Buying A Home – Rain, Sun, and Weather Issues

When buying a home, it can be easy to overlook year-around weather issues. You may think you are purchasing a home in a sunny area, but come to find there is always a heavy cloud cover. This is just one of a number of weather issues to consider when selecting your dream home.

Clouds…Rain…Floods

If you must have a sun deck as part of your new home, you better make sure it is going to be sunny! Just because a general geographic area has a lot of sun doesn’t mean your home will. Things to look for include fog and heavy cloud cover for a home in a valley. If the home is located on the side of a hill or valley, make sure you know when it will get sun and shade. Temperatures can be radically different depending upon the amount of sun you get.

When it rains, it really pours! One potential nasty surprise for new homeowners can be the condition of a neighborhood after it rains. In San Diego, for instance, the total rainfall averages roughly 12 inches a year. Despite this low total, there are certain beach communities that grind to a halt because of flooding issues. Even an inch of rain can flood streets to the point that you can’t drive at all. Make sure you stop by a gas station or local store to ask about flooding problems in the area.

I have been known to enjoy a good boating trip and perhaps you have as well. I am pretty sure neither of us would enjoy it in our house. Still, millions of people a year buy homes in flood plains without even knowing it. Eventually, this can lead to a disaster when heavy rains come and you find out the reason they call it a flood plain.

Unlike streets with bad drainage, floods are much more damaging. When a river overflows, flood levels are typically measured in feet. Can you image the effect on your home of a flood that reaches five feet in depth? Well, you probably always wanted to renovate the first floor of your home.

Mother nature has a way of doing whatever she wants. Make sure you avoid her grumpy spells by looking into the effect of weather on your prospective dream home.

Buying a Home – Dealing With Lender Letters

Most people who set out to buy a home, be it house, townhouse, condo, apartment, or mansion on a hill, know they need to have a lender letter in hand saying they are qualified for a loan. What most “civilians” (people not in the real estate business) don’t realize is how much the value of a lender letter varies.

Let’s look at some of the general ways a lender letter varies, which sort you want, and how to present it to a seller to put you in the best possible position to buy that seller’s property. If you’re working with a broker, he or she will coach you in these matters. If you’re shopping on your own, and especially if you’re looking at FSBOs (for sale by owner properties), you need to know this stuff.

Lender letters come in two general types, pre-qualification letters and pre-approval letters. The bold print on the page may call it one thing, and when the letter is read, it actually proves to be the other, so pay attention. A pre-qualification letter is weaker than a pre-approval letter.

Pre-Qualification Letter

The weakest pre-qualification letter basically says that “if everything the borrower has told me is correct, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” All you really have here is the buyer’s word paraphrased by a lender. Unfortunately, there is an old adage in real estate that “buyers are liars”. This is well known, so presenting this type of a letter tells a seller you are not in a very strong position with the lender.

A stronger version says “I have looked at an ‘in file’ credit report, and based on that and what the borrower has told me, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” This is still not great, but it is a step in the right direction.

Pre-Approval Letter

The pre-approval letter says “I have checked this person’s credit reports, seen all necessary substantiating materials relative to income…assets…etc., and my firm is committed to making a loan subject only to receiving a copy of a contract to purchase and the property’s appraisal for the contract price or higher.” The letter may not say it, but it is also subject to the underwriting process that includes looking at updated credit information. Regardless, this letter carries a lot of power and sellers will be very happy to see you.

A Word to the Wise

The above discussion of lender letters brings up something you should be keenly aware of as a buyer. Your credit must not change in any substantial way between the time you first apply for a loan and the time you go to settlement on your new home.

If you’re buying waterfront property, do not go out and buy a boat until after you’ve closed on the property. I once saw someone make this mistake and almost lose the property purchase because of it. He had to quickly find a new lender and accept a higher interest rate to keep the deal from going south.

If you’re moving from a small condo to a larger place, there’s the temptation to run right out and buy more furniture for your new quarters. Fine. Just wait until after you’re the proud new owner.

If you are serious about buying a home, a lender letter is a key part of your negotiating ammunition. To save yourself a lot of aggravation during escrow, get a pre-approval letter before you go house hunting.

Buying A Foreclosed Home Or Property – A Wise Decision?

Foreclosure as the name suggests means a situation in which a homeowner or a mortgager is unable to make payments of principal and/or interest payments on his or her mortgage, so the lender, be it a bank or financier, can confiscate and sell the property as per the conditions in the terms of the mortgage contract. A home that was kept mortgaged becomes a foreclosed home when the owner of the home is unable to or unwilling to release his/her mortgaged home by paying his dues.

The first stage of a foreclosed home is pre-foreclosure that happens when the home owner has missed his/her one payment and is thus considered overdue on the loan. A formal cautionary letter or notice is then sent to the homeowner based on which he/she will have to react at the earliest and make the due payments. In such situations, most of the time foreclosure home owners are driven to sell their home or real estate property to home buyers for fast cash.

Quick and easy sale of home or real estate property for cash is always advantageous for home sellers. Foreclosures can in some cases benefit a seller who will either get paid in full at the foreclosure sale or get the house back to sell again for a second profit. Most of the house sellers are always in a look out for a better deal when they are trying to sell their house for fast cash. The main advantage that the home sellers get is that they can appeal to the large number of home buyers by accepting the greatest number of financing plans.

Also for home buyers, the main advantage behind buying a foreclosed home or real estate is financial savings. Buying a foreclosed home at a foreclosure auction will be much cheaper than under normal context. Buying the foreclosed or pre-foreclosed property by paying less will allow the home buyers to do some investments in its betterment and/or selling it at higher price than it costs. It is a general belief that on an average a home buyer saves up to 30% to 40% when buying a foreclosed property or home.

Along with advantages, there are also some disadvantages in buying a foreclosed home or property. For home buyers, the condition of the interior of the home usually remains undiscovered. Home buyers always tend to buy the foreclosed home or property at a very low market price so that they can afford to spend some amount in doing some restoration or repair work.

There are various ways to invest in foreclosed properties. The most popular way is by purchasing a real estate property or house and then giving it on rent to create a positive monthly cash flow. The second popular way to earn money is to search out foreclosures, buying them, investing in repairing and remodeling and then selling them at a high price. The third way is to purchase a nice foreclosure that is under priced and sell it immediately at a higher cost.

Over the years, it is empathized that buying foreclosed homes is very remunerative. Foreclosures are on the rise and people are unable to retain their home any more. They are anxious to sell their homes quickly before they are foreclosed on. With more and more homes popping up for sale, home buyers will have enough to choose from. Home buyers can pay fast cash for homes that are foreclosed or going to be foreclosed; thereby helping the mortgager to ease out his/her stress.

In today's fast paced lifestyle, many people are lagging behind on payments. Plenty of people are facing financial problems. So, if you are encountering foreclosure or a pre-foreclosure, trying to relocate or transfer job, divorce, multiple mortgage, or just need to <a href=http://www.payingcashforhouses.com/sellersform.html>sell your house</a> fast, there are many home buyers who will simply solve your real estate issues or your foreclosure problems and provide you with a fast cash offer on your house. Normally <a href=http://www.payingcashforhouses.com/>home buyers pay cash for your homes</a> to ensure your fast closing.

Buying a Diamond in the Rough

It may be your budget, or the thrill of doing it all yourself, but you are in the market for a diamond in the rough. But just how rough can a house be before a lender decides not to take the risk on a mortgage?

When you negotiate the contract, make sure that you include a provision for a home inspection for structural integrity, defects and potential problems. This isn't part of the appraisal, it is a separate detail. A home inspection ascertains the health of the house you are buying. Whether it be a bad roof, leaky plumbing or termite damage, a professional inspector will find all of the major problems. As part of your report, you will receive a list of what needs to be repaired or replaced, the time frame and the potential costs. If you are buying a fixer-upper, you may find that your lender will require an inspection. Some will and some won't. But you should insist on one to protect your best interests.

What if you luck out and there are no major problems, just minor ones? Maybe the carpet is worn and needs replacing. Perhaps the deck needs a little work. New paint and fresh air could be all it needs.

Minor, cosmetic concerns are usually not strong enough to scare away lenders, but could lead to negotiations between the buyers and sellers. Unless you've done this before, you may find a good agent is invaluable to negotiate for you.

If you want certain things repaired by the seller, such as the mailbox fixed and the deck painted, make sure it is in the contract. If it is, the seller must perform. You may be able to have the appraisal include the repairs spelled out in the contract. This can help you when getting a mortgage, as lenders will only lend on the lesser of the appraisal or purchase price. Just make sure that it is all in the contract.

Occasionally, your seller may ask to perform the repairs after closing. Many buyers simply ask for a seller's concession. Instead of installing a $5,000 carpet before closing, the seller agrees to reduce the purchase amount by the $5,000 it will cost the buyer to put in new carpeting.

But if you don't have that $5,000 in hand to buy the carpet, don't expect your lender to give it to you. Even if your contract states that the seller will give you back $5,000 after closing, don't expect it to happen. Cash allowances written into contracts can't happen. The lender will not allow the seller to hand over cash at closing. Your real estate agent should steer you away from this and help construct a sales contract that will please both the buyer and the seller. But don't expect to come home with $5,000. It just won't happen.

Buying a fixer-upper can be rewarding. You get to choose how you want to improve the home. But it is a lot of work and definately not for every buyer or lender. Your best bet is to be completely upfront with your lender about your intentions. This will help the transaction to go smoothly.

Buying: Knowing The Area

One of the most important aspects of any home that you move into is, without a doubt; the area. Homes may look fantastic online, but there is always the possibility that the area this fantastic home is in may be less than desirable. Before you move to any new town, subdivision or city, its a good idea to do a little research and find out as much as possible about the place that you are considering calling home. The logical place to start asking questions is to your realtor. Whether you are moving from a distance away, out of state or even out of country you may want to try to find a realtor that specializes in the area that you are interested in. Realtors are a great source of information and usually they know more about a given area than just about anyone.

In finding out about a new area there are some definite things that you will want to find out about. Start by finding out about the area itself. Is is an industrial town? Tourism Based? What kind of atmosphere can you expect when moving there? The next things that you should consider are the employment market and the education system. It's always comforting to know what kind of job environment is in the area you are moving to. Is there room for your career to flourish? Additionally, even if you do not have children, knowing the education system is just a good idea. It is one of the things that people usually consider important in a new town, and if you have to move again; a home in a good education district will fetch a higher price.

Try to find out what the future hold for the area too. This can usually be accomplished by talking to your realtor, but also seeking info from the city itself. Find out if there are any development or expansion plans for the area. Things like proposed developments, both residential and commercial can drastically effect your property values. You will always be well served to stay cognizant of the future of any area that you move to. Keep in mind that potential developments and future plans can make or break an area, so the more info you have at the beginning the better.

Buyers Not on Vacation In Sizzling Resort Market

The phenomenal real estate boom of the past several years has not been confined to sales of primary residences alone. Sales of second homes also have ratcheted up dramatically as vacationers and investors look to snap up these properties amid the lure of low mortgage rates and rapidly increasing home values.

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, 2.82 million vacation home purchases were made in 2004, up 16 percent from the previous year.

With the rising demand, prices also escalated; the price of a typical vacation home increased 21 percent from 2003 to 2004, about twice the rate of appreciation for the overall home market.

In addition to vacation homes, sales in the second-home market were bolstered significantly by those searching for steadily appreciating investments. Nearly 25 percent of all homes purchased in 2004 were done so for investment purposes - a 14 percent increase from 2003.

Against this backdrop, real estate firms are recognizing the importance of understanding and servicing this influential group of homebuyers.

"Second-home buyers represent a vital and growing part of the overall market," said Brenda Casserly, president and chief operating officer of ERA Real Estate. "These discerning buyers have extremely specific and often widely varying needs, and real estate firms looking to lead in this segment must continue to provide these consumers with an efficient mix of one-on-one and Web-based services and resources."

ERA Real Estate has been an industry leader in this area with its established Resort Properties International program. The program features a team of trained resort experts who can instantly access key resources from around the world and provide specialized information on second-home properties across all price levels and comfort needs.

ERA Real Estate also recently launched Resorts.ERA.com, a Web site designed specifically to meet the needs of second-home buyers. Visitors to the site can search for properties categorized by state or other criteria, such as waterfront locations, ski resorts and golf club communities.

Through the site, consumers can connect with sales associates who specialize in the resort and second-home market, and access links to state and local resources as well as market trends.

Buy Your First House Before You Can Afford It

Purchasing a home is most likely the biggest and often the best investment that you will ever make. Why not make that investment now?

If you are saving up with the goal of getting your dream home within the next two to five years, the following ideas could help you buy your house sooner than you planned.

* Buy from a motivated seller. A motivated seller is someone who has a house he or she wants to get rid of quickly. It could be that the owner was unable to sell the house on his or her own or that, even though the house was listed through a real estate agent, it just didn't sell. Because only about 5 percent to 10 percent of sellers are truly motivated, you may need to relax your must-have requirements in a house.

* Find a seller who doesn't need cash upfront. Most sellers will need the money from the sale of their home to buy their next home. Instead, look for someone who has already bought his or her next house. Vacant properties or homes that have been rental properties also are good candidates. By looking for properties like these, you'll be working with sellers who are more likely to wait to get their money.

* Structure your offer as a lease purchase. Instead of buying right away, offer to rent the home for four or five years at a set rate. This will help the seller cover the current costs of the property while giving you the ability to live in your home now, continue to save for the down payment and then buy the home when you're ready. Make sure you're offered the option to buy the home at or below today's value. If the seller is not willing to go along with this, then look for someone who is more motivated to sell.

See if you can get the seller to give you a credit toward the purchase of the home for each month that you pay rent.

Using these ideas, you'll be able to buy that special house this year rather than waiting another two years or more. If the home you get is worth $200,000 today, then at a 10 percent appreciation rate, you could make an extra $40,000 or more simply by getting into the real estate market years ahead of schedule.