The Real Estate Wonk: New guide for homebuyers, sellers - Baltimore homes, apartments, real estate: Buying, selling, renting and housing news from reporter Jamie Smith Hopkins

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March 11, 2009

New guide for homebuyers, sellers

Kiplinger.com's 2009 Home Guide is out, with tips, stories and quizzes for buyers and sellers (and some homeowners who aren't going anywhere). Topics include "Cheap Ways to Improve Curb Appeal," "True Cost of Owning a Home" and "Time to Refinance?"

The quiz for sellers included this true-false poser: "Setting a fair price and refusing to bargain is the best pricing strategy."

So, folks: True or false? And what do you think Kiplinger's explanatory answer was?

Posted by Jamie Smith Hopkins at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

I have had good luck finding "rent to own" buyers for my sellers rather than just "straight-buy" buyers which enables the sellers to get more for their properties by giving terms. Most can't afford to take a deep discount on their properties which is the only way to get some of them sold in the current retail market.

Posted by: Sally Cevasco | March 11, 2009 9:44 AM

The rent to own deals are rarely a good one for either party and must be approached with great care and strong legal advice. They should never be done as a single contract.

Jamie, this is a good topic for a real article. I'll email you some information.

Posted by: MrRational | March 11, 2009 6:20 PM

Rent to own is a scam, it's no different from a 0 down, interest only loan. Don't do it.

Posted by: semiconscious | March 12, 2009 8:31 PM

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About Jamie Smith Hopkins

Jamie Smith Hopkins, a Baltimore Sun reporter since 1999, writes about the regional economy. Her reporting on the housing market has won national and local awards. Hopkins is a Columbia native and has lived in Maryland all her life, save for 10 months spent covering schools in Ames, Iowa.
She trained to become a wonk by spending large chunks of time as a geek and an insufferable know-it-all.
• Baltimore Sun articles by Jamie

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