Mlm Leads And Autoresponders Work

Buying and using Home Business MLM Leads Is Serious Business for every home business owner’s I always look for a lead company with a wide range of exclusive mlm leads that are extensive and covers all popular types of mlm leads.

Another thing I look for in some good MLM leads is that they are fresh leads and not sold to many times. The interesting thing about mlm leads is that they are fairly easy to get But the hard part in this hole thing is to find fresh leads to work with. Your personal success rate with MLM leads is dependent on you working them and follow up with them. Using an Auto responder with your MLM Leads will be a big help in helping you build your business auto responders should be used to follow up with your leads. And not be used to make that first contact with your leads. They can work in helping you to generate leads for your business. Or, should I sayHealth Fitness Articles, what I consider to be one of the best ways to use your autoresponder.

You will Need an auto responder account which allows you to import your own leads. The second most important step is to get your own auto responder just buy one and pay in full. With an auto responder doing most of the labor you can be playing golf or what ever you like while your auto responder does the work. Set up an Sequential auto responder and bulk mailer with emails about your company. Using Autoresponders

Will help you grow your business. Its just one tool in the many you can use to help build
Your business. http://www.abettermlmlead.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Moseley Has been working in the mlm, home based business for over 5
years MLM Lead. Go Here MLM LEADNeed A Ton Of Free Traffic To Your WebSite TrafficSwarm

Mortgage Insurance For Your Home

When buying a home, most of us will take out a mortgage to finance our new purchase. The provider of that mortgage, normally a bank or trust company, may require you take out a mortgage insurance policy to guarantee payment of the mortgage.

Should you die with a balance still owing, the bank, which owns the policy, will receive the balance of the payments in one lump sum. In this case, the survivors of the mortgage holder now own the house outright.

This is a group life insurance which you get by simply by ticking a box. However, the downside of this is that you are grouped together with people of varying ages and states of health; in other words, a typical group insurance policy. If you are older and not in great health, this may be the way to go, though you should certainly confirm that you can’t get a better rate. It is very very easy just to agree and tick a box simply on the grounds that it takes no effort to do so. But that little tick can cost you hundreds of dollars more than you need to spend.

By far the majority of buyers should go to a broker who will look after their interests, not the interests of the bank. You need someone experienced to advise you on what you need and then to shop for that particular type of life insurance for you. You then have a list of companies and prices from which to make a choice.

You now have the mortgage insurance for the amount owing on your mortgage, and because you own it, not the bank, your survivors can decide what to do with the capital if you die. They could just continue the payments, pay off some of the capital owing or pay it off completely, their choice!

Doing it this way enables you to consider other reasons to take this mortgage insurance. Perhaps you also have a cottage or second home for which you also need mortgage insurance.

It is important to remember that “mortgage insurance” is term life insuranceArticle Search, purchased for the purpose of paying off the mortgage. It is for this reason only that it is called mortgage insurance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ivon T. Hughes of The Hughes Trustco Group is the author of the Life Insurance Handbook: How To Get The Best & Cheapest Life Insurance available FREE to all new subscribers at http://www.hughestrustco.com.

How To Write Best Articles

I’ve been able to distinguish 3 main categories that people fall into, regarding the subject on writing articles. Allow me to share them with you.

Here we go!

Category #1: The absolute hard way of writing articles.

Let me pick a topic for an article: “Brest Cancer.” This subject is a very serious matter and one that will make many people read and even publish.

But I have absolutely no knowledge about it or experience in any shape or form. Actually, the only information that I have is from my friend’s mother who has gone through this horrible experience.

I’m going to take the *lazy-way-approach* and I’m going to write an article about it without doing any research. My article is going to be based on the little bits and pieces of information on this subject available in my brain. But mostly, it would be my thoughts expressed through my opinion.

So I start writing the article.

Shortly after, I stumble across a big problem. I can’t finish it. My brain is working extra hard but I can’t even form a single sentence. I struggle day and night to make it sound intelligent, but what else can I do when there’s a very little information available in my brain.

Finally, I somehow finish the article on Breast Cancer, which consist mostly of my thoughts and my opinion about it with very little or no facts at all.

What would the quality and the acceptance level of my article be?

People, such as myself, who have no knowledge about it will read it and will take it as granted. But what’s going to happen when I offer it to ezine publishers to include it in their newsletters or offer it to webmasters as content for their websites?

The most probable ezines and websites to publish my article would be the ones directly related to the subject. But, what’s going to happen when their publishers read my article?

Since they have an abundance of knowledge on the subject or they can quickly check their resources and compare them to my article, they would immediately recognize my level of knowledge on the subject – or the lack of it.

Conclusion: why struggle writing about something that we know very little or nothing about?

Category #2: The intermediate way of writing articles.

Let me pick a topic for another article: “Internet Law.” A topic that would definitely get the attention of many Internet marketers. But I don’t have much knowledge about it!

So, instead of falling into Category #1 and throwing down my opinion about it, I’ll do an intensive research and I’ll gather as much as useful information as possible supported by facts.

I’ll even contact some sources directly affected by it or involved with it to gather some original information, instead of depending entirely on the reports published by others.

Then, I’ll process all that info in my brain and I’ll start putting the article together. I’ll quote some sources for added integrity and to let people know that I’m not just sharing my opinion.

It’ll take me few days to write it but the process of writing would be less painful since I have already gathered various information about it. It would be just a matter of putting the story together.

What would the quality and the acceptance level of my article be?

The reception will depend on the demand and the interest for the subject of the article. But the quality of the research will pretty much dictate the quality of the article.

Conclusion: the better the homework we do during the research, the better the article we write.

Category #3: The absolute best way of writing articles – this goes for books and reports also.

Let me pick a topic for yet another article: “How To Write Best Articles.” If I would’ve picked this topic two years ago, I would’ve had no clue about it. I would’ve been in Category #1. Or I could’ve done the research and moved to Category #2.

Since I’ve done plenty of reading on this subject (articles, reports, ebooks), and I’ve gone through the experience of writing and submitting articles (bad and good), it took me only 20 minutes to write this article.

That’s because I already had this information in my brain. It was just a matter of typing it up in Word Document.

What would the quality and the acceptance level of my article be?

The first time I wrote an article from my knowledge and experience, it got picked up by websites that I have never even heard of. Amazing. When I submitted it to ezine directories, the only reason it was rejected by the webmasters or their publishers was because I didn’t follow their posting guidelines. A little technical glitch. Ooops! :-)

Once again, the demand and the interest for the subject of the article will dictate the level of acceptance. And what about the quality?

Think about it for a second.

If I ask you to tell me more about the supersonic X-43A scramjet that splashed above the Pacific at Mach 9.8, shattering the existing world aviation speed record of Mach 6.8, how much would you know about it?

But if I ask you to tell me about your latest experience with … you name it … how much would you know about it?

I’d have to schedule a time slot so you can give me all the details. And how about you writing it that down in an article format? Do you think you will have a hard time writing it?

The quality will be enormous since it will contain your unique personal experience. It will be original. People will want to read it (just as you’re still reading this article) because they want to learn from the other people’s experience – bad or good.

Conclusion: it takes the least amount of time to write an article from your personal experience and it enjoys the most amount of reception. NowScience Articles, tell me about your experience because I want to learn from you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Dimeck. Publisher and author of The Success Maze - an ebook dedicated to the people who are still looking for ways to succeed online but feel a bit lost in this online Maze -- or should I say Jungle.
FREE Details: > http://www.thesuccessmaze.com

7 Potential Re-sale Problems

Are you considering buying a new home? Potential re-sale problems worth considering before you close on your purchase. You will select a more valuable, saleable and satisfying home.

The selection of a home is an emotional decision, and it should be. You should tap into your emotional knowledge when choosing a home. Many personal factors will influence your selection of a place where your family can live comfortably and safely.

However, at some point in the future you may need to re-sell the home. Most people would like to receive at least 4% annual appreciation on the sales price of their home. Now is the time to look ahead and consider any possible sales objections that you may encounter. The value of your home as an investment is directly related to its marketability. If it is sought after by other buyers, your home will sell at the highest price possible for the market.

The issues noted here are not intended to be deal killers. The home you have selected may have some defects, yet meet your needs in many important ways. No home will be perfect. Your purchase decision should be given a careful evaluation and review with an eye toward resale.

Home flippers look for homes with marketing problems such as these. Homes priced below market are perfect for their remodeling solutions. You, too, may think creatively when considering a home. Many problems can be corrected or mitigated. With good design sense, you may be able to make the necessary decisions to improve the home, and perhaps do the work yourself. Or, you may be willing to get design help and use a builder for the work. Remodeling adds a level of risk and difficulty to your home purchase, but possibly, a higher level of satisfaction and monetary reward.

Here are 7 potential re-sale problems:

1) Site Difficulties

Unusual Easements or Restrictions
If unusual easements or restrictions were not disclosed up front, you may not be aware of them until you see the survey and title work. If you discover these, I suggest that you take a step back, and consider whether you will accept an unusual easement or restriction on your use of the property. Some examples: neighbors may cross the property, house expansion is limited, or major pipelines are underground.

Lack of Yard
If a home has much less yard area than others in the neighborhood, buyers tend to eliminate this choice. A steep slope may make the grounds difficult to use and maintain. Yards that have been terraced or landscaped may be exceptions. Compare your property to the yards offered by competing homes.

Commercial View
Homes in suburban areas that view office buildings or retail centers are less attractive to buyers. Buyers choose suburban neighborhoods for their concentration of single family homes, separated from commercial areas. This may not be a problem in more urban areas.

Flag Lot
These are lots with a long narrow strip, leading to the area where the house is placed. Your home will have almost no street frontage, and there may be a building in front of your home. A flag lot in a country setting with a long driveway leading to a large tract may be an exception to the rule. In a subdivision of homes with road frontage, buyers will avoid this type of lot.

2) Likely Objections

High Tension Wires
The general reaction by buyers to high tension wires crossing near the lot is to simply eliminate the choice.

Steep Driveway

I have shown many buyers who will not get out of the car when the driveway is unusually steep.

Busy Street

The noise related to a busy street is a turn-off to many buyers. This is more of a problem if the busy street is in front of the house.

Too Exposed

Most buyers want a certain degree of privacy in the back yard. If the building behind your prospective home looks down on your backyard or into your family room, this will be a sales objection. This could be mitigated by trees or screening.

3) Neighborhood Concerns

Declining Values
If you perceive the neighborhood to be declining, this is a must to avoid. Choose areas that show pride in ownership. However, if you see tear downs and new construction, then the neighborhood may be going through a renewal period, and may be a good risk.

Safety or Security Problems
If you sense that there are security problems - drug dealers, robberies, or safety concerns for your children, take a step back and look at the facts and data on these issues before buying. These kind of problems will turn away buyers fast.

4) Market Matters

Seasonal or Limited Market
Some homes have a limited market - a vacation area, a primarily student market, or an age restricted subdivision. This may suit your needs, but keep in mind that your re-sale will be limited to this set of buyers.

Remote Location
In most cities, areas that are closer to downtown tend to have a larger buyer pool than homes located in remote areas. However, you may choose to trade the privacy and setting of a country home with the resale potential.

No Comparable Sales
This indicates a possible re-sale problem. The home may be very unusual compared to homes around it, or the market may be slow. Understand the underlying reason for few or no comparable sales.

Extended Marketing Time
Has the home that you are considering been on the market a long time? Was the price simply set too high? Has the market been slow? Or, is there a problem with the house that you will need to correct?

Oversupply of Homes
This is a fundamental re-sale problem. If the balance of supply and demand tips in favor of buyers, then sellers will have to compete more aggressively, and prices are usually driven down. A common source of excess supply is from new homebuilders in the area. Or, sales may be slowed by an economic recession or high interest rates. The oversupply of homes on the market may be a temporary situation.

5) Non-conforming Styles

Lacks a Typical Amenity
In an area where nearly all homes are on the golf course, or have a pool, or include a garage, buyers will tend to overlook homes that lack these features. In an area of mostly older buyers, a home with the master upstairs may have trouble selling. Look carefully at what is generally offered in a given area to the majority of buyers.

A-typical Style
Homes that do not fit in to the neighborhood may have trouble selling. For example, the urban modern style may be a good fit in older eclectic areas, but would be hard to sell a uniform suburban neighborhood.

6) Inspection Issues

Water Drainage Problems
Poor water drainage may be a serious and costly remediation problem. Talk with an expert about improving the drainage around the house, and evaluate any previous damage caused by flooding of the interior or water standing under the house. Be sure that you have all the facts on the table and an improvement plan ready.

Structural Defects
Structural defects have an underlying cause. They may be due to loose fill on the lot, clay soil, drainage issues, or poor construction. It is crucial to know the source of the problem, and the cost to repair, before taking on a house with structural problems.

Inspection Issues
Excessive repairs noted on your inspection report indicate that the house was not maintained or was poorly constructed. Be prepared for some serious work on the house. An incorrect application of stucco or other siding may have water damage or mold behind it. A mold infestation may be expensive to remove. Be prepared to document your repairs in order to show a future buyer that the problems have been completely solved. These issues tend to have some stigma attached.

Insurance Claims
It is important to know the facts about a previous insurance claim. If it was due to a fire or flooding problem, you should have full disclosure. Large insurance claims are a red flag, and may result in difficulty in obtaining insurance on the home. Many homes have had repairs covered by insurance, such as hail damage, and these are not a re-sale problem.

7) Improvement Obstacles

Costly Improvements
You may not be able to recoup the cost of certain improvements to your home. These may include imported fixtures, unusual artistry or craftsmanship, exotic woods, European appliances, rare plants, hand decorated walls, etc. If these finishes are similar to locally available materials, they may not have a market value equal to their cost. In general, swimming pools and tennis courts do not contribute the full amount of their cost in the value of the home.

Over Improved
Homes that are over improved for the area, or have excess acreage, often have a difficult time recouping the additional cost. Most people feel safer buying one of the cheaper houses in the neighborhood.

Non Functional Floor Plan.
Floor plans that make living in the home difficult will turn away buyers. Excessive level changes, rooms that are out of proportion, poor access to the backyard, low ceilings, few windows, and other layout issues will result in a re-sale problem. This may be an opportunity to take down walls, add windows and doors, and make creative changes to improve the functionality and value of a house. Design skill and a fairly high budget will be necessary.

Out Dated Finishes
Most homes have some outdated finishes - from needing freshening up, to a complete makeover. This is where design skill and perseverance can completely transform a house. If you are new to remodelingScience Articles, consider your budget carefully. Often the work required is quite extensive and may grow as the project develops.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roselind Hejl is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in Austin, Texas. Her website - Austin Texas Real Estate - http://www.weloveaustin.com - offers homes for sale, market trends, buyer and seller guides. Let Roselind help you make your move to Austin, Texas.

How Our Home Based Business Saved Us

If you had asked me two years before my wife and I began our home catering business whether I would consider being my own boss, I would have laughed out loud and scoffed at the idea.

The company I worked for seemed to be doing well and I was recognized for the “creative genius” that I was. I was contented as a Web Developer in a multi-national corporation, lost in my own world in cyberspace. The pay was alright and there wasn’t any reason to think of other means of income. Looking back, I realized that I was in a comfort zone and being there shut my eyes to all the opportunities that were knocking at my door. Things were about to change though.

The signs were classic of a company in trouble. Emails instructing us to take cost-reduction seriously, profit sharing withheld, no year-end bonus, a freeze on all pay rises. Then, it was crunch-time. There was talk of “staff re-designation”. One year later, it became a full blown staff elimination exercise. No retrenchment benefits, no nothing.

My wife didn’t really think I was serious about the company being in trouble until I started having the “classic” symptoms of Middle-Aged-Man-With-Job-Threatened-Syndrome. I couldn’t eat or sleep worrying about how we would make ends meet on my wife’s salary as a kindergarten teacher, which wasn’t much. The stress and fear were taking its toll on my health.

It became clear that there was no way the company would keep me for more than a year and with job applicants half my age working for even lesser pay, my wife and I did some serious talking. We came up with a couple of ideas we thought we could do to earn extra cash and prepare us for the tough times ahead. We eventually decided to start our own home catering business, cooking and delivering dinner to people who were either too busy, didn’t have the time or the liking to cook.

Armed only with the confidence that my wife was a great cook, we started. Our first obstacle turned out to be our minds. We were so caught up in our comfort zone for so long that every little decision seemed like a monumental task. At the back of our minds, we didn’t want to be in the position we were in. We struggled with the fear of change and the unknown, but we carried on, telling ourselves that even if I did get another job, it was only a matter of time before the same cycle would repeat itself. We HAD to take this step and take control of our lives and our earning power.

We made countless mistakes in our first six months, but let me tell you… when we got our first customer, I felt such relief I slept like a baby that night. It was my first night of peaceful sleep in a year. It wasn’t the sixty dollars profit that we made. It was the fact that we had finally started to chart our own destiny, free from the whims and fancies of corporate management.

A year into our business, the inevitable happened. I was approached by my company to discuss “re-designation”. I told them that I knew what they meant and I was prepared to leave. I was the last one in my division to finally say goodbye. Thankfully, my wife and I saw this coming a year ago and readied ourselves for it, so when the time came, we just let go and set our sights on our home catering business.

It’s been almost two years now and we’ve gone through some really trying times learning the ropes of managing a home business. We’ve had to adjust our attitudes and daily lives but we’re doing fine, and our financial situation has gone from hopeless to healthy. What started out as a way to earn extra money has turned out to be our main source of income.

I hope my sharing gives you the encouragement and inspiration to NOT LOSE HOPE. I wouldn’t recommend waiting until you were in trouble before you considered starting your own home business, but maybe like usArticle Search, it takes a storm to help us break free of our comfort zone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Shim is the owner and editor of PositiveMoneyIdeas.com a website which offers FREE IDEAS for those interested in starting their own freelance or home based business and PositiveTones.com , a FREE resource website for Positive Living. He and his wife run a successful home catering business. When not up to his eyeballs in veggie, meat, gravy and being official taster for his catering business, he manages his websites, writes for numerous other sites and magazines and fools around with his kids.

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions

When you start shopping for a new home, you may encounter some words and terms with which you are unfamiliar. The following glossary will help you to be a better informed shopper.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - A loan whose interest rate is adjusted according to movements in the financial market.

Amortization - A payment plan by which a borrower reduces a debt gradually through monthly payments of principal and interest.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The annual cost off credit over the life of a loan, including interest, service charges, points, loan fees, mortgage insurance, and other items.

Appraisal - An evaluation to determine what a piece of property would sell for in the marketplace.

Appreciation - The increase in the value of a property.

Assessment - A tax levied on a property or a value placed on the worth of property by a taxing authority.

Assumption - A transaction allowing the buyer of a home to assume responsibility for an existing loan on the home instead of getting a new loan.

Balloon - A loan which has a series of monthly payments (often for 5 years or less) with the remaining balance due in a large lump sum payment at the end.

Binder - A receipt for a deposit paid to secure the right to purchase a home at terms agreed upon by the buyer and seller.

Buydown - A subsidy (usually paid by a builder or developer) to reduce the monthly payments on a mortgage loan.

Cap - A limit to the amount an interest rate or a monthly payment can increase for an adjustable rate loan either during an adjustment period or over the life of the loan.

Certificate of Occupancy - A document from an official agency stating that the property meets the requirements of local codes, ordinances, and regulations.

Closing - A meeting to sign documents which transfer property from a seller to a buyer. (Also called settlement)

Closing Costs - Charges paid at settlement for obtaining a mortgage loan and transferring real estate title.

Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC and Rs) - The standards that define how a property may be used and the protections the developer has made for the benefit of all owners in a subdivision.

Condominium - A home in a multi-unit complex; each purchaser owns an individual unit, and all the purchasers jointly own the common areas, such as the surrounding land, hallways, etc.

Conventional Loan - A mortgage loan not insured by a government agency (such as FHA or VA).


Convertibility - The ability to change a loan from an adjustable rate schedule to a fixed rate schedule.

Cooperative - A form of ownership in a multi-unit complex; the purchasers own shares of the entire complex rather than owning individual units.

Credit Rating - A report ordered by a lender from a credit bureau to determine if the borrower is a good credit risk.

Default - A breach of a mortgage contract (such as not making monthly payments).

Density - The number of homes built on a particular acre of land. Allowable densities are usually determined by local jurisdictions.

Downpayment - The difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount on a home. The downpayment is usually paid at closing.

Due-on-Sale - A clause in a mortgage contract requiring the borrower to pay the entire outstanding balance upon sale or transfer of the property. A mortgage with a due-on-sale clause is not assumable.

Earnest Money - A sum paid to the seller to show that a potential purchaser is serious about buying.

Easement - Right-of-way granted to a person or company authorizing access to the owner’s land; for example, a utility company may be grated an easement to install pipes or wires. An owner may voluntarily grant an easement, or in some cases, be compelled to grant one by a local jurisdiction.

Equity - The difference between the value of a home and what is owed on it.

Escrow - The handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - A federal agency which insures mortgages that have lower downpayment requirements than conventional loans.


Fixed Rate Mortgage - A mortgage whose interest rate remains constant over the life of the loan. The payments are not necessarily level. (See Graduated Payment Mortgage and Growing Equity Mortgage).

Fixed Schedule Mortgage - A mortgage whose payment schedule for the life of the loan is established at closing. The payments and interest rate are not necessarily level.

Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) - A fixed-rate, fixed-schedule loan which starts with lower payments than a level payment loan; the payments rise annually over the first 5 to 10 years and then remain constant for the remainder of the loan. GPMs involve negative amortization.

Growing Equity Mortgage (Rapid Payoff Mortgage) - A fixed-rate, fixed-schedule loan which starts with the same payments as a level payment loan; the payments rise annually, with the entire increase being used to reduce the outstanding balance. No negative amortization occurs, and the increase in payments may enable the borrower to pay off a 30-year loan in 15 to 20 years, or less.

Hazard Insurance - Protection against damage caused by fire, windstorm, or other common hazards. Many lenders require borrowers to carry it in an amount at least equal to the mortgage.

Housing Finance Agency - A state agency which offers a limited amount of below-market-rate home financing for low-and moderate-income households.

Index - The interest rate or adjustment standard which determines the changes in monthly payments for an adjustable rate loan.

Infrastructure - The public facilities and services needed to support residential development, including highways, bridges, schools, and sewer and water systems

Interest - The cost paid to a lender for the use of borrowed money.

Joint Tenancy - A form of ownership by which the tenants own a property equally. If one dies, the other would automatically inherit the entire property.

Level Payment Mortgage - A mortgage whose payments are identical for each month over the life of the loan.

Mortgage Broker - A broker who represents numerous lenders and helps consumers find affordable mortgages; the broker charges a fee only if the consumer finds a loan.

Mortgage Commitment - A formal written communication by a lender, agreeing to make a mortgage loan on a specific property, specifying the loan amount, length of time and conditions.

Mortgage Company (Mortgage Banker) - A company that borrows money from a bank, lends it to consumers who want to buy homes, then sells the loans to investors.

Mortgagee - The lender who makes a mortgage loan.

Mortgage Loan - A contract in which the borrower’s property is pledged a s collateral and which can be repaid in installments over a long period. The mortgagor (buyer) promises to repay principal and interest, to keep the home insured, to pay all taxes, and to keep the property in good condition.

Mortgage Origination Fee - A charge by a lender for the work involved in preparing and servicing a mortgage application (usually 1 percent of the loan amount).

Negative Amortization - An increase in the outstanding balance of a loan when a monthly payment is not large enough to cover all of the interest due.

Note - A formal document showing the existence of a debt and stating the terms of repayment.

PITI - Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (the 4 major components of monthly housing payments).

Point - A charge of 1 percent of the mortgage amount. Points are a one-time charge assessed by the lender at closing to increase the interest yield on a mortgage loan.

Prepayment - Payment of all or part of a debt prior to its maturity.

Principal - The amount borrowed in a loan, excluding interest and other charges.

Property Survey - A survey to determine the boundaries of your property. The cost will depend on the complexity of the survey.

Rapid Payoff Mortgage - (See Growing Equity Mortgage).

Recording Fee - A charge for recording the transfer of a property, paid to a city, county, or other appropriate branch of government.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) - A federal law requiring lenders to provide home buyers with information about known or estimated settlement costs. The act also regulates other aspects of settlement procedures.

R-Value - The resistance of insulation material (including windows) to heat passing through it. The higher the number, the greater the insulating value.

Sales Contract - A contract between a buyer and seller which should explain, in detail, exactly what the purchase includes, what guarantees there are, when the buyer can move in, what the closing costs are, and what recourse the parties have if the contract is not fulfilled or if the buyer cannot get a mortgage commitment at the agreed-upon terms.

Settlement - (See Closing).

Shared Appreciation Mortgage - A loan in which partners agree to share specified portions of the downpayment, monthly payment, and appreciation.

Tenancy in Common - A form of ownership in which the tenants own separate but equal parts. To inherit the property, a surviving tenant would either have to be mentioned in the will or, in the absence of a will, be eligible through state inheritance laws.

Title - Evidence (usually in the form of a certificate or deed) of a person’s legal right to ownership of a property.

Transfer Taxes - Taxes levied on the transfer of property or on real estate loans by state and/or local jurisdictions.

Veterans Administration (VA) - A federal agency which insures mortgage loans with very liberal downpayment requirements for honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses.

Walk-Through - A final inspection of a home before settlement to search for problems that need to be corrected before ownership changes hands.

Warranty - A promise, either written or implied, that the material and workmanship of a product is defect-free or will meet a specified level of performance over a specified period of time. Written warranties on new homes are either backed by insurance companies or by the builders themselves.

Zoning - Regulations established by local governments regarding the location, heightFeature Articles, and use for any given piece of property within a specific area.

Visit us online at:
http://www.houseplancentral.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Mathis is a building designer and publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources including http://www.HousePlanCentral.com
and http://www.HousePlanGallery.com. Be sure to subscribe to both site's eNewsletters to receive special offers, promotions, and subscriber-only features.

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions

When you start shopping for a new home, you may encounter some words and terms with which you are unfamiliar. The following glossary will help you to be a better informed shopper.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - A loan whose interest rate is adjusted according to movements in the financial market.

Amortization - A payment plan by which a borrower reduces a debt gradually through monthly payments of principal and interest.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The annual cost off credit over the life of a loan, including interest, service charges, points, loan fees, mortgage insurance, and other items.

Appraisal - An evaluation to determine what a piece of property would sell for in the marketplace.

Appreciation - The increase in the value of a property.

Assessment - A tax levied on a property or a value placed on the worth of property by a taxing authority.

Assumption - A transaction allowing the buyer of a home to assume responsibility for an existing loan on the home instead of getting a new loan.

Balloon - A loan which has a series of monthly payments (often for 5 years or less) with the remaining balance due in a large lump sum payment at the end.

Binder - A receipt for a deposit paid to secure the right to purchase a home at terms agreed upon by the buyer and seller.

Buydown - A subsidy (usually paid by a builder or developer) to reduce the monthly payments on a mortgage loan.

Cap - A limit to the amount an interest rate or a monthly payment can increase for an adjustable rate loan either during an adjustment period or over the life of the loan.

Certificate of Occupancy - A document from an official agency stating that the property meets the requirements of local codes, ordinances, and regulations.

Closing - A meeting to sign documents which transfer property from a seller to a buyer. (Also called settlement)

Closing Costs - Charges paid at settlement for obtaining a mortgage loan and transferring real estate title.

Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC and Rs) - The standards that define how a property may be used and the protections the developer has made for the benefit of all owners in a subdivision.

Condominium - A home in a multi-unit complex; each purchaser owns an individual unit, and all the purchasers jointly own the common areas, such as the surrounding land, hallways, etc.

Conventional Loan - A mortgage loan not insured by a government agency (such as FHA or VA).


Convertibility - The ability to change a loan from an adjustable rate schedule to a fixed rate schedule.

Cooperative - A form of ownership in a multi-unit complex; the purchasers own shares of the entire complex rather than owning individual units.

Credit Rating - A report ordered by a lender from a credit bureau to determine if the borrower is a good credit risk.

Default - A breach of a mortgage contract (such as not making monthly payments).

Density - The number of homes built on a particular acre of land. Allowable densities are usually determined by local jurisdictions.

Downpayment - The difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount on a home. The downpayment is usually paid at closing.

Due-on-Sale - A clause in a mortgage contract requiring the borrower to pay the entire outstanding balance upon sale or transfer of the property. A mortgage with a due-on-sale clause is not assumable.

Earnest Money - A sum paid to the seller to show that a potential purchaser is serious about buying.

Easement - Right-of-way granted to a person or company authorizing access to the owner’s land; for example, a utility company may be grated an easement to install pipes or wires. An owner may voluntarily grant an easement, or in some cases, be compelled to grant one by a local jurisdiction.

Equity - The difference between the value of a home and what is owed on it.

Escrow - The handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - A federal agency which insures mortgages that have lower downpayment requirements than conventional loans.


Fixed Rate Mortgage - A mortgage whose interest rate remains constant over the life of the loan. The payments are not necessarily level. (See Graduated Payment Mortgage and Growing Equity Mortgage).

Fixed Schedule Mortgage - A mortgage whose payment schedule for the life of the loan is established at closing. The payments and interest rate are not necessarily level.

Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) - A fixed-rate, fixed-schedule loan which starts with lower payments than a level payment loan; the payments rise annually over the first 5 to 10 years and then remain constant for the remainder of the loan. GPMs involve negative amortization.

Growing Equity Mortgage (Rapid Payoff Mortgage) - A fixed-rate, fixed-schedule loan which starts with the same payments as a level payment loan; the payments rise annually, with the entire increase being used to reduce the outstanding balance. No negative amortization occurs, and the increase in payments may enable the borrower to pay off a 30-year loan in 15 to 20 years, or less.

Hazard Insurance - Protection against damage caused by fire, windstorm, or other common hazards. Many lenders require borrowers to carry it in an amount at least equal to the mortgage.

Housing Finance Agency - A state agency which offers a limited amount of below-market-rate home financing for low-and moderate-income households.

Index - The interest rate or adjustment standard which determines the changes in monthly payments for an adjustable rate loan.

Infrastructure - The public facilities and services needed to support residential development, including highways, bridges, schools, and sewer and water systems

Interest - The cost paid to a lender for the use of borrowed money.

Joint Tenancy - A form of ownership by which the tenants own a property equally. If one dies, the other would automatically inherit the entire property.

Level Payment Mortgage - A mortgage whose payments are identical for each month over the life of the loan.

Mortgage Broker - A broker who represents numerous lenders and helps consumers find affordable mortgages; the broker charges a fee only if the consumer finds a loan.

Mortgage Commitment - A formal written communication by a lender, agreeing to make a mortgage loan on a specific property, specifying the loan amount, length of time and conditions.

Mortgage Company (Mortgage Banker) - A company that borrows money from a bank, lends it to consumers who want to buy homes, then sells the loans to investors.

Mortgagee - The lender who makes a mortgage loan.

Mortgage Loan - A contract in which the borrower’s property is pledged a s collateral and which can be repaid in installments over a long period. The mortgagor (buyer) promises to repay principal and interest, to keep the home insured, to pay all taxes, and to keep the property in good condition.

Mortgage Origination Fee - A charge by a lender for the work involved in preparing and servicing a mortgage application (usually 1 percent of the loan amount).

Negative Amortization - An increase in the outstanding balance of a loan when a monthly payment is not large enough to cover all of the interest due.

Note - A formal document showing the existence of a debt and stating the terms of repayment.

PITI - Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (the 4 major components of monthly housing payments).

Point - A charge of 1 percent of the mortgage amount. Points are a one-time charge assessed by the lender at closing to increase the interest yield on a mortgage loan.

Prepayment - Payment of all or part of a debt prior to its maturity.

Principal - The amount borrowed in a loan, excluding interest and other charges.

Property Survey - A survey to determine the boundaries of your property. The cost will depend on the complexity of the survey.

Rapid Payoff Mortgage - (See Growing Equity Mortgage).

Recording Fee - A charge for recording the transfer of a property, paid to a city, county, or other appropriate branch of government.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) - A federal law requiring lenders to provide home buyers with information about known or estimated settlement costs. The act also regulates other aspects of settlement procedures.

R-Value - The resistance of insulation material (including windows) to heat passing through it. The higher the number, the greater the insulating value.

Sales Contract - A contract between a buyer and seller which should explain, in detail, exactly what the purchase includes, what guarantees there are, when the buyer can move in, what the closing costs are, and what recourse the parties have if the contract is not fulfilled or if the buyer cannot get a mortgage commitment at the agreed-upon terms.

Settlement - (See Closing).

Shared Appreciation Mortgage - A loan in which partners agree to share specified portions of the downpayment, monthly payment, and appreciation.

Tenancy in Common - A form of ownership in which the tenants own separate but equal parts. To inherit the property, a surviving tenant would either have to be mentioned in the will or, in the absence of a will, be eligible through state inheritance laws.

Title - Evidence (usually in the form of a certificate or deed) of a person’s legal right to ownership of a property.

Transfer Taxes - Taxes levied on the transfer of property or on real estate loans by state and/or local jurisdictions.

Veterans Administration (VA) - A federal agency which insures mortgage loans with very liberal downpayment requirements for honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses.

Walk-Through - A final inspection of a home before settlement to search for problems that need to be corrected before ownership changes hands.

Warranty - A promise, either written or implied, that the material and workmanship of a product is defect-free or will meet a specified level of performance over a specified period of time. Written warranties on new homes are either backed by insurance companies or by the builders themselves.

Zoning - Regulations established by local governments regarding the location, heightFeature Articles, and use for any given piece of property within a specific area.

Visit us online at:
http://www.houseplancentral.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Mathis is a building designer and publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources including http://www.HousePlanCentral.com
and http://www.HousePlanGallery.com. Be sure to subscribe to both site's eNewsletters to receive special offers, promotions, and subscriber-only features.