You can't turn on the news or log onto the internet without hearing about how bad the real estate market is today. It can be very depressing, especially when you have your house on the market along with the many others available. Buyers have more homes to choose from now, than ever.

Drive around some of the close in Washington DC metro areas like Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Arlington and you will still find large numbers of homes being remodeled or totally renovated. Didn't anyone bother to tell these people that the housing market is over priced by 25 percent? Apparently not. So what's behind all this activity.

To avoid significant future expenditures on your dream house, your home inspection should focus on foundation settling, water and drainage, cooking vents, electrical outlets and mold.

Avoiding houses with very significant problems in the above areas will save you money and help you stay healthy. Some problems can be remedied easily and others have to be monitored.

The best strategy to sell your home in a slow housing market may be to rent it out. While that may sound like smoke and mirrors, it does make sense. This is not for everyone. After all you have to have some place to go if you rent your principal residence out.

Today I heard on the radio that some local governments were going to require home sellers to disclose to buyers how much it cost to heat and cool a home. While this seemed strange at first, I thought it made perfect sense given increasing electricity and natural gas prices.

Avoiding foreclosure on your home requires direct communication with your lender even when you are just 30 days late. Your goal is to convince them that you want to keep your home and repay your loan.

Instead of house hunting, we suggest that you focus first on the neighborhoods where you would like to live. We tell you how to size a neighborhood up before you call a Realtor.

Make sure that you have your own termite inspection and pay for it with your funds when purchasing an older home. Never buy a home or property without an inspection.

Consider your situation before deciding on how you will take title to your new home. Consulting a real estate attorney and accountant can save you future headaches.

Most houses cost between 2 to 3 times what they list for. Why? Because over 15 to 30 years you'll be paying all that interest to your mortgage company. You can reduce that considerably with home equity accelerator programs.

Many older homes are 40-50 years old and have systems that may need to be replaced. Newer homes also need independent inspections to ensure that the major systems have been installed correctly and are operational.

House settlements are stressful. Knowing what to expect before, during and after your house settlement will make it less stressful. Count on signing many papers. We tell you what the important ones are.

Don't be bashful when doing a home inspection. Use your sense of smell, sight and hearing to uncover problems with a home' structural features and expensive systems. Ask questions and don't be intimidated by any Realtors.

While shopping at Costco, I came across a very informative book entitled "Essential Home Skills, Your Homeowner Survival Guide.

Your location and current neighborhood should weigh heavily in your decision to remodel. Even in bad real estate markets, the best neighborhoods hold their value better than others.