Find information about buying, selling a home on the Internet

The problematic state of the housing market poses a wide range of challenges not only for individuals selling a home but also buyers looking to score a new home.

Before testing the real-estate waters these days, buyers and sellers alike should have a good understanding about how the housing market works. One place to find valuable real-estate insights is the World Wide Web. Here are a few sites that serve up a range of information for home sellers and buyers:

Bankrate.com: Spotlights nine tips for homebuyers and sellers in a tough real-estate market. www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/9-tips-for-homebuyers-and-sellers-in-2009-1.aspx

Financial Web: Covers both the seller and buyer ends of the real-estate game. www.finweb.com/mortgage/home-sellers-and-buyers-tips-for-both.html

Home Buyer's Information Center: Provides checklists, to-do lists and other important considerations when buying a home. www.ourfamilyplace.com/homebuyer/

National Association of Realtors: Features consumer protection tips, remodeling advice and mortgage contract insights. www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/buy_or_sell.html

RealestateABC.com: Offers a number of insights, including how to sell in a slow market and tips for first-time buyers. realestateabc.com