Your Income and Mortgage are connected in the eyes of your Lender. Understanding how they relate to one another is crucial to your Purchasing Power. This article by Audrey Arkins at Salary.com illuminate some of these important ideas.

Income and Mortgage Size

The first and biggest hurdle to buying your own home is money. Few buyers, if any, try to buy a home without financing because it just doesn't make sense. In addition to the relatively low price of credit in America, why would anyone pass up substantial mortgage interest tax relief? Then there's the opportunity cost. Even the most financially secure among us won't want to tie up hefty capital in real estate when it could be spread ...

Choosing the right Realtor is the first step in the right direction in getting your home sold fast. Here is a list of some of the questions you need to ask when interviewing a Realtor:

1. How many years have you been in business?
2. How many homes did you sell last year? This year, to date? Can I see proof of that? How does that figure compare with the National Association of Realtors?
3. What are your professional designations?
4. Do you offer any guarantees?
5. Do you have a written marketing plan? May I have a copy?
6. Do you make your marketing plan an addendum to the listing agreement?
7. Do you have any testimonial letters from previous clients that I can read?
8. Can I call some of your past cli...

Has your lawn grown up around that "For Sale" sign? Have the wasps moved into the lock box on your front door? Did you just receive an invitation to your real estate agent's retirement party?

If so, chances are your home sale fizzled.

Here are the six most-common reasons why homes don't sell and what you can do about it.

Your home is overpriced

Optimistic home sellers love to parrot the old adage, "There's a buyer for every home." But they often leave off the qualifier: "at the buyer's price."

The fact is that buyers, not sellers, ultimately determine the market value of a home. You can ask for the moon and set your listing price well above comparable properties in your neighborhood,...

Some Real Estate Mistakes that can Instantly Kill the Sale of Your Home

Here is a list of common mistakes homeowners make when trying to sell their home. Increase your chances of a quick sale by avoiding these pitfalls.

• Deadly Mistake #1
  • Pricing incorrectly
• Deadly Mistake #2
  • Failing to showcase the home
• Deadly Mistake #3
  • Using the "hard sell" during showings
• Deadly Mistake #4
  • Regarding lookers as buyers
• Deadly Mistake #5
  • Not knowing your rights and obligations
• Deadly Mistake #6
  • Signing a listing contract with no way out
• Deadly Mistake #7
  • Limiting the marketing and exposure of your property

Have you been thinking about painting a room or two and have no idea how much paint to buy?  Going down to a paint store can be a hassle.

Now we have the answer. There is a website called Easy2DIY. It has a handy paint calculator. Just enter the dimensions of the room. You enter the length of the walls, height of the ceiling and the dimensions of the doors and windows and presto, you have an extimate of how much paint is requried to paint the room. This calculator even tells you how much paint you will need for the door facing and trim and ceiling  WOW, this tool is handy. There is also some very handy tips on preparation and painting. This makes it really simple. To visit this great sit...

It's Easy, but Important

1. For your safety never set an appointment with anyone to see your home unless they have given you their name and number and you have called back to verify that number. An easy way to do this is to say, "let me check with my husband for the best time and I will call you back". Even if you are not married.
2. Never let the potential buyers know your schedule. Such as when you are not home, when your husband is not home, when you pick up the kids, when you work, when you will be on vacation, etc.
3. Only give information to the caller about the house. Never give information such as we don't have a security system, dead bolts, etc.
4. Always have a back up plan when you a...