Before starting the home buying process, do a little homework on your credit report.
Several months before you begin to look for a home, you should take steps to get "credit approved" for your loan. Start by making a list of all your existing loans and credit cards, with the company names, account numbers and monthly payment amounts. This will help you to analyze the information shown on your credit report. Include all closed loans and credit cards if these records are available.
1) Get a Financial Check-Up
Make an appointment with a good mortgage lender, and request a full credit approval. As a part of the approval process, your credit report will be ordered. It will include data from the three main credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. The report will show three credit scores - one from each agency. The interest rate and type of loan available to you is related to your credit score.
The assistance of a mortgage professional to help you to understand your credit report and offer suggestions on how to improve your score is invaluable. For the average person, interpreting a credit report and dealing with errors is a daunting task. Credit reports are filled with frustrating jargon and codes. They are not written for the general public to read. Even more intimidating is the task of communicating with credit agencies to dispute or correct information.
2) Correct Mistakes
Credit reporting agencies often have mistakes in their data. The information in your credit file is input by computers. A computer weighs your data using complicated mathematical formulas to arrive at a credit score.
Nearly everyone has paid bills late for one reason or another. Perhaps a bill was sent to a wrong address, or you have had a dispute with a vendor. It is likely that you have some issues on your report that should be disputed or corrected. Each of the websites of the three main agencies has a dispute resolution page. Feel free to use it.
3) Deal With Real Credit Issues
You may have had serious credit problems at some point in the past. Reviewing this may be emotionally draining, and will bring up the underlying situation that caused the credit problems. Get advice on how long the issues will remain on your report, and how to re- build your credit worthiness.
Or, you may have a persistent habit of overspending. In this case, you should talk with a financial advisor or personal counselor to help you work out of debt, and establish better habits. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers low cost assistance for serious credit problems. If you place yourself under their supervision to handle your debts, you will not be able to obtain new credit during the work-out period - which may be years. Before doing that, ask a mortgage lender or financial advisor if there is a way to redeem your credit without their supervision.
4) Check Your Credit File
A law, passed in 2005, requires the three main credit agencies to provide a free credit file disclosure each year. It has been suggested that you could order a file from the first agency in January, one from the second in May and one from the third in September. The central site where your file can be ordered is annual credit report dot com. The purpose of this law seems to be to help people find out if they are a victim of identity theft. This enables you to monitor your file for any new credit that did not come from you.
If you take advantage of the free credit file reports, you should check them for mistakes. Use the credit report that you reviewed with your mortgage lender to compare with the data in your credit file. Keep in mind that the free credit file disclosure is not a credit report. It does not include a credit score.
5) Understand Credit Scores
Less than 620 - Poor
620-680 - Average - You may need to put more cash down on your loan.
680-720 - Good
720 - 800 - Excellent
800-850 - Seldom seen
6) Play by the Rules
The information in your credit file is scored by these factors:
35% - Payment history - Paying bills on time is very important. Today many people use auto draft or pre-written checks through online banking to pay bills. These help to prevent late payments. If you want a good credit score, do not pay late!
30% - The relationship between your available credit versus how much you have used is an important factor in your score. If you are over 50% drawn against your available credit, this will count against you. For this reason, it helps to keep old credit card accounts open, even though you do not use them. They build up the total amount of credit available to you, relative to what you have charged.
15% - The length of credit history on each loan has an effect on your score. A more seasoned loan is scored higher. For this reason it is not a good idea to open credit cards offering low initial rates, then close them after a few months and open new credit cards.
10% - The number of inquiries made on your credit report affects your score. Each time you open a credit card or new loan, your credit information is pulled. Keep these to a minimum. A recent law has made it possible for people shopping for homes or autos to have multiple inquiries, from the same industry (mortgage or auto), done over a 30 day period without penalty. However, to be on the safe side, do not allow your credit report to be pulled unless absolutely necessary.
10% - The types of credit used may hurt your score. Loans from finance companies, signature loans, furniture loans and some retail store loans are considered a poor judgment because of their high rates, and may count against you.
7) Improve Your Credit Score
It is easy and necessary to borrow money. We customarily make everyday purchases using credit cards, and set up loans for homes, cars and other purchases. Your credit score is especially important in the purchase of your home. It will affect the type of loan available, down payment required, and interest rate charged. A low score can cost you thousands of dollars in additional interest over the years. Even insurance companies factor your credit score into their decisions. More than ever, you need a good credit score, or you will pay the price.
Finance providers, rental agencies, car dealers, insurance companies and credit card companies are not going to help you improve your credit score. In factArticle Submission, they have an economic interest in charging you a higher rate. It is up to you to be proactive about understanding and improving your own credit score. A good time to start is when you begin the mortgage approval process for a home purchase. It is a good habit to have.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roselind Hejl is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in Austin, Texas. Her website - http://www.weloveaustin.com - offers homes for sale, market trends, buyer and seller guides. Let Roselind help you make your move to Austin.Austin Texas Real Estate Guide
Monday, May 7, 2007
Real Estate - A Few Tips On Buying A Home
Real estate tips on buying a home article that will provides information for the reader on buying a home
The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!
But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.
Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?
If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be ready to delve into the home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a home but you should also have to consider your reasons for not wanting to.
Remember than buying home is not just the biggest financial decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.
Buying a home always seems to be a great idea, but it is important that ownership of a certain property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.
Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.
The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the wonderful things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of good reasons for buying a home. So here are some of the good advantages of home buying.
Financial security is a very great deal of advantage when it comes to owning your own home. If the housing prices would go up, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.
Flexibility is another thing, when owning your house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.
And of course stabilityArticle Submission, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burden than renting one.
Read the rest of this article by going now to
http://www.realestatesellingnews.com/property/Must-Read-Tips-On-Buying-A-Home.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!
But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.
Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?
If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be ready to delve into the home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a home but you should also have to consider your reasons for not wanting to.
Remember than buying home is not just the biggest financial decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.
Buying a home always seems to be a great idea, but it is important that ownership of a certain property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.
Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.
The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the wonderful things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of good reasons for buying a home. So here are some of the good advantages of home buying.
Financial security is a very great deal of advantage when it comes to owning your own home. If the housing prices would go up, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.
Flexibility is another thing, when owning your house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.
And of course stabilityArticle Submission, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burden than renting one.
Read the rest of this article by going now to
http://www.realestatesellingnews.com/property/Must-Read-Tips-On-Buying-A-Home.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
http://www.realestatesellingnews.com offers a wide range of articles giving advice on real estate and buying properties in different countries
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Buying a Vacation & Retirement Home
Buying a vacation home that doubles as a future retirement home requires forethought and thorough investigation. Conventional wisdom tells us to first settle on a desired location and then look for the least expensive house in the best possible neighborhood. This is of course true, but buying a future retirement property demands additional consideration.
Even prior to the financial planning phase, a vacation and future retirement home buyer should take a step back and make certain that there is 100% commitment. Ask yourself a few simple questions. First, is it possible that your financial position could materially change for the better or worse in the upcoming years? Have you decided on a location that requires a dramatic environmental change? What about relatives, does it matter that their next trip may require a flight instead of a drive? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these, our advice is to find a long-term rental in the area and give it a test drive. If, on the other hand, there are no doubts, it is time to set your financial parameters.
Once the decision is made to move forward, you need to figure out how much of a home you want and what type of home you can afford. The latter is a bit easier to quantify as most financial institutions prefer mortgage payments that are less than 29% of gross monthly income. However, if you have a good financial track record, banks will afford you some latitude. Obviously, lending rates are a crucial factor in this equation, especially if you go the adjustable rate route. A word of caution: be careful of Adjustable Rate Mortgages that look particularly attractive in today’s low interest rate environment as an uptick in rates could lead to a potentially unpleasant financial situation. Remember that buying now for a future retirement is a long term proposition and your new investment should appreciate with no financial carrying cost surprises.
An additional factor to consider is whether your prospective vacation property can provide rental income before it becomes your full-time retirement home. If so, you would be able to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest payments, taxes and property amortization against the rental income. In other words, it is a great way to build equity and create additional cash flows. It should come as no surprise that an increasing number of people have taken advantage of this strategy.
After defining your financial boundaries, it’s time now to come up with your wish list. What do you want in a home? How many bedrooms and baths? Do you want to live in a private gated community or out in the country? Does it have potential as a rental property? In addition, off-site criterion should be established to ensure that all aspects of your vacation home experience are amenable to your current and future retirement lifestyle. For example, are there property management services and what about local conveniences such as transportation and healthcare facilities?
Now that you are armed with your financial parameters and wish list it’s time to find a local broker and see what’s available. Almost 70% of home buyers leverage the internet to research properties so if you haven’t already, it’s time to start surfing the web. Simultaneously, you should be refining your financing plan by contacting a number of financial institutions and mortgage broker aggregators. Don’t be bashful, comparative shop with at least two or three companies to ensure that you understand the various financing options and are being offered the best deal.
As we all know, the relationship with a broker is extremely important. A broker must truly understand your financial parameters, desired home criterion and lifestyle objectives. Brokers are normally paid for by the seller. Therefore, it’s your job to establish the broker and buyer relationship that best works for you, not the seller. Remember, this is your vacation and future retirement home.
With a bit of good luckFree Web Content, buying a vacation and retirement home can yield some interesting financial benefits including long term capital appreciation and additional cash flows. Thorough planning can help mitigate future uncertainties and make the home buying process into a truly rewarding experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Visit Golf Course Communities to find information on vacation and retirement real estate. Robert Flournoy is a writer for Golf Home Connect.
Even prior to the financial planning phase, a vacation and future retirement home buyer should take a step back and make certain that there is 100% commitment. Ask yourself a few simple questions. First, is it possible that your financial position could materially change for the better or worse in the upcoming years? Have you decided on a location that requires a dramatic environmental change? What about relatives, does it matter that their next trip may require a flight instead of a drive? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these, our advice is to find a long-term rental in the area and give it a test drive. If, on the other hand, there are no doubts, it is time to set your financial parameters.
Once the decision is made to move forward, you need to figure out how much of a home you want and what type of home you can afford. The latter is a bit easier to quantify as most financial institutions prefer mortgage payments that are less than 29% of gross monthly income. However, if you have a good financial track record, banks will afford you some latitude. Obviously, lending rates are a crucial factor in this equation, especially if you go the adjustable rate route. A word of caution: be careful of Adjustable Rate Mortgages that look particularly attractive in today’s low interest rate environment as an uptick in rates could lead to a potentially unpleasant financial situation. Remember that buying now for a future retirement is a long term proposition and your new investment should appreciate with no financial carrying cost surprises.
An additional factor to consider is whether your prospective vacation property can provide rental income before it becomes your full-time retirement home. If so, you would be able to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest payments, taxes and property amortization against the rental income. In other words, it is a great way to build equity and create additional cash flows. It should come as no surprise that an increasing number of people have taken advantage of this strategy.
After defining your financial boundaries, it’s time now to come up with your wish list. What do you want in a home? How many bedrooms and baths? Do you want to live in a private gated community or out in the country? Does it have potential as a rental property? In addition, off-site criterion should be established to ensure that all aspects of your vacation home experience are amenable to your current and future retirement lifestyle. For example, are there property management services and what about local conveniences such as transportation and healthcare facilities?
Now that you are armed with your financial parameters and wish list it’s time to find a local broker and see what’s available. Almost 70% of home buyers leverage the internet to research properties so if you haven’t already, it’s time to start surfing the web. Simultaneously, you should be refining your financing plan by contacting a number of financial institutions and mortgage broker aggregators. Don’t be bashful, comparative shop with at least two or three companies to ensure that you understand the various financing options and are being offered the best deal.
As we all know, the relationship with a broker is extremely important. A broker must truly understand your financial parameters, desired home criterion and lifestyle objectives. Brokers are normally paid for by the seller. Therefore, it’s your job to establish the broker and buyer relationship that best works for you, not the seller. Remember, this is your vacation and future retirement home.
With a bit of good luckFree Web Content, buying a vacation and retirement home can yield some interesting financial benefits including long term capital appreciation and additional cash flows. Thorough planning can help mitigate future uncertainties and make the home buying process into a truly rewarding experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Visit Golf Course Communities to find information on vacation and retirement real estate. Robert Flournoy is a writer for Golf Home Connect.
Will The Real Home Buying Guide...Please Stand Up?
Use Google right now and do a search on, “Home Buying Guide”. Take a few minutes to check and see what's out there and then come right back...
Now, try "Home Buyer Guide" and check to see what's out there for that.
Overwhelming, isn’t it?
And that’s exactly the problem facing today’s prospective homebuyers; not knowing how to sort through all of the information that is offered to them when buying a home.
Do you know what the other problem is?
Ironic as it may sound, just as prospective homebuyers have too much information on topics such as: how to find a real estate agent, how to find a mortgage, how to fix your credit or how to get the lowest possible insurance, and on and on...they are faced with just the complete opposite when it comes to having information on the main focus of their quest - specific information on the house they want to buy.
In a survey conducted by Key Findings, it was found that "Prospective home buyers say they are unhappy with the information available to them. Some don’t think they are seeing all the homes available in their price rangeand complain about how difficult it is to find detailed information about the homes they are interested in buying."
If you're thinking about buying a home right now do you feel you're as informed as you could be about the house you may be interested in buying? If not, would you even know where to go to even begin to get it?
Do not despair because there is hope!
You would be surprised to learn that you can get alot of answers and information simply by observing and asking the right questions - and many of them. You also need to be sure you're asking the right person, to get the right answer.
A couple of sources of information include your local municipal Offices or County Courthouse, neighbors and yes, even the actual seller(s).
You also need to spend time investigating the neighborhood and, once you actually decide on a home you're interested in, spend as much time there as possible. Doing so will allow you to get the feel for the property and view things you may normally miss if you're just simply herded through the home.
Here is a brief list of some of the things you should be able to uncover with a little poking around:
* What work has been done to the home?
* What work needs to be done to the home?
* Is it a good neighborhood?
* How can you tell if it's a good neighborhood?
* Who can tell you the truth about the neighborhood?
* Is the house you're looking to purchase built on a former dump site?
* Is something going to be happening with all that vacant land next door?
* How long have the current owners owned the home?
* How much did they pay for the home when they bought it?
* Why are they selling now?
* Is the price they are asking for the home too high?
The key is: Don't be afraid to ask the questions you have and, for the questions you do have, make sure you're asking the right person and make sure they getanswered to your satisfaction BEFORE you make your purchase.
Become a real estate insider and don't be at the mercy of unreliable real estateagents or untruthful sellers. Discover just how easy it is to get all the informationyou need on the home you want to buy and not get stuck having to deal with those post-purchase nightmaresFree Articles, as most uninformed homebuyers do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Don Berthiaume has been involved with real estate for over 21 years. He is the author and publisher of the "Home Buyer Defense Guide".
http://www.HomeBuyerDefenseGuide.com/tres.html
He can be reached by email at: don@homebuyerdefenseguide.com
Now, try "Home Buyer Guide" and check to see what's out there for that.
Overwhelming, isn’t it?
And that’s exactly the problem facing today’s prospective homebuyers; not knowing how to sort through all of the information that is offered to them when buying a home.
Do you know what the other problem is?
Ironic as it may sound, just as prospective homebuyers have too much information on topics such as: how to find a real estate agent, how to find a mortgage, how to fix your credit or how to get the lowest possible insurance, and on and on...they are faced with just the complete opposite when it comes to having information on the main focus of their quest - specific information on the house they want to buy.
In a survey conducted by Key Findings, it was found that "Prospective home buyers say they are unhappy with the information available to them. Some don’t think they are seeing all the homes available in their price rangeand complain about how difficult it is to find detailed information about the homes they are interested in buying."
If you're thinking about buying a home right now do you feel you're as informed as you could be about the house you may be interested in buying? If not, would you even know where to go to even begin to get it?
Do not despair because there is hope!
You would be surprised to learn that you can get alot of answers and information simply by observing and asking the right questions - and many of them. You also need to be sure you're asking the right person, to get the right answer.
A couple of sources of information include your local municipal Offices or County Courthouse, neighbors and yes, even the actual seller(s).
You also need to spend time investigating the neighborhood and, once you actually decide on a home you're interested in, spend as much time there as possible. Doing so will allow you to get the feel for the property and view things you may normally miss if you're just simply herded through the home.
Here is a brief list of some of the things you should be able to uncover with a little poking around:
* What work has been done to the home?
* What work needs to be done to the home?
* Is it a good neighborhood?
* How can you tell if it's a good neighborhood?
* Who can tell you the truth about the neighborhood?
* Is the house you're looking to purchase built on a former dump site?
* Is something going to be happening with all that vacant land next door?
* How long have the current owners owned the home?
* How much did they pay for the home when they bought it?
* Why are they selling now?
* Is the price they are asking for the home too high?
The key is: Don't be afraid to ask the questions you have and, for the questions you do have, make sure you're asking the right person and make sure they getanswered to your satisfaction BEFORE you make your purchase.
Become a real estate insider and don't be at the mercy of unreliable real estateagents or untruthful sellers. Discover just how easy it is to get all the informationyou need on the home you want to buy and not get stuck having to deal with those post-purchase nightmaresFree Articles, as most uninformed homebuyers do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Don Berthiaume has been involved with real estate for over 21 years. He is the author and publisher of the "Home Buyer Defense Guide".
http://www.HomeBuyerDefenseGuide.com/tres.html
He can be reached by email at: don@homebuyerdefenseguide.com
Applying for Your First Home Mortgage? What You Need to Know
Applying for your first home mortgage at first might seem like an easy process simply because people buy and sell homes every day. However, buying a home is not like buying a new bike, and applying for a home mortgage can be a long and drawn out process requiring a lot of patience and fortitude. However, if you know what to expect up front the home mortgage process will be much easier and a lot less stressful.
The following home mortgage tips will help you figure out how to best go about the home mortgage loan process for your situation.
Home Mortgage tip #1 Interest Rates
Before applying for your first home mortgage loan you will want to shop around and see what average home mortgage loan rates are. Shopping for home mortgage rates online is a timesaver and frequently have lower rates as well. Your home mortgage rate will affect how much money you have to pay back over the term of the loan, so the lower the better.
Home Mortgage Tip #2 Fixed or Variable Interest Rate
When it comes to your home mortgage loan there are more options than just a loan you pay back over a set amount of years. You can choose different home mortgage interest rates that work best for your current and future situations. So, before you apply for a home mortgage loan do some research on variable and fixed interest rates to find what will work best for you.
Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down Payment
When applying for a home mortgage loan for the first time you might not be aware of the general down payment you will be required to make. Many times a home mortgage loan requires between 10 and 20% of the price of the home, but if you have good credit sometimes you can make a lower down payment and still get a good deal on your home mortgage. This depends on the home mortgage lenderScience Articles, so shop around.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.mortgages-reviews.info a website specialized on Home Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Home Mortgage. For more info visit his site: Home Mortgage
The following home mortgage tips will help you figure out how to best go about the home mortgage loan process for your situation.
Home Mortgage tip #1 Interest Rates
Before applying for your first home mortgage loan you will want to shop around and see what average home mortgage loan rates are. Shopping for home mortgage rates online is a timesaver and frequently have lower rates as well. Your home mortgage rate will affect how much money you have to pay back over the term of the loan, so the lower the better.
Home Mortgage Tip #2 Fixed or Variable Interest Rate
When it comes to your home mortgage loan there are more options than just a loan you pay back over a set amount of years. You can choose different home mortgage interest rates that work best for your current and future situations. So, before you apply for a home mortgage loan do some research on variable and fixed interest rates to find what will work best for you.
Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down Payment
When applying for a home mortgage loan for the first time you might not be aware of the general down payment you will be required to make. Many times a home mortgage loan requires between 10 and 20% of the price of the home, but if you have good credit sometimes you can make a lower down payment and still get a good deal on your home mortgage. This depends on the home mortgage lenderScience Articles, so shop around.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.mortgages-reviews.info a website specialized on Home Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Home Mortgage. For more info visit his site: Home Mortgage
Friday, May 4, 2007
Home Buying - 3 Money Saving Secrets
Home buying is about getting the right home for you, but it can't hurt to save a few thousand too. Do you know the basic ways to do that?
Home buying is about finding the right house, and this includes getting the right price. There are five basic ways to buy a home for less. Here are three of them.
Home Buying Secret - Buy In Inexpensive Towns
Yes, there are still inexpensive towns that you might actually want to live in. In fact, there are still towns in this country where you can see a good movie, put the kids in a good school, go shopping, enjoy nearby natural beauty, and buy homes for under fifty thousand dollars. My wife and I bought a beautiful little home with hardwood floors, a full carpeted basement, and a garage, in a pretty mountain town, for $17,500, in 2002. You can still get homes for under $35,000 there.
What you can't find easily there, is a good job. These towns with the cheapest homes usually have a bad job situation. They are great places to retire to, or to move to if you have a business or profession that isn't location-dependent. Writers and internet entrepreneurs are beginning to discover them.
This may not work for you, of course. If you already have determined where you will be living, or if you need a town with high-paying jobs, try the following ways to save money.
Home Buying Secret - Buy Inexpensive Houses
One way to save when buying a home is to find a less expensive alternative that still fits your needs. This can mean buying in the inexpensive parts of town, or buying the inexpensive types of homes. Don't set your mind on one type of home or one neighborhood before you know what all the alternatives are.
This isn't about buying a cheap dump to save money, or buying in a dangerous part of town. It is more about a philosophy of defining your true needs so you can find the least expensive way to meet them. You may be surprised at what is available for less.
Home Buying Secret - Negotiate A Lower Price
No matter what you buy, you can save a lot if you know a few basic negotiating techniques. You'll find easy-to-learn techniques in any good book on negotiating. Is it worth a few minutes reading and an hour or two of practice to save thousands of dollars?
There are simple negotiating techniques that are used by the masters of negotiation. They are used in all areas of business and real estate. You don't need to become a master, though, to knock a couple thousand off the price of that next house. In factFree Reprint Articles, a little knowledge goes a long way in home buying.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Gillman wrote the book: Cheap Homes - How To Save Thousands Buying Your Next House. To learn the other home buying secrets, and to see a photo of the beautiful home he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.YourCheapHome.com
Home buying is about finding the right house, and this includes getting the right price. There are five basic ways to buy a home for less. Here are three of them.
Home Buying Secret - Buy In Inexpensive Towns
Yes, there are still inexpensive towns that you might actually want to live in. In fact, there are still towns in this country where you can see a good movie, put the kids in a good school, go shopping, enjoy nearby natural beauty, and buy homes for under fifty thousand dollars. My wife and I bought a beautiful little home with hardwood floors, a full carpeted basement, and a garage, in a pretty mountain town, for $17,500, in 2002. You can still get homes for under $35,000 there.
What you can't find easily there, is a good job. These towns with the cheapest homes usually have a bad job situation. They are great places to retire to, or to move to if you have a business or profession that isn't location-dependent. Writers and internet entrepreneurs are beginning to discover them.
This may not work for you, of course. If you already have determined where you will be living, or if you need a town with high-paying jobs, try the following ways to save money.
Home Buying Secret - Buy Inexpensive Houses
One way to save when buying a home is to find a less expensive alternative that still fits your needs. This can mean buying in the inexpensive parts of town, or buying the inexpensive types of homes. Don't set your mind on one type of home or one neighborhood before you know what all the alternatives are.
This isn't about buying a cheap dump to save money, or buying in a dangerous part of town. It is more about a philosophy of defining your true needs so you can find the least expensive way to meet them. You may be surprised at what is available for less.
Home Buying Secret - Negotiate A Lower Price
No matter what you buy, you can save a lot if you know a few basic negotiating techniques. You'll find easy-to-learn techniques in any good book on negotiating. Is it worth a few minutes reading and an hour or two of practice to save thousands of dollars?
There are simple negotiating techniques that are used by the masters of negotiation. They are used in all areas of business and real estate. You don't need to become a master, though, to knock a couple thousand off the price of that next house. In factFree Reprint Articles, a little knowledge goes a long way in home buying.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Gillman wrote the book: Cheap Homes - How To Save Thousands Buying Your Next House. To learn the other home buying secrets, and to see a photo of the beautiful home he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.YourCheapHome.com
Home Buying - How to avoid paying too much
Learn how to find the right home for the right price. Taking the emotion out makes great financial sense. Take the smart approach to home buying.
Home Buying - How to avoid paying too much
Whether you’re a first time buyer or a veteran of the real estate game, buyinga home can be a mammoth process. It’s an emotional time often accompanied withdifficult choices. Those same difficult choices are tied directly to costs and your ultimate return and happiness.
Finding the right home for your family’s needs is hard, but managing to avoid paying too much is a another mastery of skills entirely. The following will show you not only how to make sure you’ve found the right house, but also how to negotiate the right price.
Know what you’re shopping for before you start
This first step is understanding what you are seeking. Your family has certain needs which must be fulfilled. Also there are many desires which may or may not ultimately be fulfilled. Take an unemotional look into those needs and desires.
Do you choose a three-bedroom home with room for your family to grow or the one with a large back yard, perfect for entertaining? Is having a large kitchen more important than having an extra room?
Two lists should be created - a wish list (your desires) and a reality list (your needs). The reality list consists of those items which your family really needs. They are “non-negotiables”. On the other hand, the wish list contains those items which would be nice to have. Prioritize the lists and the goal is clear - your next home needs to have most, if not all, of your reality list items and hopefully a few of the top wish list items. These lists will keep your efforts channeling in the proper direction.
Shop for a mortgage before you shop for a home
Getting a loan pre-approval is the smart way to shop for a home. It tells the sellers that you’re a serious prospect and you’ll know in advance the maximum mortgage you can afford. Make sure you get a commitment in writing.
It’s easier than ever to qualify for a home loan. Lenders have modified qualification rules and created programs designed to help people even if they have problems in their credit and employment histories. Many programs dramatically reduce down payments, so if money’s tight now you can still make that purchase.
First-time home buyers can benefit from the many lender programs that now exist. Reduced down payment is an example of such programs.
Pick the right real estate professional
From finding the right home to selecting a lender to meet your financial needs to getting proper property inspections to negotiating the best deal, it can be taxing for even the hardiest of souls. You need the right Realtor on your side.
The right real estate professional must have the high level of care, skill and due diligence to ensure your best interests are at heart. They also have a team of other professionals to put at your disposal - lenders, lawyers, home inspectors, movers, etc.
Most sellers you encounter will have a team in their corner. Having a professional on your team is the best way to make sure you get the best deal possible.
Make sure your agent knows what you are looking for
Once you have a clear understanding of your reality and wish lists make sure your agent has those same lists. This communication is critical. Otherwise you’ll both waste your time looking at home you’re really not interested in and you could possibly miss out on the one that truly meets your needs and desires. Your shared goal is to find a place that meets your needs: your agent will then try to satisfy as many of your desires as possible.
A good agent will ask you many questions about what you’re looking for and what you can afford. And then they’ll listen carefully to your answers.
Yes, that too... location, location, location
The desirability and resale of your home-to-be depend on location more than any other single factor. The simple truth is - the value of your home is affected by the homes that surround it.
Assuming you’ve already considered the items that make up a desirable home and community - character, quality of schools, access to work and services, recreational facilities, entertainment, etc. - there are several elements that combine to make a good location.
Your first consideration is the neighborhood. Every neighborhood has its own unique character; you need to make sure you’d be comfortable in the one you’re thinking of living in. Take a long walk and observe carefully. Do people take care of their yards and homes? Are the yards fenced? Do children play in the streets? Talk to the neighbors and ask questions that give you a better feel for the area. Be careful not to appear judgmental - you might be talking to a future neighbor.
If the neighborhood is to your satisfaction, look at homes on the market in the area. Extremely large homes surrounding smaller ones tend to appreciate less than a large home among other large homes. Conversely, the smallest home in a neighborhood tends to be “pulled up” by the other homes on the block. However, it might take longer to sell that smaller home when the time comes because many people are unwilling to pay extra for the neighborhood.
The outer edge of a neighborhood is usually not good for resale value. There are noticeable dividing lines between unlike neighborhood. It could be a difference in architectural styles, home size, property use or something else. Look at a home in the middle of a community of similar homes; it will hold its value better.
An exception to this rule is a home on the edge of a neighborhood bounded by woods, park land, a golf course or other open space. Natural boundaries appeal to most buyers and these “edge” homes can actually command a higher price. The exception is when there’s an unpleasant use planned for the open space. An open field with a babbling brook is nice; a new freeway, strip mall, or warehouse is not.
Other things that can negatively affect property values are traffic, sounds, smells, etc. Be sure to give the neighborhood a long, hard look. Preview the area at various hours of the day. The home you’re interested in may be perfect, but if the neighborhood has problems, your investment won’t be worth as much when the time comes to sell.
Use your real estate professional to narrow the prospect list -
A good agent brings to the table an in-depth knowledge of the current housing inventory in the area and continually updates that knowledge by touring homes as they are placed on the market. This is to your advantage. Trying to personally see every available home that might fit your needs would be an overwhelming process . If you are thoroughly communicating your needs and desires to your agent, then your agent can help you narrow down the list of prospective homes to those that best suit your family. This will save you much time and energy.
When the time comes to settle on one home, you can do it with the confidence that you’ve made a well-informed choice.
Show a little interest in everything you see
As you tour the homes on your short list, find something to admire in each one. If you don’t show any interest until you’ve finally fallen in love with a home, then you’ve put yourself at a competitive disadvantage. Never let anyone know how badly you want a home - it will cost you money!
Shop with your head, not your heart
Don’t forget the purpose of your reality and wish lists. Shopping for a home is an emotional process. Your heart will cost you money; using your head will save it.
Don’t ignore red flags when evaluating a home’s pluses and minuses
When evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of a particular property, be sure you know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable problems.
Some issues - peeling paint, worn carpeting, ugly wallpaper - are cosmetic and can easily be remedied. In fact, you can use these “problems” during negotiations to lower the asking price; after all, you’ll need to spend money to bring the house up to date. Make note of what you see that can be used to your advantage. Although hold back from nit-picking. If taken to extremes, you could end up alienating the seller and creating a hostile atmosphere.
Other problems may be warnings to walk away. Major foundation cracks, evidence of previous water damage, signs of serious dry rot or termite damage, antiquated electrical systems or plumbing - any one of these may cause to reconsider your interest.
Don’t let a house’s positive attributes blind you to very real problems. If you do, the chances are good that you’ll end up spending much more than you ever expected down the line.
Hire a professional home inspector
Failing to do so, made the biggest home buying mistakes list.
Spending a few hundred dollars for a professional home inspection may be the best investment you’ll ever make. A professional inspector brings experience in examining a great many homes, good evaluation standards and an unbiased perspective. And a written report can be an excellent negotiating tool.
A Typical Inspection Looks at:
* Foundation (slab, crawlspace, basement, etc)
* Electrical, heating and plumbing systems
* Floors, walls and ceilings
* Attic
* Roof
* Siding and trim
* Porches, patios and decks
* Garage
* Property drainage
Make sure you accompany your inspector on the tour. You’ll learn a lot about the home you’re thinking of buying.
Once you have your evaluation, the decision to proceed is yours. A home inspector only gives you a professional opinion of the home’s condition, not advice as to whether or not you should buy.
Not all fixer-uppers are good buys
You may be the type who looks at a home in need of significant work as a challenge and an opportunity to make money. Many people have bought fixer-uppers at below market rates, invested a little sweat equity or a little more money on renovations, then eventually put it back on the market at a profit.
But if it isn’t priced low enough, you won’t recoup your investment of time, trouble and expense. Before you proceed , do a careful evaluation of what you’ll have to invest and consult you real estate professional to learn what you can reasonably expect to make when you put the home back on the market. And be sure to include the unexpected. There’s no such thing as a “sure thing”.
Choose a home with an eye toward future needs
Buying a home is a large investment. If you can stretch a little today to buy a home that you can grow in - whether it’s having a child, running a home-based business, or having room to build an addition - do it. In the long run, it will probably be less expensive than moving up to a marginally larger home when the need does arise.
Clarify who your agent is
Make sure you know who the agent you’re talking to represents. All agents have the responsibility to be open and honest with you and to let you know who they represent - the buyer, seller or both. On-site agents of new communities most often represent the seller (new home builder), not you.
Ask for a written comparative analysis
One way to ensure that you don’t offer too much for a home is to ask your agent to prepare a written comparative market analysis. A CMA will show you the sale prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood. It also lists the asking prices of other homes in the area currently on the market.
You may find that the asking price is above what comparable homes in the neighborhood are actually asking for. Or you might even find another home in the area that’s a better choice. When you make an offer, you can use the CMA as evidence to show the seller why you believe your offer is reasonable.
Learn as much as you can about the seller
It’s true what they say... Knowledge is power. The reason behind a sale can often be used to your competitive advantage during negotiations. For example, a seller whose company has transferred him to another city is probably more motivated to sell than someone who is still looking for a new home.
Other signs of a motivated seller include a vacant house, or a house that’s been on the market for several months with several reductions in the asking price.
Keep your own situation to yourself
Information can be used against you as well. How much you’re willing to spend, the size of mortgage you can afford, your move-in deadlines - it all can be used to extract more money out of your pocket. Be sure to tell your agent everything they need to know to be effective on your behalf, such as, how much you have for a down payment, the size of the mortgage you can afford, etc. However, keep your personal circumstances and timeline to yourself.
Use time to your advantage
Just as you have a time frame in which you wish to buy, seller almost certainly has a deadline of his own. If you can learn the seller’s deadline, it’s another piece of information that can be used to negotiate a better deal.
Check your emotions at the door during negotiations
One of the costliest mistakes you can make is letting the sellers know how much you love their home. Once you’ve let it slip, you can forget about negotiating the price; the other side knows how motivated you are. In fact, a seller may see it as an opportunity to squeeze a little more money out of you even when you’ve made a good offer to start.
No matter how wonderful a home is, no matter how much you want it, keep it to yourself.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
You may be the type who prefers a hard-and-fast price tag on everything. “I don’t like to haggle” is your approach. But negotiation is the key to getting a good deal. If your goal is to get the best home possible for the least amount of money, then you had better be prepared to play the negotiating game.
Stay out of bidding wars
Sometimes the seller’s agent will try to scare a hesitant buyer with the threat of another serious potential buyer. Don’t fall into this trap, it will only cost you money.
If there is another buyer, then the seller’s agent will try to get a bidding war going. In these situations, whoever wins also loses because the buyer ends up overpaying.
If there isn’t another buyer, there’s a good chance that the seller’s agent will come back with “the other deal” fell through. Be sure to let the other side know that you might be interested if that happens before you walk away.
Know your hidden costs
There’s more to buying a home than the mortgage. Don’t forget to factor in mortgage insurance, appraisal fees, inspection fees, title insurance and every other dollar you’ll have to spend in order to know what you’re really paying for your home. With the help of a good agentPsychology Articles, you should identify all of the costs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Home Buying - How to avoid paying too much
Whether you’re a first time buyer or a veteran of the real estate game, buyinga home can be a mammoth process. It’s an emotional time often accompanied withdifficult choices. Those same difficult choices are tied directly to costs and your ultimate return and happiness.
Finding the right home for your family’s needs is hard, but managing to avoid paying too much is a another mastery of skills entirely. The following will show you not only how to make sure you’ve found the right house, but also how to negotiate the right price.
Know what you’re shopping for before you start
This first step is understanding what you are seeking. Your family has certain needs which must be fulfilled. Also there are many desires which may or may not ultimately be fulfilled. Take an unemotional look into those needs and desires.
Do you choose a three-bedroom home with room for your family to grow or the one with a large back yard, perfect for entertaining? Is having a large kitchen more important than having an extra room?
Two lists should be created - a wish list (your desires) and a reality list (your needs). The reality list consists of those items which your family really needs. They are “non-negotiables”. On the other hand, the wish list contains those items which would be nice to have. Prioritize the lists and the goal is clear - your next home needs to have most, if not all, of your reality list items and hopefully a few of the top wish list items. These lists will keep your efforts channeling in the proper direction.
Shop for a mortgage before you shop for a home
Getting a loan pre-approval is the smart way to shop for a home. It tells the sellers that you’re a serious prospect and you’ll know in advance the maximum mortgage you can afford. Make sure you get a commitment in writing.
It’s easier than ever to qualify for a home loan. Lenders have modified qualification rules and created programs designed to help people even if they have problems in their credit and employment histories. Many programs dramatically reduce down payments, so if money’s tight now you can still make that purchase.
First-time home buyers can benefit from the many lender programs that now exist. Reduced down payment is an example of such programs.
Pick the right real estate professional
From finding the right home to selecting a lender to meet your financial needs to getting proper property inspections to negotiating the best deal, it can be taxing for even the hardiest of souls. You need the right Realtor on your side.
The right real estate professional must have the high level of care, skill and due diligence to ensure your best interests are at heart. They also have a team of other professionals to put at your disposal - lenders, lawyers, home inspectors, movers, etc.
Most sellers you encounter will have a team in their corner. Having a professional on your team is the best way to make sure you get the best deal possible.
Make sure your agent knows what you are looking for
Once you have a clear understanding of your reality and wish lists make sure your agent has those same lists. This communication is critical. Otherwise you’ll both waste your time looking at home you’re really not interested in and you could possibly miss out on the one that truly meets your needs and desires. Your shared goal is to find a place that meets your needs: your agent will then try to satisfy as many of your desires as possible.
A good agent will ask you many questions about what you’re looking for and what you can afford. And then they’ll listen carefully to your answers.
Yes, that too... location, location, location
The desirability and resale of your home-to-be depend on location more than any other single factor. The simple truth is - the value of your home is affected by the homes that surround it.
Assuming you’ve already considered the items that make up a desirable home and community - character, quality of schools, access to work and services, recreational facilities, entertainment, etc. - there are several elements that combine to make a good location.
Your first consideration is the neighborhood. Every neighborhood has its own unique character; you need to make sure you’d be comfortable in the one you’re thinking of living in. Take a long walk and observe carefully. Do people take care of their yards and homes? Are the yards fenced? Do children play in the streets? Talk to the neighbors and ask questions that give you a better feel for the area. Be careful not to appear judgmental - you might be talking to a future neighbor.
If the neighborhood is to your satisfaction, look at homes on the market in the area. Extremely large homes surrounding smaller ones tend to appreciate less than a large home among other large homes. Conversely, the smallest home in a neighborhood tends to be “pulled up” by the other homes on the block. However, it might take longer to sell that smaller home when the time comes because many people are unwilling to pay extra for the neighborhood.
The outer edge of a neighborhood is usually not good for resale value. There are noticeable dividing lines between unlike neighborhood. It could be a difference in architectural styles, home size, property use or something else. Look at a home in the middle of a community of similar homes; it will hold its value better.
An exception to this rule is a home on the edge of a neighborhood bounded by woods, park land, a golf course or other open space. Natural boundaries appeal to most buyers and these “edge” homes can actually command a higher price. The exception is when there’s an unpleasant use planned for the open space. An open field with a babbling brook is nice; a new freeway, strip mall, or warehouse is not.
Other things that can negatively affect property values are traffic, sounds, smells, etc. Be sure to give the neighborhood a long, hard look. Preview the area at various hours of the day. The home you’re interested in may be perfect, but if the neighborhood has problems, your investment won’t be worth as much when the time comes to sell.
Use your real estate professional to narrow the prospect list -
A good agent brings to the table an in-depth knowledge of the current housing inventory in the area and continually updates that knowledge by touring homes as they are placed on the market. This is to your advantage. Trying to personally see every available home that might fit your needs would be an overwhelming process . If you are thoroughly communicating your needs and desires to your agent, then your agent can help you narrow down the list of prospective homes to those that best suit your family. This will save you much time and energy.
When the time comes to settle on one home, you can do it with the confidence that you’ve made a well-informed choice.
Show a little interest in everything you see
As you tour the homes on your short list, find something to admire in each one. If you don’t show any interest until you’ve finally fallen in love with a home, then you’ve put yourself at a competitive disadvantage. Never let anyone know how badly you want a home - it will cost you money!
Shop with your head, not your heart
Don’t forget the purpose of your reality and wish lists. Shopping for a home is an emotional process. Your heart will cost you money; using your head will save it.
Don’t ignore red flags when evaluating a home’s pluses and minuses
When evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of a particular property, be sure you know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable problems.
Some issues - peeling paint, worn carpeting, ugly wallpaper - are cosmetic and can easily be remedied. In fact, you can use these “problems” during negotiations to lower the asking price; after all, you’ll need to spend money to bring the house up to date. Make note of what you see that can be used to your advantage. Although hold back from nit-picking. If taken to extremes, you could end up alienating the seller and creating a hostile atmosphere.
Other problems may be warnings to walk away. Major foundation cracks, evidence of previous water damage, signs of serious dry rot or termite damage, antiquated electrical systems or plumbing - any one of these may cause to reconsider your interest.
Don’t let a house’s positive attributes blind you to very real problems. If you do, the chances are good that you’ll end up spending much more than you ever expected down the line.
Hire a professional home inspector
Failing to do so, made the biggest home buying mistakes list.
Spending a few hundred dollars for a professional home inspection may be the best investment you’ll ever make. A professional inspector brings experience in examining a great many homes, good evaluation standards and an unbiased perspective. And a written report can be an excellent negotiating tool.
A Typical Inspection Looks at:
* Foundation (slab, crawlspace, basement, etc)
* Electrical, heating and plumbing systems
* Floors, walls and ceilings
* Attic
* Roof
* Siding and trim
* Porches, patios and decks
* Garage
* Property drainage
Make sure you accompany your inspector on the tour. You’ll learn a lot about the home you’re thinking of buying.
Once you have your evaluation, the decision to proceed is yours. A home inspector only gives you a professional opinion of the home’s condition, not advice as to whether or not you should buy.
Not all fixer-uppers are good buys
You may be the type who looks at a home in need of significant work as a challenge and an opportunity to make money. Many people have bought fixer-uppers at below market rates, invested a little sweat equity or a little more money on renovations, then eventually put it back on the market at a profit.
But if it isn’t priced low enough, you won’t recoup your investment of time, trouble and expense. Before you proceed , do a careful evaluation of what you’ll have to invest and consult you real estate professional to learn what you can reasonably expect to make when you put the home back on the market. And be sure to include the unexpected. There’s no such thing as a “sure thing”.
Choose a home with an eye toward future needs
Buying a home is a large investment. If you can stretch a little today to buy a home that you can grow in - whether it’s having a child, running a home-based business, or having room to build an addition - do it. In the long run, it will probably be less expensive than moving up to a marginally larger home when the need does arise.
Clarify who your agent is
Make sure you know who the agent you’re talking to represents. All agents have the responsibility to be open and honest with you and to let you know who they represent - the buyer, seller or both. On-site agents of new communities most often represent the seller (new home builder), not you.
Ask for a written comparative analysis
One way to ensure that you don’t offer too much for a home is to ask your agent to prepare a written comparative market analysis. A CMA will show you the sale prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood. It also lists the asking prices of other homes in the area currently on the market.
You may find that the asking price is above what comparable homes in the neighborhood are actually asking for. Or you might even find another home in the area that’s a better choice. When you make an offer, you can use the CMA as evidence to show the seller why you believe your offer is reasonable.
Learn as much as you can about the seller
It’s true what they say... Knowledge is power. The reason behind a sale can often be used to your competitive advantage during negotiations. For example, a seller whose company has transferred him to another city is probably more motivated to sell than someone who is still looking for a new home.
Other signs of a motivated seller include a vacant house, or a house that’s been on the market for several months with several reductions in the asking price.
Keep your own situation to yourself
Information can be used against you as well. How much you’re willing to spend, the size of mortgage you can afford, your move-in deadlines - it all can be used to extract more money out of your pocket. Be sure to tell your agent everything they need to know to be effective on your behalf, such as, how much you have for a down payment, the size of the mortgage you can afford, etc. However, keep your personal circumstances and timeline to yourself.
Use time to your advantage
Just as you have a time frame in which you wish to buy, seller almost certainly has a deadline of his own. If you can learn the seller’s deadline, it’s another piece of information that can be used to negotiate a better deal.
Check your emotions at the door during negotiations
One of the costliest mistakes you can make is letting the sellers know how much you love their home. Once you’ve let it slip, you can forget about negotiating the price; the other side knows how motivated you are. In fact, a seller may see it as an opportunity to squeeze a little more money out of you even when you’ve made a good offer to start.
No matter how wonderful a home is, no matter how much you want it, keep it to yourself.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
You may be the type who prefers a hard-and-fast price tag on everything. “I don’t like to haggle” is your approach. But negotiation is the key to getting a good deal. If your goal is to get the best home possible for the least amount of money, then you had better be prepared to play the negotiating game.
Stay out of bidding wars
Sometimes the seller’s agent will try to scare a hesitant buyer with the threat of another serious potential buyer. Don’t fall into this trap, it will only cost you money.
If there is another buyer, then the seller’s agent will try to get a bidding war going. In these situations, whoever wins also loses because the buyer ends up overpaying.
If there isn’t another buyer, there’s a good chance that the seller’s agent will come back with “the other deal” fell through. Be sure to let the other side know that you might be interested if that happens before you walk away.
Know your hidden costs
There’s more to buying a home than the mortgage. Don’t forget to factor in mortgage insurance, appraisal fees, inspection fees, title insurance and every other dollar you’ll have to spend in order to know what you’re really paying for your home. With the help of a good agentPsychology Articles, you should identify all of the costs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Duane Devalle provides you with frank appraisals of the current market and ensures your interests are protected while your transaction stays on course. You can count on Duane to have the patience to invest as much time as necessary to make sure you are comfortable with every step of the process. He will always complete your business at hand before he moves on to his next client. Duane's first priority to you is the utmost skill, care and due diligence.
When listing your home, Duane takes the approach of utilizing a non-traditional commission structure to make every effort to maximize your profit. Duane look's forward to discussing with you his fair commission approach.
When buying a home learn how you will pay no commission.
http://www.claytonncrealestateagent.com
http://www.raleighncrealestateagent.com
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