home buying: Buyers - Know Your Credit Score - 02/15/12 01:14 AM
As so many prospective home buyers are learning, the market remains favorable for finding that dream home.  Inventory is abundant, sellers are willing to negotiate and interest rates are low.  Being considered loan worthy, however, is not as easy as it was once upon a time.  Besides a stable employment history, lenders are relying a great deal on credit score, and knowing in advance what your three-digit score is, can greatly improve your chances of being approved for a loan.
The first step is to become familiar with how credit scores work and what factors influence your credit score.  www.MyFico.com provides this information.  … (2 comments)

home buying: Mortgage Picture Makes Now the Time to Buy - 06/06/11 02:29 AM
With uncertainty still lingering in the current economy, many potential home buyers are sitting on the fence. Inventory and selection are good, home prices remain flat and sellers are more motivated to work with buyers on price. Interest rates are great, but may inch up later this year. This factor may create some urgency to buy now.
New and pending regulations in response to the mortgage crisis mean new loans and refinancing will be more complicated, more time consuming and more costly. We are seeing higher fees, higher mortgage insurance premiums and bigger down payments. Some real estate analysts see movement … (1 comments)

home buying: Why Now is the Time to Purchase a Home - 05/24/11 02:08 AM
Although the housing market has been in the doldrums for the past few years, most of us realize that home ownership is a worthy long term financial goal, not to mention the pride and comfort of living in space that is yours.  There hasn't been a better time to buy a house in the last 30 years. Here's why:1. Prices are remarkably low, especially in neighborhoods that have been hit hardest by foreclosures. In some cases, you can buy a house for less than the cost of a lot in the same subdivision. People forget that houses don't have a memory. … (0 comments)

home buying: Buying New Construction - Part 2 - 03/23/11 08:00 AM
Newly constructed residential homes have been scarce for the past few years.  As the housing market declined, many subdivisions were left with vacant foreclosed lots.  Builders who were in the financial position to continue, began purchasing such lots at pennies on the dollar.  This presented the opportunity to offer homes at prices much lower than those seen in pre-foreclosure days.  If new construction is a possibility for you, keep in mind these points, as well as those mentioned in the previous post.
 Step 3: Know What's Standard and What's Extra
Ask the builder about amenities and upgrades. Amenities are features that … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Affordability Rises - 02/21/11 12:26 PM
It was refreshing to see optimism in a statement issued by the National Association of Home Builders last week.  Nationwide housing affordability during the fourth quarter of 2010 rose to its highest level in the 20 years since it has been measured, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).
The HOI indicated that 73.9 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400. The record-setting index for the fourth quarter surpassed the previous high of 72.5 percent set … (0 comments)

home buying: No Kidding - It's A Great Time to Buy a Home! - 12/09/10 08:32 AM
Earlier this year Congress passed a stimulus to breathe some life into the housing market.  An $8000 tax credit for first time homebuyers created a spurt of sales.  If you missed out on this opportunity or did not qualify, don't worry, it is still a great time to buy a home.  With a glut of inventory, low prices and rock bottom interest rates, you will save $8000 many times over during the course of a 30 year mortgage loan.
Special lending options are available as well.  100% financing is available to Veterans, and for homes in USDA designated rural areas.  FHA financing … (0 comments)

home buying: Tips for Cash Home Buyers - 11/16/10 03:24 AM
Owning a home has always been considered a great investment.  Nowadays, many buyers are choosing to buy real estate for cash, thanks to low prices, a huge inventory of foreclosed properties, and poor rates of return on other types of investments.  Although the only legal requirement for a cash purchase is the money, there are several important considerations for a cash buyer:
  - Home Inspection - never buy without one
  - Appraisal - there is no lender appraisal, so this is the only way to insure that the purchase price is reasonable
  - Survey - always recommended for small … (1 comments)

home buying: 10 Improvements to Entice Home Buyers - 07/09/10 04:38 AM
For the past few months, people have been drawn into the real estate market, thanks to an attractive government sponsored income tax rebate program.  This spurred the sales of homes, but by no means eliminated the glut of homes on the market.  If yours is one of the homes that did not sell, don't worry, mortgage rates are low and buyers are still active.  However consider the following features that add pizzazz to a home and make buyers take notice.
  
1. A Nice Entryway
Impress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance.  Put a fresh coat of paint … (5 comments)

home buying: Choose the Neighborhood Before You Choose the Home - 06/28/10 08:42 AM
If houses are like spouses, a neighborhood is like the extended family. But while you can have a good marriage and still dread holidays with the in-laws, you'll never love a house if you don't like your neighborhood.
How can you choose the right community? Become a neighborhood detective. Figure out what you're looking for, do research and find a neighborhood that fits your description. You don't even have to wear a trench coat -- but it probably wouldn't hurt.
STEP 1 -- Profile Your Perfect Neighborhood
Before you start scrutinizing neighborhoods, turn the magnifying glass back on yourself.
Think … (4 comments)

home buying: Tips for First Time Homebuyers - 06/14/10 06:56 AM
Although the federal tax credit for first time homebuyers has expired, many people are still in search of their first home.  It makes every bit of sense to keep looking since inventory is plentiful and interest rates remain at historic lows.  Here are some points to keep in mind as you consider crossing the threshold into home ownership.
How long you plan to live in the home.If you purchase a home and get a job transfer or decide to move after only a short time, you may end up paying money in order to sell it. The value of your home … (1 comments)

home buying: Grant Money Available to Purchas Cobb County Home! - 04/28/10 12:49 PM
With the help of a Cobb County program designed to fix foreclosed homes and make them available to deserving buyers, many people are now able to claim home ownership.
Cobb County plans to buy about 100 foreclosed homes and fix them up for resale in the next two years, said Allyson Price, the program manager for Cobb County's Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
Cobb started to buy foreclosures last year and has already purchased 30 homes. It is selling them on its Web site: www.BuyCobb.com. The county had 4,340 residential foreclosures in 2009, according to Cobb County's property appraiser.
The effort is part … (0 comments)

home buying: How to Work a Buyers' Market - 03/17/10 06:24 AM
Housing prices across the country continue to slump, and the forecast for the immediate future is gloomy. Gloomy for sellers, that is. In many markets, the supply of homes is now greater than the demand to buy them, so sellers can't be terribly choosy. You, the buyer, have greater leverage than usual to name your terms and make them stick. Welcome to the elusive but profitable condition known as a buyer's market.
Individual markets vary, so look out for signs that yours is slow, such as persistently unsold homes in your neighborhood and signs trumpeting price reductions.  Chances are, if you're … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Buyers - Claim Your Tax Rebate! - 02/03/10 01:41 AM
Our Federal Government has offered a tremendous gift to homebuyers.  First time buyers who have a contract accepted on a home by April 30, 2010 will be awarded with an $8000 income tax rebate.  Certain repeat buyers who are entitled to a $6500 tax credit.  Closings must take place by June 30, 2010.  But after that moment, don't look for an extension of the program - it probably won't happen.
The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has been a success. Sales of existing homes have increased almost steadily since last April. And the National Association of Realtors reported recently that … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Buyers!! Avoid These Mistakes!! - 01/23/10 03:36 AM
Many prospective buyers who have been sitting on the real estate fence will be thinking more seriously about a home purchase in the year ahead. And why not? Interest rates are still very attractive, prices are still competitive, and more buyers than ever may qualify for a substantial tax credit just for making a purchase.
With a little planning, inexperienced buyers can sidestep some common mistakes and make their home purchase a successful one.
Here are four home-buying mistakes you don't want to make:
● Not getting prequalified by a reputable local lender.
Until you sit down with a reputable lender and … (3 comments)

home buying: 2010 Is the Year for Home Ownership - 01/11/10 05:59 AM
2009 has ended with a glimmer of home in the residential real estate market.  Home sales showed an increase over 2008, and there is optimism that the trend will continue into 2010.
Many pundits predict higher interest rates in the months ahead. Yet you can still lock in a 30-year conforming fixed rate loan for around 5 percent. This is a bargain almost any way you look at it.
 If you are in the market for a house, find out if you qualify for the expanded Home Buyer Tax Credit that pays up to $8,000. Even if you didn't qualify before, … (0 comments)

home buying: Cobb County Will Pay Home Buyers! - 01/01/10 11:00 AM
Cobb County, Georgia is looking for home buyers. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program provides local governments assistance to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become abandoned within the community. Using grants, Cobb purchases foreclosed or abandoned homes to redevelop and sell to low and middle income individuals and families.
The goal is to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of home values, while helping more people realize the American dream of homeownership. The program is seeking eligible homeowners. An individual can earn up to $59,800 per year and qualify for the program, while a family of four can earn up to … (4 comments)

home buying: Cobb County Housing is Turning the Corner! - 08/24/09 12:59 AM
After experiencing an agonizing downturn in the housing market over the past few years, Cobb County Georgia is showing signs of a comeback.  This is great news for vitality of the local economy.
Although residential home building is still far below the success it enjoyed just a few years ago, the month to month figures are slowly showing some improvement.
Housing permits issued in Cobb County in July are down 15 percent from those issued in July of 2008, but July's 40 permits show a 38 percent increase from June's dismal 29 permits issued.
The gap between 2008 and 2009's figures also … (2 comments)

home buying: Great Housing News! - 08/03/09 11:49 AM
It's making news everywhere because there are signs or reversal in the downward housing market that we've been experiencing nationwide for the past few years.
New home sales rose last month at the fastest clip in more than eight years as buyers eagerly took advantage of bargain prices - a clear sign, economists said, that the real estate market may finally be bouncing back.
 Historically low interest rates and a federal tax credit for first-time homeowners also helped push home sales to their highest level since November.
While home prices are still falling around the country, sales have now risen for … (0 comments)

home buying: Start Selling Your Home Before You Buy It - 06/08/09 05:10 AM
Home Buying is an emotional experience.  We all see features we adore when house hunting and we must have them.  However, the best advice is to be practical, and view your potential new home in a way that future buyers will see it.
Whether you're shopping for an investment property, buying a starter home or relocating for your job yet again, your next home likely won't be your last. That's why it pays to go house hunting with your successors in mind. After all, buyers are a demanding bunch, and simple renovations won't always satisfy their stringent criteria. Luckily, you can … (0 comments)

home buying: Housing Outlook - 05/18/09 05:01 AM
As we anxiously look for positive economic signs, the National Association of Realtors released a report on the first quarter housing activity.  Since consumer spending is the major force driving the economy, any uptick in housing activity is seen as encouraging.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the median price for a single-family home in Q1 was 13.8% lower than in Q1 a year ago. But first-time buyers represented half of all purchases and many went for foreclosures and short sales.   The Federal income tax credit of $8000 for first time buyers is certainly influencing this statistic.  The distress sales "typically … (0 comments)