It happens a lot. The dream vacation on the beach, at the lake or on the ski slopes suddenly morphs into a dream of buying a piece of paradise. If you're considering buying a property in your dream getaway area, here are some preparatory steps you can take as you embark on your search: Decide whether you want the place to be primarily for your use or also serve as a rental property....

One of the best pieces of advice you can heed when it comes to buying a house is to order a home inspection. Regardless of whether you're a first-time homebuyer or an old pro, you might have on rose-colored glasses when it comes to buying a house – your future home. Luckily, a certified home inspector has no emotional attachment to your new place and can impartially...

Every seller wants to get the best deal for their house—especially when you consider that as much as $500,000 in profit can be earned tax-free. So why not just price your house to the moon? After all, you can just bring it down later, right? Well, there are a few problems with that. If you price high and then slowly start bringing it down…and down…and down…buyers are going to notice. It...

After the holidays, your home can look a bit hung over, with piles of wrapping paper and fallen tinsel trailing under everyone's feet. It all feels like a hazy eggnog memory. You may be wondering how you'll possibly clear out all the trash. Well, maybe it doesn't have to be trash. Here are five tips for keeping the planet in mind as you clean up this holiday season. 1. Wrapping Paper...

Holiday caroling is a great neighborhood tradition. Here are a few tips to help make it a fun night. 1. Plan ahead Send out emails or stop by neighbors’ houses to invite them to join you. You can have fun decorating a flyer to pass out as a reminder. 2. Create a song list Know ahead of time which classics you’ll want to sing – it may even be worth coordinating a...