Would you buy a house if it was located on 100 Year Party Court? How about Poverty Lane? I live on Summit Avenue—a distinctly ordinary address—so I never gave much thought to street names until user powermuffin posed a question about wacky road names on the GardenWeb home decorating forum. Here are a few of the streets that GardenWeb users wouldn't want to live on:

"I almost bought a house several years ago in a development called Thornbridge. Most streets in the subdivision were Thorn-something-or-another: Thornberry, Thornway, Thornhill, Thorndyke, Thornbrook... The thought of all those thorns made me feel a bit prickly. (I was actually glad that my offer wasn't accepted on that particular house.)" —auntjen

"And another [street] I could never live on simply because I find the name so horribly pretentious: Winners' Circle." —sweeby

"We nearly bought a house on 'Grande Chateau Lane' [that] was neither grand nor a Chateau." —trk65

"I truly believe I could not buy a house on Hunky Dory Lane." —leahcate

And a couple where it would almost be worth it to buy the house just for the address:

"If a Queen Anne [house] I saw on Magic Circle hadn't been far too big and too run-down for our limited capabilities we would have snatched it up just for the address." —johnmari

"In another subdivision I loved the street names because they were horses. Quarter Horse Lane, Arabian Way, Pinto Trail, etc. I desperately wanted to have an address of Arabian Way but alas, none of the houses were appealing."—happyintexas

Check out more unusual street names on GardenWeb and tell me some of the funny names for roads in your area in the comments

photo: n. clayton/getty images

Buying a home is a great investment. It's also a big step for couples whether they're married or planning to live together. It can often put a strain on the relationship, especially if both partners are contributing to the costs of the home but aren't sharing equally in the investment. If you're contributing to the down payment or mortgage payment, make sure your name is on the deed, even if it means paying a slightly higher rate. A slightly higher payment now could prevent some big problems down the road, advises CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. Watch the video to learn why.

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 Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

Should I add my name to our home's deed?

Shopping for a mortgage can be confusing. There are so many different types and terms that you need to know. For example, some banks offer pre-qualification while others offer pre-approval and even others offer both. So which should you choose? CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich explains the difference and why getting pre-approved can move you to the front of the line when you're looking for a new home.

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 Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

I keep hearing that real estate is a buyers market right now. Prices and mortgage rates are low, making it a great time to buy. Before you can take advantage of these great rates, though, you'll need a sizable down payment and great credit. But which of these is more important to lenders? Should you save money towards a larger down payment or use your savings to pay down your debt and thereby improve your credit score? Borrowers looking for the best rates should have a credit credit score of at least 760, advises CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. Watch this video to see Carmen explain why.

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 Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

Are you a first time homebuyer who feels like you need to buy a home now or you might miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of tax credits and low-interest loans? Before you rush into a purchase that you can't afford, watch this video for advice from Carmen Wong Ulrich and find out if you're financially ready to take the plunge.

If you have a financial question you'd like Carmen to tackle, post it here in the comments or email us directly at ivcommunity@mail.ivillage.com

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Watch Carmen Wong Ulrich's 'On The Money' Weeknights at 10PM ET on CNBC! Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

By many accounts, now is a great time to be a first-time home buyer. Prices are lower than they have been in years and, like one iVillager, you might find a great deal on a house or condo. But, as Carmen Wong Ulrich explains in this video, if you don't have the three Cs—credit, collateral and capacity to pay—buying a house might not be the best financial move for you.

If you have a financial question you'd like Carmen to tackle, post it here in the comments or email us directly at ivcommunity@mail.ivillage.com

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Watch Carmen Wong Ulrich's 'On The Money' Weeknights at 10PM ET on CNBC! Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

Moving into your own place can be scary, especially if you've never been on your own before. There are so many new responsibilities that come with your own apartment or home and it's common to have lots questions. Can you afford your own place? Should you rent or buy? Carmen Wong Ulrich answers these questions for an iVillager who's nervous about being on her own for the first time.

If you have a financial question you'd like Carmen to tackle, post it here in the comments or email us directly at ivcommunity@mail.ivillage.com

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Watch Carmen Wong Ulrich's 'On The Money' Weeknights at 10PM ET on CNBC! Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.

Here’s an interesting new book that came across my desk today. While I’m a long way from retirement, I confess that I periodically daydream about what it would be like not to have to get up every morning and rush off to work. In Nextville: Amazing Places to Live for the Rest of Your Life, real estate expert Barbara Corcoran give her advice for how to find the right community for your retirement and suggestions of some of the places that might fit your future lifestyle whether you’re looking to live green or pursue your passion.

So where does Barbara suggest are the up-and-coming spots for the newly retired? Here are a few.

• Eugene, OR
• Burlington, VT
• Auburn-Opelika, AL
• Austin, TX
• Tempe, AZ
• Chicago, IL

Check out the book to find out why and for more great places to retire.

Buying or selling a house is really stressful. For sellers, it seems like you've done everything you can to get your house ready to sell, but you wait and wait for offers and then when one does come it's much lower than your asking price. So you're left asking yourself what else can you do? Or if you're a buyer, you worry whether you're getting a good value or choosing the best house.

So what are the 25 biggest real estate mistakes? Here's a sneak peak at HGTV's list:

1. Failing to showcase your home and make small cosmetic changes
2. Setting too high of a sale price
3. Buying what you want, not what you need
4. Overlooking the extra and hidden costs
5. Buying a home without a professional inspection
6. Falling in love with the first property you see
7. Skipping the loan pre-approval
8. Doing major renovations/remodeling before selling
9. Not being pro-active at closing
10. Visiting the house only once
11. Not setting a realistic budget
12. Buying the most expensive home on the block
13. Not hiring an agent
14. Not knowing your agent
15. Trusting everything a real estate advertisement says
16. Buying with actually seeing the property
17. Not thinking about resale
18. Failing to market your home in dfiferent ways
19. Looking at the real estate market as the stock market
20. Waiting until spring to sell your house
21. Trying to make the "hard sell" while showing
22. Losing money with auctions
23. Not researching the neighborhood
24. Not providing easy access for showings
25. Buying the house for its decor