Buyers: Having trouble finding a lot of houses you want to go see? You are not alone. Though spring is traditionally a busier season for real estate sales, there appears to be a dearth of homes on offer when buyers confront their local MLS offerings. Indeed, nationally, figures for April of 2012 suggest that inventory is over 20% lower than it was in April of 2011.

Sellers understandably get nervous when their buyers need an extension on the closing date of an escrow. They may wonder if the buyers are actually qualified, or if something is going wrong. They may even be tempted to pull the deal and put their homes back on the market.

I love books. I love reading them. I love collecting them. Actually, I have a book-collecting problem. Even though my bookshelves are maxed-out, I recently bought five more books (I couldn't resist!). So I'm always on the hunt for stylish ways to display and store them.

Changing around your book storage solution is an easy and satisfying way to quickly freshen up your space. You arrange by the books by color, style your bookshelf with curated objects, or build an awesome bookshelf that makes a statement in itself!

Like it or not, securing your home loan is an essential part of the home buying process – it’s even more important in a tough real estate market where lending criteria is tight and inventory is spare. When you find that home you adore, you want to be able to make an offer fast. And part of a successful offer is your money being where your mouth is.

This is where mortgage prequalification and preapproval come in. First, let’s look at what each has to offer as well as how you obtain it.