November 14, 2009
- 10 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
10 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
Smart Money lists ten mistakes first-time home buyers make as follows:
1. Not knowing how much house you can afford. 2. Assuming foreclosures are great deals. 3. Letting your true feelings show. 4. Failing to find a good buyer's agent. 5. Underestimating the costs of owning a home. 6. Failing [...]
October 29, 2009
- Buying A Home vs Renting
Buying A Home vs Renting
If you're renting a home (as opposed to owning) is it cheaper, or more expensive? After all, if you're renting, you don't have repair costs, homeowner's insurance, mortgage payments, interest, and possibly private mortgage insurance.
Buying a home can also be a lot of work, keeping in mind the costs of mowing [...]
October 19, 2009
- Five Powerful Buying Strategies
Five Powerful Buying Strategies
In today's crazy San Francisco area real estate housing market, making rational decisions based on sound information is a must! In reality, emotions often take over, and sometimes, it's all you can do not to lose all conscientiousness when you think you have found that dream home. But if you'll [...]
October 16, 2009
- Title and Escrow Services: Shop Around
Title and Escrow Services: Shop Around
When it comes to real estate, just about everything is negotiable, so don't ever let anyone tell you that services like title insurance and closing costs (escrow services) aren't.
Title insurance companies are hired, in part, to issue title insurance protection for home buyers and lenders. Lenders require the service to [...]
September 11, 2009
- Buying a Home - Where to Start
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Buying a Home - Where to Start
Thinking of buying a home and don’t know where or how to start? What do you look for? How do you know you aren't paying too much? Was that the best deal you could have gotten for your money? How do you get the [...]
September 9, 2009
- Questions To Answer Before Buying A House
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Questions To Answer Before Buying A House
If you're buying a home for the first time you should take the time to learn something about real estate. Make sure you understand the terms of real estate contracts and mortgages. Don’t buy a home that costs more than you can afford [...]
August 31, 2009
- 2 Reasons to Buy a Home Now
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2 Reasons to Buy a Home Now
While some economists believe home prices will remain low for the foreseeable future, other buyer-friendly incentives could disappear soon. If you've been on the fence about buying a home, here are some reasons why now might be the best time ever to buy:
•Record [...]
August 15, 2009
- How To Buy Your First Home
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How To Buy Your First Home
Finding the Right House
You've decided it's the right time for you to buy a house. You've gotten your finances in order, checked your credit history, and made the decision that this is the right time for you to go forward. How do you find the [...]
August 8, 2009
- What Is A Short Sale?
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What Is A Short Sale?
When home hunting, you many run across what is known as a short sale.
A short sale is a property that is being offered at a discounted price to buyers because the seller has fallen behind in their payments on the mortgage and they need to sell [...]
August 2, 2009
- How to Buy a House
How to Buy a House
First time home buyers have a million questions, and luckily, CNN financial editor and author Gerri Willis has a million answers. Here's what you need to know before you buy a home. (Video runs 3:45)Have additional questions not covered in this video? Use the comment link below to ask… your email [...]
July 20, 2009
- Homebuyers Need To Nail Best Offer Price
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Homebuyers Need To Nail Best Offer Price
Bargains abound in today's real estate market, and buyers rule — but not necessarily lowball offers.
Steep price declines are driving a selling process now more like 2005's boom market than a bust. Priced-right properties at the lower end of the market get multiple [...]
July 16, 2009
- Tips Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Consider
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Tips Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Consider
1 - How Much Home Can You Afford? As a first-time home buyer, it’s important to have an accurate idea of how much money you can borrow for your new home and most importantly, how much you can afford. Sometimes those two aren’t [...]
July 6, 2009
- Pay Off Credit Cards Before Buying a House?
Pay Off Credit Cards Before Buying a House?
A reader (we'll call him Robert to protect the real identity of this comment) wrote in to ask:
Q - "I am thinking of buying a house. I have a credit card with a balance of approximately $3,000. Should I pay this off before applying for a mortgage, or [...]
June 24, 2009
- Got $2,500? Buy a House
Got $2,500? Buy a House
Rock-bottom interest rates and an $8,000 tax credit make a home possible for many first-time buyers — with no trick mortgages or financial gymnastics required.
With that tax incentive, average credit and less than $2,500 in savings, it's possible to buy a $150,000 starter home for about $1,000 a month, taxes and [...]
May 15, 2009
- Why Now is the Best Time to Buy a Home Ever
Why Now is the Best Time to Buy a Home Ever
It's no surprise to hear the term, "It's a Buyer's Market." Buy now and get the first time home buyer tax credit! Best time to buy a home, EVER!" So what's fueling this push to buy a home? What makes this the best time ever? [...]
May 14, 2009
- Buying and Selling a Home
Buying and Selling a Home
Buying and selling a home in this real estate market is not for the faint of heart!
In today’s fluctuating financial climate, there are many areas that one needs to examine before they buy or sell a home.
For instance, if you're thinking of buying a foreclosed house, you must ask not only [...]
February 12, 2009
- Home Buying: When is the Best Time?
Home Buying: When is the Best Time?
One of the questions we are asked most often is, "when will be the right time to think about buying a home?
The answer is right now, if possible, but let's expand on that a little further.
One of the main concerns of those looking to buy a property is [...]
November 23, 2008
- Reasons to Buy Real Estate Before 2009
Reasons to Buy Real Estate Before 2009
You may be among the masses of people wondering if they should consider buying real estate now, or wait. There are some strong reasons to act now… namely significant changes in the FHA loan requirements that are scheduled to change in January of 2009.
Statitics show that nearly 80% of [...]
November 21, 2008
- Real Estate Pricing
Real Estate Pricing
Real estate prices cycle through different highs and lows. Keeping track of the following market indicators will help you decide if now is a good time to invest in real estate or not.Job Growth
People go where the jobs are, and home prices follow jobs. A strong local job market is a sure [...]
November 19, 2008
- Making the Most of a Buyers Market
Making the Most of a Buyers Market
Here's what you need to know in order to make the most of this buyers' market:
Get a Great Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent can be an invaluable resource in helping you find and buy the perfect house. Agents work on your behalf to locate potential homes for you. [...]
