I got an email this morning showcasing a charming lake-view chalet about 100 miles outside of New York City. The chalet intrigues me because it doesn't need a lot of work (it's freshly painted both inside and out) and the layout is refreshingly logical. But can I afford it? That's when I turned to AOL Real Estate and their Mortgage Calculator. All I had to do was input a few lines of financial info and presto! I have either broken the bank or can bank on that little mountain getaway I have always dreamed about.

I took some time this weekend to accompany my friends Miah and Soma of ProjectMiso to some open houses. They were in my Brooklyn neighborhood checking out several newly-constructed condos, but I think they'll probably stay close to their current Queens home. Why? Well, the way they talked about one apartment they had seen in Astoria really drove home the point that buying a home is an emotional decision. It's like love at first sight, if you feel it, you know. And I think they know. It will be the first place they own and will have some great amenities like a common roof deck and a gym in the building. It sounds great to me! How about you? Tell us about your first place... was it love at first sight? How did you know it was right for you? We'd love to hear your stories! You can also find out more about condos and see if owning one is right for you.

You want to make the move – to a new town, to a new state or just around the corner. You need to sell your house so you can move to the one of your dreams. You want a great realtor who will sell your house fast, for the best price and without any extra agita. What to do? First off, find out the Top 10 Mistakes Sellers Make When Choosing a Realtor from Real Estate ABC. You'll get some great advice (not just, do not make these mistakes) and some background on the whole home selling process as well. (For instance, mistake 8: Is that really the way open houses work? Makes sense to me.) So read all about it and avoid these mistakes before they happen.

Looking for a new home can sometimes be stressful. If have you have a disability and are searching for a new home to rent or buy, you have a whole host of rights to make it less so. Do you know what they are? HUD has a wonderful resource in the Fair and Equal Housing section of their website. You can find a great (and easy-to-read) article on Disability Rights in Housing there. There was so much I didn't know, but was glad to learn. If you are a landlord/homeowner there is also a Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST website which is "an initiative designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements" that will make it easy for you to keep our neighbors safe and secure.

Everyone I know with a mortgage is talking refi... but in this time of tighter regulations and more documentation, the process has also gotten more difficult. That doesn't mean it isn't still worth the time, trouble and leg work. Refi can make a big difference in your monthly mortgage payment – and that can mean money in your pocket. And who couldn't use some extra cash these days? Sounds good, right? Then start here with this Wall Street Journal article called A Battle Plan for Refinancing Your Mortgage. Then tell us about it. Did you have trouble with your refi? Was it easier than you thought it would be? Do you have any advice or tips?

You've been dreaming of a place to call your own. (I know I have) But your credit score is not what it should be. What can you do? Repair it! Just visit Bankrate.com for the 5 Steps to Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair. Remember, your credit rating didn't go south in one day and repairing it won't be a quick fix process. But if you start now, your credit will improve with time. Then, before you know it, that dream of a house or apartment or cute little prefab to call your own gets that much closer to being a dream realized.

I am a renter and most of my friends who live in the city are too. But every once is a while, one breaks off from the pack and decides to buy. The reasons are many, but are they the right ones to get them into the market? I say, calculate it! By becoming informed about all the aspects of buying (or staying put, if that makes more sense,) you become an educated (and even enlightened) consumer. Why not try out the Buy vs. Rent Calculator on AOL Real Estate? With just a little bit of info you can find out if you should dive in or stand back. The time is right to make your calculations!

There are plenty of deals in today's housing market. The trade-off is that many may need some fixing up. If you are a first-time homebuyer this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that combines low interest rates with lower housing prices. In fact, according to this USA Today article about first-time buyers economists tracking the beleaguered housing market say these first-time homebuyers represent a critical demographic that could help lead the industry out of its doldrums. Are you a first-time homebuyer? Are you considering buying a distressed home? If you are a seasoned homeowner, what advice would you give to a first-timer thinking about buying a distressed home?

Unless you're handy -- and I know there are a lot of handy folks out there -- buying a home can be scary for a number of reasons. If you've never had to worry about things like boilers and duct work and septic tanks keeping a handle on these things can be an extremely scary proposition. But do not fear, this week's Real Estate Book Club book will help you discover How Your House Works. Aptly subtitled A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home it will help every newbie (or less-than-handy) homeowner learn all they need to know about their home's systems including when to call in a pro. Author Charlie Wing has made it all simple and easy to follow, so really, there is no reason to be afraid.

I got an email from a friend from high school the other day. He knows I am a real-estate blogger and asked for my advice because he and his wife are about to buy their first home. I'll be emailing Matt tonight with a few of my suggestions, but I thought I would get the ball rolling by choosing a great comprehensive guide as the Real Estate Book Club selection this week. The First-Time Homeowner's Handbook is an essential guide for the about-to-be-first-time homeowner. If you've bought your own home, you already know how exciting and scary a time that can be. And with this great guide from the Atlantic Publishing Company you can take your first steps with confidence.

Spring is the season of new beginnings. And what could be better than beginning a new chapter of your life in a new home? Yes, even in this economy, spring is home-buying season. What if you are getting your home ready to sell or if it is already on the market? Do you know how to maximize your homes attributes and show it off in the best possible light? Do you know how to have an effective open house? Though there are many pros and cons to holding an open house, if you do decide it is right for you, then Coldwell Banker has some great tips for buyers and sellers. (And since they are realtors, you can be sure they know their stuff.)

New York City living is different from living in other parts of the country. For every person who dreams of living in the glamorous big city is someone actually living in the city. A large percentage of New York apartments listed as charming (read here: not updated since the Second World War), cozy (read here: as big as a walk-in closet) and conveniently located (read here: over a busy establishment with customers making noise until 4 in the morning) also come at a premium rental price. When a New Yorker decides it is time to buy, we also have choices that other city dwellers do not have. Many New York buildings are co-ops (along with a dose of condos.) Do you know the difference? I was a bit confused and so I did a little investigating. Here's a nice summary of the difference between the two from Motley Fool. Co-op or condo, which would you choose?

I always look to the experts when it comes to all things financial. I am not an expert, but I want to hear what those in the know have to say. It gives me a full view of things so I can make an informed decision. (And yes, I also listen to my gut.) So when I was interested in finding financial information about refinancing home mortgages, who better to look to than the The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants? Their site, 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, has got it all. Their library, tools and FAQs on home ownership is exhaustive – and completely free. After I read about refinancing mortgages, I found out about renters insurance and qualifying for a mortgage in a tough economy. Now, even though I don't have a degree in finance, I soon felt like I knew what's what from those who do.

If you are about to own your own home (or are in the planning stages) you should be thinking about homeowner's insurance. Homeowner's insurance not only covers the loss of your home, its contents, and other personal items it will also cover liability for accidents that may happen at home. If you are like me, you probably don't know where to begin. Now I've done some research and I think the best place to start is the The Federal Citizen's Information Center . They are a government clearinghouse for all sorts of useful information. Their 12 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs gives you the ways to cut costs, but also links to information on a state-by-state basis. It's the perfect jumping off point that will protect you from any kind of landing, slip, or disaster.

I want to get the ball rolling on buying my first place even though I am not exactly sure where it will be. I know that the first step is getting pre-approved, so I started my search online to find out how to. I quickly discovered that a first-time homebuyer can be pre-approved or pre-qualified. Since I wasn't sure which I needed or which was more important (or ok, the difference between the two) I started reading Mortgage Pre-Approval versus Mortgage Pre-Qualification at Realty Times. I learned a lot and think you will too if you are starting the process of buying your first place. So get your financial information together and get yourself to a mortgage lender. Am I ready to be pre-approved or pre-qualified? I think so.