Orson Klender's (oklender) Blog

Doing routine home maintenance is the best way to avoid those really expensive repairs that can come when things aren't looked after. Plus, when it comes time to sell, buyers will pay more for a well-maintained home. Here's how to stay on top of the upkeep. 1. Make a schedule and stick to it. Mos...

Now is the time to start putting together records and information for your 2012 tax returns which are due April 15, 2013. Here are some tax questions homeowners need to ask:1. What tax benefits did homeowners get in the recent ‘fiscal cliff’ budget agreement? Two tax provisions that ended in 2011...

"Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty."--John Selden, English jurist and scholar Our leaders in Washington aren't telling if they've truly resolved to put our fiscal house in order, but at least last week's deal to avert the fiscal cliff left housing a winner on ...

To some people, broken windows, dilapidated roofs or collapsing porches mean trouble. People like Kenny Rushing, a Tampa, Florida-based real estate investor, see dollar signs. “More than 60 percent of the houses I have bought in Tampa were condemned properties,” says Rushing. “I have yet to lose ...

“Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail.”–Charles F. Kettering, American inventor If you need some encouragement to follow the advice of the inventor of the automobile starter motor, look to last week’sNovember New Home Sales, UP 4.4% to a 377,000 annual rate, and now UP 15.3% versus a ...

"Every path hath a puddle."--George Herbert, Welsh-British poet, orator, and priest Last week, the path to recovery in the housing market required us to step over the puddle of a 3% dip in Housing Starts for November. Yet that path has also taken us to an annual rate of 861,000 units, putting ove...

Check out this video! The current market trend for the end of 2012: Home Sales and Prices Maintain Uptrend From National Association of Realtors Media Contact: Walter Molony  Email http://www.realtor.org

Whether you're building a residence, need extra storage, or are purchasing as an investment or farm property, the time to buy land has never been better. It's still a buyer's market in many areas, yet many sources claim the housing market is turning a corner. In fact, due to the election year and...

Credit checks are a necessary part of applying for any loan, but they are especially important during two stages of the loan process: on the day you apply for a mortgage and shortly before closing on the loan. The first credit check is to ensure that you pay your bills on time and have sufficient...

Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the money you still owe on your mortgage. Sometimes referred to as a second mortgage, a home equity loan allows you to borrow against the equity you have built up in your property. With a home equity loan, your home is used as collateral...