prudential fox and roach: What to Do Before You Start Looking for a Home
- 11/01/11 03:47 AM
Now is a great time to consider buying a home in the Philadelphia. Whether youre relocating, purchasing a vacation house or looking to become a homeowner for the first time, there are certain things you need to do before you even begin to look for a new home. Doing your homework before plunging into the house hunt can save you valuable time and energy. Set a time-frame. When do you want to move? When do you want to start looking for homes? If you are renting, when does your current lease expire? How long will it take you to save for … (4 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Pros and Cons of a Condo
- 08/30/11 03:05 PM
Is the condo lifestyle right for you? Owning a condominium is different from owning a single-family home in many ways. Here is a list of the basic advantages and disadvantages of condo living to help you make your decision. Advantages: Location: There is often a high concentration of condominiums in center city where land is at a premium. If you want to be in the heart of the city, a condominium may be a good choice. Security: Having neighbors around makes it a lot easier to lock up and leave for a vacation or an extended period of time. Also, condominium … (1 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Energy Saving Tips
- 08/09/11 02:20 PM
Each year, Americans spend thousands of dollars on energy in their homes, much of which is wasted. Here are some easy ways to go green and save green at the same time.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use up to 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when shopping for home appliances. They meet strict guidelines set by the U.S Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Consider investing in solar powered outdoor lighting. While it may cost more upfront, there are no confusing wires, which means … (1 comments)
prudential fox and roach: How to Sell Your Home in a Buyer's Market
- 07/25/11 03:28 PM
Price the Home Right It is this simple. A properly priced home should sell quickly. An overpriced home may not ever sell. If your home is priced too high, interested buyers may never even tour your listing. A house priced at just below market value piques the interest of real estate professionals and buyers An overpriced home turns away potential buyers It is true that you can always drop the price, but the first 30 days are the most critical. That is when interest is the highest, and it can be difficult to recapture people's interest later on. The longer the … (5 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Difference Between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection
- 07/25/11 03:28 PM
What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?What Is A Home Appraisal? According to the Appraisal Institute, the role of the home appraiser is to "provide a professional opinion, usually an estimate of market value, to be used in making real estate decisions." Typically, appraisers are employed by lenders to estimate the value of real estate involved in a loan transaction. An appraiser hired by a lender works in the best interest of their client, the lender. What Is A Home Inspection? A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a … (0 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Preparing for an Open House
- 05/17/11 08:08 AM
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for an open house. 1. Make sure your home is clean and organized. Get rid of the clutter. Hire a cleaning service if necessary. 2. Think Curb Appeal. You don't want a buyer to rule out your home based on the outside appearance. The lawn should be trimmed, bushes and shrubs pruned, and leaves raked. And don't forget to put away bicycles, toys, and other items that may make your property seem cluttered. 3. Put out fresh flowers. 4. Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and … (2 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Buyers: How Much Should You Offer?
- 04/24/11 01:33 PM
When buying a home, buyers want to get the best deal but they may need to juggle some numbers in order to reach an amount that seems fair to both parties. Deciding what to offer a seller for their home is a delicate process. Before making an offer, there are some items you should analyze. A comparative market analysis (CMA) is a popular method for estimating the true value of property. Similar to comparison shopping, a CMA will examine the home in terms of number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and total square footage. Realtors can find similar homes that have recently sold … (1 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Benefits of a Home Warranty - for both Buyers and Sellers
- 04/07/11 05:26 PM
What is an HSA Home Warranty? A HSA home warranty protects you from the high cost of unexpected failures to the major systems and appliances in your home by repairing or replacing covered items that break down due to normal wear and tear. How does the HSA Home Warranty work? A HSA Home Warranty provides the convenience of one source for most repairs. When a covered failure occurs, all you have to do is contact HSA. Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week who will discuss the failure with you and work with you every … (1 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Are Your Paying Too Much in Property Taxes?
- 03/16/11 02:00 PM
There are several steps every homeowner should take to investigate whether or not their property taxes can be lowered: Get your detailed property tax assessment record online or from your assessors office. Its possible your entire neighborhood has been over-assessed. Check the accuracy of the details about your home used in your tax assessment. Determine if your propertys size and description are accurate. Errors are commonly made in transferring data from paper to online. Make sure details like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is correct. If errors have made your assessment higher than it should be, try working informally with the … (4 comments)
prudential fox and roach: FHA to Increase Mortgage Insurance Premiums
- 02/22/11 01:44 PM
FHA to Increase Mortgage Insurance Premiums Buy now BEFORE interest rates and mortgage insurance premiums INCREASE! Effective April 18, 2011 the FHA will increase the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) on all FHA loans by twenty-five basis points. What exactly does this mean for a home buyer? The payment on a thirty year FHA loan with a case number issued on or after April 18th will increase by $33.00 on a sale price of $163,000. A case number is assigned when the client is under contract and there is a written mortgage application on file. Why Wait? Mortgage Rates … (2 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Top 8 Reasons to Purchase a home in 2011
- 01/12/11 08:00 AM
Are you thinking about buying a home within the next year or so? Don't wait much longer. 2011 is the perfect time to take advantage of the Buyer's Market in Philadelphia. Top 8 Reasons to Purchase a home in 2011: Mortgage Rates are exteremly low. My clients have recently obtained rates as low as 3.75%. Rates are increasing so don't delay much longer. There are a huge selection of homes for you to choose from in most areas and price ranges. I am sure there is something available that meets your needs. Sellers are eager to negotiate and often accept prices well below their asking price. Sellers are … (3 comments)
prudential fox and roach: Improve Your Credit Score
- 08/31/10 01:31 AM
Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you qualify for a mortgage loan. Here are some tips to help improve your credit score: Check your credit report for errors. Mistakes happen and you could be paying for someone else's poor financial management. You are able to get a free credit report each year at www.annualcreditreport.com. Checking your own credit report does not affect your scores. Dispute old negatives. You can continue protesting the charge with the lender/company or you can try disputing the account with the credit bureaus. The older and smaller … (3 comments)
Now is a great time to consider buying a home in the Philadelphia. Whether youre relocating, purchasing a vacation house or looking to become a homeowner for the first time, there are certain things you need to do before you even begin to look for a new home. Doing your homework before plunging into the house hunt can save you valuable time and energy.
;)
;)
;)
