Buying a Home Foreclosures - First Time Home Buyer Tip

Making it affordable: Nine tips for first time home buyers
By Charles Warnock

It seems that everyone loves a good real estate story. The media is filled with reports about soaring property values and home owners of modest means becoming instant millionaires when they sell. As a result, many first time home buyers, afraid of missing out, will rush into buying decisions and achieve less-than-spectacular results. As a first time buyer, your biggest challenge is to balance livability and profitability in a way that makes sense for you and your family. Remember, you are buying a home first and an investment second. Of course, there’s no foolproof formula for buyer success, but there are steps you can take to stack the odds in your favor:

Tip 1: Don’t bet on market timing

If you’re waiting for prices to drop in places like Southern California, Washington D.C. or Miami, you may be waiting a very long time. In regions that are built out with limited room to expand, it’s not realistic to assume property values will fall dramatically. Of course, prices in the nation’s super-heated residential markets (much of California, Nassau-Suffolk Counties in New York, South Florida) should cool down at some point, but there’s no guarantee that higher interest rates won’t eat up any savings from a price correction. If your personal circumstances say it’s time to buy, high prices alone shouldn’t keep you on the sidelines. Current interest rates are still historically low, so you may consider locking in a mortgage before rates head north. Even in booming markets, there are good deals for those willing to devote some time and energy to finding them.

Tip 2: Leverage free and low-cost resources

There’s an abundance of free and low-cost resources for homebuyers on the Web. A Web search can turn up helpful articles, buyer guides, online tools and purchase/ refinance calculators. Keep an eye out for helpful tools like step-by-step guides and checklists to help organize your search. Some Web sites now offer online tools to help you estimate home prices and search for undervalued properties. Many offers on the Web for free property valuations actually are come-ons from real estate brokers looking for seller listings, so check first to see what strings are attached.

Tip 3: Check out the new models

Real estate’s old guard seems to be under assault at every turn today as traditional brokers battle competition from discount and Web-based brokers. Today, buyers have more options than ever before. You can use a full-service broker, discount broker or buy without a broker. To make buying more affordable, consider the homebuyer rebate programs that are becoming more popular. Rebates can help offset closing costs, which are a real obstacle for many first-time buyers. Be aware that some states currently ban real estate rebates all together, and others limit rebates to credits applied to closing costs. Rebate fans around the nation are keeping a close eye on Kentucky, as the Justice Department recently sued the Kentucky Real Estate Commission for violating antitrust laws. Kentucky is one of 15 states that ban or limit real estate rebates.

Tip 4: Lock in a realistic budget

To save time and trouble, first time buyers should have a realistic budget in mind before they shop for homes. One way to determine how much house you can afford is to get “pre-approved” by a lender. Pre-approval means you know exactly how much of a loan you’ll qualify for, so you can limit your search to homes in the right price range. Pre-approval also boosts your credibility and negotiation position with sellers. Most lenders will offer pre-approval as a no-obligation free service, in hopes of winning your business.

Tip 5: Buying — personal decision, business transaction

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) advises home buyers to create a wish list to help focus priorities. That way, you’ll remember that a spectacular foyer is nice-to-have, but safety and services are essential. Having clear goals will help keep you from getting carried away with emotional factors. Sellers who love their homes tend to ask too much, and buyers who fall in love can end up overpaying. With a little research, you can get can get an objective estimate of property value to make sure the seller has set a fair asking price. There are tools and resources on the Web to help you better understand home valuations.

Tip 6: Don’t let closing costs surprise you

Once you understand the buying process, you should understand and budget for transaction costs. In addition to your down payment, buyers pay most of the closing costs when purchasing a home, including things like inspection fees, title insurance, taxes and more. Closing fees can add up to 5-7 percent of purchase price, and must be paid before you get the keys. Your lender can provide what’s called a “good faith” estimate of your closing costs. Most closing costs are not negotiable but some are. When you’re comparing lenders, don’t be shy…ask which fees are negotiable, then ask if any discounts are available. Finally, be cautious about “no-cost” closing promotions because the lender may be simply passing on the costs in the form of a higher interest rate.

Tip 7: Build a support team

Buying a home is a big investment and a big decision, but you don’t have to go it alone. Remember, at each step of the way, there are people and resources to help you. Use the Internet and ask friends for referrals. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call real estate professionals, mortgage providers, title companies and insurers to ask questions. These professionals should be good resources to help you learn more about home buying, because they want to earn your business. If they are not helpful, then you have also learned something important…that they don’t deserve your business.

Tip 8: Clean up your credit

Low credit ratings mean that buyers won't qualify for the best available interest rates and fees, which could mean considerable extra expense each month for the life of the loan. Most financial institutions today offer risk-based lending – lower credit risk for lenders means better mortgage deals for customers. Credit reports frequently contain inaccurate information, which can hurt a buyer’s purchasing power. First-time buyers should check their credit scores and fix any problems before applying for financing.

Tip 9: Begin with the end in mind

Author Stephen Covey’s advice for effective living also applies to effective home buying. Resale may not your primary consideration, but it’s an important factor. Can you buy in an up-and-coming neighborhood or region? How is the “commutability” from your new home to local employers? How good are the local schools? A few queries to your favorite search engine will turn up free or inexpensive school rating services. Also be on the lookout for outdated features when you buy. If the those small closets and harvest gold appliances seem out of step now, you can bet that they won’t look any better to prospective buyers in a few years.

Charles Warnock is Marketing Communications Manager at Homekeys, a South-Florida based provider of real estate technology and services. He writes often on real estate, finance, interactive marketing and business development. For more information, visit http://www.homekeys.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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Buying a Home Foreclosures- Buying a home foreclosures makes you generate quick profit. Step-by-step process in buying a home foreclosures for quick cash.

Buying a Home Foreclosure Credit Report Tips # 2

Credit Report – Check Yours Regularly - and for Free
By Charles Essmeie

In the twenty-first century, there are few documents that have a greater impact on the lives of Americans then their credit report. Credit rating determines one’s ability to buy a home, a car, or to obtain a credit card or a job. Since these things are important, it is equally important that the information be accurate. The only way to be sure of that is to check the report regularly. Prior to last fall, there were two ways to obtain a copy of your credit report: to pay for one, or to obtain one for free after being denied credit. Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act passed last year, Americans can now obtain a free copy of their credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once a year.

Due to anticipated heavy response to the offer of free credit reports, the program has been rolled out in stages. People living in the West and Midwest are already eligible to apply for a copy of their report at www.annualcreditreport.com. As of June 1, 2005, those living in the Southeast are now eligible, and on September 1, 2005, those living in the Northeast will be eligible. All that is required to receive a copy of your credit report is to answer a few simple questions. Since it only takes a few minutes to do, there is really no reason to put off checking your credit report, and you may benefit tremendously by doing so.

The credit score is a single, three digit number that represents an individual’s credit worthiness, and that score is obtained through a complex formula that takes into consideration a person’s borrowing and spending habits and payment history. A high score makes someone more eligible for loans and credit, while a lower score may indicate that a person is a risk to repay. While the information contained on a credit report is generally accurate, incorrect information sometimes shows up on credit reports, and incorrect information could result in someone who being denied a loan for which they might otherwise be qualified. Furthermore, a credit report check is the best way to determine if you have been the victim of identity theft, an increasingly popular crime that often goes unnoticed for a year or more. If your identity is stolen, your credit rating can be ruined and you can be burdened with thousands of dollars in debt. The new bankruptcy law, which goes into effect in October 2005, draws no distinctions between debt incurred by an individual and debt incurred through identity theft. This alone should be reason enough to check your credit report regularly.

Since the law now allows individuals to obtain one free report per agency per year, anyone who wants to keep a close eye on their credit report can obtain a free report as often as every four months. Since the credit report affects your life in so many important ways, checking it regularly should become a habit.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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Buying a Home Foreclosures- Buying a home foreclosures makes you generate quick profit. Step-by-step process in buying a home foreclosures for quick cash.

Buying a Home Foreclosures Alert - Don't Make This Mistakes!

Fixer Uppers: Don't Make This Mistake
By Steven Gillman

Making money with "fixer-uppers" isn't about repairing drywall or planting flowers. It's about using the right approach from the start.

A Big Real Estate Mistake

Many people buy and sell a fixer-upper like this: They buy a house, fix it up, then add some amount (say $10,000) that's in their head onto their costs. Then they put the house up for sale for this price. This is so wrong.

Would you buy a house according to what the seller has into it? Of course not. You look at what similar houses are selling for to determine the value. So if you have $110,000 into a fixer-upper and similar homes are selling for $105,000, how much can you get? It doesn't have anything to do with what you've spent, does it?

The Fixer-Upper Formula

1. Determine how much the house wil sell for when you're done fixing it up. Ask an appraiser for help, or look at what similar houses have sold for (not list prices). What it's likely to sell for is the only meaningful definition of value when dealing with fixer-uppers.

2. Calculate all costs: buying costs, including closing, fees, etc.; repair costs; carrying costs, including interest on loans used to buy the house, property taxes, insurance; selling costs, including commissions, fees, title policy, etc. Subtract costs from the expected sales price.

3. Now subtract a profit that makes it all worth the effort. This gives you the highest price you can pay for the house. Walk away if you can't get it for this price or less. Offer several thousand less, of course, to give yourself negotiating room.

An Example:

You find a fixer-upper, and determine you can get $98,000 for it when it's done. The expenses of buying will be $2,000. You get repair estimates of $8,000. Carrying costs will be $2,500. The sales commission will be $6,500. Other closing costs will be around $1,500. You figure $1,500 for "unexpected" costs. Finally, you want $10,000 for your effort.

Subtracting all of that from your expected sales price leaves $66,000. This is the most you can pay, if you want a safe real estate investment. You offer $61,000, and walk away if you and the seller can't settle on something under $66,000.

Always start at the end (the eventual sales price) and work your way back. This is the right way to safely invest in fixer-uppers.

Steve Gillman has invested in mobile homes and other real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house (not a mobile) he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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Buying a Home Foreclosures- Buying a home foreclosures makes you generate quick profit. Step-by-step process in buying a home foreclosures for quick cash.

More Buying a Home Foreclosure Deals

Foreclosure Home Deals
By Amber Lowery

Did you know that you can save tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of your home by investing in a foreclosure or preforeclosure property? When you are trying to purchase a home for the first time, and you have limited resources and limited funds, it is particularly important that you get the most "bang for your buck".

One way for a young family to get the most home for their money is to purchase a "distressed" property. With research and due diligence, you may just end up with a larger or nicer home than you thought you could afford, but without the extra price tag. One way to accomplish this is by purchasing a property that is in foreclosure. You may want to look for an REO Foreclosure.

What's an REO Foreclosure? This stands for "Real Estate Owned", or in other words, property that was foreclosed upon by the bank holding the mortgage, and now belongs to the bank. But, the bank is a bank and not a real estate investment firm. They are simply not in the business of residential real estate and have no interest in the home other than to recoup their investment.

How does this benefit you? Well, more than likely the previous owners of the property have been making payments on it for some time, bringing down the amount the bank was owed and increasing the equity in the property. Since the bank is only concerned about recouping what they are owed and not really attempting to make a profit, then you can essentially reap the benefit of the equity in the property and purchase the home for what is owed which is likely well below current market value.

This approach while simple in theory does require research, time, fixup, and perhaps even cash upfront. This approach is not for everyone, but if your situation allows for it, you may be able to snag a great deal on a nicer home than you could otherwise afford.

Amber Lowery is an online publisher and is responsible for maintaining a large network of home and finance sites. For more information on Foreclosures, visit: http://www.foreclosure-property-deal.com - the Foreclosure Resource. Current foreclosure property listings can be found here: http://www.foreclosure-property-listings.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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Buying a Home Foreclosures- Buying a home foreclosures makes you generate quick profit. Step-by-step process in buying a home foreclosures for quick cash.