The Importance of Housing Permits
How would you feel if you bought a house that was advertised as a having four bedrooms, three baths with a large recreation room and later discovered that technically it had only three legitimate bedrooms, two bathrooms and a basement? ...Full Article

Determining Home's Market Value
If only there was a foolproof method for figuring out what a property is worth on the open market. Then it would be easy to know how much to offer so that you wouldn't overpay, or risk losing out because you offered too little. Home sellers could price to sell without having to endure a series of price reductions and months on the market.
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Home Buyer's Gain Clout in Slowing Market
Home buyers have more clout now than they've had for years. So, they are more discerning, and focus only on the best houses at the best prices. If the seller won't negotiate a satisfactory deal, buyers would rather walk away than overpay. The incidence of failed transactions appears to be rising. Last year, buyers couldn't buy fast enough. Many paid over asking price, overlooked property defects and bought "as is." Full Article

Future Neighborhood Construction May Hurt Resale Value
It doesn't take much to throw a buyer off track. Prospective sellers should keep this in mind as they prepare their home for sale. It's easy to concentrate on making your home look good but overlook other factors that could impede the sale. Fear of the unknown will send buyers running in the opposite direction. For example, you may take pride in the fact that your home is located next to a vacant lot. There's no building adjacent to yours to obstruct the view or the quality of light. Full Article