Home Buyers Guide 2008

First-time home buyers can easily avoid pitfalls

Margo Chaney of Lodi had been renting since she was 18 years old. More of this story...

Homebuying tips

From checking finances to making sure of location

1) How long do you plan on living in your first home? If you plan to live in the home at least three years, it would probably be a good idea to stop being a renter. More of this story...

Practice safety during summer renovations with water, breaks

As summer temperatures begin to sizzle, home improvement tasks become particularly challenging. Take these precautions when working in hot weather to protect your health and get better results. More of this story...

Thinking of buying now? Get ready for a great deal

Now might be the right time to buy for people looking to get a deal in the housing market. The prospects can be especially lucrative to renters who have no property of their own to sell. More of this story...

Get home improvement projects done during slow market

A slow housing market could be an advantage for anyone looking to make renovations to their homes. That's because as fewer new homes are being built and properties are being foreclosed upon, many contractors and builders are available to work on your home. More of this story...

Securing a mortgage in spite of poor financial standing

Despite a housing boom in recent years that saw seemingly everyone get approved for a mortgage, some people with less than stellar credit histories are still approaching their mortgage application with a degree of trepidation. More of this story...

California home sales mixed by region; prices post record declines

With sales up slightly in Southern California and down in the San Francisco Bay Area, the only trait common to these regions in May was a sharp drop-off in median home price from last year's level, according to real estate information service DataQuick. More of this story...