DIY Life

Ah, Spring: the time of year when flowers bloom, bunnies hop, and the sound of dozens of "For Sale" signs being hammered into the ground echoes throughout every neighborhood. While you can go house-hunting at any time of year, Spring is the season traditionally associated with buying or selling a house.

But home purchasing is full of potential pitfalls: what should you look for? How do you protect yourself and your family from shady sellers and predatory lenders? Who's the best inspector for the job? Do you even like the neighborhood? And what does a Realtor mean when they say "cozy," anyway?

All these questions (except maybe that last one), and many more, are addressed in a fantastic Ask Metafilter thread: Chunks of homebuying wisdom from The Hive Mind. Dozens of people weighed in with what they know -- and what they wish they had known -- about buying a house for the first time. It's invaluable reading for anyone who is in the market for a new residence, or just thinking about it.

[via Not Martha, a little while ago.]

No, that headline is not some pitch form a recent junk email. It's something many of us need to consider when researching that new mortgage, which is increasingly being done online. If you're into re-financing your existing mortgage or buying a new home and need a new loan, do you know the pitfalls to look out for while performing that rigorous online search?

There are so many mortgage lenders (and sub-lenders and so on) that it can be quite overwhelming. The safety of your private information is the largest concern here, since you volunteer much of that information when you start filling out a mortgage application. If you choose Washington Mutual or GMAC, those are trustworthy mortgage lenders. Bob's Mortgage, however, should be a bit more scrutinized.

The DIY Network suggests the below tips when considering an online mortgage, and all of the below should be right at the top of your list as well. It's weird that surrendering some sensitive personal information is better done on the phone (with a human) than online (automated). That's reality, though. The protection of your personal information is one of life's little treasures, but it takes vigilant action, always.

• Look to see if the mortgage company you are getting ready to hire has a physical address listed. (Often, this information is found on a page called "Contact Us" or on the "Home" page)
• Look for a telephone number and call to speak to a real person
• Make sure you are comfortable with the loan consultant you will be working with on your online application
• Under no circumstances give out your Social Security Number in an online form.
• Protect information used in identity theft by only giving it out in person or via telephone