Buyer's tricks in a runaway seller's market - 2004-04-03
Dear Steve,
You are familiar with that phrase, "You're not in Kansas anymore"? Boy, did that ring true when I moved from Kansas to San Jose, Calif. Sticker shock doesn't begin to describe how amazingly high the home prices are here.
Dunno The Way

Mortgage pre-approval: One that sets you apart immediately is getting pre-approved, not just pre-qualified, for a loan in your price range before you even make an offer on a home. This tactic sends an immediate signal to the buyer that you are willing and able to deal.
Read the full story at Bankrate.com

Unpaid taxes put homes at risk - 2004-04-03
Joan Ivey frets about her mounting tax bills. After borrowing money to keep her home from auction last year, the 69-year-old worked out a payment plan on her unpaid taxes of more than $8,000.

When John Fink received notice in the mail about unpaid taxes on his Pittsburgh house, he contacted the Homeowner Preservation Project, a group that helps homeowners manage their debt and keep their homes. The group is trying to renegotiate Fink's mortgage to lower his interest rate.
Read the full story at Oakland Tribune