| LII.org (Home) | About LII IPL.org Suggest a Site Subscribe to New This Week Contact |
|
|
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
Real Estate
 Websites presented in alphabetical order America's Housing Craze 
 Collection of articles and analysis from 2005 about the increased cost of purchasing a house in the U.S., financing options, buying and selling, and related topics. Includes information about prices in selected cities, hunting for a house in California, and affordability of houses. From MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3038118/ Topics: Housing Last updated Oct 13, 2005 Chasing Condos
This series of articles from 2006 focuses on topics related to the condominium real estate market, such as investing in hot and not-so-hot markets, condo conversion, lawsuits involving condo developers, and considerations in buying a luxury condo. From Real Estate Journal, a publication of the Wall Street Journal. http://www.realestatejournal.com/reports/condos/ Topics: Housing, Investing Last updated Feb 26, 2008 Condos
A collection of condominium real estate tools and resources. Includes a list of factors buyers should consider before purchasing a condo; a quiz to help determine if a condo is right for you; an article about covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs, "the governing documents that dictate how the condo homeowners association operates and what rules the owners must obey"); and a condo search. From the National Association of Realtors. http://www.realtor.com/basics/condos/ Topics: Housing, Investing Last updated Jul 30, 2008 Distressed Property Blog
"Here, you will find the latest news, information, and thinking about distressed properties. From tips on buying and selling your home or investment property, to strategies for getting out from under a home you no longer can afford." Also includes links to related sites. From the president of a company that is a source for buyers searching for homes below market value. http://www.distressedpropertyblog.com/ Topics: Blogs & Podcasts by Subject, Housing Last updated May 28, 2008 Eminent Domain: Taking Property for Public Use
An explanation of the law that allows the government to take private land and turn it to public use. Includes the history of the law, the "Takings" Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, just compensation, and a link to a list of land use and zoning lawyers in the U.S. and its territories. From FindLaw. http://realestate.findlaw.com/homeownership/home-land-use-zoning/home-land-use-zoning-eminent-domain.html Topics: Business & Consumer Law, Finance, Housing Last updated Jun 28, 2005 Flip This House
Companion to a television series "that focuses on Trademark Properties, a small real estate company in South Carolina. ... [that] buys homes, quickly renovates them, and sells them for a profit." The site features an episode guide, photo galleries of the houses, and house flipping tips from the founder of Trademark Properties. Also includes a discussion forum. From A&E. http://www.aetv.com/flipthishouse/ Topics: Housing Last updated Nov 11, 2006 ForSaleByOwner.com
Database of homes for sale by owner (without a real estate agent) in the United States. Search for a home, or list your property. Also has information on local schools, price comparisons, loans, and tips on home buying. http://www.forsalebyowner.com/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Housing Last updated Aug 1, 2002 Home Buyers: Beware of "Flipping" Scams
This brochure alerts potential home buyers how to watch for house "flipping" scams in which "a flipper buys a house cheap and then sells to it an unsuspecting buyer for a price that far exceeds its real value." The flipper entices the buyer into purchasing by promising to arrange a home loan. Includes a list of questions to ask the seller. Opens directly into a PDF document. From the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/flipbrochure.pdf Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Housing Last updated Apr 16, 2006 Home Loan Learning Center
This site "provides step-by-step information on how to become financially literate" with respect to home loans. Includes material about credit scores, how to qualify for a mortgage, types of mortgages (fixed-rate, balloon, adjustable-rate, convertible, and more), and foreclosure and delinquency, Also includes a mortgage calculator to help estimate payments, and information for special buyers situations, such as living together, divorced, or second home purchases. Includes list of state banking authorities. From the Mortgage Bankers Association. http://www.homeloanlearningcenter.com/ Topics: Housing Last updated May 15, 2008 International Real Estate Directory
Looking for real estate information or properties on-line? The IRED Directory contains over 50,000 links to real estate related Web sites in over 90 countries, rated by content and usefulness. http://www.ired.com/ Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Jun 15, 2002 The Living Network
Real estate multiple listing services. Currently, resources for 47 states and the District of Columbia are listed. An incredible resource for the prospective home buyer. Some states are more fully covered than others. http://the.living.net/default.htm Topics: Finance, Housing Last updated Jun 15, 2002 mls.ca
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Canada contains a database of commercial and residential properties available throughout Canada. Searchable by map, place, property type, and price. Also available in French. Provided by members of the Canadian Real Estate Association. http://www.mls.ca/ Topics: Finance, Housing Last updated Oct 24, 2005 Mr. Miami Beach
Companion site to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) American Experience program that tells "the story of Carl Graham Fisher, a millionaire promoter and entrepreneur from Indiana who risked everything he owned to turn a thousand acres of Florida swampland into an American Riviera." Features essays on vacation travel by car and Miami Beach today, a list of Miami Art Deco buildings, a map of the area in 1935, a teacher's guide, and more. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/miami/ Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Oct 9, 2004 MSN House and Home
National (U.S.) online real estate search service with interactive, street-level mapping. Also has information on buying, financing, selling, and moving. Also has information on the neighborhoods and an apartment rental database. http://houseandhome.msn.com/ Topics: Finance, Housing Last updated Oct 26, 2002 National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
A real estate investment trust, or REIT, offers the small investor a way to invest in large commercial properties. In addition to industry information and performance statistics, this Web site has a directory of REITs and a list of mutual funds that invest in REITs. http://www.reit.com/ Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Sep 4, 2008 Nolo’s Real Estate Tips for Home Buyers
This blog written by lawyers and others offers "tips and comments on the latest, greatest ways to find the best possible house at the best price. And if we see anything wacky or outrageous going on, we'll give you a heads up on that, too." Topics include new "Jumbo Light" loans, changing real estate values, and remodeling. Includes links to related sites. From Nolo, a California publisher of legal self-help books. http://www.realestatelawtips.com/ Topics: Housing Last updated Sep 15, 2009 Portico: Personal Property
Links to a growing number of assessor offices that provide searchable access to the most recent assessed values of properties (used primarily for property tax purposes). In addition to county assessor offices for U.S. states, the site lists some assessors for other countries. http://indorgs.virginia.edu/portico/personalproperty.html Topics: Finance, Housing Last updated Feb 10, 2005 Public Records Online
Portal to official state Web sites and available tax assessor and recorder offices databases. "Public records information that you may find includes copies of deeds, parcel maps, GIS maps, tax data, ownership information and indexes, and will vary to the extent that the particular office has developed their site." Environmental Issues provides a state-by-state directory of government and nonprofit agencies as well as commercial sites that deal with environmental conditions that may affect real estate. http://www.netronline.com/public_records.htm Topics: Finance, Government, Government, Housing Last updated Nov 10, 2004 Questions and Answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation
Information about the personal income tax consequences of debt forgiveness for money borrowed from a commercial lender, and income gains if there is a foreclosure. Includes examples, and links to related publications on selling your home and bankruptcy. From the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=174034,00.html Topics: Housing Last updated Oct 24, 2007 Realtor.com
Contains a database of over three million homes and land for sale in the United States. Searches may be limited by area, price range, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other features. Some listings include maps. Also includes a directory of realtors, and information on mortgages, neighborhoods, moving, and finding a contractor. From the National Association of Realtors. http://www.realtor.com/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Jun 8, 2007 The Seattle Times: Home Values
This report from The Seattle Times includes calculators for estimating your home's value, appreciation by neighborhood, and income required by neighborhood for Washington State's King and Snohomish counties. Gives readers valuable information for the big picture of the real estate market for one of the most expensive areas in the country. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/homevalues/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Housing Last updated May 18, 2005 Taxes on Vacation Homes
This article discusses different tax scenarios for vacation homes. "Depending on how often you use your vacation home yourself, how often you rent it out and how long it sits empty, you will fall into one of three different tax categories." Also describes tax considerations for timeshares. From SmartMoney, a joint publishing venture of Dow Jones & Company and Hearst Communications. http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/taxes-on-vacation-homes-9562/ Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing, Tax Filing Season Last updated Feb 14, 2009 Time and Time Again: Buying and Selling Timeshares and Vacation Plans
Consumer fact sheet about vacation home ownership options, which include timeshares and vacation interval plans. Discusses the basics of vacation home ownership, terminology (such as fractional ownership and lockouts), how to evaluate a plan, how exchange systems works, what to do before selling a timeshare, and related topics. From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea15.shtm Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Housing Last updated Oct 25, 2007 Timeshares on Sale
This article explains the timeshare resale market and gives suggestions about finding the best deals in the resale market. Includes links to a related article on timeshare investment tips and slideshow on "fractional ownership" of high-end vacation homes. From the website for Kiplinger, a publisher of business and personal finance magazines and newsletters. http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/10/timeshare.html Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Mar 18, 2008 Trulia
This site is "a real estate search engine that helps you find homes for sale and provides real estate information at the local level to help you make better decisions in the process." Find homes by location, property type, price range, and size. Also includes statistics and trends for cities throughout the U.S., and blogs. http://www.trulia.com/ Topics: Housing Last updated Mar 23, 2009 Understanding Vacation Ownership
Series of articles about timesharing, "a method of use and/or shared ownership of vacation real estate where purchasers acquire a period of time (often one week) in a condominium, apartment or other type of vacation accommodation. Timeshare is also known as 'vacation ownership.'" Provides a timeshare glossary, and tips for purchasing, exchanging, and selling timeshares. From the American Resort Development Association, a "professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries." http://www.arda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Understanding_Vacation_Ownership Topics: Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Mar 18, 2008 USA.gov: Government Sales and Auctions
This site provides access to online sales of "new, seized, and surplus merchandise and real estate from the government." real property, books, planes, boats, cars, jewelry, and more. Includes links to state and local surplus property sales. From USA.gov (formerly FirstGov.gov), the U.S. government's official web portal. http://www.usa.gov/shopping/shopping.shtml Topics: Arts and Humanities, Arts and Humanities, Finance, Housing, Investing Last updated Jan 15, 2007 Zillow.com
This site provides estimated market values for homes in the U.S. (called "Zestimates"), which are computed by using data mainly from public records, "and entering them in a formula." According to the site, "the majority of our Zestimates are within 10% of the selling price of the home." Searchable by address or through interactive maps. Created by Expedia founders Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink. http://www.zillow.com/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Housing Last updated Mar 5, 2006 |
|||
| Copyright © 2009, Librarians' Internet Index, LII. All rights reserved. Financial support for LII (Librarians' Internet Index) comes from the The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology and the IPL Consortium. LII is hosted by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology. |