So, you're finally a homeowner -- congratulations! This is an important step in anyone's life, and it's absolutely normal to feel somewhat (or wildly) unprepared for the realities of owning a place of your own. What if there's an emergency, or what if something breaks? Do you know what to do?

Here's the good news: Like so many things in life, it's not what you know; it's who you know. Some homeowners take years to get all of these names and numbers in their mental address books or their smartphones, but if you start trying to find these essential people in your homeowners' network early, then you'll have an easier time handling any problems.

An Insurance Agent
If you have a mortgage loan on your home, then you're going to need homeowners'…

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With so many resources available online - from research materials, to tutorials, to vendor ratings - it's not uncommon to wonder whether or not you actually need a real estate professional to help you buy a home. So... do you?

It's hard to argue with all of the quality traits that an experienced Washington, DC real estate agent brings to the table for their clients: savvy negotiating skills, a rich understanding of the local housing landscape, legal knowledge, and in-depth advice for homebuyers on how to approach the entire process. Here's a short list of 5 things you can (and should) expect when hiring a real estate agent:

Market Expertise
Everything from where home values are rising most, to the best ice cream shops and concert venues-- that's the…

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In 2008, the real estate landscape was on the brink of a monumental change. The Great Recession officially started in December 2007, and the housing industry was on the front lines of the longest economic slump since World War II. Homeowners who had bought at the peak of the housing bubble found themselves underwater on their loans, owing more than their homes were worth on the market, and those risky loans partnered with a rash of foreclosures caused upheaval on the secondary mortgage market, tanking investors and banks left and right.

Today, as home prices have risen back up to pre-crisis levels, the question on a lot of minds is, "What's changed since 2008?" Economic recessions happen regularly, and it's natural to wonder when the next one will…

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