If you’re considering buying property, it’s important to understand what a property owners association is, what it does and how it works. Put simply, it’s a governing body made up of property owners in a region. This guide will help you decide if the fees and potential benefits are worth the investment.

If you own a home, then chances are you’re familiar with the term “fair market value.” You may not think much about it, but you may be surprised at how “FMV” can affect your finances. So what is the fair market value of a property, and why does it matter?

When Ashlee Radford and her husband, Brian, bought their last home in Ardmore, Oklahoma, they weren’t expecting to encounter difficult neighbors. But for several months, they dealt with constant noise from dogs barking at all hours and their owners constantly blocking in their cars with bad parking tactics. If you’ve ever had to figure out how to deal with bad neighbors, her story is a familiar one.

There are a number of reasons you may be curious about how to find out if a house is in foreclosure. For instance, you might hunt for an investment property that’s going for below market value. Or perhaps it’s in your best interest to figure out if the house next door is now a foreclosure, which could bring down your home value.

What does for-sale-by-owner mean? On its face, the term is a bit misleading, since all homes are technically sold by the people who own them. In the real estate context, however, for sale by owner has a very specific meaning. A for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, home is one sold directly by the homeowners themselves without a real estate agent acting on their behalf.

When Riley Adams and his parents began their house hunt in New Orleans in 2012, they came across a number of high-priced condos that were well above their price range. They were afraid they wouldn’t find something within their budget. At that point, the question of how to buy a foreclosed home had yet to even cross their minds.