Buyers - Prepare to Own a Home! - 05/01/08 07:38 AM
First, decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.  However, that doesn't mean you should spend that much.  Don't buy more a home than you feel comfortable with.  Then develop your home wish list. Next, prioritize the features on your list.Next, select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.  You can find out all about area communities on our website at … (0 comments)

Existing Home Sales Decline in March - 05/01/08 07:21 AM
Well the market is still not back to normal, but it's getting there.  The stastitics for March for existing home sales is down 19% from March of 2007.  What we are seeing is that mortgage rates are at all time lows.  However, due to the major changes in lending, many buyers still cannot qualify for a loan based on these guidelines.  At the same time, there are still a large number of homes for buyers to choose from when purchasing a home.  On the bright side, serious buyers are still out there and still purchasing homes.  And unless a seller has … (0 comments)

International Buyers - 05/01/08 07:06 AM
As the housing market in certain areas such as Florida continues to decline, makes buying a second home in the US a great investment for international buyers.  In fact, NAR statistics state that in Florida, 65% of Realtors had foreign clients purchasing homes in Florida.  And, 15% of all home sales in Florida, now involve foreign purchasers.  That also says that now is one of the best times for us, US citizens to buy a second home in Florida....or Arizona or Nevada - where the housing slump has also affected sales.  www.thomasteam.info … (0 comments)