Ira Freireich's (bestbroker) Blog

                                          With Chirstmas almost here, taxes are probably not first and foremost in your mind right now, but there are some smart moves you can make between now and the time the big ball drops in Times Square that will make a real difference with it comes time to de...

                                                   From peak levels five years ago, home prices are down more than 30 percent, combined sales of new and existing homes are nearly 40 percent lower, and new home construction has plunged more than 70 percent. However, several factors are falling int...

Here are some basic things you must have to get your home remodeling or new home building project ready for competitive bidding so you can be sure you're getting the best price possible. 1) Complete, detailed plans Your local building department doesn't require much to issue a building permit. Al...

                                              You've been watching the Long Island NY real estate market for some time, and have decided you want to start thinking about buying your own home. Now what? The first step is to get pre-qualified for a mortgage to give you an estimate of how much you c...

What is a Closing? - When you have found the home of your dreams, or sold your home, you as the buyer or seller will have to appear at a meeting in which all of the final legal details will be handled, this is known as the closing. Who goes to the Closing & where does it take place? - Others in a...

Buoyed by stabilizing home prices and sustained low interest rates, nationwide housing affordability during the third quarter of 2011 hovered near its highest level in the more than 20 years it has been measured, according to National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity I...

Homebuilder confidence in the market for new single-family homes rose by three points to 20 on the National Association of Home Builders housing market index for November, the second consecutive monthly gain. The NAHB said the number builds on a revised three-point increase in October, and brings...

                                       Anyone who has ever bought a home will tell you, emotion plays a big role in the decision. However, if you don't approach the home buying process in a smart way, you could end up making        some major mistakes. Most mistakes that Long Island New York home...

For first time Long Island NY home buyer's, the loan process can be extremely intimidating. When you're buying a home for the first time, you will likely be bombarded with advice from family members, co-workers, and friends, much of which is either inaccurate or not applicable to your particular ...

                                          While hundreds of thousands of mortgage borrowers have been able to squat in their homes without making a single mortgage payment in months or even years, many responsible homeowners who have good credit and consistently meet their monthly obligations ha...