Posted on November 21, 2009Baby Boomers Still Fueling Florida Real Estate Options
Whether it is buying a second home or acting on the long-planned dream of retiring to a sun destination, Baby Boomers are moving to Florida to take advantage of a well-deserved rest from the corporate world, or other nine-to-five path they had been...
Home Buying Articles
Posted on November 20, 2009Why Mortgage Preapproval Pays
Don’t be confused with the jargon regarding mortgages; there is a big difference between prequalifying and preapproval. Prequalifying for a mortgage is based on estimates and is not a guarantee that you can get a mortgage for a particular amount....
Posted on November 18, 2009Home Buying: How Does Your Credit Score Rate?
Buying a home is something most people dream of being able to do at some point in their life. All you have to do is save enough money for a down payment and you're in. Right? Maybe not. If your credit rating is not up to snuff, the road to your dream...
Posted on November 12, 2009Developing a Real Estate Niche around Pets
Some pet owners are looking for specific accommodations for their pets, like a securely fenced yard.(Keep in mind that a “fully fenced yard” to a seller without pets may not mean the same thing to a buyer with escape artist pets.) Others might be...
Posted on November 12, 2009Livin' and Lovin' Loft Lifestyle
Does the thought of buying a one- or two-bedroom apartment with plain, egg shell-white walls and L-shape layout bore you to tears? Does your lifestyle include plenty of action, or at least living in the near vicinity of the action? Then a loft may be...
Posted on November 11, 2009Personal Bankruptcy Further Complicating Home Buying
It seems that the federal government is hedging many of their economic recovery plans on helping people to purchase homes and stay in their existing homes. A good deal of stimulus money has been set aside for helping home owners modify their existing...
Posted on November 6, 2009Short Sale Investing Tips
Engage the services of a licensed realtor who is well versed in short sale procedures. This may take a little from the profit margin, but the time saving and avoidance of some red tape will be more than worth the effort. The bank will pay the...
Posted on November 6, 2009First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - New & Improved!
According to the latest proposed bill, the revised tax credit will contain new and improved features to reach a larger cross section of potential home buyers as well as extend the deadline to encourage more potential buyers.
Posted on November 4, 2009Your New Home: Making it Safe
If your new home has any sort of water feature outside in the yard make sure that there’s no way that it can be a hazard to your small children—or other children in the neighborhood. A pool generally requires a fence, but a pond can be trickier to...
Posted on October 29, 2009Is Your Agent Pressuring You?
If you have signed a contract, asked to be released from it. If the agent doesn’t release you, contact their broker and explain the situation. Don’t put up with pressure; this is the biggest purchase of your life and you should be given some space...
Posted on October 29, 2009Finding an Awesome Buyer’s Agent
You can find buyer’s agents everywhere – in the phone book, online, at open houses, at home shows and sometimes in hobbies that you share. Finding a buyer’s agent is easy. Finding an awesome buyer’s agent takes some time and effort.
Posted on October 29, 2009The Stages of Home Buying Preparation
The next step that buyers will progress through in their quest to buy a home is that of the more involved buyer who has gone through some of the steps to make themselves an active buyer. These prospective home buyers know generally what they’re...
Posted on October 27, 2009Living the Good Life in Charleston, SC
For people who are looking to purchase their first home, there are a number of properties priced well within reach for newcomers to the real estate market. Some may be mild fixer-uppers, and only need a good paint job to freshen rooms, while other...
Posted on October 27, 2009Living the Good Life in Charleston, SC
While some new construction has taken place in the original section of Charleston, the magnificent architecture style has been maintained, creating a virtual trip back in time to the gentle, southern style and grace of the city.
Posted on October 26, 2009Managing Rental Homes With Utah Property Management
Homeowners have being turning to Utah property management to help them manage their rental homes in Utah. This eases the mind of the homeowner knowing that professionals in the rental industry are handling their home.
Posted on October 24, 2009Buying a New Home: Neighborhood Elements That Really Add Value
When they say that the most important aspects of real estate are “location, location, location”, it’s not a joke. However, it might be more accurate to say that the key is proximity. Proximity to the neighborhood elements which are important to you...
Posted on October 24, 2009First-Time Homebuyer’s Credit Possibly Extended Amongst Fraud Investigation
The National Association of Realtors claims that about 355,000 homes were sold that would not have been if the homebuyer’s credit had not been extended to buyers. It is also suggested that over 175 thousand new jobs were created over the span of time...
Posted on October 24, 2009Investing In The Toronto Residential Real Estate Market
Declining consumer morale in the real estate market has caused a decline in home sales worldwide, however the Greater Toronto Area has made a comeback from the economic downturn.
Posted on October 23, 2009Homeowner Needs: Buying Into Security
Every prospective home buyer is likely looking for some level of security when they’re researching neighborhoods to buy into, but how much is enough and how much is just bordering on paranoid? Home security can range from buying into a neighborhood...
Posted on October 22, 2009Things You Should Ask Your Potential Buyer's Agent
How well does this person know the area you are interested in purchasing in? Someone who has bought and sold in the area for several years is preferable to someone who doesn't have as much knowledge of the area. Home prices depend a lot on 'location,...
Posted on October 22, 2009Buying Your Dream Haunted House
While the thought of buying a genuine haunted house is an exciting proposition for many people, it is important that you do your homework when looking at prospective properties to make sure that you’re getting the real deal and the best haunted house...
Posted on October 22, 2009Settling Into Your New Home and Preparing Your Furnace For the Winter
One part of your furnace that does need some attention if it’s dusty is the filter. Your filter needs to be changed once it gets dusty; this could be every three years if your home has relatively particle-free air but it can be more often as well. If...
Posted on October 21, 2009Foreclosures Still a Confusing Force to be Reckoned With
Between the banks’ slow response in helping people renegotiate their mortgages and homeowners continuing to lose their jobs, the number of families involved in foreclosure is up more this quarter over the rate experienced across the country in the...
Posted on October 21, 2009Buying a Condo: Working with Condo Associations
Before you get too attached to a condo, take the time to read the association bylaws to get a good idea of what the rules are for the complex. You will also want to see at least the last few months meeting minutes so that you can see if there have...
Posted on October 21, 2009Calculating the REAL costs of Home Ownership
The amount of property tax that you pay depends on the municipality you live in. It is usually calculated as a percentage of your assessed home value. While they can be below 1% of your home’s assessed value in some areas, property taxes can exceed...
Posted on October 21, 2009Sourcing a Good Foreclosure Deal
Check out local free lists of foreclosures, bank-owned properties or short sales. These properties may go quite quickly in the competitive, bargain-hunting world of real estate today. Some homes will be snapped up within one hour of being put on the...
Posted on October 21, 2009Landscaping Your New Yard: Underground Menaces
In many cultures, the traditional living arrangements that families had was for multiple generations to live under one roof and help take care of the household together; in our modern times this has become more of a rarity, but due to financial...
Posted on October 21, 2009Extension of the Home Buyer Tax Credit for Some
The Home Buyer Tax Credit was created to encourage first-time home buyers to purchase their first home and is calculated as 10% of the home’s purchase price up to $8000. By taking advantage of this tax credit, new home owners now have a financial...
Posted on October 21, 2009What To Look For In a Rental Property
After watching your so called "stable investments" take a nose dive in the last year, maybe you've decided to take the plunge and diversify your investments. It's still a buyer's market and interest rates are the lowest they've been in years, so real...
Posted on October 21, 2009Buying Older Homes: Be Aware of Possible Problems
With all the great deals on homes on the market these days, it is a perfect time to pick up a vintage home for a fabulous price. There are a myriad of older homes, both foreclosures and not, going for a veritable steal on the market right now....
Posted on October 21, 2009Bidding on a Deal: Some Considerations for Buying a Home
There are currently many home buyers looking to take advantage of the glut of foreclosures and short sales on the market. Some of the better priced homes are getting snatched up quickly; these fast transactions are making some home buyers make hasty...
Posted on October 20, 2009Buying the Farm – Are you ready to say adios to the city?
Developers are beginning to parcel off small- to medium-size acreages in recognition of the growing interest in hobby farming. New farmers interested in everything from growing organic vegetables to raising goats for producing gourmet cheeses and...
Posted on October 20, 2009Red Ledges, Heber Valley
I have been visiting the Heber Valley for 50 years. Heber is about 14 miles from Park City, Utah. The valley is a green haven surrounded by mountains and hills. The views of the back side of Mt. Timpanogos and the Sun Dance ski resort are incredible....
Posted on October 20, 2009Is a Townhouse Right For You?
If you don’t mind living close to other people, this may not be a problem, especially if they value their property and strive to keep it clean and welcoming for everyone. However, if neighbors are noisy or filthy, you’re going to have to deal with...
Posted on October 9, 2009Buying a Home With a VA Mortgage: What You Should Know
While many home buyers are snatching up deals from the pool of foreclosures, many military personnel are discovering some problems with trying to benefit from the deals that can be had in the foreclosure market.
Posted on October 3, 2009When You Should Find a New Buyer's Agent
If you find yourself calling your buyer's agent regularly with no return calls from them or you never get responses to your emails, you might want to consider getting yourself a new agent. This agent either has too much on their plate or just doesn't...
Posted on October 3, 2009Realtor Commissions: How Much Should You Negotiate?
It never hurts to negotiate with your realtor about their commission as long as you're being fair about it. Depending on the market in your area, realtors may be more than happy to cut their commission a bit to have the extra business. Don't imply...
Posted on October 2, 2009Budgeting For Your New Home
The annual taxes add another burden to your new expenses. Depending on how your home is evaluated, your taxes can be several thousand dollars a year. If you have this attached to your mortgage, it could be several hundred dollars extra; if you don’t,...
Posted on October 1, 2009Reducing the Likelihood of Flood Damage in Your New Home
In the possible outcome of a flooded sewer system in your area it is also a good idea to have a plumber install a sewer backflow valve in your home; this will keep floodwaters from washing sewage into your house through the sewer systems.
Posted on October 12, 2009Choosing a Realtor to Help You Buy or Sell a Home
Another good way to get names of agents, particularly if you're looking to see your home, is by looking in your local papers to see which agents put a lot of effort into advertising homes that they're selling. Ideally, when you're selling your home...
Posted on October 2, 2009Buying into the Small Home Movement
If you're looking to buy a small house that isn't finished the way you'd like it, rest assured that small homes are cheaper to renovate due to a diminished amount of materials required to get the job done. Less space to sprawl out in also means that...
Posted on September 30, 2009Finding the Perfect Home for Your Family
Make sure that your house either has any specialty features that you want in a home or the space to add those features later. If one of the most important things in a home for you is space for entertaining, then make sure that your kitchen is going...
Posted on October 11, 2009Don't be Afraid of Buying a Home with a Pond
If you are in doubt as to whether the water features at a particular property meet local regulations contact local building authorities; you don't want to be liable in case there are any accidents on your property or have to remove or replace a...
Posted on September 25, 2009Buying a Home with a Septic System
All septic systems start with a septic tank made from a fairly inert material like concrete or fibreglass. This two part tank is where all the waste water from your home flows into. The septic tank has a divider with a hole about two thirds of the...
Posted on October 11, 2009Buying a Home With a Well: What You Need to Know
You will also want to know what kind of shape your well system is in. The well should be well away from any pollutants (such as your septic field), the age of your well, the condition of the casing and cap, as well as what sort of backflow protection...
Posted on September 22, 200910 Reasons Why People Move to Naples
The Wildlife. The Everglades and 10,000 Islands provide endless opportunities for bird watching and wildlife viewing via hiking trails, canoe, or kayak. Get up close and personal with dolphins, alligators, manatees, and dozens of species of birds. A...
Posted on September 21, 2009Guarding Against Buying Into a Dry Rot Problem
There are some fillers that you can use to fill spots that have had the dry rot cleaned out of them which work to strengthen the wood and kill the fungus. There are also some good chemical liquids that can be applied to wood that prevent it from...
Posted on September 21, 2009Buying or Living in a Home with Black Mold
If your home smells of mold or you can see the infestation, you have a problem and have been exposed to the spores. You may not exhibit symptoms of your exposure, however; though toxic black mold can cause some people very serious health problems,...
Posted on September 20, 2009Asbestos in the Home: To Remove or Not to Remove
Even back in the days of ancient Rome asbestos was known for its fire-proof properties, as well as some incidence of lung issues in slaves who worked with the material. Most of the serious issues that have come to be related to asbestos mining and...
Posted on September 19, 2009Buying Older Character Homes: What You Should Know About Lead Paint
To keep your family safe and healthy it is recommended that you wet-wipe down lead paint surfaces to keep dust to a minimum until you can have the lead paint professionally removed by a lead abatement specialist. While the paint is being removed from...
