People searching for rental properties on Facebook and Craigslist need to be careful: More than half the people who told federal watchdogs they were ripped off by a rental scam said it had originated ... more

It’s time to pay your utility bill, so you go online to find the, say, water company’s website to make your payment. Up pops a site that looks official. It has the company’s logo, professional layout ... more

Shopping for mortgage rates can save borrowers a lot of money -- $222 a month on average, according to a June report from LendingTree. But there’s a trick to browsing the field for the best rate.... more

Most homebuyers figure that their property taxes will be the same as those paid by the house's previous owner. That’s a common mistake.... more

Buying a house is always a taxing experience. But when you are expecting a child, it turns into a “high-stakes, emotionally charged and biologically timed sprint,” says California real estate agent Am... more

The strain on every homeowner's pocketbook is showing up in all the usual places.... more

Most homebuyers know that the key to obtaining a lower mortgage rate is a good credit score. But new research has also found a direct link between credit scores and insurance premiums.... more

Large-production homebuilders now account for nearly two-thirds of all new-home sales. But there are signs many of them, and even their smaller brethren, have gotten too far out over their skis.... more

[EDITORS: This is the second column in a two-part series.]... more

The supposedly “earthshaking” legal settlement that was supposed to drive down real estate commissions, saving buyers and sellers thousands of dollars in the process, wasn’t so tumultuous after all.... more

What happens when the person buying your house dies before the closing date? Or when your tenant passes away mid-lease?... more

If you think it costs a bundle to buy a house -- what with a down payment and all -- wait till you learn what it costs to sell one.... more

You’ve finally gotten an offer on your house. The place has been on the market for several months, so you are excited to take a look. But when you do, the wind goes out of your sails. The offer is rid... more