resale: Defects Must Be Revealed!
- 05/05/07 11:42 AM
Disclosure laws make it important to reveal all material defects when you are selling a home. It is important to be absolutely candid with your agent and all buyers about the condition of the property. If there is anything wrong with the roof, the plumbing, the wiring or structure, it will probably not remain a "sleeping dog". The problem will probably wake up, snarl, growl and snap at your ankles at the precise moment your buyers feel their first stirring of buyers' remorse.It is unlikely that defects will go undetected, because most buyers get a home inspection before they are contractually … (0 comments)
resale: The Inspection Report
- 05/05/07 06:34 AM
Are you looking for a home and becoming tired of house-hunting? If so, you may be tempted to buy a bargain-priced home "as is" and forego the home inspection. But without the inspection report, do you know what the "as it" refers to? Wouldn't it be better to know what condition the home is in before you buy it? The inspection contingency allows the buyer to enlist the services of a licensed home inspector within three to seven days after the purchase agreement is signed. The inspector will go over the property from top to bottom, evaluating the condition of all … (0 comments)
resale: Refinancing Your Home
- 05/05/07 06:05 AM
Interest rates fluctuate as changes occur in the general economy. If you purchased your home when interest rates were higher, you may want to consider re-financing your loan at a lower rate.You will have to apply for the new mortgage and have your current income eligibility assessed. Depending on how long you have had your present loan, a current appraisal may be required. There are closing costs, such as attorney, title fees, recording and notary fees, and appraisal charges. The biggest factor in your decision should be the length of time you plan to remain in your home. If you will … (0 comments)
resale: House Odors!
- 05/02/07 11:59 AM
What is "H.O."? You can probably guess--it means "home odors".Be careful of odors in your home. If your family room smells stuffy and stale, or if your cat or dog has left a distinctive odor in the hallway, take action by eliminating the source of the odor rather than merely treating the effects. Smells have a powerful effect on the way people react to a house, and no amount of room freshener or vanilla on the light bulbs can mask a serious odor problem. In fact, such remedies may draw attention to the problem. We have seen homes with an odor … (1 comments)
resale: Do Not Over Improve!
- 05/02/07 11:17 AM
You have received some extra money! You want to remodel! If you are planning a major renovation, take a few sensible precautions before having plans drawn up and signing on the contractor's dotted line.Any time you do any significant remodeling, you run the risk of over-improving your home. Call or send an email if you are interested in a market analysis of what your home is currently worth. We can talk about neighborhood trends and discuss the recent sales of homes in your area.If your neighborhood is experiencing healthy appreciation, making major changes to your home might make sense. However, if … (3 comments)
resale: Apraisals- Three Caballeros
- 05/01/07 03:57 PM
When you buy a house or refinance your present home, your lender will ask you to pay for an appraisal to help ensure that the sales price and mortgage amount is consistent with the property's market value. The appraiser will look for "three caballeros" or three "comparables" -- homes that are very similar to the one you are buying -- and will make adjustments to reflect the differences between the properties.Housing patterns tend to be homogenous, meaning that homes worth $300,000 are usually located in $300,000 neighborhoods. It is important for properties to be within the general pricing patterns of their … (1 comments)
resale: Balloon Mortgages
- 05/01/07 10:58 AM
In loan terminology a "balloon" is the unpaid loan balance that must be paid in full on a specified due date. Federal savings and loan associations are permitted to make balloon mortgages with as little as five percent down and monthly payments that are smaller than the amount needed to fully amortize the debt. On the due date, which may be only a few years after the loan was made, the balance must be paid off or the loan must be renegotiated. Balloon borrowers must be cautious and plan carefully to avoid overlooking balloon payment obligations. It is easy to be … (1 comments)
resale: About Termites
- 04/30/07 06:22 PM
Most real estate offers require an inspection by a licensed exterminator to determine that the house doesn't have termites or other wood boring insects. The inspector will look for two signs in deciding whether or not to pass a house--an active termite infestation and evidence of a past infestation. If your house does not pass the termite inspection, get a list of qualified exterminators from your real estate agent. Find out what treatment options they offer and what they charge for the service. Exterminators are usually quite competitive. If your home was treated for a past infestation, the company which performed … (1 comments)
resale: Taking It With You
- 04/30/07 05:56 PM
Before you list your home for sale, take a careful look around. Are there some items you will want to take with you? There may be a dining room chandelier that has been in your family for three generations, a ceiling fan in the master bedroom, or the bookcases in the den that look built-in but are not.Normally all fixtures are conveyed to the new owners when a house is sold. This includes anything that is attached to walls or ceilings and, in some areas, all major appliances that are installed in the house. If you have fixtures that you don't … (0 comments)
resale: ARMs
- 04/29/07 02:27 PM
Here is a tip for those who are shopping for Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs): the "margin" is almost as important as the initial rate. The margin is the percentage point above the average yields for Treasury notes on which future rate adjustments will be calculated.Let's compare two hypothetical one-year ARMs. The first may have an initial interest rate of 7% with a 2.5 margin, while the second begins at 6 7/8% with a 2.75 margin. Both loans have rate caps of 2%. Suppose that at the end of the first year of the loan, the average of the one-year Treasury note … (1 comments)
resale: Home Warranties
- 04/29/07 11:24 AM
You have just found a new home that you love and are planning to place your current home on the market. When the day arrives for your first open house, you begin to think of all of the things that could break down or go wrong. The air conditioner may stop working or your trusty old dishwasher might "bite the dust" the morning that the structural inspection is scheduled. Purchasing home warranty protection is one way to reduce these worries for you and your buyer.The most popular warranty plans cover the home from the time it is listed until one year … (0 comments)
resale: Broom Clean
- 04/29/07 11:00 AM
Most purchase agreements contain language that requires a home to be free of trash and debris and "broom clean" at closing. While this language is not precise, the general idea is that you should convey a clean house to your buyers, one in the same condition that you hope to find your new home.When the movers leave with your furniture, you may even want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service to thoroughly clean the home. It is crucial to leave your house as pristine as possible for the new owners. This includes getting rid of any leftover junk in the … (0 comments)
resale: Negotiating Factors
- 04/24/07 06:18 PM
Negotiations for the sale of a home can be affected by emotional factors. For example, it is easy to be offended by someone who is making an offer on your property. Even if the buyers love your house, they are trying to negotiate the best possible price and terms. They probably will not let you know how much they want your home until they have negotiated a purchase agreement. Buyers almost never write offers that please the sellers entirely. Offers and counter offers may be traded back and forth over days or weeks. Terms of the sale will be discussed and … (0 comments)
resale: School Districts
- 04/24/07 04:17 PM
The quality of the school district is a most important determinant of the market value of a house. For buyers with children, the quality of the local school system may be as critical to their decision as the appeal of the house. The desire for a quality education usually causes parents who are in the market for a home to ask questions about the local school district. What is the annual expenditure per pupil and the average class size? Are special programs available? What percentage of high school graduates go on to college? What is the physical condition of the schools … (1 comments)
resale: Landscaping Your Home
- 04/24/07 03:10 PM
Many buyers call a realestate office for information on a home after reading an appealing description of the property, or seeing a photograph of the exterior of the home on the real estates website. The exterior of your house and your yard will create the first impression for prospective buyers when they drive up to your house. Spending money on landscaping can bring you excellent returns when you sell your home.You don't have to spend a fortune or develop an elaborate landscaping plan to make your front yard look terrific. If the yard is neatly mowed and trimmed and there are … (2 comments)
resale: Tax Breaks
- 04/18/07 11:21 AM
Most homeowners are keenly aware of the interest tax deduction on their home loan, but there are many other tax breaks which are often overlooked at income tax time. Pro-rated property taxes and mortgage interest in the year of sale are deductible. You will find these amounts listed on your closing settlement statement. If you paid off your mortgage and had to pay a pre-payment penalty, it qualifies as tax deductible interest. If you paid an "acquisition mortgage loan fee" on a home loan, this fee can be deducted as itemized interest. Home improvement loan fees are also deductible. Any remaining … (0 comments)
resale: Get Rich Quick with Real Estate!
- 04/18/07 05:34 AM
You see them on cable TV, sitting around a swimming pool, sharing stories about how they got rich quick by buying valuable real estate for give-away prices. They took a course on how to invest in real estate and became millionaires overnight--with nothing down and no credit hassles from mortgage lenders. The course worked for them, and they say it will work for you, too.If all this sounds too good to be true--it is! These "get-rich-quick" courses and schemes are being investigated by consumer fraud agencies around the country. This does not mean that you can't become a millionaire by investing … (5 comments)
resale: Moving And Taxes!
- 04/17/07 03:22 PM
Even with the changes in tax laws over recent years, you may be able to deduct some of the expenses of a move that is the result of a change in your job.You will probably be able to deduct the costs of your move if your new work location means more than an additional 50-mile commute, if you move within a year of taking the job at the new location, and if you work full-time for at least 39 weeks (the total is 78 weeks if you are self-employed). You should keep meticulous records of all of your expenses and consult … (0 comments)
resale: Keeping Your Earnest Money Safe
- 04/17/07 06:29 AM
When you make an offer on a house, it is accompanied by an earnest money check. Earnest money is intended to demonstrate that you are "in earnest" about purchasing the property. The earnest money check is made out to the listing company. What happens to this check?The party holding the check acts as an escrow agent until you go into closing. At that time you will receive credit for the amount of your check against the down payment and closing costs. Real estate brokers are required by law to keep escrow funds in a special account. These funds cannot be used … (0 comments)
resale: Do Not Panic
- 04/17/07 04:41 AM
Many homebuyers have experienced the alternating waves of excitement and regret that can occur when the real estate agent presents your offer to the sellers and they accept it. At first you will probably feel ecstatic--unless you wake up the next morning, covered with a rash and asking yourself, "What on earth have I just done?"Occasionally agents get a morning-after call from buyers who will do anything to get out of the commitment they just made. If you are purchasing a home and find yourself in this condition, there are two important things to remember. First, your rash accompanies a very … (1 comments)
Disclosure laws make it important to reveal all material defects when you are selling a home. It is important to be absolutely candid with your agent and all buyers about the condition of the property. If there is anything wrong with the roof, the plumbing, the wiring or structure, it will probably not remain a "sleeping dog". The problem will probably wake up, snarl, growl and snap at your ankles at the precise moment your buyers feel their first stirring of buyers' remorse.It is unlikely that defects will go undetected, because most buyers get a home inspection before they are contractually … (0 comments)
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