Six Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Agent

by Kim Gibbons

If you connect well with others, enjoy a commission-based career, and love working variable hours, you are off to a good start for a career in real estate. On the other hand, if you require a stable monthly income and a standard Monday through Friday nine-to-five type job, a real estate career will not be the best match for you. Before beginning your career as a real estate agent you want to make sure that your personality is an ideal match. If so, here are the six necessary steps to becoming a real estate agent.

5 Reasons to Save Money Before Buying a Home

© 2011, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

First-time home buyers are often surprised by the total costs associated with buying a home. Some buyers don’t even realize that a lack of cash reserves can hurt their chances of getting a loan. But it happens all the time. In fact, a lack of up-front cash is one of the most common reasons for mortgage rejection. That’s why it’s important for future home buyers to start saving money early on. The more you can save the better.

Why is this so important? Here are five good reasons to save up for your home-buying process:

Common Misconceptions About FHA Home Loans

© 2011, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

FHA home loans are a popular financing strategy for home buyers. They’re especially popular with first-time buyers who don’t have much of a down payment saved up. But FHA loans are also commonly misunderstood. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions about these loans.

The Accidental Landlord

by Chandra Wright 

Homeowners come to the decision to rent out their property for many reasons. If you are considering this as an option, you also have some decisions about how you will accomplish this. You may be thinking about this because you want to avoid selling for a loss or you may want an alternative to facing foreclosure. You may have an imminent move or life change and not be sure about letting go of this house. There are certainly benefits to renting; however being a landlord is a level of responsibility that requires a new outlook on home-ownership. Whatever is making you curious about being a landlord, and especially if you are going to be outside of physical proximity to your house, take the time to learn about the process and build a plan.

Looking for fireworks in the DC Area?

Whether you're a new home or apartment buyer or renter, or if you're a long-time resident of the DC Area, most likely you'll be heading out to watch the fireworks this Monday night. I've lived in Montgomery County for most of my life, and a year hasn't gone by when I haven't enjoyed the tinny, patriotic tunes that are piped in over the outdoor loudspeakers; in high school, friends and I headed over to Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville (this was the "old" RMHS - before it was remodeled).