Blogs By Dallas

8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you'd be willing to spend each month for housing. 2. Be realistic. It's OK to be picky, but don't be unrealistic with your expectation...

Thinking of Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know   Are you looking to buy a new home? Are you thinking that now's a great time to find bargains? That's true, but it pays to know a little about the seller's situation before you make an offer.  If a home is being sold for below wh...

Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible.  1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It's critical that...

Orange-Garlic Jerk RubINGREDIENTS1 tablespoon zest grated from,large orange,large garlic cloves, minced, (about 1 tablespoon), 1 tablespoon chopped fresh, sage leaves, 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon orange marmalade (substitute honey), 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspo...

Tax Benefits of HomeownershipThe tax deductions you're eligible to take for mortgage interest and property taxes greatly increase the financial benefits of homeownership. Here's how it works. Assume: $9,877 = Mortgage interest paid (a loan of $150,000 for 30 years, at 7 percent, using year-five i...

1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-ho...

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®. ...

5 Common First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes 1. They don't ask enough questions of their lender and end up missing out on the best deal.2. They don't act quickly enough to make a decision and someone else buys the house. 3. They don't find the right agent who's willing to help them through the homebuy...