Buying & Selling
Home buying guides, seller strategies, closing costs, negotiations, first-time buyer tips, and the process of purchasing or selling property.
Latest in Buying & Selling
Almost anyone who bought a home through a real-estate agent can still claim part of a $120 million commission settlement, but the window closes October 27
A settlement worth $120.3 million is now open to almost anyone who bought a home listed on a multiple listing service anywhere in the United...
A homeowner can pocket up to $250,000 of home-sale profit tax-free, and a married couple up to $500,000
Selling a longtime family home can produce a six-figure profit, and the tax code lets most owners keep a large share of it without owing...
A widow or widower keeps the $500,000 home-sale tax exclusion for up to two years
The death of a spouse quietly resets the tax math on the family home, and the change can cost a survivor hundreds of thousands of...
Some states and counties offer down-payment help and closing-cost grants to older or first-time buyers
The cash needed to close on a home — a down payment plus thousands in closing costs — is the wall that stops many would-be...
Couples can shield up to $500,000 of home-sale profit from federal tax
A house bought decades ago is, for many retirees, their single largest untaxed gain — a property purchased for a fraction of today’s price and...
The home-sale tax break — $250,000 single, $500,000 for couples — hasn’t risen since 1997
The tax break that shields most home sellers from a capital-gains bill is showing its age. When a primary residence is sold, an owner can...
A home seller can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 married, a limit frozen since 1997
When a homeowner sells a primary residence at a profit, the federal tax code lets a single seller shield up to $250,000 of that gain...
Homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 of home-sale profit, or $500,000 for couples
A homeowner who sells a primary residence can generally shield up to $250,000 of profit from federal capital-gains tax, and a married couple filing jointly...
Selling a home you’ve lived in can shield up to $250,000 in gains from tax, or $500,000 for a couple
A retiree who bought a home decades ago and sells it in today’s market can be sitting on a capital gain of several hundred thousand...
In a slower market a buyer can ask the seller to cover closing costs, often worth thousands
Homebuyers shopping in markets where listings sit longer and competition cools are finding a concrete advantage at the negotiating table: they can ask sellers to...
The typical first-time homebuyer is now a record 40 years old — and first-timers make up just one in five buyers, the smallest share ever recorded
Not long ago, buying a first home was a milestone most Americans hit before their mid-30s. According to the latest data from the National Association...
Re/Max agrees to be sold to The Real Brokerage in a $550M deal
RE/MAX Holdings (NYSE: RMAX), the Denver-founded brokerage whose red, white, and blue hot-air balloon has been a fixture of American real estate since 1973, has...
Report: Peter Thiel buys $12M Buenos Aires mansion as Argentina draws buyers
Peter Thiel has reportedly spent roughly $12 million on a mansion in the Buenos Aires province, a purchase that would make the PayPal co-founder one...
Downsizing could save over $20,000 a year: 6 reasons more homeowners are doing it
For many homeowners, bigger once felt better. Expansive kitchens, extra bedrooms, and sprawling living areas were seen as status symbols. But in recent years, a...
The 7 home renovations with the highest ROI according to 2026 remodeling cost data
Homeowners often assume large renovations deliver the biggest payoff, but remodeling data tells a different story. Each year, housing analysts review thousands of real home...
How to buy a house in 2026 with 30-year mortgage rates at 5.98%: a step-by-step guide
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in the United States dropped to 5.98% in late February, marking the first time borrowing costs have fallen below...
First-time homebuyer tax credit in 2026: who qualifies and how to claim up to $10,000
Buying a first home has become tougher as mortgage rates and home prices remain elevated across much of the U.S. To help ease some of...
The states where property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees make ownership most expensive
Buying a home is often hailed as the largest financial milestone many Americans will reach. Yet in reality, the monthly mortgage payment is only part...
Closing cost surprises that add an average of $6,000 to your home purchase
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial milestones most Americans ever achieve. Buyers often focus on the purchase price and monthly mortgage payment,...
How to afford a second home in 2026 without putting your primary mortgage at risk
Owning a second home has long been a financial milestone for many Americans. Whether it is a vacation property, a future retirement house, or an...