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There are approximately 30,000 home inspectors nationwide today. Only about half of the states require any kind of certification or licensing for home inspectors. So how do you know you are recommending the best home inspectors to your clients? Hiring the right home inspector is as important as the actual home inspection itself. As with most professions, both qualified and unqualified individuals can claim to be “professionals,” but what makes the home inspection industry especially vulnerable is the fact that it is currently unregulated in most states. Here are some ways you can protect your clients from hiring an unqualified inspector:

A recent real estate survey reported that 27 percent of the homebuyers during the fall season are first-time homebuyers. Although spring is traditionally the peak season for real estate activity, this year's buyer's market should lead to a healthy spike in real estate activity this fall. "For a prospective new homeowner, this fall's market is shaping up to be an opportunity to capitalize on a great blend of low rates, consistently low home prices, and a recovering economy," notes John L. Heithaus, CMO of Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS), one of the largest MLS's in the country. "First-time homebuyer or not, all potential buyers can benefit from good information - even in a buyer's market - as they gear up to begin bidding on real estate."

When it comes to securing a mortgage in today’s challenging lending environment, your credit rating is more important than ever before. Good credit is integral to obtaining the best interest rates and terms on a mortgage. Credit expert Peter Nagy offers the following helpful dos and don’ts for making sure your credit standing is in good shape before pursuing a mortgage: Don't apply for new credit. Every time you have your credit pulled by a potential creditor or lender, you can lose points from your credit score immediately.

Proper research is essential for homebuyers. Not only should you be familiar with the steps in a real estate transaction, you should also know what your physical and financial needs are. In a recent broadcast of “Eye on Real Estate with Dottie Herman” titled, “The Art of Negotiations,” Herman, CEO at Douglas Elliman, discussed some important aspects regarding a home’s worth. Price “Price is what the home should be worth today. But sometimes people don’t price it right, so what you really want to look at is fair market value,” says Herman. This is what the seller should reasonably be asking for.

When it comes to making a real estate investment, it’s important that you arm yourself with the information you need to make a wise and informed decision. The following tips will enable you to hit the ground running. • Knowledge is power – if you think education is expensive, try ignorance. It’s tough to get leads in real estate, therefore, when a motivated seller calls you, you should know as many different ways to buy a house as possible. In my career, I’ve had many successful and profitable real estate transactions from sellers who had conversed with other investors prior to me that couldn’t help them. Don’t miss out on potential sales because you don’t understand how to sell a house with little or no equity.

(MCT)—QUESTION: Although I have a financial hardship, my lender recently turned down my short sale request because I was not 45 days late on the payment. I am out of money and willing to leave the property but don't want to go through the trouble of a foreclosure. I want to do the right thing, but I don't know what that is. Can you help? ANSWER: I have often said that it is worth trying a short sale while you are still making payments. If the short sale is approved, it's easier on you, your neighbors and the bank. Although some lenders are willing to work with you while you're still current, others require the loan to be delinquent. I have been told they do this to scare away "strategic" short sellers, but this does more harm than good to all involved, in my opinion.

REALTORS® help people achieve the dream of homeownership, but are often also homeowners themselves. A new offer through the REALTOR Benefits® Program will help members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Vinyl siding is one of the most popular home sidings in the U.S. due to its relative low cost, durability and lifespan. It is constructed to last more than 20 years even under extreme conditions. In fact, U.S. Census Bureau statistics show since 1995 more homeowners side their homes with vinyl than with any other material. While vinyl siding is incredibly durable, it can melt. One of the number one causes of vinyl siding melting is the heat from BBQ grills during the peak summer grilling months. Backyard grillers often don’t realize their siding is melting until it’s too late. When viewing properties with vinyl siding, pay close attention to a grill placement, especially if it is within 10 feet of a house.

The Internet is full of checklists and resources to use if you are planning to move. There are packing timelines. There are lists of packing supplies. There are even directions on how to pack boxes. But moving is much more than purging and organizing your personal affects. There are legal tasks you need to take care of too. Here are 5 legal tasks to complete when you move:

If it weren’t for extreme temperature variations and routine wear and tear, homeowners would never have to worry about maintaining and repairing their concrete or asphalt driveways and walkways. Unfortunately, weather and wear are part of life and can have a big impact when it comes time for home inspections. In order to have a successful inspection there are some important factors to note in the processes of cleaning up and repairing damage to asphalt and concrete. Beyond being unsightly, damaged driveways and walkways can lower the value of the home.

As we near the end of summer, it’s time to look ahead and plan out home maintenance projects that have to be done before the cold weather strikes. Real estate agents can help homebuyers understand which home fixes take priority if their new home isn’t quite new. Likewise, agents can help sellers prioritize their last warm weather fixes to increase a home’s curb appeal. While the weather is warm and before the peak months of September and October, encourage clients to walk around the exterior of their home and make a list of problematic areas. Some can be fixed by the current owners and others will require assistance from an expert. To help locate any issues and take care of them before winter arrives,

Proper research is essential for homebuyers. You should be familiar with the steps in a real estate transaction and additional details that are related to property sales. You should also know what your physical and financial needs are. Hiring a real estate broker is a great idea. These professionals can help you understand the market, project your requirements onto the search, and ensure the home you select is a worthwhile investment. In a recent broadcast of “Eye on Real Estate with Dottie Herman” titled, “The Art of Negotiations,” Herman, the CEO at Douglas Elliman discussed some important aspects regarding a home’s worth. The conversation focused on the differences between price, value, and cost.

Regional Spotlight—Wells Fargo & Company has invited nearly 40,000 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Financial, and Wells Fargo Home Equity customers facing financial hardships to a New York City Home Preservation Workshop to be held next week in Brooklyn. Other sessions will be held in Secaucus, N.J. and Philadelphia in August and one was held last week in Uniondale, N.Y. at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The purpose of the counseling sessions is to discuss possible options with homeowners that could help them stay in their home. Those in attendance will receive personalized answers to questions such as:

Everyone loves a bargain, the bigger the better. And arguably the biggest bargains of all can be found with distressed real estate. ...

“Studies on homeownership prove that it enhances our lives in many ways, and among them is how we plant deeper stakes within the communities we call home,” notes John L. Heithaus, CMO of MRIS. “Since navigating the housing market has become more complex than ever, any potential homebuyer, whether a first-time buyer or not, can benefit from solid professional advice in their pursuit of homeownership.” To that end, MRIS has compiled the following list of “must read” tips from among its 45,000+ network of real estate professionals, reinforcing some of the best practices for ensuring that potential homebuyers are home-ready. • Understand and update your FICO credit score. This single number plays a major role in determining the interest