1. Will a real estate agent blow me off without loan pre-approval? I have a good job and credit score so why do that before I need a loan?

    Reader Question: I want to start looking for a home, but several people suggested agents won’t take me seriously without a pre-approval letter. I understand the pre-approval must be updated every 30 days, and a credit check hurts my credit score. How do I avoid being punished for planning ahead and beginning my search far […]

  2. With all that has happened during the past decade, with the bubble values and the real estate meltdown, does owning a home remain a wise choice?

    Reader Question: We want to ask about homeownership. After witnessing the run-up in real estate values in the not-to-distant past and the aftermath of the financial meltdown, we read conflicting information about where real estate values, and the economy are going, and whether or not a home is a good investment. Is owning a home […]