Real Estate Information |
|
Helpful Hints for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying a house can be a daunting task, even for someone who has owned several homes. My husband and I recently purchased our first home together, and it was hard to find good advice that we truly found useful. We had to learn a lot on our own, but at least now we feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the whole process. Here are some helpful hints we picked up along the way: 1. Use your online resources. Almost every state and local government has a website where you can research real estate information. The data on home sales, taxes, and neighborhoods is invaluable when you are shopping for a home. We were able to find out the most recent sale prices in the neighborhood we selected, and we didn't have to rely on a real estate agent to get the data for us. Doing the research yourself will make you more knowledgeable about the market, which is key to making a good purchase. 2. Be realistic about how much you can spend. Try to buy a home in a price range that allows you to put down 20%. If you put down less than this, you will have to pay PMI (private mortgage insurance) to protect the lender in case you default on the loan. I know that 20% is a lot, but it's not unrealistic. You may not be able to do it on your first home, but hopefully you can on your second home. The profits from the sale of my condo enabled my husband and me to have more than enough for the 20% down payment on our home. But we didn't put it all down on the home - we saved some of the profits for the unexpected expenses that come with buying a home. We suggest that you do the same. 3. Shop for a home in the winter, preferably around the holidays. Since most people just aren't interested in buying a home whenthey are trying to deal with the holidays, you can pretty much be one of the few buyers out there. We bought our home right before Christmas, and it was definitely a buyers market. We had our pick of homes and were able to underbid on the asking price, even though we live in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. 4. Use a smaller mortgage company that can offer personal service. People tend to go with large, well-known mortgage companies, since that's all they know. But the smaller, regional companies provide excellent customer service, and can often give you better rates than the big companies. Since they don't advertise and instead rely on word-of-mouth, they have to be good in order to get your service. We started off with a big-name company, but in the end, we went with a regional company because they had better rates and better customer service. 5. Always have a home inspection. I think most people know this fact already, but it is really important in areas with a hot real estate market. It can be easy to get caught up in bidding wars, and to want to get a house at all costs. Some friends of ours wanted a house so badly that not only did they overbid, but they also waived the home inspection. They got the house - and right along with it they got several thousand dollars worth of damage that would have been found in an inspection. As a final note, try to remember that buying a home doesn't haveto be scary. It's very exciting to own your own home, so think ofall the good things that will come once you have made it through the home-buying process. If you follow the advice above, then you should be well-equipped to make it through unscathed. Rachel Greenberg has a background in business and finance, and she received her MBA from Duke University. She writes fun and informative pieces for her website http://www.bargainfamily.com - which she created with her husband Lee. The website provides advice and recommendations for families on various products and services for their homes, lives, and businesses.
MORE RESOURCES: L.A.’s Real Estate Upfronts Reveal Penthouse A at Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills Hollywood Reporter Refined Real Estate: Unique Leschi home with lake views lists for $1,395,000 seattlerefined.com Coloradans negotiating lower fees for real estate agents with new law on horizon Colorado Public Radio Real estate mogul cautions about avoidable mistake when buying a home, explains how to avoid 'drowning' Fox Business Massachusetts real estate transactions for Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties May 19, 2024 edition MassLive.com Real estate transfers: May 17, 2024 RiverheadLOCAL Real Estate Newsletter Articles this Week: Housing Starts Increased to 1.360 million Annual Rate in April Calculated Risk London Real Estate Is About to Get the ‘Selling Sunset’ Treatment Hollywood Reporter Mid-May Greenwich Real Estate Market Report Greenwich Sentinel Should I Buy a House Now or Wait Until 2025: Expert Forecast Norada Real Estate Investments Dodge County Real Estate Transfers Fremont Tribune The Michael Houck Real Estate Guide for May 19 Oil City News Washington state ahead of the game as lawsuit rewrites real estate commission rules The Business Journals MCB Real Estate Revives Long-Awaited Viva White Oak Mixed-Use Project Source of the Spring STAR resource center Department of Taxation and Finance Yes, there are other coastal Delaware towns besides Rehoboth Washington Blade Dutchess County, NY real estate 2024: What's on the market for $579K Poughkeepsie Journal Baltimore real estate: 4 waterfront condos for sale The Baltimore Banner Revolution in real estate: How the NAR settlement is changing the game Eden Prairie Local News Real Estate Briefs: Lakeside homes, news condos, and more news Rough Draft Atlanta Home Prices Hit Record Highs in April 2024: Trends & Forecast Norada Real Estate Investments REAL ESTATE | UPDATE | Johnson Bus selling lot for new West Bend Fire Department No. 1 washingtoncountyinsider.com VIDEO | REAL ESTATE | Construction finally underway for Taco John's in West Bend, WI washingtoncountyinsider.com Innovative Leaders Vanderstraaten and Rohrman Inducted into North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame ... dallasinnovates.com Here are recent property transfers up to $1.28 million St. Albans Messenger James Quinn's Data Center Advisory Expertise at JLL Drives Innovative Real Estate Solutions for Global Corporations Markets Insider Oceanport's Denholtz recognized by commercial real estate organization themonmouthjournaleastern.com Westmoreland County Real Estate Transfers | Real Estate | latrobebulletinnews.com latrobebulletinnews.com Real Estate Mogul Grant Cardone Closes Largest All-Cash Multifamily Deal In South Florida This Year Yahoo Finance Routt County real estate sales at $17.6M for May 9-15 Steamboat Pilot & Today China Says It Will Start Buying Apartments as Housing Slump Worsens The New York Times OT Real Estate Spotlight of the Week: 2115 Sheridan Place The Owensboro Times Robert Willett may be targeting female Realtors in Northeast Ohio Akron Beacon Journal Number of homes for sale in Metro Atlanta increased significantly, real estate brokerage says – WABE WABE 90.1 FM Billy Joel spends over $10M for sprawling East Hampton pad with horse farm, neighbors other A-listers New York Post What's real estate wellness? Fortune Connecticut real estate law changed after MV Realty investigation Eyewitness News 3 Billionaire Frank McCourt raises his hand to buy TikTok Business Insider Connecticut real estate law changed after MV Realty investigation Eyewitness News 3 Ellison sues real estate broker Chad Banken over alleged schemes involving contracts for deed Star Tribune Navigating Northern Virginia Real Estate: An Insight Into Rhonda Campbell's Bespoke Approach Grit Daily My Co-op Neighbor Never Pays His Maintenance on Time. Can We Make Him? The New York Times ACRES 2024 showcases innovative real estate projects focused on enhancing environmental sustainability Malaysia Sun Local couple buys Pat Burrell's former Center City penthouse for 38% under original asking price The Business Journals Letter: Clarifying changes to real estate industry Morgan Hill Times Home listings are on the rise in southern Colorado, while other indicators show a slowing real estate market Colorado Public Radio Sean Bloom Investments Announces $2B Real Estate Project in Las Vegas InvestorsObserver Southern fast-food chain Cook Out buys Tampa real estate The Business Journals Did Fort Worth’s real estate market really ‘bottom out’? | Fort Fort Worth Star-Telegram New Rules for North Texas Real Estate Agents Creates Uncertainty Dallas Observer EG Real Estate: 18 Opens This Weekend – East Greenwich News East Greenwich News KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (NYSE:KREF) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts Defense World Busch relative settles squabble with Clayton investors over real estate trust St. Louis Post-Dispatch Real Estate Transactions for May 18-19 | News, Sports, Jobs Nashua Telegraph Edgefront Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:NXR) Forecasted to Earn FY2024 Earnings of $0.73 Per Share Defense World LOCAL REAL ESTATE TODAY 5.17.24 – KQEN News Radio kqennewsradio.com Shaping the Future of Real Estate Technology RisMedia.com Do starter homes still exist? Here's what NJ realtors said NorthJersey.com Housing Market 2024 Predictions Bankrate.com End of war against property speculators marks new phase in China housing South China Morning Post First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:FCR.UN) Share Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving ... Defense World |
RELATED ARTICLES
Investment Real Estate Done Right -- Your Quickest and Safest Path to Wealth In investment real estate the quickest way to wealth is through owner financing, or lease optioning. So, let's take a look at one model transaction, involving the purchase and sale of two properties on lease-option contracts so you an apply it to your own investment real estate system. Real Estate Financing - Ten Ways Do you remember when real estate financing meant you saved up enough to put 20% down on a house, and then you got a mortgage loan for the other 80%? Well, you can still do that, but there are many more options now. Here are ten of them. What is Tax-Deferred Exchange? Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, owners of real estate held for investment or use in a trade or business can swap their property tax-free for "like-kind" real estate.Exchanges are made for people wanting to stay invested in real estate, increase their leverage and to avoid paying hefty taxes upon the sale of property. Should I Invest in Real Estate While Running an Internet Business? Of course you should. I practice this for quite a while and I never looked back. How to Make a Home for Sale Flyer Using Marketing Psychology Want to sell your home right away, for the highest profit to you? Discover how to improve on the Realtor's number two sales tool--right after the sign--your sales flyer.Most real estate agents use a sales flyer template which showcases their listings using out-of-date marketing strategies. Salt Lake City Real Estate From the mountains to the valley, there are many types of Salt Lake City real estate to choose from.Cabins:Cabins nestled into the mountains on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley are a great place to escape for those who have a home in the valley (or nearby). Buying Property in Spain - How to Avoid Paying over the Odds Spain has a lot to offer Northern Europeans and until recently there was a marked difference between the price in their home country and a similar Spanish property. However many buyers have found to their cost that they paid way over the odds. Selling Your Home In The Winter In many parts of the country, selling a home during the winter months can be a challenge. Dreary, cold weather and the end-of-the-year holidays can keep buyers away and heighten fears of your home staying on the market longer than expected. Should You Buy a House or a Condo? A big debate these days is whether or not to buy a house, or buy a condo. Most of this debate comes from a lack of understanding about condos, and what they are. The Value of Building Home Equity There are numerous advantages to owning a home. One of the serious advantages is the equity that is built over time. Things To Consider Before Buying a Condo Hotel or Resort Residence Resort home ownership, such as condo hotels and fractional shares is different from typical home ownership. So it is important to ask certain questions before signing the purchase agreement on a resort property. Why Use a Property Manager? Most experienced property investors use property managers. Why? Because they make you money. Should You Sell Before the Housing Bubble Pops For the past several years housing prices have risen dramatically. With interest rates continuously moving up, and more and more people being priced out of the market, all signs point to an imminent housing market correction. Landlording And Other Aggravations Here's the gripping story.. Will a 1031 Property Exchange Solve Your Problems? If your problem is listed below, a 1031 exchange may or may not be your solution.1. Why Commercial Real Estate is the Hottest Retirement Asset For small business owners, commercial real estate investment is the hottest new retirement asset. If your mind has already jumped to "REITs" - or shares in Real Estate Investment Trusts - think again. Property Investing Secrets 2 Property Investing Secrets:How You Can Turn A Below Average Deal Into Streams Of IncomeWhen property investing, sometimes you'll get a seller who will say: "Sure, I'm retiring, and I need some cash flow, I need some money but if I deposit it in the bank, I'm not going to get much for it. The property market is falling, there aren't a lot of buyers and they are all beating me up on the price of my house. 8 Essential Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector Congratulations! You've decided to purchase a home. We all know that when purchasing a home, every detail is an important one. Real Estate Investing - The First House Purchase Real estate investing usually begins with the purchase of a house, rather than raw land or commercial property. The purchase of a relatively inexpensive house for rental or fix-up purpose is usually lower risk than any other type of real estate investment. How to Qualify For 90% Plus Commercial Financing!!! There are three important questions that you must understand and answer correctly in order to achieve 90% plus commercial financing! Where to go to locate it? What type of project will qualify? And last, how to negotiate for it?To start, you must understand the lender's mindset?.. |
home | site map |
© 2006 TIGER MEDIA |