first time buyer: Finding Your Perfect Home - 11/18/10 02:33 AM
 
As the old saying goes, real estate is all about location, location, location.  But, there is a lot more to it than just plain geography when it comes to finding your perfect home.  There are a lot of things to consider during the search because, for most, a home is the most significant purchase they will ever make.
 
Choose A Good Area
 
When searching for your perfect home, the obvious place to start is with the selection of a location.  If you have children, you may want to choose a home that is close to good schools and … (0 comments)

first time buyer: 6 Reasons it Pays to Shop Around Before Choosing a Mortgage - 08/26/10 02:23 AM
By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, August 26, 2010--You wouldn't buy a house without shopping around first, right? Then why would you commit to the loan you use to buy that house without making sure you're getting the best deal possible? From the experts at LendingTree, here are six reasons why it's essential to take a few minutes to browse before you borrow: 1. To get the best interest rate possible Over the life of a $200,000, 30-year fixed rate loan, a one-tenth of a point difference in interest rate could save or cost you thousands of dollars. 2. To pay lower loan fees … (0 comments)

first time buyer: DIY Painting 101 - 07/20/10 05:47 AM
 
By Stephanie AndreLooking to spruce up your home, but don't know where to start? From molding to choice of color, there's a lot to consider before dipping your brush in the paint. Does a room really look smaller with a darker color on the walls? Should your ceilings be white? Do you want to add an accent wall?Here are some tips on getting started: Getting Started · Size up your room. How you use color depends on where you use color. Each room has its own unique elements and function. First think about the structure of the room. Consider its … (0 comments)

first time buyer: "Want to Save Money...Lose Your Agent" - 02/26/10 02:25 PM
 
So your Realtor® has taken you to meet a builder and after a long seemingly endless search you have finally found your "Dream House." 
Later as you ponder your good fortune you receive an unexpected call from the builder with more ‘good news.'   He tells you that you can save yourself 3% if you ditch your agent and work directly though him.   Wow, no brainer you think.  You even mange to convince yourself that if your agent really cared about your well being they will be happy to see you save money. Heck even if they are not happy, these … (7 comments)

first time buyer: 2009 Ohio Home Purchases - 02/09/10 07:17 AM
 

　
Although 2009 was another challenging year for Ohio Real Estate it shaped up to be slightly better than 2008. The first time home buyers tax credit helped many central Ohioans realize their dreams of home ownership. Below is a quick snapshot that tells us a little about the typical 2009 central Ohio home buyer.
47% Were First Time Home Buyers Median household income for first time buyers was $62,800 Median household income for repeat buyers was $89,700 20% of the buyers were single females 10% were single males Median age of First time buyer was 28 years Median … (0 comments)

first time buyer: Central Ohio Real Estate Agent or REALTOR®? - 01/26/10 08:01 AM

Looking for a Central Ohio real estate can be a daunting process. That's why most of us will choose to get a real estate professional to guide us on this journey.  Picking the right person is important when you're looking to get a great deal on a home, so you need to know what to look for.
There is some confusion about the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® can be any real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).  Each member has to follow a strictly enforced code … (0 comments)

first time buyer: First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit 2.0 - 11/14/09 05:09 AM
 

 
First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit 2.0
The extension of the 2009  First Time buyers tax credit not only gives procrastinators a little more time to take advantage of the up to $8K tax credit, the extension also  offers some exciting new benefits.
Military Benefits:
Members of the Armed Services, intelligence, and foreign services, who are on active duty and spend a minimum of 90 days outside of the US in 2009, will get an additional year to buy their homes, up to May 1st, 2011.
Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy of the … (1 comments)

first time buyer: Central Ohio Home Sales July 2009 Update - 08/21/09 05:56 AM
July 2009 Home Sales Statistics Posted: 8/21/2009 Columbus Board of REALTORS®Home prices, sales, inventory continue positive trendsKey indicators point to increased stability in central Ohio market(Aug. 21, 2009) Home sales and inventory levels remained steady in July, as more than 2,000 homes were sold, and sales were off by only 2.9 percent compared to 2008 levels, the Columbus Board of REALTORS® said today. "Pricing, inventory, and supply levels all show that we are coming out of the bloated housing market we saw a year ago," said Gary Parsons, president of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. "These key factors in real estate … (1 comments)

first time buyer: 6 Great Reasons First-Time Central Ohio Home Buyers Should Purchase Now - 07/08/09 09:26 AM

  
Although the housing market has had its fair share of ups and down, many home buyers, particularly first-time home buyers, are reaping the benefits. If you're thinking about purchasing a Central Ohio home, there are many good reasons to make your move today.  Here are six of them:
 
•1.      Low interest rates - Right now, interest rates are lower than ever before. This means you can get an extremely affordable loan and save big on interest payments.
  
•2.      Cheaper home prices - Not only are interest rates low, but homes all around are cheaper. Since the … (0 comments)

first time buyer: The four Most Important things to Remember With Short Sales - 06/15/09 03:07 AM

 
Purchasing a short sale can be nerve wrecking and exciting.  Many are lured in by the wonderful thought of getting a great deal on a house.   However, it is important to remember, before getting too caught up that there are many "Got Chas"  that without proper knowledge and guidance can derail your plan to short sale success.
The 4 Key things to remember when purchasing a short sale are:
 
1.  Work with a Pro
Buying a short sale requires knowledge of the process and good negotiation skills. Just as with a regular sale your agent  will  coordinate  all the … (1 comments)

first time buyer: City Wide Open House - 06/08/09 07:10 AM
Mark your calender for Sunday June 14th1-4
Come out to the Open House Extravaganza -Sponsored by the Columbus Board of Realtors.
Homes from $29,900 to over $800K will be held Open for your to view. 
For a complete list of the homes and times CLICK HERE
With home prices increasing and inventories decreasing, here in Central Ohio, now is the time to make the move to your dream home.
For more information on this event or for other real estate help call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com
… (1 comments)

first time buyer: $8000 Dollar Tax Credit CANNOT Be used for Down Payment...:-( - 05/19/09 06:07 AM
 
There  has been lots of discussion and articles this week indicating HUD would allow buyers to use their future tax credit of 8000.00 as a DOWN PAYMENT but as indicated below, the Fed's reversed that decision, therefore, buyers would not be able to get an advance on their tax credit for down payment.  The concern was this was no different then the "seller down payment assistance program" that was eliminated as of 1/1/09..
For more Info CLICK HERE
Stay tuned I am checking with OFHA to see how that will affect the programs they are currently offering.
 Why the Stimulus … (1 comments)

first time buyer: Ready...Set ....Buy - 05/13/09 12:02 AM
 
 

If you are a first time home buyer and you are sitting on the fence I urge you to jump down and get moving run don't walk to a phone and call a Realtor to get you into your new home.  With record low interest rates and the abundance of down payment programs available in the Columbus Area there are only a few obstacles to keep you from your dream house.
First, know how long you plan to be in the area.  If your job requires you to move frequently and you are unable to commit to an … (2 comments)

first time buyer: Three Ways to Roundup a Down Payment for your new Columbus Area Home - 04/26/09 07:47 AM

You have heard it a thousand times...Now is a great time to buy over and over.  You know they are right and you are ready to take the plunge.  Finally you have the right job and your credit is in good shape.  So what is holding your back?  More often than not it is the down payment money. The current Columbus financial market is requiring 3.5% for FHA and 5% for conventional.  It is important to understand that you will need to save money.  However, there are still options out there to assist you with Down Payment.  In this post … (7 comments)

first time buyer: Buyer's Remorse regarding Purchase of Your New Home - 04/16/09 04:37 AM

 
 
Having buyer's remorse is quite natural for many folks and often shows up in a variety of places including purchasing a home. The anxiety of committing to a mortgage long term for a family home or even investment property can be unnerving and sometimes even downright frightening.  Although a little concern is to be expected it is imperative to that you not let fear cripple you into not taking action.  Taking no action can not only lead to your missing out on that "perfect" property, you have been looking for,  it could cause you to miss out on … (5 comments)

first time buyer: Affordable Housing Super Sunday Open House - 04/06/09 08:57 AM
Mark Your Calendar-Affordable Housing Super Sunday Open House
Affordable Housing Super Sunday Open House will occur Sunday April 19th, 2009.
This event is sponsored by the Columbus Board of Realtors and will feature over 200 affordably priced ($125,000) homes all over the central Ohio area.  If you spot by to visit any participation home on 4/19/2009 you can register to win one of the following exciting prizes:
Whirlpool Stainless Steel Smooth Top  Electric Range & 25 cu ft Side-by-Side                    Refrigerator with water & ice Dispenser courtesy Dominion Homes & WhirlpoolWii Gaming Systems courtesy Perma View(ANDERSON Replacement Windows) &                                 Tim Moffitt & Nancy Garrabrant, … (7 comments)

first time buyer: Declutter While Having the Best Garage/Tag Sale Ever - 04/02/09 01:50 AM

One of the surest signs of spring right up there with the time change and warmer weather is the return of Garage/Tag Sales.  Here are a few tips to help insure that you declutter while having the best sale ever just remember: HOM AD.
•·         Have everything clearly priced and affordable.  Garage/Tag sale shoppers are looking for a bargain keep that in mind as you determine prices.  Label items individually or decide on an easy pricing system.  Some chose to color code with stickers i.e..Blue items .25, Red .50 or Yellow items $1.00.
•·         Organize early.  Its best begin organizing … (3 comments)

first time buyer: New Construction Still Requires Attention - 03/30/09 12:26 AM

 
With the recent rise in new constructions it is a great time to review some new construction basics regarding warranty.  Contractor Problems are one of the largest numbers of complaints received by the Better Business Bureau.  These types of stats makes it important that you are knowledgeable and informed about how to insure that your Columbus area home remains the dream that you fell in love with, and does not become your worst nightmare.  Listed below are a few things to pay attention to in order to make sure your contractor doesn't end up as your complaint:
 
Understand … (7 comments)

first time buyer: Why the Stimulus Makes this a Fantastic Time to buy Real Estate - 03/27/09 12:00 AM

There are great incentives for first-time Columbus area real estate buyers. Big tax incentives and money put into the banking and financing industries to give buyers more availability to loans makes now the best time to move when looking for a home. This environment won't last-exactly. Some of the elements put in place are geared toward a strong future for the housing market, but many of the advantages are only good for now.
Tax Relief
First-time Columbus Area real estate buyers, meaning those who have not owned a home in the past three years, are eligible for a big tax … (4 comments)