Cathie Ericson

Are you required to sign with an agent for a home tour? If you're a serious buyer, the answer may be yes. We break it down.

The housing market may be hot, but there are no guarantees for sellers. Check out our tips on how to turn up the heat and spark a bidding war for your home.

Making an offer that wins the house can be easier said than done. Don’t blow your chances with any of these common home offer mistakes.

There are some topics you shouldn’t bring up when getting a mortgage, because they wave unnecessary red flags. Here are a few—and why they cause concern.

Wondering if you should repair or replace your ailing home appliances? These questions can help you determine your best course of action.

What is a penthouse? If you're lucky enough to live in one, it means you have arrived. The very word "penthouse" denotes luxury and exclusivity.

A house offer letter can sweeten your bid in a competitive environment. We share excerpts from letters that worked and how you can use these strategies.

We went to the ultimate home-buying insiders, real estate agents, and asked them how they bought their own homes. What they said may surprise you.

A room-by-room guide to help you keep rodents, pests, and other critters out of your house. It’s all good advice for winter-proofing your house.

Sorry, sellers. If your "days on market" metric is too high, you might be totally killing your sale. Here's what you need to know, and how to fix it.

Before you start house hunting, you should learn how to prepare to buy a home. Here’s a checklist of everything you should do to get your ducks in a row.

Row houses are single-family homes that are built in a row, with a common wall and often a common look. They are desirable, historical and rare.

An interesting trend has emerged of millennials forgoing the traditional starter home for a forever home. Is it right for you?

Most home buyers have in their minds a list of real estate "deal breakers." But these red flags may actually spell a deal in disguise.

Hope to sell your house this fall? Here's the one best thing you can do to reel in buyers: Give your home an autumn upgrade with some staging. 

No matter how much you love a home, keep an eye out for these warning signs that a house may have costly repairs in its future.

Money talks, but a low price isn’t the only reason that sellers might reject your offer. Find out other mistakes you may be making.

While it might seem counterintuitive, savvy home shoppers know the holidays can be a great time to buy a house. Here are five compelling reasons.

A move to the suburbs can seem like an idyllic alternative to the hassles of city living. But is it right for you? Before you make the leap, quiz yourself.

What can go wrong when you try to sell your house yourself? Just listen to these horror stories of FSBO gone wrong and what happened.