Category Archives: Buying A House

3 Easy Steps to Buy a House on Long Island

3 Easy Steps to Buy a House on Long Island

When it’s time to buy a house — on Long Island, or anywhere — you should definitely start the process by doing your own research into what is on the market, what interest rates are, and what your budget is.  After you do some research on your own, you should contact a broker to help you find your home and an attorney to represent you in negotiating your contract and closing the sale.  

Step 1:  Do your own research on the Process of Buying a Home

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides tips that will assist you in finding your house, determining your budget and how to finance your home.  Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides tips on:

a.    how to assess your ability to purchase a new home

b.    how to search for a new home

c.    how to obtain financing to buy your home, and

d.    the many ways the federal government can help you purchase your home.

Step 2:      Contact a Real Estate Broker

Once you have done your research, you know what you’re looking for, and you know what your budget is, you should contact a real estate agent to help you find your house.  A real estate agent has the tools and training that will make the process of finding your home more efficient.  The real estate agent will do most of the leg work for you, will advise you of open houses you should go to, and will make appointments for you to go see the houses you are interested in.  Once you have found the home you like, your real estate agent will assist you in the bidding and negotiating process. Remember: the seller pays the broker fee.  So, this is essentially a free service for you.

Step 3: Contact a Real Estate Attorney

Now that you found your home and have negotiated the purchase price, it’s time to contact your Real Estate Attorney.  He/she will memorialize your sale agreement in a Contract and will represent you in closing the deal.

Buying your home can be one of the most exciting experiences of your lifetime.  To make it as smooth of an experience as possible, I highly recommend first doing the research to figure out what you want and what you can afford, and then retaining experienced professionals i.e.: a broker and an attorney.  Congratulations and good luck!

When it’s time to buy a house — on Long Island, or anywhere — you should definitely start the process by doing your own research into what is on the market, what interest rates are, and what your budget is. After you do some research on your own, you should contact a broker to help you find your home and an attorney to represent you in negotiating your contract and closing the sale.

Step 1: Do your own research on the Process of Buying a Home

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides tips that will assist you in finding your house, determining your budget and how to finance your home. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides tips on:

a. how to assess your ability to purchase a new home

b. how to search for a new home

c. how to obtain financing to buy your home, and

d. the many ways the federal government can help you purchase your home.

Step 2: Contact a Real Estate Broker

Once you have done your research, you know what you’re looking for, and you know what your budget is, you should contact a real estate agent to help you find your house. A real estate agent has the tools and training that will make the process of finding your home more efficient. The real estate agent will do most of the leg work for you, will advise you of open houses you should go to, and will make appointments for you to go see the houses you are interested in. Once you have found the home you like, your real estate agent will assist you in the bidding and negotiating process. Remember: the seller pays the broker fee. So, this is essentially a free service for you.

Step 3: Contact a Real Estate Attorney

Now that you found your home and have negotiated the purchase price, it’s time to contact your Real Estate Attorney. He/she will memorialize your sale agreement in a Contract and will represent you in closing the deal.

Buying your home can be one of the most exciting experiences of your lifetime. To make it as smooth of an experience as possible, I highly recommend first doing the research to figure out what you want and what you can afford, and then retaining experienced professionals i.e.: a broker and an attorney. Congratulations and good luck!

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Peter T. Roach is a New York collection lawyer, who enforces creditors’ rights throughout the state of New York. To receive expert advice on collecting debt, visit http://www.roachlawfirm.com or call Peter T. Roach & Associates, P.C. at 1-800-824-0284.

Find More Buying A House Articles

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.

A few buying a house products I can recommend:

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.
Get Detailed Diagrams For Displaying Your Collectible Houses. It Is Called Displays By NUmber.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.

How To Buy Foreclosures-2007 Edition!
Flip houses by assigning and fixing. How to step-by-step manual for beginner investors which also provides information for buying bank foreclosures and making money from home in distressed properties with little to No Money Down in this 2007 Edition!

First Time Home Buyer Programs

How To Buy Foreclosures-2007 Edition!

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.
Get Detailed Diagrams For Displaying Your Collectible Houses. It Is Called Displays By NUmber.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Displaying Your Collectible Houses.

How To Buy Foreclosures-2007 Edition!
Flip houses by assigning and fixing. How to step-by-step manual for beginner investors which also provides information for buying bank foreclosures and making money from home in distressed properties with little to No Money Down in this 2007 Edition!

First Time Home Buyer Programs

How To Buy Foreclosures-2007 Edition!

Waiting to Buy a House?

Waiting to Buy a House?

Property prices fell by just 0.4% in November 2008 compared to 1.3% in October which makes an annual fall of 13.9%.  Having waited for one year you have saved thousands of pounds.  If you wait you could save yourself thousands more, possibly…or could you then miss out?  Is the small fall a sign that the property market is beginning to bottom out?

The factors for a property price are simple: Supply +  Demand + Mortgage

So let’s look at all of them in turn:

Supply: At the moment, there is plenty of supply.  Houses are staying on the market for months. New developments are particularly in supply as possible new sellers are staying out of the market where possible.

Demand: There is not much demand because property prices are falling.  A recession is almost here and unemployment is going to rise.  Moving and buying property is expensive.

Mortgage:  This is the giant and the reason why property prices have risen so much in recent years and subsequently fallen.  To secure a mortgage banks need to lend to each other.  As banks have massively shrunk their lending, mortgages are now much harder to secure – mortgages are being approved at less that half of last year’s level.  Without a mortgage most people can’t buy a house.  Until this changes the lack of mortgages available and being approved will continue to feed the low demand which will keep property prices down, and with a recession, higher unemployment and more repossessions, prices are likely to keep falling. 

Affordability has of course improved which will encourage some new buyers to look at the market.  Many are still waiting to see how much further prices will fall.

However, it is worth looking at property and making preparations.  You need to be ready.  As soon as banks do start lending (and this may be forced on them by the government), prices will level for a while and then gradually start to climb.  Looking at property also helps you to decide exactly what you want.  And if you find your perfect home you may want to buy now rather than risk losing it.  Remember if you want to buy now or buy soon, make a low offer.

If you are thinking of buying property you need to prepare:

Your finances need to be in order.  What deposit do you expect to have?

How much do you want to spend on a mortgage?  What mortgage can you get? Speak to a mortgage adviser or look online.  How much do you want to spend on making your house your home?  Be realistic – moving house and owning a home can be expensive.

Your employment needs to be secure.  The economy is shrinking, and huge companies are failing.  How safe is your job?  What would you do if you lost your job?  Do you have savings to fall back on?  If not, you may want to consider keeping some of your deposit as an emergency fund.

Finally, look at property, revisit your figures and wish list and revise all preparations.  You may only buy in a year’s time but you may buy in 3 months time.  The key is to keep researching and be prepared for your perfect – and well-priced – property.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Susy Copus writes about all aspects of home moving, properties for sale, estate agent directories and house prices for the UK Property Search Engine, Wheres My Property. Susy also writes for Renovate Alerts who specialise in finding property to renovate and Property Money Maker.

More Buying A House Articles

Waiting to Buy a House?

Waiting to Buy a House?

Property prices fell by just 0.4% in November 2008 compared to 1.3% in October which makes an annual fall of 13.9%.  Having waited for one year you have saved thousands of pounds.  If you wait you could save yourself thousands more, possibly…or could you then miss out?  Is the small fall a sign that the property market is beginning to bottom out?

The factors for a property price are simple: Supply +  Demand + Mortgage

So let’s look at all of them in turn:

Supply: At the moment, there is plenty of supply.  Houses are staying on the market for months. New developments are particularly in supply as possible new sellers are staying out of the market where possible.

Demand: There is not much demand because property prices are falling.  A recession is almost here and unemployment is going to rise.  Moving and buying property is expensive.

Mortgage:  This is the giant and the reason why property prices have risen so much in recent years and subsequently fallen.  To secure a mortgage banks need to lend to each other.  As banks have massively shrunk their lending, mortgages are now much harder to secure – mortgages are being approved at less that half of last year’s level.  Without a mortgage most people can’t buy a house.  Until this changes the lack of mortgages available and being approved will continue to feed the low demand which will keep property prices down, and with a recession, higher unemployment and more repossessions, prices are likely to keep falling. 

Affordability has of course improved which will encourage some new buyers to look at the market.  Many are still waiting to see how much further prices will fall.

However, it is worth looking at property and making preparations.  You need to be ready.  As soon as banks do start lending (and this may be forced on them by the government), prices will level for a while and then gradually start to climb.  Looking at property also helps you to decide exactly what you want.  And if you find your perfect home you may want to buy now rather than risk losing it.  Remember if you want to buy now or buy soon, make a low offer.

If you are thinking of buying property you need to prepare:

Your finances need to be in order.  What deposit do you expect to have?

How much do you want to spend on a mortgage?  What mortgage can you get? Speak to a mortgage adviser or look online.  How much do you want to spend on making your house your home?  Be realistic – moving house and owning a home can be expensive.

Your employment needs to be secure.  The economy is shrinking, and huge companies are failing.  How safe is your job?  What would you do if you lost your job?  Do you have savings to fall back on?  If not, you may want to consider keeping some of your deposit as an emergency fund.

Finally, look at property, revisit your figures and wish list and revise all preparations.  You may only buy in a year’s time but you may buy in 3 months time.  The key is to keep researching and be prepared for your perfect – and well-priced – property.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Susy Copus writes about all aspects of home moving, properties for sale, estate agent directories and house prices for the UK Property Search Engine, Wheres My Property. Susy also writes for Renovate Alerts who specialise in finding property to renovate and Property Money Maker.

Related Buying A House Articles

Waiting to Buy a House?

Waiting to Buy a House?

Property prices fell by just 0.4% in November 2008 compared to 1.3% in October which makes an annual fall of 13.9%.  Having waited for one year you have saved thousands of pounds.  If you wait you could save yourself thousands more, possibly…or could you then miss out?  Is the small fall a sign that the property market is beginning to bottom out?

The factors for a property price are simple: Supply +  Demand + Mortgage

So let’s look at all of them in turn:

Supply: At the moment, there is plenty of supply.  Houses are staying on the market for months. New developments are particularly in supply as possible new sellers are staying out of the market where possible.

Demand: There is not much demand because property prices are falling.  A recession is almost here and unemployment is going to rise.  Moving and buying property is expensive.

Mortgage:  This is the giant and the reason why property prices have risen so much in recent years and subsequently fallen.  To secure a mortgage banks need to lend to each other.  As banks have massively shrunk their lending, mortgages are now much harder to secure – mortgages are being approved at less that half of last year’s level.  Without a mortgage most people can’t buy a house.  Until this changes the lack of mortgages available and being approved will continue to feed the low demand which will keep property prices down, and with a recession, higher unemployment and more repossessions, prices are likely to keep falling. 

Affordability has of course improved which will encourage some new buyers to look at the market.  Many are still waiting to see how much further prices will fall.

However, it is worth looking at property and making preparations.  You need to be ready.  As soon as banks do start lending (and this may be forced on them by the government), prices will level for a while and then gradually start to climb.  Looking at property also helps you to decide exactly what you want.  And if you find your perfect home you may want to buy now rather than risk losing it.  Remember if you want to buy now or buy soon, make a low offer.

If you are thinking of buying property you need to prepare:

Your finances need to be in order.  What deposit do you expect to have?

How much do you want to spend on a mortgage?  What mortgage can you get? Speak to a mortgage adviser or look online.  How much do you want to spend on making your house your home?  Be realistic – moving house and owning a home can be expensive.

Your employment needs to be secure.  The economy is shrinking, and huge companies are failing.  How safe is your job?  What would you do if you lost your job?  Do you have savings to fall back on?  If not, you may want to consider keeping some of your deposit as an emergency fund.

Finally, look at property, revisit your figures and wish list and revise all preparations.  You may only buy in a year’s time but you may buy in 3 months time.  The key is to keep researching and be prepared for your perfect – and well-priced – property.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Susy Copus writes about all aspects of home moving, properties for sale, estate agent directories and house prices for the UK Property Search Engine, Wheres My Property. Susy also writes for Renovate Alerts who specialise in finding property to renovate and Property Money Maker.

Waiting to Buy a House?

Waiting to Buy a House?

Property prices fell by just 0.4% in November 2008 compared to 1.3% in October which makes an annual fall of 13.9%.  Having waited for one year you have saved thousands of pounds.  If you wait you could save yourself thousands more, possibly…or could you then miss out?  Is the small fall a sign that the property market is beginning to bottom out?

The factors for a property price are simple: Supply +  Demand + Mortgage

So let’s look at all of them in turn:

Supply: At the moment, there is plenty of supply.  Houses are staying on the market for months. New developments are particularly in supply as possible new sellers are staying out of the market where possible.

Demand: There is not much demand because property prices are falling.  A recession is almost here and unemployment is going to rise.  Moving and buying property is expensive.

Mortgage:  This is the giant and the reason why property prices have risen so much in recent years and subsequently fallen.  To secure a mortgage banks need to lend to each other.  As banks have massively shrunk their lending, mortgages are now much harder to secure – mortgages are being approved at less that half of last year’s level.  Without a mortgage most people can’t buy a house.  Until this changes the lack of mortgages available and being approved will continue to feed the low demand which will keep property prices down, and with a recession, higher unemployment and more repossessions, prices are likely to keep falling. 

Affordability has of course improved which will encourage some new buyers to look at the market.  Many are still waiting to see how much further prices will fall.

However, it is worth looking at property and making preparations.  You need to be ready.  As soon as banks do start lending (and this may be forced on them by the government), prices will level for a while and then gradually start to climb.  Looking at property also helps you to decide exactly what you want.  And if you find your perfect home you may want to buy now rather than risk losing it.  Remember if you want to buy now or buy soon, make a low offer.

If you are thinking of buying property you need to prepare:

Your finances need to be in order.  What deposit do you expect to have?

How much do you want to spend on a mortgage?  What mortgage can you get? Speak to a mortgage adviser or look online.  How much do you want to spend on making your house your home?  Be realistic – moving house and owning a home can be expensive.

Your employment needs to be secure.  The economy is shrinking, and huge companies are failing.  How safe is your job?  What would you do if you lost your job?  Do you have savings to fall back on?  If not, you may want to consider keeping some of your deposit as an emergency fund.

Finally, look at property, revisit your figures and wish list and revise all preparations.  You may only buy in a year’s time but you may buy in 3 months time.  The key is to keep researching and be prepared for your perfect – and well-priced – property.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Susy Copus writes about all aspects of home moving, properties for sale, estate agent directories and house prices for the UK Property Search Engine, Wheres My Property. Susy also writes for Renovate Alerts who specialise in finding property to renovate and Property Money Maker.

Find More Buying A House Articles

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Buying a home in California for the first time can be overwhelming for many first-time buyers. Very few homebuyers know where and how to begin the search to find a suitable one. You, as a first buyer, must know certain facts before buying a house in CA.

1. Budgeting-Budgeting for a CA home is the first most important step. There is no point wasting time and energy in house hunting before you know what you can afford. Therefore, the first step is to assess your finances.

2. Get pre-qualified for loan-Banks, mortgage lenders finance loans and mortgage brokers process them. Fill-up an application with all documents, and see how much you will get as loan and what is the processing cost. Compare and bargain between different mortgage brokers.

3. Consult your lender, if you have a bad credit-Your lender is able to advise you, whether your credit history will prevent you from qualifying for a loan or not and what are the alternatives.

4. Different mortgage types-With so many options available for CA mortgage loan types, it is important to determine if you are a risk taker or prefer more stability in financial dealings.

5. Down payment-It varies with the type of loan you are taking. Many down payment programs exist in CA. Consult your lender for assistance.

6. Closing costs-It varies from transaction to transaction, from area to area. These are the charges for services related to the closing of your real estate transaction. These include escrow fees, property tax, homeowners insurance, loan originating fees, title policy insurance etc. You can get a loan for financing the closing costs.

7. Mortgage interest rate-As you start shopping for a home loan, CA mortgage interest rates will become an important factor in your new home’s affordability. If rates are high, it is wise to take an adjustable rate of interest, since subsequent rate drops will reduce your monthly payments. If rate of interest is low, take a fixed rate to protect yourself against the possibility of rising.

8. Special programs for low/moderate income homebuyers-These loans are available through private lenders, as well as local and state housing agencies in CA.

9. Government loans-Apart from conventional loans, this includes Federal Housing Administration (FHA) fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans and Veterans Administration (VA) fixed rate mortgage loan.

10. Points-A point is a loan origination fee or commission. Some lenders charge lower interest rate with high points. Compare between various lenders while shopping home.

Before you make your mind to buy a house in CA, go with these points in detail to avoid inconveniences later.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Richard H. Brazil, Jr. wears many hats; Broker, Agent, Businessman, Mentor… Inventor. Being a part of the Real Estate Industry for 20 years, Brazil has seen technology evolve and grow exponentially over the years. In April 2007 he filed a patent, and founded the American Agent Online Corporation a breakthrough technology that enables customers locate and chat with real estate agents LIVE in Real Time.Click here to check out.

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Buying a home in California for the first time can be overwhelming for many first-time buyers. Very few homebuyers know where and how to begin the search to find a suitable one. You, as a first buyer, must know certain facts before buying a house in CA.

1. Budgeting-Budgeting for a CA home is the first most important step. There is no point wasting time and energy in house hunting before you know what you can afford. Therefore, the first step is to assess your finances.

2. Get pre-qualified for loan-Banks, mortgage lenders finance loans and mortgage brokers process them. Fill-up an application with all documents, and see how much you will get as loan and what is the processing cost. Compare and bargain between different mortgage brokers.

3. Consult your lender, if you have a bad credit-Your lender is able to advise you, whether your credit history will prevent you from qualifying for a loan or not and what are the alternatives.

4. Different mortgage types-With so many options available for CA mortgage loan types, it is important to determine if you are a risk taker or prefer more stability in financial dealings.

5. Down payment-It varies with the type of loan you are taking. Many down payment programs exist in CA. Consult your lender for assistance.

6. Closing costs-It varies from transaction to transaction, from area to area. These are the charges for services related to the closing of your real estate transaction. These include escrow fees, property tax, homeowners insurance, loan originating fees, title policy insurance etc. You can get a loan for financing the closing costs.

7. Mortgage interest rate-As you start shopping for a home loan, CA mortgage interest rates will become an important factor in your new home’s affordability. If rates are high, it is wise to take an adjustable rate of interest, since subsequent rate drops will reduce your monthly payments. If rate of interest is low, take a fixed rate to protect yourself against the possibility of rising.

8. Special programs for low/moderate income homebuyers-These loans are available through private lenders, as well as local and state housing agencies in CA.

9. Government loans-Apart from conventional loans, this includes Federal Housing Administration (FHA) fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans and Veterans Administration (VA) fixed rate mortgage loan.

10. Points-A point is a loan origination fee or commission. Some lenders charge lower interest rate with high points. Compare between various lenders while shopping home.

Before you make your mind to buy a house in CA, go with these points in detail to avoid inconveniences later.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Richard H. Brazil, Jr. wears many hats; Broker, Agent, Businessman, Mentor… Inventor. Being a part of the Real Estate Industry for 20 years, Brazil has seen technology evolve and grow exponentially over the years. In April 2007 he filed a patent, and founded the American Agent Online Corporation a breakthrough technology that enables customers locate and chat with real estate agents LIVE in Real Time.Click here to check out.

Find More Buying A House Articles

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Know These: Before Buying a House in California

Buying a home in California for the first time can be overwhelming for many first-time buyers. Very few homebuyers know where and how to begin the search to find a suitable one. You, as a first buyer, must know certain facts before buying a house in CA.

1. Budgeting-Budgeting for a CA home is the first most important step. There is no point wasting time and energy in house hunting before you know what you can afford. Therefore, the first step is to assess your finances.

2. Get pre-qualified for loan-Banks, mortgage lenders finance loans and mortgage brokers process them. Fill-up an application with all documents, and see how much you will get as loan and what is the processing cost. Compare and bargain between different mortgage brokers.

3. Consult your lender, if you have a bad credit-Your lender is able to advise you, whether your credit history will prevent you from qualifying for a loan or not and what are the alternatives.

4. Different mortgage types-With so many options available for CA mortgage loan types, it is important to determine if you are a risk taker or prefer more stability in financial dealings.

5. Down payment-It varies with the type of loan you are taking. Many down payment programs exist in CA. Consult your lender for assistance.

6. Closing costs-It varies from transaction to transaction, from area to area. These are the charges for services related to the closing of your real estate transaction. These include escrow fees, property tax, homeowners insurance, loan originating fees, title policy insurance etc. You can get a loan for financing the closing costs.

7. Mortgage interest rate-As you start shopping for a home loan, CA mortgage interest rates will become an important factor in your new home’s affordability. If rates are high, it is wise to take an adjustable rate of interest, since subsequent rate drops will reduce your monthly payments. If rate of interest is low, take a fixed rate to protect yourself against the possibility of rising.

8. Special programs for low/moderate income homebuyers-These loans are available through private lenders, as well as local and state housing agencies in CA.

9. Government loans-Apart from conventional loans, this includes Federal Housing Administration (FHA) fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans and Veterans Administration (VA) fixed rate mortgage loan.

10. Points-A point is a loan origination fee or commission. Some lenders charge lower interest rate with high points. Compare between various lenders while shopping home.

Before you make your mind to buy a house in CA, go with these points in detail to avoid inconveniences later.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Richard H. Brazil, Jr. wears many hats; Broker, Agent, Businessman, Mentor… Inventor. Being a part of the Real Estate Industry for 20 years, Brazil has seen technology evolve and grow exponentially over the years. In April 2007 he filed a patent, and founded the American Agent Online Corporation a breakthrough technology that enables customers locate and chat with real estate agents LIVE in Real Time.Click here to check out.

More Buying A House Articles