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Home Buying

Welcome to the ActiveRain Home Buying section. This is the place where you'll find comprehensive information on everything connected to purchasing a home – and we mean everything.


What exactly goes on in a home inspection and how is it different from a home appraisal? Curious about what it takes to purchase that foreclosure you've had your eye on? You'll find out how to do it right here. Look around: the professionals at ActiveRain have the information you need.


ActiveRain is the top real estate social network in the world. So, while you may find articles about purchasing a home on other websites, only at ActiveRain do you have the opportunity to read the words of wisdom from over 300,000 real estate industry professionals. From real estate agents to lenders to home inspectors and stagers -- that's a lot of brain power and we've harnessed it, right here at AR.


What are you waiting for? Everything you need to know about home buying awaits you on the following pages!

Recent blogs on Home Buying
By Tom Bashe, Your Temecula Valley Expert
(Localist Realty)
Moreno Valley Weekly Market Update May 4th - 10th, 2026 Iris Landing RECENTLY SOLD Iris Avenue | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1224 sq. ft. | $390,000 Palacio De Oro North BACK ON THE MARKET Lasselle Street | 3 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1599 sq. ft. | $415,000 RECENTLY SOLD Lasselle Street | 3 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1644 sq. ft. | $395,000 Palacio De Oro South NEWLY LISTED Iris | 3 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1599 sq. ft. | $410,000 RECENTLY SOLD Iris | 3 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1599 sq. ft. | $400,000 Iris Avenue | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1064 sq. ft. | $375,000
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By Tom Bashe, Your Temecula Valley Expert
(Localist Realty)
Lake Elsinore Weekly Market Update May 4th - 10th, 2026 Parkview Villas BACK ON THE MARKET Parkview Place | 2 bedrooms | 1.5 baths | 1150 sq. ft. | $369,000
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By Tom Bashe, Your Temecula Valley Expert
(Localist Realty)
Temecula Weekly Market Update May 4th - 10th, 2026 Rancho Del Mar RECENTLY SOLD Cara Way | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1311 sq. ft. | $450,000 Rancho Meadows NEWLY LISTED La Paz | 3 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1364 sq. ft. | $460,000 Belvista RECENTLY SOLD Avenida Abril | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1739 sq. ft. | $589,900
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By Lynnea Miller, Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon
(Bend Premier Real Estate)
A few years ago, luxury real estate in Bend operated with a different rhythm. Demand was aggressive, inventory was limited, and buyers were often willing to make fast decisions with minimal hesitation. The momentum of the market itself carried many transactions forward. That environment has changed. Luxury buyers are still active in Bend, but they are approaching purchases differently than they did even two years ago. Expectations have become more refined, decisions more deliberate, and standards significantly higher. The luxury market has not disappeared. It has evolved.Buyers Are More Selective Than BeforeToday's luxury buyers are evaluating properties with greater discipline. They are not simply looking for square footage or price point—they are looking for alignment between value, q...
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By Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI, Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell
(HomeSmart Real Estate)
Why buy a home in Mesa Arizona? Cheaper than Scottsdale! You may be looking for a home for sale in Scottsdale, but want a home for less money? Think of neighbor city Mesa Arizona.Alta Mesa planned multi builder community in Mesa ArizonaMesa Arizona Homes For SaleSingle family Homes for sale in Mesa Arizona on FULL SCREEN view UPDATED DAILY with pictures and prices and create your own filters with your FREE personalized Arizona MLS SEARCH PORTAL provided my me as your Buyer's Realtor.Mesa is not as far away as the DEEP metro area perimeter cities of Buckeye, Maricopa, San Tan Valley. How about a home with 3+ Bedrooms and a garage with a back yard and a patio cover for some serious grilling? Mesa Arizona is a large self-contained city is next door to Tempe and Arizona State University is ...
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
Playa Vista Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 Avalon BACK ON THE MARKET Pacific Promenade | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 983 sq. ft. | $860,000 Coronado Playa Vista RECENTLY SOLD Playa Vista Drive | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1130 sq. ft. | $779,000 Metro Playa Vista RECENTLY SOLD Crescent Park W | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1230 sq. ft. | $939,000 Serenade RECENTLY SOLD Villosa Place | 2 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1680 sq. ft. | $1,050,000
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
Inglewood Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 Continental 805 BACK ON THE MARKET Glenway | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 910 sq. ft. | $419,000 Evergreen BACK ON THE MARKET Evergreen | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 906 sq. ft. | $299,000
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
West LA Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 Armacost Chateau BACK ON THE MARKET Armacost | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1570 sq. ft. | $1,024,000 Corinth Condominiums RECENTLY SOLD Corinth Avenue | 3 bedrooms | 1 baths | 1159 sq. ft. | $750,000 1914 Corinth RECENTLY SOLD Corinth Avenue | 3 bedrooms | 1 baths | 1159 sq. ft. | $750,000 Rochester Regency RECENTLY SOLD Rochester Avenue | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 852 sq. ft. | $495,600
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By Laura Sellers, www.AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate, Inc)
The REAL Cost of Living in Auburn vs. Opelika The REAL cost of living in Auburn vs. Opelika is one of the biggest questions people ask when relocating to Auburn, Alabama or searching for homes near Auburn University (https://www.auburn.edu/).A lot of buyers moving to the area assume Auburn and Opelika are basically the same.They’re connected geographically, they share shopping and restaurants, and both continue growing rapidly — but the day-to-day lifestyle and housing costs can feel very different depending on where you choose to live.If you’re trying to decide between Auburn and Opelika, here’s the honest breakdown I give relocation buyers all the time.Auburn Homes Typically Cost MoreIn general, Auburn homes for sale tend to cost more than comparable homes in Opelika.Why?A few major ...
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By E. Steve Banis, Jr., https://www.SouthCarolinaHomesInc.com
(South Carolina Homes Inc.)
BUY OUTRIGHT for HUGE CASH DISCOUNT or Rent to Own 🈚▐►DISCOUNTED 2 RENT to OWN SWMH 3b 2b FULL SIZE Summerville-Charleston🈚▐►DISCOUNTED RENT to OWN FULL SIZE SWMH 3b 2b Summerville-Charleston🈚 ▐► BUY CASH FOR GREATER DISCOUNT ★IN PERSON SHOWINGS  AVAILABLE FOR YOUCALL  / TEXT Steve to Visit in Person  843- 881-7171SEE Property #305W FULLY RENOVATED 3BD -2BA SWMHComes with a Large Yard Lot  Rent, Yard Work and Maintenance Included IN PERSON SHOWINGS  AVAILABLE FOR YOUCALL  / TEXT Steve to Visit in Person  *843- 881-7171★HUGE FULL SIZE 3bedroom 2bathroom Newly updated, new LVP Floors!  Must See! 🈚▐►DISCOUNTED RENT to OWN FULL SIZE SWMH 3bd 2ba by NEXTONSummerville-Charleston 29486 NEW TODAYAwesome location near Nexton in Summerville right off I-26. Great shopping and restaurants near by. ...
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 1010 Brickell Condo Value: Days on Market and Your True Negotiation PositionMost owners assume that asking price defines value. That assumption costs money. The real signal of market value is not what sellers are asking for—it's how long units sit before buyers accept or reject those prices. Days on market is not just a time counter. It's a negotiation weapon.At 1010 Brickell, units do not all trade at the same pace. Some move quickly because they are priced correctly. Others linger because the market rejected the asking price. If you are asking what is my condo worth in 1010 Brickell, you need to understand what the market is actually accepting, not what sellers are hoping for.Why Days on Market Matters More Than You ThinkA unit listed at $800,000 that sits for 120 days is sending a m...
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 500 Brickell West Condo Value: Days on Market as Your Negotiation SignalMost sellers list at an asking price and hope. Most buyers chase asking prices without context. Neither strategy reveals what is my condo worth in 500 Brickell West. Days on market is the market's honest answer to whether the price was right.A unit that sells in 14 days tells a different story than a unit that sits for 90 days. Both may be in the same building, same city, same market. But the market rejected one price and accepted another. That rejection is data. That acceptance is proof.What Is My Condo Worth in 500 Brickell West Right Now?Your unit's value is not determined by the highest asking price in the building. It is determined by what buyers actually paid for similar units recently, how many competing uni...
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 500 Brickell East Condo Value: What Is My Condo Worth in Miami's Brickell?Most owners look at active listings first, but active listings are only seller opinions. The asking price for a unit two floors above yours tells you what a seller believes their condo is worth—not what the market will actually pay for yours.Days on market is the market's answer. When a unit sits, it signals that the asking price exceeded what buyers were willing to offer. When units sell quickly, it signals that the price aligned with buyer demand. At 500 Brickell East, this difference between asking and sold price can shift your negotiation position dramatically.What Is My Condo Worth in 500 Brickell East Right Now?Your condo's value at 500 Brickell East depends on what buyers actually paid for similar units re...
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 Emerald at Brickell Condo Value: Days on Market and Real Negotiation LeverageMost sellers price Emerald at Brickell units based on what they wish to sell for, not what the market will actually pay. The mistake is treating the asking price as a floor. In reality, days on market is the market's answer to whether the price is right.A unit that sits for 90 days is not the same as a unit that sells in 14 days. The DOM difference is not just time. It is a direct signal of whether buyers accepted or rejected the asking price. Understanding this signal is the difference between negotiating from strength and negotiating from desperation.What Is My Condo Worth in Emerald at Brickell Right Now?Your condo's value at Emerald at Brickell is not determined by the highest asking price in the building....
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 Brickell on the River South Condo Value: What Is My Condo Worth in Miami's Most Competitive Building?Most owners in Brickell on the River South look at active listings first. That is the mistake. Active listings are seller opinions, not market value. Two units in the same building, same floor, same view can trade at dramatically different prices depending on when they listed, how long they sat, and what competing inventory was present at time of sale.The real question is not what is currently for sale. The real question is what your condo is worth today based on actual closed sales, current competing inventory, and how buyers are behaving right now inside this specific building.Why Asking Price Does Not Equal Condo ValueBrickell on the River South is one of Miami's most active condo ma...
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By Arius Valentino, Principal, Luxe Residences Miami Condo Specialist
(Luxe Residences)
 Brickell on the River North Condo Value: Days on Market as Your Negotiation AdvantageMost owners look at active asking prices first. But asking prices do not define value. The real signal is how long units actually sit on the market before they sell. When a condo in Brickell on the River North stays listed for 60, 90, or 120 days, the market is telling you something critical: the asking price exceeded what buyers were willing to pay.Days on market is not just a time counter. It is a negotiation weapon. If you are asking what is my condo worth in Brickell on the River North, understanding DOM patterns inside your building reveals exactly how much leverage you have—or how much you are losing.Why Asking Price and Actual Value Are Not the Same in Brickell on the River NorthA unit listed at...
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
Pasadena Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 Cordova Park Villas RECENTLY SOLD Cordova Street | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1407 sq. ft. | $799,990 Magnolia Court BACK ON THE MARKET Magnolia Avenue | 2 bedrooms | 1 baths | 958 sq. ft. | $650,000 Surfwood Point NEWLY LISTED Blanche | 2 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1229 sq. ft. | $820,000 BACK ON THE MARKET Blanche Street | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1025 sq. ft. | $709,000
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
Woodland Hills Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 The Met NEWLY LISTED Owensmouth Avenue | 3 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1020 sq. ft. | $539,900 RECENTLY SOLD Canoga Avenue | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 610 sq. ft. | $400,000 Canoga Avenue | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 770 sq. ft. | $394,000 Warner Club Villas RECENTLY SOLD Marylee | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 2022 sq. ft. | $729,900
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By Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI, Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell
(HomeSmart Real Estate)
What is holding you back? Worries, your job, fear of making a mistake, down payment, advice from others, trying to time the market, interest rates, stock market, home prices? This is the right time to that Leap into Arizona Real Estate in 2026! (Worry: by Robin Higgins, Pixabay)Take the leap into Arizona Real Estate (image Sasin Tipchai, Pixabay)Personal finance guru Dave Ramsey: Don't Try to Time Market, Time To Buy Home Is NOW! Read Dave's advice on this link.Sure, you have been thinking about the JUMP but now is the time to purchase a home in the Sunny Phoenix Arizona metro area including Scottsdale! Why? Home prices will go up so why wait longer? PLUS, you get to live in a great home in a vibrant community.  Don't put off building generational wealth over time through your home as i...
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Localist Realty)
Sherman Oaks Weekly Market Update April 27th - May 3rd, 2026 4543 Willis Ave RECENTLY SOLD Willis Avenue | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1050 sq. ft. | $649,000 4915 Coldwater Canyon NEWLY LISTED Coldwater Canyon Avenue | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1649 sq. ft. | $749,000 14600 Dickens St RECENTLY SOLD Dickens Street | 2 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1731 sq. ft. | $799,000 Chandler Park Village BACK ON THE MARKET Sylmar Avenue | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1172 sq. ft. | $499,000 Oak Pointe RECENTLY SOLD Magnolia Boulevard | 3 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1666 sq. ft. | $899,000 Oakdale BACK ON THE MARKET Dickens | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1190 sq. ft. | $575,000
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