http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ In many ways, rental houses are similar to owner-occupied houses that are bought as personal residences. When you buy a rental house, you want to get a desirable property for a fair price, just like with a residence. The difference is that you're not buying the rental property to live in. You're buying it to make profit. This not only changes how you look at it, but also changes how you will finance it.   1. Research rent levels in your desired neighborhoods to determine what you can charge for a rental property. As you do this rent survey, also research what services landlords typically include … [Read more...]

A house with problems can be a great opportunity, as long as you know what you're getting into. For people who love old houses — and love to work on them — the notion of buying a fixer-upper can be irresistible. Just think: You can snag a rundown place in a good neighborhood for way below market price, invest some time and money renovating it, and end up with a like-new house that's worth at least twice what you paid for it. Sounds good, right? Often, it is. But buying a fixer-upper can be fraught with peril. So before you take the plunge, make sure you have a realistic idea of what you're getting into. "If people are unforgiving up front … [Read more...]

People have a lot of expectations when buying their first home. Most first time home buyers probably envision opening the doors to their dream house and triumphantly walking into their mansion. The culmination of their hard work and even harder saved dollars are embodied in this perfect piece of property. While that is a great image to strive for, a more practical approach may be to buy a starter home like a fixer-upper or condo to tide you over as your first purchase. It isn’t as pretty a setting as you’d like, but it could be a much smarter financial decision in the long run. In fact, it could help get you to that perfect home a little … [Read more...]

For those who would like to quickly get the word out far and wide that your home is for sale — this article is for you: Social media has weaved itself into so many aspects of our daily lives. For many, it is engaging, fun and important, for some it is of no significance — and for others it is simply bothersome. However, social media attracts a captive audience and interestingly, many transitioning homeowners have not posed the question, how can social media help you sell your home? If done right, the mere attempt at social media will create buzz, let alone bring contacts directly through such platforms as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, … [Read more...]

Want some secrets for selling your home? Here are some tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar.   Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.   Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of … [Read more...]

By: Anne Miller Warm and lived-in, with a majestic fireplace, wood craftsmanship from another era, and a crooked old apple tree in a beautiful garden—only an older house comes with its own personality. But that personality could come with a steep price in upkeep and renovations to meet the needs of your family and your modern tastes. How do you decide if buying an old house is worth it? Consider our list of pros and cons:   Con: Outdated building code compliance and other maintenance Homes with old heating systems or inefficient plumbing can be in such bad shape that they do not comply with modern building codes. It is a good … [Read more...]

By: Courtney Craig Moving into a new house is exciting! But it also means you’ve got work to do. When I bought my first house, my timing couldn’t have been better: The house closing was two weeks before the lease was up on my apartment. That meant I could take my time packing and moving, and I could get to know the new place before moving in. I recruited family and friends to help me move (in exchange for a beer-and-pizza picnic on the floor) and, as a bonus, I got to pick their brains about what first-time homeowners should know. Their help was one of the best housewarming presents I could have gotten. And thanks to their expertise … [Read more...]

The decision is now final. You've accepted the promotion and narrowed down the list of potential new homes, and you'll be moving soon. Now comes the hardest part -- planning the move and telling the kids. Whether moving out of state or just around the block, children and adolescents typically aren't thrilled by such an event. In fact, they rarely relish change of this magnitude. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to ease the transition. Your attitude about moving and your willingness to let your children share in the experience will influence their feelings. Try following these 10 tips to make moving with children as anxiety-free … [Read more...]

by Alice Kershaw Victorian houses were built between 1837 and 1901, when Queen Victoria was on the throne. However some people, including the Victorian Society itself, take ‘Victorian Architecture’ to encompass Edwardian as well, which takes this time period up to 1910. As a rough rule of thumb, Edwardian housing tends to be slightly squatter than Victorian, but other features are often very similar. To spot a house from this period, you can look out for a number of traits, although not all houses will have all features, and it isn’t a hard-and-fast rule book either. But this list should give you a good clue. 1. Patterned … [Read more...]