To get the most out of your home sale you’ll need to do your homework, and work around your home.In this tutorial we’ll walk you through the steps to a successful sale — from maximizing curb appeal to ensuring a smooth settlement.

• Polish the merchandise
  There’s no second chance to make a good first impression. Here’s how to put a fresh face on the ol’ homestead.
  • Seller’s Checklist: Inside
    Print out this checklist to identify areas inside your home that need work prior to putting it on the market.
  • Seller’s Checklist: Outside
    Use this checklist to help inspect your house from roof to foundation.
• Should You go it Alone?
  If you live in a hot market, you may not have to pay an agent thousands of dollars to sell your house.
• Hire a Pro
  If you’d rather not spend the time or the effort selling the place yourself, here’s how to find the best agent for you.
• Setting the Right Price
  Don’t overprice or you’ll scare away prospective buyers.
• Negotiating with Buyers
  Here’s what to look for when the offers come rolling in.
• Key Elements of the Contract
  Before accepting a buyer’s purchase agreement, be sure you review these key areas.
• Preparing for Settlement
  Most of the hard work is done by the buyer, but you’ll still need to ride herd on the agents, lawyers and title clerks.
• The Papers You’ll Need
  If you’re selling your home yourself, here’s what you’ll need to take with you to the closing.

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We’ll help you set goals, adopt a strategy, make investing a habit and control your risks.

ou want a home of your own, an education for your kids, a comfortable retirement someday and a little fun along the way. These are the dreams we all seem to be born with. To achieve them, we must become investors.

A brilliantly executed program of saving — putting your money into certificates of deposit, money-market funds or savings bonds — can earn 5% to 6% in a good year. With inflation at 3% (some would say that’s optimistic) and taxes taking away another 25% or so of what remains, that 5% return quickly becomes about 1.5%. You’re going to have to do a lot better than that.

You should aim for an average return of 10% to 12% per year on your investments. You won’t make it every year, but that’s an achievable range if you plan your approach thoughtfully and stick to your plan.

Successful investors don’t jump around from one place to another according to what’s hot and what’s not. They operate from a plan that’s based on their goals, how long they have to achieve them, their tolerance for risk (both financial and psychological), and what they can afford to set aside for an investment program. You want to make money, of course, but you also want to be able to sleep at night. Here’s how to do it.

• Set Goals and Adopt a Strategy
  Decide what you want to save for and how much you need to save, then figure out how you’ll do it.
• Make Investing a Habit
  Follow these easy steps to make investing part of your daily routine.
• Control Your Risks
  Don’t invest until your ready, and don’t buy anything you don’t understand.

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Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving up or downsizing, we’ll unlock the strategies you’ll need to get the best house at the best price.

Homeownership has long been regarded as one of the basic elements of the American dream. Buying a home, however, is anything but basic. It is important to understand the process as well as how your specific needs fit into your search for a new home.

This tutorial was designed to help you get the most out of buying a home, whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving up or downsizing, we’ll walk you through the steps and strategies you’ll need.

• Getting Started
  Your reasons for buying a home determine the steps and strategies you should follow.
  • First-time buyer
  • Moving up
  • Downsizing
• How Much House can You Afford?
  Take the time to examine your finances and determine how much you can afford for down and monthly payments.
  • Clean up Your Credit
  • Low-Down Options
• Choose a broker
  Home sellers enlist the help of professionals to represent their interests, so why shouldn’t home buyers do the same?
• Begin Your Search
  The search for a new home should not start with the price. More important are the location and quality of the property and its ability to meet, or be tailored to meet, your needs.
• Make the Offer
  Once you’ve found the home you want, it’s time to negotiate the price. Find out about various factors to consider when preparing to make an offer.
  • The smart buyer’s purchase contract
• Select a Mortgage
  Finding the right mortgage involves some digging. Interest rates, points, processing costs, and adjustment features all affect how well a mortgage suits your needs.
  • Pros and Cons of Fixed-Rate Loans
  • All about ARMs
• The Application Process
  Here’s what you can expect when you’re ready to apply for your loan.
• Close the Deal
  An accepted contract doesn’t mean the deal is done yet, but there are things you can do to help avoid any snags.

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