Buying a home is complicated process in todays world, but we strive to make it an easy, stress free process. Below are 9 things to be aware of when buying a home. Addressing these issues will help you to avoid problems down the road.
"A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that’s best for you."
No matter which way you look at it, buying a home is a major investment. But for many homebuyers, it can be an even more expensive process than it needs to be since they fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either:
paying too much for the home they want, or
losing their dream home to another buyer or,
(worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.
A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that’s best for you.
This important report discusses the 9 most common and costly homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them:
1. Bidding Blind
What price should you offer when you bid on a home? Is the seller’s asking price too high, or does it represent a great deal. If you fail to research the market in order to understand what comparable homes are selling for, making your offer would be like bidding blind. Without this knowledge of market value, you could easily bid too much, or fail to make a competitive offer at all on an excellent value.
2. Buying the Wrong Home
What are you looking for in a home? A simple enough question, but the answer can be quite complex. More often than not, buyers have been swept up in the emotion and excitement of the buying process only to find themselves the owner of a home that is either too big or too small. Maybe they’re stuck with a longer than desired commute to work, or a dozen more fix-ups than they really want to deal with now that the excitement has died down. Take the time upfront to clearly define your wants and needs. Put it in writing and then use it as a yard stick with which to measure every home you look at.
3. Unclear Title
Make sure very early on in the negotiation that you will own your new home free and clear by having a title search completed. The last thing you want to discover when you’re in the back stretch of a transaction is that there are encumbrances on the property such as tax liens, undisclosed owners, easements, leases or the like.
4. Inaccurate Survey
As part of your offer to purchase, make sure you request an updated property survey which clearly marks your boundaries, if the property boundaries are not clearly marked. If the survey is not current, you may find that there are structural changes that are not shown (e.g. additions to the house, a new swimming pool, a neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.). Be very clear on these issues.
5. Undisclosed Fix-ups
Don’t expect every seller to own up to every physical detail that will need to be attended to. Both you and the seller are out to maximize your investment. Ensure that you conduct a thorough inspection of the home early in the process. Consider hiring an independent inspector to objectively view the home inside and out, and make the final contract contingent upon this inspector’s report. This inspector should be able to give you a report of any item that needs to be fixed with associated, approximate cost.
6. Not Getting Mortgage Pre-approval
Pre-approval is fast, easy and free. It is also REQUIRED to submit an offer in Arizona. When you have a pre-approved mortgage, you can shop for your home with a greater sense of freedom and security, knowing that the money will be there when you find the home of your dreams.
7. Contract Misses
If a seller fails to comply to the letter of the contract by neglecting to attend to some repair issues, or changing the spirit of the agreement in some way, this could delay the final closing and settlement. Agree ahead of time on a dollar amount for an escrow fund to cover items that the seller fails to follow through on. Prepare a list of agreed issues, walk through them, and check them off one by one.
8. Hidden Costs
Make sure you identify and uncover all costs - large and small - far enough ahead of time. When a transaction closes, you will sometimes find fees for this or that sneaking through after the “sub”-total fees such as loan disbursement charges, underwriting fees etc. Understand these in advance by having your lender project total charges for you in writing.
9. Rushing the Closing
Take your time during this critical part of the process, and insist on seeing all paperwork the day before you sign. Make sure this documentation perfectly reflects your understanding of the transaction, and that nothing has been added or subtracted. Is the interest rate right? Is everything covered? If you rush this process on the day of closing, you may run into a last minute snag that you can’t fix without compromising the terms of the deal, the financing, or even the sale itself.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Now is the Time to Stop Renting!
Don’t Pay Another Cent in Rent To Your Landlord . . .
"If you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours."
It’s a dream we all have - to own our own home and stop paying rent. But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours. How could it when you’re not even permitted to bang in a nail or two without a hassle. You feel like you’re stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home.
Don’t Feel Trapped Anymore
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been renting, or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem. The truth is, there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump, and transfer your status from renter to homeowner. With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:
-save for a down payment
-stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
-stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.
6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You
Buy Your First Home
The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows that you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.
But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Consider the following 6 important points:
1. You can buy a home with much less down than you think
There are some local or federal government programs (such as 1st time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market. You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has owned a home before as long as your name was not registered. Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.
2. You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs
Even if you do not have enough cash for a down payment, if you are debt free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car for example), a lending institution may be able to lend you the down payment for your home by securing it against this asset.
3. You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home
Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a seller take-back. In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution. Instead of paying this seller a lump sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.
4. You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt
By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you may be able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down payment. While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small, and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.
5. You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating
If you can come up with more than the minimum down payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage. Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.
6. You can, and should, get pre-approved for a home loan before you go looking for a home
Pre-approval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written pre-approval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone. More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written pre-approval is as good as money in the bank. It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for. Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.
There are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter. Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning.
This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time you review this. But by taking the time to explore your options, and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.
"If you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours."
It’s a dream we all have - to own our own home and stop paying rent. But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours. How could it when you’re not even permitted to bang in a nail or two without a hassle. You feel like you’re stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home.
Don’t Feel Trapped Anymore
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been renting, or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem. The truth is, there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump, and transfer your status from renter to homeowner. With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:
-save for a down payment
-stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
-stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.
6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You
Buy Your First Home
The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows that you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.
But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Consider the following 6 important points:
1. You can buy a home with much less down than you think
There are some local or federal government programs (such as 1st time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market. You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has owned a home before as long as your name was not registered. Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.
2. You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs
Even if you do not have enough cash for a down payment, if you are debt free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car for example), a lending institution may be able to lend you the down payment for your home by securing it against this asset.
3. You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home
Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a seller take-back. In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution. Instead of paying this seller a lump sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.
4. You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt
By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you may be able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down payment. While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small, and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.
5. You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating
If you can come up with more than the minimum down payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage. Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.
6. You can, and should, get pre-approved for a home loan before you go looking for a home
Pre-approval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written pre-approval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone. More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written pre-approval is as good as money in the bank. It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for. Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.
There are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter. Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning.
This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time you review this. But by taking the time to explore your options, and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
2010 Will be the Year of the Short Sale
Hello again from Ground Zero in Real Estate!
It looks like 2010 will be THE year for short sales. A short sale is when you attempt to sell your home for less than what you owe to the bank. In the past, banks have been hesitant to do this (wonder why?). However, over this past year, bank's attitudes have slowly changed, as they are beginning to realize that they will probably get more in a short sale than a foreclosure.
What does this mean to you? Well, if you are a seller, and you thought there was no way to sell your home because you are upside down, that may no longer be true. A short sale WILL hurt your credit, but less than a foreclosure would. If you are a buyer, it means that next year, about HALF of the homes you are shown will be short sales.
What this means for buyers is that you will need to consider short sales when house hunting. They will make sense for you IF you do not have to move soon. A short sale still takes at least TWICE as long to close as a regular or bank owned home. If that doesn't matter to you, you can make a pretty sweet deal with a short sale in the coming year. Oh, and by the way, be aware that it may take a couple tries. Even with the improvements, only about half of short sales have offers accepted by the bank and are ultimately sold. Again, be patient, and you could net a great deal.
It looks like 2010 will be THE year for short sales. A short sale is when you attempt to sell your home for less than what you owe to the bank. In the past, banks have been hesitant to do this (wonder why?). However, over this past year, bank's attitudes have slowly changed, as they are beginning to realize that they will probably get more in a short sale than a foreclosure.
What does this mean to you? Well, if you are a seller, and you thought there was no way to sell your home because you are upside down, that may no longer be true. A short sale WILL hurt your credit, but less than a foreclosure would. If you are a buyer, it means that next year, about HALF of the homes you are shown will be short sales.
What this means for buyers is that you will need to consider short sales when house hunting. They will make sense for you IF you do not have to move soon. A short sale still takes at least TWICE as long to close as a regular or bank owned home. If that doesn't matter to you, you can make a pretty sweet deal with a short sale in the coming year. Oh, and by the way, be aware that it may take a couple tries. Even with the improvements, only about half of short sales have offers accepted by the bank and are ultimately sold. Again, be patient, and you could net a great deal.
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