How to Win a Bidding War.
Nobody wins in a bidding war. It puts everybody on edge, pits buyer and seller AGAINST one another, and puts you at risk of losing out on the home of your dreams.\n\nMy reccomendation is that you carefully consider what you want and need in your new home, ask your broker to show you only homes that are definitely available, and then make a careful choice.\n\nOnce you choose the home that you want make your sales agreement as simple and businesslike as you can. Buyers who make "lowball" or indecisive offers ( full of"weasel" clauses ,etc.) are asking for trouble. In this market or in any market you need to remind yourself that the home that looks good to you, probably will look good to other buyers. If you don't want the house, don't waste time writing offers.\n\nIf you do want the house, step up to the line, put your desire onto a legal form, and instruct your broker to present it immediately to the seller and receive a yes or no answer.\n\n

A Tax Shelter that is a Shelter.
In addition to the many advantages of homeownership, homes come with a major financial advantage - tax benefits. Owning a home instead of renting can lead to a significant amount of savings when tax time rolls around. Buying, selling or owning real estate can help you reap some of the biggest tax advantages available.

New or Pre-Owned?
Wouldn't it be great if your home required little, if any, maintenance for 5 or 10 years? This is a major benefit of buying a new home. You simply move in and enjoy. Unless, of course that is, you have the misfortune of buying a lemon.