home buying: Would you Buy That House in a DOWN MARKET? - 05/18/14 10:59 PM

Would you Buy That House in a DOWN MARKET? Denver real estate professional Joan Cox has some very good advice for prospective home buyers. If you would not buy the house in a down market, you probably should not purchase it during a rising market.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to leave comments.
 Would you Buy That House in a DOWN MARKET?
 
 
When in a Seller's market, Buyers are writing on everything just to be able to get a home.
 
 
Would you purposely go out and look for a home that backs to … (1 comments)

home buying: Hidden Gems - Finding Additional Value in a Home - 02/17/14 07:24 AM
Hidden Gems - Finding Additional Value in a Home 
 
ActiveRain Community Evangelist Bob Stewart has challenged members of the ActiveRain network to write about the hidden gems that provide additional value for home buyers.
Every home buyer has wants and needs when searching for home to purchase. Real estate professionals are always looking for the features that will add value in future years when the home is sold again. I can use our personal home as an example.
The home we purchased has over 3,400 square feet of living area and the four bedrooms that will make it attractive … (9 comments)

home buying: Home buyers being photographed while viewing houses for sale 1/14 - 01/09/14 02:03 AM
Home buyers being photographed while viewing houses for sale 1/14
 
It is not a bad idea for active bloggers to take a look at the available statistics for their old blogs. A topic that attracted a large number of clicks or comments may be something worth further discussion.
One of my August, 2013, blogs has attracted over 12,700 clicks and over 100 comments. That is the largest number of clicks for my 2013 blogs. The topic of home buyers being photographed while viewing houses for sale is still worth much consideration.
Some buyer agents are advising their clients to hold … (34 comments)

home buying: Have you missed out on a home purchase? - 06/12/13 09:31 PM
Have you missed out on a home purchase?
 
Some home buyers are still waiting for the bottom of the real estate market and the lowest interest rates.  Those of us that have been in real estate for long time know that it is very difficult to identify the bottom of the market.  When faced with a smaller selection because of the low inventory of homes for sale and seeing the daily reminders that mortgage interest rates are rising, it is understandable that many families feel that they have missed out on a home purchase.  These factors are compounded as buyers … (13 comments)

home buying: Rate Alert - Mortgage Rates Reach 2011 Lows! - 08/04/11 03:19 AM
Rate Alert - Mortgage Rates Reach 2011 Lows!
 
Smart home buyers are taking advantage of the attractive home prices and very low mortgage interest rates. We have received email alerts from several lenders.  This message is from Nick Pakulla at First Place Bank.
 
Mortgage rates have continued to improve and are back down to near historic levels!  Don’t wait for the media to take a few days to pick up on it – please pass along to any buyers who may be interested.
 
Conventional:
30 year fixed 4.25%, 0 points
15 year fixed 3.375%, 0 points
 
… (5 comments)

home buying: Tuesday Flowers From Longwood Gardens & The Best Financing - 06/20/11 10:28 PM
Tuesday Flowers From Longwood Gardens & The Best Financing
What is the best financing for a home purchase?  The answer is not the same for all buyers.  However, for first time home buyers, the decision is easier with the new lower interest rate available from the Montgomery County, MD Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC).  Effective June 17th, HOC reduced the interest rate to 4.25% with zero points for their special 30 year fixed rate FHA financing.  HOC also offers a closing cost assistance loan, at the same rate, to help with the cash requirements of a home purchase.
Who qualifies for HOC financing?  … (18 comments)

home buying: Blooming for home buyers - 03/14/11 04:34 AM
Blooming for home buyers
We have a beautiful sunny Monday morning in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Our office is busy with contracts being written for home buyers that viewed available properties over the weekend.
Prospective home buyers are reading the news about the mortgage market and smart buyers understand that things we have taken for granted for many years will be changing. There is market pressure for higher interest rates and mortgage lenders are recommending early lock-ins on rates. Fees are to increase on FHA and conventional loan products. The maximum loan amounts for FHA financing are scheduled to decrease. The down payment … (6 comments)

home buying: Be alert when looking at the inventory of homes for sale - 03/08/11 05:41 AM
Be alert when looking at the inventory of homes for sale
Home buyers and home sellers really need to know the make up of the local housing inventory when preparing to offer a home for sale or getting ready to purchase a home. Don't stop at the overall number of listings in the county. Allow me to share some statistics for today in three area counties and provide an alert for you.
There are 2,943 active listings of homes for sale in Montgomery County, Maryland.  5% of the listings are lender owned foreclosures (REO).  20% of the listings are short sale pre-foreclosures.
In Frederick … (4 comments)

home buying: Foreclosure Auctions, Trustee Sales, Montgomery County, MD - Tidewater Auctions - 04/27/10 06:42 AM
Foreclosure Auctions, Trustee Sales, Montgomery County, MD - Tidewater Auctions
Maryland foreclosure homes for sale are in the form of trustee sales that are conducted at the county court houses. Trustee sales auctions are open to the public and all qualified bidders. Prospective buyers should carefully read the newspaper advertisements for the terms and conditions of the sales. The indicated deposits must be in cash or certified funds. Those without experience or knowledge of the risks should seek professional advice.
Most of the homes for sale that are sold at trustee sales auctions are acquired by the secured mortgage lenders. The lenders then offer the … (4 comments)

home buying: Homes For Sale In Montgomery County, MD - Lender Owned Foreclosures - 04/26/10 04:19 AM
Homes For Sale In Montgomery County, MD - Lender Owned Foreclosures
***New links below for home energy audits and home buyer grants now available.***
Home buyers and sellers are carefully watching the local real estate market to make their spring purchase and sale decisions. It is a good idea to watch the inventory of lender owned foreclosures for buyer opportunities and for home sellers to better understand the competitive market.
 Tulips in Maryland
There are 114 homes for sale in Montgomery County, MD that are included in the inventory of  lender owned foreclosures for sale (REO) at or BELOW $250,000.  Click … (2 comments)

home buying: Homes For Sale In Frederick County, MD - Lender Owned Foreclosures - 04/26/10 04:16 AM
Homes For Sale In Frederick County, MD - Lender Owned Foreclosures    
***New link below for home buyer grants now available.***
Home buyers and sellers are carefully watching the inventory of homes for sale in Frederick County, Maryland in order to make good purchase and sale decisions during the spring market. The secured mortgage lenders are still purchasing most of the homes sold at the trustee sale auctions at the court house. These properties are later offered as REO properties in the listings of lender owned homes for sale in Frederick County.
 Tulips in Maryland
There are 45 homes for … (2 comments)

home buying: Homes For Sale In Washington County, MD- Lender Owned Foreclosures - 04/26/10 04:11 AM
Homes For Sale In Washington County, MD- Lender Owned Foreclosures
***New link below for home buyer grants now available.***
Home buyers and sellers are carefully watching the inventory of homes for sale in Washington County, Maryland in order to make good purchase and sale decisions during the spring market. The secured mortgage lenders are still purchasing most of the homes sold at the trustee sale auctions at the court house. These properties are later offered as REO properties in the listings of lender owned homes for sale in Washington County.
 Tulips in Maryland
There are 42 homes for sale in Washington … (2 comments)

home buying: RE/MAX Realty Group to open new branch in Gaithersburg, MD - 04/23/10 06:54 AM
RE/MAX Realty Group to open new branch in Gaithersburg, MD
  
RE/MAX Realty Group has announced a new branch office location at the Shops at Potomac Valley at the intersection of Quince Orchard Road and Darnestown Road. It will be two doors from Starbucks.
 
  
Julie Larson is accepting applications from real estate professionals that would like to affiliate with this new office. Direct dial: 301-258-4277 or email  julielarson@remax.net.
Photo album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=173041&id=640401192&l=9dd72043b1
Character counts in Gaithersburg, MD.
 
… (4 comments)

home buying: Montgomery County MD Home Sales Trend Indicator - 04/09/10 03:23 AM
Montgomery County MD Home Sales Trend Indicator    
Prospective home buyers and sellers should be aware of the home sales trends in Montgomery County, Maryland.  This report compares the statistics for the past month with the same month last year.  There were 2,114 new listings taken in the month and the total of pending contracts was 1517 for the month. The total dollar volume sold was up 16.30%. The number of housing units sold and settled was 779 from 649 last year.  The average days on the market was 70 compared with 116 days last year. The average sales price … (0 comments)

home buying: Avoid Short Sales In Maryland If You Want The Tax Credit - 04/07/10 09:41 PM
Avoid Short Sales In Maryland If You Want The Tax Credit
Good advice for home buyers. Maryland home buyers that wish to qualify for the tax credit by meeting the April 30 contract deadline should not be looking at short sale listings. Thanks to Julie Baldino and Kathy Frisbie for providing this post on ActiveRain.

No, Your Short Sale Is Not Likely To Be Approved In Time To Get The Tax Credit!
I know this topic has been addressed, and I know that HAFA will change some of these timelines for qualified sellers. However, in light of many changes in how the banks … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Buyers Considering Condos For Sale In Maryland Need To Ask Questions - 03/28/10 02:42 AM
 10 Questions You and Your Buyers Must Ask Before Purchasing A Condominium Unit
Thanks to Richare Vetstein for this post on ActiveRain. Buyers considering condos for sale in Maryland need to be asking the same questions.
Home Buyers Considering Condos For Sale In Maryland Need To Ask Questions
Buying a condominium unit can be more involved than buying a single family home. This is because you have to worry about both the unit itself and the condominium project as a whole.
10 Questions You Must Ask Before Purchasing A Condominium Unit
To borrow from a famous phrase, not all condominiums are … (0 comments)

home buying: Seven Deadly Home Inspection Sins - 03/28/10 12:48 AM
Every industry has its no no's.  Home inspecting as a profession is no different.
Certainly, no list of anything is definitive, but can I suggest seven deadly things a home inspector can do?
MISINTERPRET - Home inspecting is about gathering information.  It is very important that the information one gathers is correctly interpreted.  A leak stain can sometimes come from many different things.  A stain in an upstairs bedroom ceiling might manifest in one spot, but the source can be far away.  Or it might be an exploded soda can!  Tools, like a Thermal Infrared Camera, can reveal colors that may … (10 comments)

home buying: Termites, Please Come To My House! - 03/15/10 11:08 PM
Termites, Please Come To My House!
Good tips from a home inspector.


 
These days, when you buy a brick house, it is not built the same way as was a brick house 40 years ago, or so.
In "the olden days" the brick work was structural.  The wood framing inside the house was attached into the brick walls.
In todays' construction the structure of the house is the wood framing, with a brick facade on the outside.  And this brick is separated from the wood framing by an inch or two of space to allow for moisture removal.  … (1 comments)

home buying: Electrocutions Waiting for a Place to Happen - 03/15/10 11:02 PM
Good information for home safety.

Electrocutions Waiting for a Place to Happen...
     It is not uncommon to see outlets in light fixtures older properties in the Nashville, TN real estate market. In about 99% of the cases, these outlets are not grounded and pose a potential health and safety risk to clients.      Because Tennessee home inspection standards require inspectors to point out safety issues, I test every one of these outlets for wiring inconsistencies. While certainly not a deal killer, these unsafe outlets can be a client killer though.     The fix is relatively simple. 1) Disconnect the outlet … (0 comments)

home buying: Where To Find Gas Leaks - 03/15/10 10:51 PM
 Where To Find Gas Leaks
The one home inspection item that consistently causes home buyers to 'freak out' more than anything else is a gas leak. Gas explosions like the ones that recently happened in Edina and Saint Paul are probably the main causes of all the paranoia about natural gas.  Believe it or not, small gas leaks are actually quite common at old houses, and they're usually simple for a plumber to fix.  Today I'll share the most common locations for gas leaks, and I'll share my home inspection techniques for finding gas leaks in old Minneapolis and Saint Paul … (1 comments)

 


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