Short on closing costs. We're bidding on a house, have the 20% deposit, but are short on closing costs (by about 10k). Some options are out; for example I cannot take another loan until we have signed. A friend has suggested that we ask the seller to pay the costs and then we pay more for the house. Has anyone done this? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by carter on Apr 20, 2009 - 12 answers

Buying a house soon: is it better to pay down my credit card partially, or pay off a small personal loan? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 3, 2009 - 5 answers

After 14 years living in our small farm house a once-agricultural town in Connecticut our family has had to move on. Despite the markets leaning we did make a profit and would like to reinvest it as quickly as possible. As far as what we desire out of a location, we wouldn't like to go any farther north but have no real desire to stay in the state and would consider moving out of New England for the right reasons. [more inside]
posted by jofuu on Dec 30, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm considering buying a house on the southwestern coast of Michigan on Lake Michigan - New Buffalo, Saugatuck, Coloma, Union Pier, Douglas, Holland , etc. - which would be the best place to buy -pro's and con's of each community.
posted by Tullyogallaghan on May 28, 2007 - 5 answers

I'm interested in stories about living in apartments where something bad has happened. Apartments with gnarly histories. Murders, suicides, 'haunted' apartments, whatever. Did it affect the value? Did you learn about it only later? Did you hire an exorcist? Did a new paint job suffice? etc. Anyone have such stories, or know of such?
posted by Hobbacocka on Feb 6, 2005 - 16 answers

Looking to buy a new bed... and software to help me rearrange my house. [MI] [more inside]
posted by dobbs on Dec 30, 2003 - 21 answers