more than just installing bamboo floors and having a composter in the kitchen; it's also important to change our everyday behaviors. Fortunately, as the green movement continues to gain momentum, more and more ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_818062_27.html 10th March 2009 Are you young, single, and broke? Are you also dreaming of buying your first home, but feel overwhelmed financially? If you can't face the mortgage payments alone, there is another option for you. A growing trend throughout North America is for friend... http://www.articlealley.com/article_806804_33.html 03rd March 2009 Okotoks, Alberta is a growing Canadian town that's located just outside the cosmopolitan city of Calgary. It is a unique community that real estate buyers should take note of due to its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible... http://www.articlealley.com/article_806727_33.html 03rd March 2009 Written over 70 years ago by Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind speaks to us today as strongly as it did when it won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize and swept the Academy Awards two years later. The story of a spirited Southern woman, Scarlett... http://www.articlealley.com/article_805250_33.html 03rd March 2009 The U.S. housing market has taken a beating, and so have several markets in Canada. One segment of the real estate market that has stayed relatively consistent is the luxury housing market. Luxury buyers tend to remain unaffected by minor ups and downs... http://www.articlealley.com/article_792392_33.html 20th February 2009 The traditional wood-burning stove has its place in public consciousness as a symbol of rustic ambiance. Today, it actually can be an efficient and eco-friendly method of heating your home. By purchasing an EPA-certified stove, you can heat your ho... http://www.articlealley.com/article_777488_33.html 03rd February 2009 The terms “buyers' market” and “sellers' market” are tossed around frequently in the media, but what do they mean for you? A sellers' market is what we saw a few short years ago when there was a frenzy of new construction, and houses were fl... http://www.articlealley.com/article_770594_33.html 28th January 2009 Imagine that it's a lazy Sunday afternoon, and you decide to take a well-deserved nap. You curl up on the couch, sink into the pillows, and lay awash in tranquil relaxation. Just as your eyelids become heavy with sleep, your ears are inundated with ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_770559_33.html 28th January 2009 If you have pets or small children and like to keep a garden or indoor houseplants, it's important that you know which varieties of plants are dangerous to have around. While there are some well known toxic plants such as Poinsettias and Deadly Nights... http://www.articlealley.com/article_767733_27.html 26th January 2009 Losing your home is a stressful and disheartening experience, especially if you feel you were duped into a sub prime mortgage by a shady lender. For children however, a foreclosure will take an emotional toll that can have a lasting impact on all area... http://www.articlealley.com/article_766456_33.html 23rd January 2009 You've found a property that has all the important items on your checklist. You've researched and done a comparative market analysis to determine a fair asking price. While you're well prepared to make an offer, there are a few questions you need your... http://www.articlealley.com/article_764944_33.html 22nd January 2009 If you're looking for real estate to invest in, why not consider a golf home? Right now, America is looking at the retirement of the "Baby Boomers". 76 million Americans will be looking for active retirement and leisure activities in the next 10-15 yea... http://www.articlealley.com/article_754261_33.html 16th January 2009 If you're looking to start a wealth-building program, investing in a large multifamily complex can be the first stepping stone. The nature of these properties is such that you can cover your mortgage, maintenance costs and still have a lucrative incom... http://www.articlealley.com/article_753071_33.html 14th January 2009 “What do you mean, what *else* can my home do for me?” you say.  “A home is to live in and build equity; isn’t that enough?”  Well, yes and no.  If you just want a straightforward home with a straightforward mortgage, you don�... http://www.articlealley.com/article_753070_33.html 14th January 2009 During the winter months, you may find that snow is getting in the way of your staging.  It’s difficult to show a home effectively when the yard is snowed in and making traversing the property difficult.  By clearing snow out of areas you kno... http://www.articlealley.com/article_749947_33.html 12th January 2009 If you're selling in winter, there are a lot of things you can do to encourage buyers to keep coming back. These tips will help you provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere in your home and encourage buyers to stay longer than they would otherwise. ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_729208_33.html 29th December 2008 Recently ThisOldHouse.com ran an article on "Home Inspection Nightmares". Some of the examples sited by the inspectors were beyond belief. It's difficult to comprehend how a home owner allows their home to get into such a state, let alone imagine tryin... http://www.articlealley.com/article_721807_33.html 15th December 2008 The multiple offer is probably one of the most stressful situations for any potential home buyer. The whole process resembles a silent auction, where multiple buyers place offers on a home, with no idea of what the other is bidding. Generally, at the e... http://www.articlealley.com/article_720545_33.html 15th December 2008 Apparently it's not all doom and gloom in the housing market this holiday season. The Mortgage Bankers Association registered a 37 percent increase in applications for house loans and a 39 percent increase in home purchases using FHA mortgages; as repo... http://www.articlealley.com/article_719440_33.html 15th December 2008 The classic dilemma for homeowners is whether it's best to buy their next home before or after selling their current one. Making the wrong decision can have tremendously serious ramifications, worst case scenarios being financial strain or temporary ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_719249_33.html 14th December 2008 Many people consider allowing their children to build a tree house in their yard or building one for themselves. However, for people who see themselves selling in the future, a tree house may be a sticking point. Some people worry about potential buyer... http://www.articlealley.com/article_718184_33.html 13th December 2008 No, I'm not talking about giving your pet away or taking him out in the back and... well I'm just not. However, when you're selling your home, you have to come to the realization that signs of your beloved puppy may be the dealbreaker when someone is m... http://www.articlealley.com/article_718181_33.html 13th December 2008 If you've just purchased a new home, congratulations are in order. This is an exciting and happy time for the whole family--that is until the reality of the move sets in and everyone gets a little (or a lot) on edge. While moving is overwhelming for ev... http://www.articlealley.com/article_716762_33.html 11th December 2008 McMansions—or super-sized homes—have been a growing trend in the home building industry for several years. Gargantuan houses are popping up in residential neighborhoods and rural areas, blocking views, and dwarfing neighboring houses. With some ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_716760_33.html 11th December 2008 Buying a home is the most expensive purchase most people ever make. It stands to reason that you would like to know that your agent is doing their best for you. Here are 10 red flags that tell you they're not. 1. "Well I had some clients before... http://www.articlealley.com/article_698861_33.html 30th November 2008 If you're struggling to save up to buy your first home or if you already own property but don't have the financial resources to keep it in a state of good repair, you may not be aware of the many financial aid programs that are designed to assist Can... http://www.articlealley.com/article_698762_33.html 30th November 2008 I'm sure that every real estate agent has had one or two of these. If you haven't, you will. The Clients from Hell, to whom your fee for doing most of the work of finding them a home means that you suddenly have no life except for them and get very, very ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_697859_33.html 30th November 2008 Realtors are in a dangerous profession. The news frequently carries stories about Realtors who were robbed, raped and murdered while showing homes or at open houses. House showings and open houses are a dangerous proposition for the lone Realtor, espec... http://www.articlealley.com/article_697855_33.html 30th November 2008 Choosing the right career can be daunting task for many people. Nowadays most people have several careers throughout their lives rather than keeping one stable job over a long period of time. This change in employment conditions can be difficult for th... http://www.articlealley.com/article_694521_33.html 26th November 2008 When prospective buyers come to look at your home, your entryway is going to be the first thing they see. Here are some tips on how to make their first impression of your home's interior a great one! 1. Clean, clean, clean. Cleanliness ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_692554_33.html 24th November 2008 Floods can strike quickly, catching many homeowners unawares. Even a small amount of water can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage, both to personal items and to the structural integrity of the house. In order to reduce the amount of damage y... http://www.articlealley.com/article_692373_27.html 24th November 2008 If tough economic times are affecting your realty business and leaving you feeling helpless and stuck, you may want to consider trying something unorthodox to attract new business. One of the ways you can do this is by improving the atmosphere in you... http://www.articlealley.com/article_685436_33.html 11th November 2008 Have you been watching a lot of horror movies lately? You might be wondering how you'd escape an attack from Jason or Freddy. Maybe there's been a rash of home invasions in your neighborhood, and you're concerned about your family's safety. Or perhaps... http://www.articlealley.com/article_672724_27.html 23rd October 2008 A rustic log cabin can be finished off perfectly with a metal roof. The durability and variety of metal roofing materials make this choice for your cabin a great one. Don't be put off by rumors of noisy rain or high cost; a well-built and installed met... http://www.articlealley.com/article_672707_33.html 23rd October 2008 During good times and bad, real estate can be a hectic business to get into. Often involving weekend and evening open houses, eleventh hour contract negotiations, and difficult to manage clients, real estate agents can quickly find themselves feeling... http://www.articlealley.com/article_672492_17.html 21st October 2008 Sellers are finding it difficult to attract buyers in this time of economic uncertainty and tougher mortgage standards. But what if you have a little something special that none of your neighbors have, like something that goes bump in the night? If you... http://www.articlealley.com/article_672490_33.html 21st October 2008 Secure, private, and old-fashioned neighborhood relationships--this is what makes a gated community so appealing to high-end home buyers. These neighborhoods are believed to provide a better quality of life for residents than those in the outside wor... http://www.articlealley.com/article_672488_33.html 21st October 2008 As the days grow shorter, you may be thinking about the future evenings spend curled up in front of your cabin's fire, with a cup or two of coffee, hot chocolate, or cider. Now is the time to be ensuring that your winter will be a cozy one, free of pr... http://www.articlealley.com/article_671632_33.html 21st October 2008