Lorraine Roberte

Contributing Writer

Lorraine Roberte is a personal finance writer who covers home budgeting, financing, and purchasing. She’s been a freelance writer for over six years and holds a Master of Arts degree in French language and literature from Queens College. Her work has been featured on AAA, GoodRx, Investopedia, The Balance and more. She does the hard work of breaking down complex homebuying and selling topics so current and future homeowners can buy the best home for them. She used Clever Real Estate—the parent company of Anytime Estimate—to sell her house and went from listing to closing in 30 days.

Featured Published Articles

  • Osborne Homes is a California cash home buyer that buys homes as-is, without requiring repairs, showings, or immediate move-out.  Convenience is a big advantage with cash home buyers like Osborne Homes. But most cash buyers pay 70% or less of a property’s after-repair value (ARV). Customer reviews are also mixed. Some customers praised how the…

  • Direct Home Buyers is a nationwide cash home buying company. It buys homes as-is for cash, targeting sellers seeking speed and convenience. Sellers get a fast, hassle-free sale, but likely at a lower price than a traditional sale. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the company has been in business since April 2024. We…

  • Sell to Bobby is a Florida-based cash home buyer that purchases homes as-is for cash. According to its website, it buys houses in any condition and size.  Sell to Bobby’s services may be a great fit for sellers seeking fast cash sales and quick closings. The trade-off for speed and convenience is that you’re likely…

  • Wondering if you need a pre-listing appraisal? Get the full scoop on how they work, how much they cost, when you might need one (or when you can skip it).

  • Bid4Assets is one of the first online real estate auction sites, with tax foreclosures, sheriff’s sales, and federal forfeiture auctions. Its services are best for homebuyers looking for distressed,  tax-defaulted, or non-traditional properties. Even though the company started its site in 1999, there are few online reviews. Of the handful that exist, some reviewers complain…

  • McCurdy Auction is a legitimate, full-service auction firm specializing in real estate sales. It sells various properties in varying conditions, mostly in Kansas. The company is ideal for homeowners who want to sell quickly (within 30 and 60 days), skip negotiations, and avoid common deal-breakers like inspections and financing delays. Its streamlined process can be…