Planning to buy a home? Try walking a mile in the seller’s shoes, and you’ll quickly become a more effective buyer. Ask yourself “If I were a seller, what would be important to me?” Most sellers want to attract a “qualified” buyer, one capable of making the purchase. The seller wants to receive the best…

A land auctioneer used to begin his auction sales with these words: “We’re here to get as much as we can – you’re here to buy it as cheap as you can – what am I bid?” It was a down-to-earth way of saying that buyers and sellers see price differently but must finally agree…

There were disappointments too. Buyers would begin looking at homes, pick one out, sign a purchase contract, and only then apply for a mortgage. After credit reports, employment verification, and plenty of anxious waiting, buyers were informed that they didn’t “qualify” under the lenders’ rules. Today, things are much different. For those planning to buy…