Buying A House

How to Buy a House – Avoid This Mistake by Asking 9 Important Questions While Previewing Homes

How to Buy a House – Avoid This Mistake by Asking 9 Important Questions While Previewing Homes

The secret to buying a house is knowing how to prevent this big mistake. Instead of relying on feelings, you should preview all homes using a home buyer checklist.

Everybody knows that buying a house is an emotional decision and why shouldn’t it be? Experienced and first time home buyers alike can feel both elated and discouraged during the home buying process.

Admittedly, one day a home buyer may feel depressed and anxious wondering if they will ever find the right house, at the right price, in the right location.

Another day they may suddenly feel exhilarated discovering the house of their dreams and make a sudden decision without adequately inspecting their future home.

Because buying a house can certainly be emotional it is important that a buyer be armed with a practical checklist. Making decisions based on intuition alone can cause a buyer to stray off course. After all, being prepared before you preview all homes with your Realtor will help keep your search for the perfect house on track.

Have you considered what an inspection checklist should cover?

Begin your home buyer checklist by writing down the minimum requirements you expect in a new home. You can also add some of the wish list items you would like to have but are not absolute necessities.

After listing your basic necessities and your wish list items, ask yourself the following questions. By asking these questions you can more easily zero in on whether a certain house meets your expectations.

1. Which obvious items require repair or even expensive updating? Write down concerns and talk them over with your real estate agent.

2. Will the size of the house be sufficient in the years to come also? For example, if you are planning on having children will there be enough space. Another example could be a parent or family member living with you in the future. Try to anticipate your future needs.

3. Are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms sufficient? Be sure you think about other uses for bedrooms such as a home office. If you intend to start a home based business or your employer allows you to work from home you may need that extra bedroom.

4. Is this house structurally sound? Be on the look out for red flags indicating physical problems. Doors not shutting well, windows that don’t slide open or standing water around the foundation are examples. It is recommended for every home buyer to shop safe and buy smart by hiring a home inspector.

5. Are the plumbing, heating and electrical systems in working order? As you walk through each house take note of any signs of leaky faucets, plumbing leaks under sinks or in laundry facilities. Turn on overhead lights and try plugging in a small appliance. Find out if heating and air conditioning systems are working properly.

6. Ask what appliances are included with the house and check to see if all are in working order.

7. Is the yard big enough? Or perhaps you prefer no yard at all? Whatever your intention regarding yard size be sure you consider whether it is suitable.

8. Do the dimensions of the rooms accommodate your furniture? If the house is smaller, will you need to store or sell some of your current furnishings? If the rooms are larger, you may have additional expenses in order to furnish them adequately. Jot down your thoughts.

9. Will there be enough storage space? Take note of cabinet space, number of closets, and other additional areas that can be used for storage. Also be sure to discuss lack of storage and how you will manage if you buy this home.

Always bring along these three things, a tape measure, flash light, and note pad.

For ease of comparison, keep an individual home buyer checklist for each house you walk through and create a method to score each item on the list. You may give certain items higher values than others or you can give them all an equal value. Regardless, be consistent so that after you have visited several houses you can go back and analyze the scores.

Use your home buyer checklist to discuss any concerns you have with your Realtor, your greatest ally when buying a house.

Clearly this article has detailed how to avoid a big mistake home buyers make when previewing houses by being prepared with a valuable checklist. Put simply you will accomplish two things. First your Realtor can suggest possible solutions to your concerns. Second your agent will better understand what you are looking for and show you properties that may be more to your liking.

Move at your own speed when buying a house and remember to preview all homes using care and good sense.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Kate Ford at Get Your Best Mortgage Rate is today’s mortgage translator on a crusade to help homeowners save money. For tips on how to get a mortgage and avoiding mistakes while buying a house, visit Kate today.

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Mortgage Finance

Everything You Want To Know About Interest Only Mortgages

In the traditional mortgage loan market, you pay a part of your mortgage, and the monthly interest with each monthly mortgage payment you submit. This was how all mortgages were until now. Some banks have now introduced a new kind of loan to attract more borrowers by keeping the monthly mortgage as low as possible by only paying the interest.

This means that if you choose an interest only option, every month you pay your mortgage, the loan balance stays just the same; it never gets lower. Of course, most lenders will allow you to pay more than the minimum interest payment any time you want, but that defeats the purpose of the loan, which is to keep the monthly payment as low as possible.

There may have been some rationale to this type of loan when property prices were increasing dramatically, since the homeowner would be guaranteed some equity due to the increased home price. The combination of increased equity because of market increases, and the paydown of the principle gave most borrowers some residual value in the home when sold.

However, changes in the real estate market mean that this type of increased value is no longer guaranteed, so any equity has to be built by paying off the principle. There are cases where interest only loans are a good solution. But these cases should only be temporary situations.

Perhaps there is a situation where one partner is not working or only working part time while he completes school. This is a temporary situation, and when the second partner finishes his studies and starts a job, the loan should be changed to interest plus equity or additional payments should be made to lower the mortgage.

Another example would be where the homeowner has income that varies greatly from month to month. An example of this may be someone who performed project work and was only paid at the end of each project. While the project is underway, it is best to keep payments as low as possible, a need the interest only loan could meet, and then when income is realized, higher payments can be made.

In any of these instances, it is dangerous to not increase the payment at some point in so as to bring the principle balance down. As mentioned, with “old fashioned” mortgages, the loan was paid down eventually because part of the monthly mortgage went towards principal, so the owner had some equity even if the value of the home did not go up. If no equity has been paid off, the owner will have to find additional money to pay off the mortgage if home values have not sufficiently improved.

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Mortgage Finance

Open Houses: A Good Way To Sell Your Home?

Holding an open house might help you sell your home, but it is not the most important factor to consider. An open house is usually not the major marketing tool that agents rely on when they are trying to sell property. In fact, most agents no longer consider holding an open house a viable option. Many agents feel that having an open house might get a lead or two, but not potential buyers.

And yet, a number of homeowners and real estate agents continue the traditional practice of open houses, still firm in the belief that it will lure even a few prospective clients. Studies on the effectiveness of open houses have shown that it takes the agent and homeowner at least 65-75 hours of work to hold the opening, before a deal is ever closed. A lot of time, effort, and fuss goes into the preparation for an open house event, and yet some people still choose to go through the process for all sorts of reasons.

But your agent may not be as eager as you are to sell your house, so they won’t make it a priority. They may also have to deal with other listings, and they may not show your property to a prospective buyer because they don’t believe it is suitable for them. Buyers have also been know to change their minds, and most of the time they do it without telling the agent. But some buyers still believe in buying a house on their own, and when they do, it usually happens in an open house. If a buyer doesn’t think the details in the listing are what they’re looking for, they usually won’t take the time to call for an appointment to see the house. Open houses are different. Open houses give people a chance to see a house without having to make a commitment, so people are more likely to view the property.

Homeowners often question if the cost of arranging for an open house – and the time spent on the event – is worth it. And it’s typical for sellers to gripe about their real estate agents, complaining that the agents are using the open house as a vehicle for bringing in new clients, not prospective buyers for the house itself. Sellers also have the very legitimate concern for the safety of their home and possessions during an open house event. They fear that some of their belongings could be stolen during the open house, or that the house may be vandalized at a later date by someone who attended the event. For some homeowners, opening their house to strangers is just a bad idea. Some sellers are only willing to open their house to buyers who have demonstrated a genuine interest in buying, hoping to discourage nosy neighbors from dropping by, and any potential thieves from taking advantage of the situation. The choice is up to you, but remember that sometimes not having an open house is the best thing for both the real estate agent and the homeowner.

Here’s a bit of advice: when the real estate market is hot and houses are selling well, an open house simply isn’t necessary. And if you are posting photos of your house online in hopes of attracting buyers, again, why have an open house?

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Mortgage Finance

How To Sell A House Effectively

If you are searching for a potential buyer of your house, then you should keep in mind some important points before you get involved in such sort of deal. One must learn how to be patient since this kind of business takes time as well as there could be a lot of task to be done. Houses around you might have been sold already but the fact is, before it arrived to that stage, it has also undergone a lot of processes. Buyer of a house doesn’t just take a look at the unit and make negotiations with the owner and own the unit. Owners have to convince and persuade their buyer so that their unit could be sold. That is why one must be aware of the different strategies on how to sell a house so that he can get things done according to right moves.

If you are in search for the right buyer, then you are undertaking a hard task. There are some necessary steps for you to take such as having an advertisement about your unit in the newspaper, real estate magazines, or just depending on your real estate agent to get the best buyer. If you hired a real estate agent for your unit to be sold out, then it means that you also are also considering the payment for its service. Real estate agent would open you more to potential buyers, though. But getting the right amount that both parties want, is not an assurance compared to having it done by your own.

One must do all the processes as well as learn how to deal the legal undertakings if you do not want to hire a real estate agent. There might be some time that you have already expected to be at the peak in closing a deal and suddenly you are being told by the buyer that he’s not going to buy the unit anymore, then this should not stop you from moving on. There are so many good tips out there for you to know on how to sell a house at once without being stressed out. Most probably, all those home owners want to sell out their unit as soon as possible so that they could end up their payments for the mortgage and pay all the bills so that they could also start something new.

Once you have a buyer the next step to do is not that easy because you have to be effective in negotiating. Negotiation plays a significant role as it is only successful negotiation that would make you get your expected and ideal price for your house.

One of the priorities to be done in selling your own property is to know the value of your house. You could do this by just searching on some sites on the net. In this way, you would be spending less than hiring an agent to do this task. Moreover, you could have the option in having cash property buyers and have the quote at once; you just have to fill in some important information on the site. This would provide you an idea on the desired cost that you want. Those reliable cash property buyer would really make it a point to offer cash at once regardless of where your house is exactly located. In this way, you are confident enough that you can get the money and have the best deal in no time. This might also open you the door to be more knowledgeable of how to sell a house.

Do you need answers to your questions like how to sell a house? Let us help you find how to rent to own houses or let your house for sale get sold fast! For more information, click here to contact us www.listingswiz.com.

Mortgage Finance

Houses For Lease By Owner: What Good Does It Give?

It is really one of the basic considerations we have to take into account-that, of owning a house. Our own house could be the best shelter where we seek the best relaxation we want and if we want to entangle from work, people and problems. It is the best comfort zone ever. However, not everyone could afford to have one immediately. There are so many recommended ways to own a house and one of these is houses for lease by owner.

Most of the time, good investors look for houses that are being sold by home owners. It is a great form of investment as they can be sure that people would always want to have a house to stay.

One way of proving to oneself that you are just good enough in life preferences, and then you just have to invest in houses for lease by owner. This kind of investment could give you the best way in earning more at the same time having your own house and sell it. Oftentimes, first time buyers would really prefer that cheap and quality kind of unit.

If you already have your own house, then that could be a good idea if you want to get it rented. Leasing your property would surely allow you to have a good monthly earning from the right people who just stay in your house. This would be a good source for your mortgage payment. This would also give you an assurance that your house will be in good hands since there is someone to take charge of it.

Another way of enjoying some benefits is leasing a house. Those houses for lease by owner most of the time are located in the right place. You also do not have to worry anything by the time you want to move to another house. And that could also be considered as a good thing about it. In addition, the unit would still remain as in good shape because some is taking care of the unit just the same way as a real home owner does.

Certainly, having a house of your own would give you a sense of fulfillment. This is possible on purchasing and in renting a house. Every one wants a special kind of something in life, and one thing is to have pleasure. It is believe that you have the kind of pleasure you want in your own house especially if you are staying in pleasant and peaceful one. But still, it is not easy to get at once basically because of financial reason. Waiting for the right time for you to build your own and taking each step accordingly would always have a good outcome. As soon as you think that things are set properly, then you could do what you wish but since it is still impossible for you to do that, then you can avail of houses for lease by owner.

Do you need answers to your questions like Houses for lease by owner? Let us help you find houses for rent or let your house for sale get sold fast! For more information, click here to contact us www.listingswiz.com.

Mortgage Finance

Mortgage Insurance Quotes Now Easier Than Before

You are about to get your first house and now it is time to get a mortgage insurance quote. You want to insure your mortgage, true?

Definitely. Save yourself a lot of money and protect the loan and get a better deal while you are at it.

Maybe you are close to buying the home but cannot pay the big down payment. Or because you can only put down a small down payment, the interest rate is going to be much bigger than you can handle.

Next move: Purchase mortgage insurance and watch its advantages work for you. The down payment could end up being better and the interest rate could fall before your very eyes. The mortgage broker will be excited because they are now protected on your loan.

For Canadians who are interested in the best quotes, go to www.infoprimes.com Do not let anyone get in the way of you and your dream house.

Go to the site and type out your information. This is a great place because it brings everyone together – big and small companies.

It is especially easy with the mortgage insurance calculator application and the results are immediate – you do not have to wait days for some call center to get back in touch with you. They even give you an option to add life and disability with your mortgage – it is like a one stop shop! This will reduce a lot of frustration stemming from more shopping around and it will consolidate all your payments.

You will be given a list of companies and their prices of what they can offer you. You can see other plans and small company plans – all kinds of policies that fit your needs!

This is easy and you will see that almost 80% of people got a better mortgage insurance quote from infoprimes and saved tens of thousands of dollars on the mortgage insurance during the duration of their loan.

Financially savvy? Great! They will give you how much money you can save on the quote you get if you put your savings toward your mortgage and pay it off sooner.

Shopping is stressful enough going from site to site and provider to provider. At infoprimes, you will receive the most affordable deal, an easier transaction, and match the insurance quote up with your needs.

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Mortgage Finance

More Canadians are Turning to Mortgage Brokers

More Canadians are Turning to Mortgage Brokers

When it comes to mortgage financing, more and more Canadians are choosing to work with a professional mortgage broker. According to a recent study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 23 per cent of mortgages written were arranged through a broker.

Canadians are just catching up with their American neighbors, who are far less likely to simply walk into their home bank for a mortgage. In 2000, almost 70 per cent of all U.S. mortgages were arranged through mortgage brokers.

If we follow the U.S. model – and it seems that we are — then we’re in for a sea of change in the way Canadians manage their most significant personal asset. It makes sense. After all, investment returns aren’t as lucrative as they were five years ago, and investors are seeking out ways to make financial gains through avenues they may have overlooked.

There are some significant benefits to working with an independent mortgage broker. Firstly, let’s compare mortgage expertise: Most banks have one or more representatives who are specifically assigned to assist with mortgages. Their role is to develop mortgage business for the banks. A ontario mortgage broker, on the other hand, is a trained mortgage professional who has met standards for education. The comprehensive training of an independent mortgage broker may exceed the training of their counterparts at the bank. More importantly, the mortgage broker is independent. He or she is not an employee of a lending institution, but has access to rate and option information for a full spectrum of chartered banks and other lending institutions. Their role is to find the best possible mortgage rates and options for you.

Let’s also look at choice: A mortgage broker offers you access to many competitive lenders, each with a range of mortgage options. It would take weeks of research, telephoning and personal visits to recreate the range of features and options that a mortgage broker has at his or her fingertips. Rate information, mortgage options and payment schedules are up-to-the-moment, so you and your broker can make valid comparisons of the options available. The result of all this choice is a mortgage which is customized to meet your needs and to save you money.

Also consider accessibility. Your mortgage broker will be available to you before and after your mortgage closes, which will be good news for those who have spent long hours on hold or in a telephone voice answering loop.

Above all, clients have turned to mortgage brokers for better rates. Access to a broad range of lending institutions is a critical advantage for mortgage shoppers. A quarter-point difference on your mortgage rate can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage. Many mortgage brokers work inside a brokerage organization with sufficient mortgage volumes that they can negotiate the best possible rates for your situation. Canadian homeowners who have experienced the benefits of a mortgage broker are unlikely to ever return to a world in which they simply accept the best posted rate at their local bank.

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The House Team is commited to providing quality information to help people make informed decisions about their mortgage financing needs.


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Mortgage Finance

Obama Is Going To Pay For My Gas And Mortgage!!!

This lady, Peggy Joseph, thinks Barack Obama will pay for her gas, mortgage, and who knows what else.
First Time Home Buyer Programs
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Note: the mortgage lender I spoke with is not necessarily the largest single recipient of federal bailout money, just one of the largest. Also check me out on www.facebook.com and twitter.com
First Time Home Buyer Programs
Video Rating: 4 / 5

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers – Down Payment Assistance – RealEstateMarketingThisWeek.com

realestatemarketingthisweek.com – Interest rates hit bottom, first time home buyers should buy before the prices go back up – Part 1 – We have a special guest back in the studio today. Dan Havey has been a great promoter for Velocity Financial . Dan and I have been working together for about 14 years now. Dan has brought with him some really, really interesting facts and figures for people who are wondering whats happening, wondering if we are at the bottom of the market, wondering how much further we are going to have to go. We are going to talk about lots of different things like that. Hes got some really good information, in my opinion some good stuff, some good solid data to make some good decisions about whether or not you should or should not buy right now. So, Today was the official day that President Obamas Plan was rolled out. It was designed to help some 8 to 9 million homeowners, responsibly homeowners they called them, people who purchased homes at the peak of the real estate market with 20% or more down. The plan is just so darned convoluted, it is very complicated, people are calling wondering whats real, whats not real, whats going to happen. The bottom line is about 19% of all the homes were financed utilizing Fanny Mae or Freddie Mac financing. People, who have Fanny Mae or Freddie Mac loans, these conventional type loans, that put 20% down, that used full documentation, which means tax returns to qualify for the loan, those are the only people that are …
First Time Home Buyer Programs

Visit www.slideshare.net to view and download this special report that highlights programs you may not have heard about. You will find that it IS possible to purchase a home with as little as 0 down. If you are in Minnesota, you can visit www.VentureLoanApp.com to begin to get pre-qualified for a loan or http to find begin an online MLS search to find a new home.
First Time Home Buyer Programs

Housing Grants

Learn How To Sell Your Own House Fast

Learn How To Sell Your Own House Fast
Teaches home owners how to use creative techniques to sell their own houses. High demand information in current housing market.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Learn How To Sell Your Own House Fast

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Top Selling House Training Book – Over 20% Conversion On Targeted Keywords.

First Time Home Buyer Programs

The House Training Guide.

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First Time Home Buyer Programs

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