Bigger isn’t always better.Everyone’s heard this adage before, but never has it been more true than in this unemployment-prone, recession-era real estate market. Prior to the housing bubble bursting, many homeowners wanted sprawling estates and mini-mansions decked out with all the niceties of First World living. Now, however, in the age of 9.1% unemployment …

Are there any advantages to buying an older home like this one in Boston from 1900? An old house could be rundown, it could need repairs and it could have unforeseen problems. But there’s a reason why it’s made it more than 100 years. It’s well-made with expert craftsmanship. And it’s got …

Do you need insurance on your home if a natural disaster occurs? It depends. Where do you live? If you’re in Kansas and your area is prone to tornadoes, don’t worry. Your homeowner’s insurance (HOI) most likely covers damage caused by a tornado. If you’re in California, in an area …

Many real estate developers purchase derelict houses for an unbelievably low price, knock it down, rebuild it and either flip or rent it. Although this can be incredibly profitable for some people, others may unearth problems during the building process which cause them to make a loss on their development project. If …

Who doesn’t like something new? New things look good and come with fewer worries. You don’t have to worry about the treatment they got from previous owners, because you’re the first. This goes for new homes, too. Buying a newer home, there’s not as much to assess, it seems. That’s …

Can sellers negotiate how much commission they pay real estate agents? Surprise: They can! Fact: Real estate brokers’ commission rates are not regulated in any state and are ALWAYS 100% negotiable. When you decide to sell your house, if you are like most people, you will want to hire — or at …

Like most aspects of owning or purchasing a house, measuring the square footage of a home is complicated. There’s no established standard for measuring a residential property, and everyone seems to measure square footage differently. But if you get it wrong, it can affect your home’s value. There’s no need …

When you’ve got to buy a house from across the country, start with a winning strategy. Searching for a house locally is not without its difficulties. Add hundreds or even thousands of miles to the equation, and it becomes infinitely more complicated. Though long-distance house hunting has its unique challenges, it’s …

Ready for a kitchen renovation? Anxious for a bathroom remodel? The easy part is knowing your goal for home remodeling — whether you’re trying to keep up with your growing family, add office space, or increase your home’s value. But figuring out how to plan a home renovation that doesn’t break …

For Rhiannon Kruse, moving to a bigger home was about facing the music. For five years, Kruse and her husband had squeezed themselves into a downtown Seattle high-rise. At 700 square feet, their home meant giving up a dresser to cram clothing into an under-the-bed storage space, and limiting the …