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WELCOME TO KARMADOWNLOAD.COM / Welcome Guest REGISTER FOR FREE LOGIN CHECKOUT items : 0 Welcome to KarmaDownload This is the KarmaPlayer window. If you see this text your browser does not support iframes, please update your browser. Best Of 2005 Dance HOME Recommended Singles Albums New This Week Artists A-Z Labels A-Z House US House UK House Beats Breakbeat Chillout Broken Beats Drum & Bass Techno Electronic Progressive House Karma Vault Karma Playlists The British Empire Fire & Riots Byeee!!!! Welcome To My House Bass In Your Face Rock/Alternative HOME Recommended Singles Albums New This Week Artists A-Z Labels A-Z Metal 4AD - 25th Birthday Feature Klub Karma Karma Vault Karma Playlists Xmas Shopping Winter Warmers Best of October Tiny Dog Riot! Karma Sessions Suffrajets Twentysixfeet 3rd Dan EYE The Dears The Alps the HaveNots Redjetson The Irrepressibles Urban HOME Recommended Singles Albums New This Week Artists A-Z Labels A-Z Hip Hop UK Hip Hop US Hip Hop UK Garage 4/4 Garage Grime/Dubstep Garage Funk & Soul DanceHall / Reggae Jazz/Blues Karma Playlists The British Empire Fire & Riots Grime Time Special Zip-Loc Fresh Hip-Hop Dubstep Special BrasianBeats HOME Recommended Singles Albums New This Week Artists A-Z Labels A-Z Desi Fusion Urban Asian Bollybeats Karma Unsigned HOME Artists A-Z Unsigned Signup Artist Login Artist of the Week Artist of the Month Unsigned Chart Karma Radio Rock/Alternative Channel Unsigned Rock Channel Metal Channel House Channel Drum & Bass Channel Breakbeat Channel Electronica Channel Reggae Channel Hip-Hop Channel Techno/Trance Channel Karma Forums RECOMMENDED / US House / Dance -------------- Search Labels -------------- 50 50 Records Abitare Music Group ALC Productions Alluv Recordings Anamorphic Recordings Anamorphic Recordings, LLC Asphalt Records Bacci Bros Basement Boys Basic Lux Records Cobalt Recordings CounterPoint Records Deep Touch Records Deepfunk Records Dorje Records E03 Records Eighth Dimension Elephunk Extrema Music Fiberlineaudio Filtered Records God's House Henry Street Music, Inc. INgrooves Jamayka Recordings Low Technique Lowdown Music Miami Vinyl Records Nice & Nasty Nine Records Nordic Trax Olive Records, Inc. OM Records Panhandle Records Pigeon Tracks Play Recordings Raw42 Music RcMi Recordings Rong Music Salted Music SFP Records So Sound Recordings Soniquarium LLC Soul Shake Soulgroove Records Sounds For People squid:records Transport Recordings Ubiquity Records Ugly Bug/Red Ant Recordings Zest Folies US House Artist Title Genre Label Buy Hear Subatomic Vision Subatomz Demo House OM Records Thievery Corporation f... Heart Is A Lonely Hunter House R2 Records Various Artists INgrooves Presents: The Sta... Electronica/Dance INgrooves Masters At Work The Kings Of House (mixed b... House Rapster/BBE Tom Neville Featuring ... Buzz Junkie Electronica/Dance Toolroom Records, ... Luke Fair Luke Fair EP 2 Electronica/Dance Bedrock Music Ltd. David Morales 2 Worlds Collide House Ultra Records Robbie Rivera Do You Want More House Ultra Records Various Artists House Of OM - Groove Junkie... Dance OM Records Masters At Work Our Time Is Coming House Tommy Boy Various Artists House of OM - Get Salted Vo... House Salted Music Fred Everything Soulmates Dance OM Records Various Artists Beached House OM Records DJ Aguy My Ex Wife House Black Vinyl Records Chuck Love Frozen In Minneapolis US House Salted Music Kaskade (US) Safe US House Salted Music Mark Farina Cali Spaces Electronic OM Records Li'sha Project Feel US House Salted Music Vincent Kwok West Coast Excursion Vol. 2... Electronic OM Records Chuck Love Soul Symphony House OM Records The Streaks The Feeling (Andy Caldwell ... Electronic Inspirit Music Various Artists House Of OM: Kaskade US House OM Records Inaya Day Lift It Up House Tommy Boy Miguel Migs Do It For You (feat. Li'sha) US House Salted Music Various Artists Reboot - Notes For The Next... US House OM Records Groove Man In The Air House Prototype Platinum Roomsa The Sunrise (feat. Lady Sar... US House Salted Music Sara Devine Take Me Home House Giant Step Michelle Weeks Gotta Keep Trying US House Basement Boys Bryan Cox Never Stop House Prototype Platinum Luna & LeMoch The Feeling US House Miami Vinyl Records Atomphunk Boogie Down US House Deepfunk Records Various Artists Inner City Experience - Vol... US House Deepfunk Records Adam B & Tom Golden Honey I've Lost My Panties Deep House Southside Shuffle Various Artists - Glob... Danny Howells - Miami House Global Underground Spen & Karizma present... In The Sky US House Basement Boys Joey Musaphia Heaven Part 1 House Refunkt Records Robbie Rivera Sex 2005 US House Filtered Records JT Donaldson Trust Me ft. Symphony (Voca... US House OM Records ABOUT US TERMS & CONDITIONS PRIVACY POLICY F A Q FEEDBACK CONTACT US

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LandAndFarm.com - Land for sale, Farms for sale, Rural Property for sale Advertise here Search Properties Wanted Auctions Newsletter Quick Start Register About My Properties Number of visitors online now: 235 Thursday, December 29, 2005 Ad Prices Help Contact Login Subscribe to Rural Property Bulletin Last Few Listings Most Viewed Least Viewed Recently Updated Search by USA Map Rural Property Sites Tool Box Get new properties in your email box! Newsletter Sign-up: yourname@xyz.com HTML TEXT For fun: old listings Contact Us Community Stats Seller emails: 102,892 Property emails: 110,227 Property Views: 13,028,620 Newsletter Subscribers: 14,850 Site Statistics Property 1761 Brokerage 15 Finance & Mortgages 3 Wanted 1 Businesses For Sale 7 Livestock 1 Rural Living 16 Miscellaneous 3 By Land Use: commercial land : 117 dairy farm : 22 fish - aquaculture : 15 forest - natural : 283 forest - planted : 116 historic : 41 horse farm : 380 hospitality : 61 hunting property : 610 livestock operation : 129 mobile home park : 4 oil or minerals : 7 orchard : 17 organic uses : 20 pasture : 319 permanent crops : 43 poultry farm : 33 recreational property : 677 residential land : 844 row crops : 107 undeveloped land : 377 vegetable farm : 15 vineyard : 15 waterfront : 152 By Country: United States : 1709 Canada : 39 South Africa : 34 Zambia : 5 Botswana : 5 Chile : 4 Argentina : 2 Belize : 2 Brazil : 2 Mozambique : 2 Australia : 1 Namibia : 1 Kenya : 1 By Price Per Acre: <$100: 8 $100 to $500 : 34 $500 to $2,000 : 280 $2,000 to $5,000 : 402 >$5,000 : 734 By Acres: <50 : 991 <200 : 1460 200 to 500 : 182 500 to 1,000 : 78 >1,000 : 108 By State/Province: Alabama : 24 Arizona : 11 Arkansas : 14 California : 20 Colorado : 29 Connecticut : 4 Florida : 88 Georgia : 283 Idaho : 12 Illinois : 29 Indiana : 7 Iowa : 9 Kansas : 17 Kentucky : 58 Louisiana : 13 Maine : 32 Maryland : 6 Massachusetts : 7 Michigan : 7 Minnesota : 16 Mississippi : 14 Missouri : 76 Montana : 6 Nebraska : 4 Nevada : 6 New Hampshire : 5 New Jersey : 16 New Mexico : 7 New York : 75 North Carolina : 59 North Dakota : 38 Ohio : 61 Oklahoma : 9 Oregon : 6 Pennsylvania : 6 South Carolina : 64 South Dakota : 22 Tennessee : 293 Texas : 27 Utah : 11 Vermont : 11 Virginia : 123 Washington : 11 West Virginia : 49 Wisconsin : 18 Wyoming : 6 Alberta : 1 British Columbia : 3 Buenos Aires Capital Federal : 1 IV Coquimbo : 1 Manitoba : 1 Mendoza : 1 New Brunswick : 11 Nova Scotia : 12 Ontario : 3 Para : 1 Quebec : 3 Queensland : 1 Saskatchewan : 5 VII Maule : 1 XI Aysen : 2 Not In USA or Canada : 1 Steve's Financial Modeling Tutorial Properties by: Land Use Country State Acres Price Per Acre LandAndFarm.com News Search for land for sale and farms for sale in the U.S., Canada and more than 200 other countries. Click here to see our advertising prices . jc-today -- NEWS: Avian Flu Study Underway The eBay Index: Mexican Land on Block LANDBLOG: Hunting Clubs Get Creative LANDBLOG: Vodka From Apples See All News See the LandBlog For Real Estate Agents Protect Yourself: . Tips on how to avoid internet real estate scams. Click here jc-today -- Make Money From Your Site: . NEW! Bulk listing plans! See details here . -- Tennessee 116 Wooded Acres ( forest - natural, hunting property, recreational property) A 116 acre property with an asking price of $197,500. This property -- located on Highway 104 North in Henderson County, Tennessee -- contains 116 mostly-wooded acres. Approximately 100 acres are in mediu ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Henderson , Tennessee [Email this listing to someone] Spectacular Preserved Farmland ( residential land, pasture, row crops) A 15.01 acre property with an asking price of $699,900. 15+ acres of Farmland Preservation offers an 850 foot winding driveway leading to Spacious Dutch Colonial nestled amongst mature evergreens. Hardwood ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Ocean , New Jersey [Email this listing to someone] Estate Sale ( hunting property, forest - natural, undeveloped land) A 115 acre property with an asking price of $287,500. Estate Sale (115 acres). Deep woods & hardwood creek bottom land north of Dadeville on Hampton-Denver Road. Deer, turkey, duck. Beaver pond attracts d ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Alabama [Email this listing to someone] 21 Stall Horse Farm 29.51 Ac ( horse farm) with an asking price of $575,000. Located in SW NH on 29.5l acres; 3 barns, 21 stalls total (13 10x12) (6 l0xl0) and 2(l0x12), three barns, two wells, heated office, wash rack and room ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Cheshire , New Hampshire [Email this listing to someone] Horse Farms ( horse farm, pasture, recreational property) A 20.00 acre property . Hughes Creek Preserve, 528 acres of beautiful rolling land with exceptional views of the mountains and piedmont just 45 minutes south of Asheville. Lo ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Polk , North Carolina [Email this listing to someone] Southern Plantation ( residential land, row crops, pasture) A 165 acre property with an asking price of $1,200,000. This Southern Plantation is located in Covington County, Alabama. Covington County is known for rich soil that inhabits peanuts, soy, cotton, and pec ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Covington , Alabama [Email this listing to someone] Walla Walla Land For Sale ( residential land, vineyard, pasture) A 945 acre property with an asking price of $6,500,000. This 945 acres (with water rights) is 4 miles from downtown Walla Walla and 1/2 mile from College Place. One of the best wine producing regions in the ...(Click here to learn more) This property is for sale. Location: Washington [Email this listing to someone] 12/29/2005 3:41:20 PM Web LandAndFarm.com Search eBay Land Listings! Quick Search Search Properties/ Advanced Search Recent searches: 20 properties - 3 seconds ago 20 properties - 5 seconds ago 20 properties - 13 seconds ago 20 properties - 18 seconds ago Click a Pro! Visit the following real estate pros for the best properties from around the world! Debra Dodd, TENNESSEE Craig McKenzie, South Africa (Singell) Countrytyme, OHIO (Kimmel) Countrytyme ALC LTD, OHIO Virginia R. Reid, MAINE Melinda Barrington, TENNESSEE David A. Francis III, GEORGIA (Smith) Cozy Cove Realty, GEORGIA Judith Parcel, MISSOURI (Shortt) Shortt Auction & Realty Co., SOUTH CAROLINA (Davenport) Davenport Realty United Country , VIRGINIA Iris Crockett, VIRGINIA Kenneth Marston, VIRGINIA Kathy Milton, FLORIDA Jonathan Adams (Chapman) Bruner Land Company, OHIO Walt Thigpen, GEORGIA Ryan Folk, GEORGIA Floyd Tiller, TENNESSEE Steve Landreth, ILLINOIS (Parks) Southern Timber Consultants, GEORGIA Jane Wyatt, WEST VIRGINIA (Champion) Tree Frog Properties, FLORIDA (King) Allans Point, Canada (Kuykendall) Middle Bay Realty, VIRGINIA Jerry Lewis, SOUTH CAROLINA (See) ERA Kline May Realty, VIRGINIA Gary Grigsby, KANSAS Charley Black, GEORGIA (Petit, e-PRO) C21/Hilgart Realty Inc., WISCONSIN (Ferguson) Farm and Country Realty, NEW YORK (Brashear) Brashear Realty Corp., GEORGIA (Burtt) Mattie Burtt Realty Inc., COLORADO Wayne Tiller, TENNESSEE John Coates, Canada Adam Fleck, NORTH DAKOTA (Brown) Brown Realty Co. , LOUISIANA Charles R. McMillan Jr., SOUTH CAROLINA Rod Kemink, SOUTH DAKOTA Sharon Sevedge, MISSOURI Kay Petty, TENNESSEE Sandra Rowlett, KENTUCKY (Greenlee) Greenlee Properties Inc., WEST VIRGINIA Russell Falk, GEORGIA Vicky Poe, TENNESSEE Jim McEwen, TENNESSEE max huff, TENNESSEE Brenda Sala, FLORIDA (Bottoms) United Country Bottom Line Realty, MISSOURI Lloyd DeFoor, GEORGIA (Holley) ReMax Riverside Realty LLC, TENNESSEE Debra Corr, NEW YORK Raborn Taylor III, GEORGIA Ruby Baker, TENNESSEE Vonda Clerc, SOUTH CAROLINA Adrienne WaltersAnders Laura Bailey, TENNESSEE Larry McCoy, TENNESSEE Jeanne Dufort, GEORGIA Tom Bell, GEORGIA Maureen Shepherd, TENNESSEE Don Butts, GEORGIA Kenny King, ALABAMA Larry Jolley, TENNESSEE John Davis, TENNESSEE Brenda Koon, ILLINOIS Philip Weatherford, SOUTH CAROLINA Jackie shane Upchurch, NORTH CAROLINA (Burkholder) Kline Commercial Realty, VIRGINIA Clark Rose, TENNESSEE Denny Tincher, VIRGINIA J.P. 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THIELKE, TX (Singletary) Singletree Inc., GEORGIA Dean Vorland, NORTH DAKOTA Mary Jane Kneisly, Broker, NOT IN USA OR CANADA ANTHONY PRINCE, NY (Hanes) RE/MAX Properties North, GEORGIA Jack Thyfault, NEW YORK (Blake) CB Isaac Realty, FLORIDA (King) Redstone Properties, MASSACHUSETTS Ken Richards, GEORGIA Debbie Rector, FLORIDA (Vetsch) Realty Professionals/The Vetsch Team, GEORGIA Larry Hale, MISSOURI Jim Thorpe, SOUTH DAKOTA (Rochelle) Century 21 Kelso Realty & Auction, Inc., TENNESSEE Jay Barron, TENNESSEE Bill Kohlmoos, NEVADA Rick Moody (TN Lic.#00221320), TENNESSEE Eddie Drinkard, GEORGIA Chuck Clausen, GEORGIA (Jones) Strand Agency, NORTH DAKOTA Robin McDaniel, MISSISSIPPI Marilyn Pelletti Harold N Bass, Jr, TENNESSEE (Wilson) Advanced Realty Bob Rounds, NEW YORK Janie Tyree, VIRGINIA FRANK LEPARD, NEW YORK T. Allen Whitmer, MONTANA Eddy Clemons, VIRGINIA (Aldridge) Basin Creek Realty, NORTH CAROLINA Traci Dower, TENNESSEE Robert Smith, FLORIDA (Stratton) Ed Stratton, NEW YORK Jason Forgue, MASSACHUSETTS George Dale, OKLAHOMA (Ham) The Cheryl Ham Team, VIRGINIA Joanne Lowry, FLORIDA Tracy Evans, WEST VIRGINIA Dennis Kaiser, NORTH DAKOTA John Mullaley, CALIFORNIA (Mayton) Agricultural Asset Services Inc., MISSISSIPPI Mark Haynes, KENTUCKY Barbara Sandgren, COLORADO (Wade) Demeree Realty, NEW YORK John Sanders, WEST VIRGINIA ©1998-2005 - LandAndFarm.com - Contact Us - Privacy Notice - Disclaimer - UserAgreement - Advertise With Us

Home Loan

Mortgage | Home Loans | Refinance | Home Equity | REALTORS | Auto | Mortgage Refinance Home Mortgage Refinance Home Equity Auto Find a Home FREE Credit Report Knowledge Center more Site Map | About Us | Contact Us Already a Customer? Login Loans Home Refinance Home Mortgage Home Equity Auto Refinance Auto Loan Student Loans Commercial Loans Real Estate Services Find a REALTOR ® Home Price Check ® Newly Constructed Homes Homes for Sale More Services Free Credit Report Free Credit Score Free Insurance Quotes Living with Debt Report LendingTree in the News The Today Show™, USA Today®, CNBC®, and Time Magazine® are trademarks of their respective owners. These companies are not affiliated with and do not endorse LendingTree, LLC. Compare and act on up to 4 customized offers instantly! Loan Type: Property State: Home Description: Select a Loan Type Refinance Mortgage Home Equity Loan/Line Purchase Home Auto & Motorcycle Loan Refinance Auto Loan Personal Loan Credit Card Commercial Lending Student Loan Select Property State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Select Home Type Single-Family Detached Town House Condo w/ 4 or fewer stories Condo w/ 5 or more stories 2-4 Units Cooperative Modular Mobile Home (permanent) Privacy and Security PROTECTED Find a Home Already pre-qualified for your mortgage but haven't found a home yet? Find a REALTOR ® and the home of your dreams. Receive a gift card up to $1000 * or more. The LendingTree Advantage One simple form, compare and act on up to 4 customized offers instantly! 93% customer satisfaction. 9 out of the top 10 financial institutions are a part of the LendingTree network . 4 Make smarter decisions with FREE loan advice & calculators . Know your credit report & score . Select a Loan Type Refinance Mortgage Home Equity Loan/Line Purchase Home Privacy Policy | Security | Terms of Use | Licenses & Disclosures Sitemap | En Español | Do Not Call | Publications | For the Media | News Releases Jobs | Partnership Programs | Get Internet Mortgage Leads from LendingTree | Get Internet Mortgage Leads from GetSmart Join Our Real Estate Network | Post Home Listings | Affiliate Program | House Prices at Domania Partner Sites: Ask | Citysearch | Expedia | Hotels.com | Ticketmaster.com | Hotwire.com | Entertainment.com | Gifts Match.com | Home Shopping Network | ReserveAmerica | RealEstate.com | iNest | ServiceMagic LendingTree technology and processes are patented under US Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. © 1998 - LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Conversion to LendingTree, LLC Official Home Makeover Holiday Sweepstakes Rules * Gift Card Terms and Conditions Click here for LendingTree Promotional Offer Terms 4 Based on total asset size of bank holding company as of 12/31/2004 as reported on the National Information Center web site for the Federal Reserve. REALTOR ® -- A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. The Home Depot ® is not affiliated with LendingTree, LLC. The Home Depot ® is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. Find REALTORS ® | Look for Houses for Sale | Mortgage Calculator | Refinance at GetSmart | Find Real Estate | Free Online Credit Report `

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FRB: Understanding the Home Mortgage Process Where to Shop and What to Look For Skip to content The Mortgage Application Process Understanding Your Rights to Fair Lending Directory of Federal Agencies Mortgage home Once you have found the home of your choice, you may think that your shopping days are over. Actually, only the first phase has been completed. Next comes finding a mortgage and payment terms that fit your budget. Where you shop and what you look for are important. You might start by looking for a mortgage at the bank where you have your checking or savings account. But don’t limit yourself. A wide variety of institutions make home mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, commercial banks, mutual savings banks, and mortgage companies. The mortgages these institutions offer will have varying features. One way to find the creditor with the most attractively priced loan is to look in your local newspaper; check to see if it publishes a shoppers guide to mortgage credit. These shoppers guides are available in many localities and can be used to identify the lenders with low rates. But, basically, the way to find the loan with the most attractive terms is to shop around. You should have in mind some of the things to look for in a mortgage loan. For example, what types of loans are available from a given institution? Does the lender make privately or federally insured or guaranteed loans? Some lenders offer mortgage loans backed by a federal agency such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans). Loans that are not government-insured are called conventional mortgages. Insured mortgages may be more attractive than conventional mortgages in some ways--such as lower down payment requirements. But they may be more restrictive in other ways; for example, they may be available only for certain kinds of homes, or for properties whose value is below a specified price. Other factors important to your mortgage decision are the length of the loan and the down payment required by the lender. The longer the term and the larger the down payment, the smaller your monthly payments will be. The interest rate is important too, and in some cases the amount of the down-payment will influence the interest rate that you pay (the larger the down payment, the lower the interest rate). In addition, mortgage loans may have interest rates that will stay fixed for the life of the loan (fixed-rate mortgages), that may change (adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs), or that represent a combination of fixed and variable rates (convertible mortgages). The initial rate of an ARM is generally lower than the rate available on a fixed-rate mortgage; but remember, the rate may change during the lifetime of the loan. Don’t hesitate to ask the lender how one loan differs from another, how the different features of the loan will affect the mortgage, or whether your chances to qualify would improve if you made a higher down payment. When you're shopping around, you will find that some home mortgage lenders have special programs to assist veterans and low-income or first-time homebuyers. Ask the lender if such programs are available. Home | Brochures Accessibility To comment on this site, please fill out our feedback form. Last update: June 21, 2001

Sell House

Tips on Buying and Selling Your House Remarked out per Bob Gent 4/11/02 -- TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME MORE QUICKLY Owners can help expedite the sale of their home by following a few guidelines to make the house more attractive to potential buyers. A thorough self-inspection and a walk-through with your real estate agent can reveal imperfections that might hinder a sale. (Please note: in Washington state, as in many other states, the seller must complete a "Real Property Transfer Disclosure Statement" form about the condition of property being offered for sale. Material defects must be disclosed.) House-hunters typically begin their inspection of a property bypreviewing its "curb appeal." A surprising number ofhomes are eliminated from consideration before potential buyersget out of their car because they find the exterior appearanceunsightly or uninviting. Following are some basic suggestions for improving the marketabilityof your home. Examine the lawn and flower gardens, making sure the lawnis mowed and free of drainage problems. Colorful flowers andshrubs can enhance the home's attractiveness. Check the sidewalks and driveway to make sure they're freeof weeds and clutter. Inspect the home's exterior, looking for loose, missing ordamaged siding and brickwork, a cracked and uneven foundation,and gutters, downspouts or fences that are in disrepair. Paintor repair any problem areas. Clear the decks! Clean decks, patios and steps, removingunnecessary furniture, toys and debris. Tidy up any pet areas. Inspect the front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain anda clean doormat can help create an inviting "first impression." Check lighting, making sure pathways and entry have adequateillumination. Inside the home, you should conduct an equally thorough inspection,since potential buyers are likely to open doors and cupboards,look into, look behind and operate everything to make sure thehome offers the space, layout and features they need. Extensiveredecorating isn't usually recommended, but all rooms should beclean and clutter-free. Think "light," "bright,""open" and "airy." Clear rooms (including closets and storage areas) of everythingbut the basics. Arrange furniture so rooms look spacious. Remove clutter from the basement and garage. Sweep floors,degrease spots and dust. Have carpets and drapes professionally cleaned. Patch walls and ceiling cracks, then repaint or wallpaper,using neutral shades. Check the basement for musty smells and signs of mildew orleaks, correcting any defects. Inspect bathroom and kitchen fixtures to make sure they sparkle,are leak-free and are otherwise functioning well. Remove stainsfrom countertops, sinks, tubs and showers. Test major mechanical components, including the furnace, waterheater and electrical system. Make sure windows and doors open and close easily. Replacecracked or scratched glass. Be aware of the amount and type of insulation. DETERMINING HOW MUCH HOUSE YOU CAN AFFORD Low mortgage rates and special incentives for first-time buyersare making the dream of home ownership a reality for more individualsand families. As you begin your search, you'll want to determinehow much house you can afford and what type of mortgage is bestfor your budget. In general, four factors will influence your ability to buy thatdream home. They are: how much of a down payment you will make. The more cash youput down, the less you'll have to borrow. the amount you need to borrow (your mortgage) to cover a monthlypayment for the loan principal (amount borrowed), interest ("price"charged for your use of the lender's money), taxes ( a portionof property taxes), and insurance. the mortgage interest rate. the repayment terms of your loan. When applying for a mortgage, your current earnings and expectedincome during the next few years may influence your borrowingpower. Outstanding long-term debt and how long you expect tostay in the home you're buying may also be considered. Most realty agents recommend getting preliminary approval fora loan, usually by getting "pre-qualified" or "pre-approved"for a certain monthly payment. Getting approved for a loan requireshaving a lender verify your financial situation, including yourcurrent assets (income, savings, investments and other sourcesof revenue) and your liabilities (existing loans, credit cardbalances and other obligations). Using this information, thelender will evaluate whether there are sufficient funds for thedown payment, whether you have adequate income to make monthlypayments, and your overall credit-worthiness, which is based ona review of your borrowing history. According to many real estate professionals and lenders, the biggestreason people get turned down for a loan is poor credit. Reviewingyour credit status and correcting any mistakes before applyingfor a loan can help you avoid surprises or disappointments. Consumersmay request a copy of their credit report from one of three majorreporting services: Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 Trans Union: 1-800-851-2674 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) A small fee may apply, although if you've been denied credit recently,federal law mandates that the lender tell you which company suppliedthe information. You have a right to a free copy of your reportfrom that company so long as you request it within 30 days ofthe credit denial. Pre-qualification, based on numbers you supply to a lender, isan indication of the range of what you can afford. Getting pre-qualifiedis neither a commitment to loan you money, nor is it an obligationby you to borrow from a particular lender. Lenders typically use one of two guidelines when evaluating aloan request. Most lenders will limit the loan amount to a percentageof your gross monthly income or to a multiple of your annualhousehold income. As a general rule, individuals or families can usually handlea housing payment that amounts to 25- to-28 percent of their grossmonthly income. Following this guideline, if gross monthly incomeis $3,500, monthly payments (inclusive of taxes and insurance)in the range of $875 to $980 are considered reasonable. Somelenders use an alternate ratio that allows 36 percent of totalmonthly income for housing expenses and other long-term debts,such as car loans, credit card payments and obligations for childsupport. (Monthly living expenses for utilities, groceries, entertainment,medical and auto insurance are not calculated in this formula.) Another guideline, based on gross annual household income, assumesmost borrowers can afford up to 2.5 times their gross annual income. This means a borrower with total income of $40,000 may qualifyfor a loan of up to $100,000. Whether using a "multiplier method" or a "percentagemethod," prospective home buyers should allow for closingcosts and moving expenses. (Closing costs are the fees and taxesthat are paid when the deed is transferred. These usually amountto 5-to-10 percent of the mortgage amount. Moving expenses includecosts for movers, as well as "move-in" deposits forutilities and other "necessities"). Many lenders provide work sheets and charts to help you calculateyour borrowing power, along tables so you can compare paymentsat different rates and for different loan periods. (Some realestate brokers and financial institutions even have "mortgagecalculators" on their Internet site to help you determinewhat you can afford.) Your borrowing power can be increased with favorable interestrates and terms. With lower rates, you can borrow more money. Different types of loans and the duration of the payback periodwill influence the interest rate that will be applied to yourmortgage. In general, the shorter the term of the loan, the lowerthe interest rate. There are dozens of different types of mortgage programs froma wide variety of financial institutions, including mortgage companies,saving and loan associations, commercial banks and credit unions. Prudent consumers will find it pays to compare options to findthe right loan for their particular situation. THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS) A multiple listing service is a system for collecting and organizinginformation on available properties in a given area. Such informationis shared by members who agree to cooperate with each other andto abide by certain operating procedures. This service enablesbuyers to have a vast selection of homes to consider, while sellersbenefit from having their property exposed to a large networkof real estate professionals and their clients. Most brokers in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma area are members of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), formerly called Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association (PSMLA). More than 1,300 companies with approximately 15,000 licensed sales professionals currently belong to this independent association. In addition to its primary function of maintaining a comprehensive database on thousands of properties, NWMLS produces various legal forms, publications and reports for its members. The "multiple" also maintains an electronic keybox system, which allows access to listings by authorized agents. Other benefits include an array of computerized services to assist with property searches, financial analysis, communications between offices, and access to data on property taxes, local schools and other information. Ongoing training and technical support are also available to NWMLS brokers and agents.