When someone wants to buy a house or property, they often have to show the seller that they're serious about buying it. One way to do that is by giving the seller some money upfront. This money is called "earnest money."

Here's how it works:

The buyer ...

If you’re planning to buy a home, an inspection is an important step in the process. It assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. It’s also a different step in the process from an appraisal, which is a professional evaluation of the market value of the home ...