home equity lines of
What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit ESPAÑOL More and more lenders are offering home equity lines of credit. By using the equity in your home, you may qualify for a sizable amount of credit, available for use when and how you please, at an interest rate that is relatively low. Furthermore, under the tax lawdepending on your specific situationyou may be allowed to deduct the interest because the debt is secured by your home. If you are in the market for credit, a home equity plan may be right for you. Or perhaps another form of credit would be better. Before making a decision, you should weigh carefully the costs of a home equity line against the benefits. Shop for the credit terms that best meet your borrowing needs without posing undue financial risk. And remember, failure to repay the amounts youve borrowed, plus interest, could mean the loss of your home. What is a home equity line of credit? What should you look for when shopping for a plan? Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line How will you repay your home equity plan? Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans What is a home equity line of credit? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumers largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses. With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credityour credit limit , the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the homes appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage. For example: Appraised value of home $100,000 Percentage x 75% Percentage of appraised value = $ 75,000 Less balance owed on mortgage - $ 40,000 Potential credit $ 35,000 In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history. Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this draw period, you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the repayment period), for example, 10 years. Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line. There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up. What should you look for when shopping for a plan? If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so youll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders. Interest rate charges and related plan features Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value of the index at a particular time plus a margin, such as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin. Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for home equity linesa rate that is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months. Variable-rate plans secured by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap ) on how much your interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest rate may fall if interest rates drop. Some lenders allow you to convert from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment loan. Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap. Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you paywhen you buy a home. For example: A fee for a property appraisal to estimate the value of your home An application fee , which may not be refunded if you are turned down for credit Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit) Closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes. In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line. You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lenders risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs. How will you repay your home equity plan? Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends. Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan. Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the planwhether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loanwhen the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this balloon payment by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home. If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period. If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement. Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home. In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently: The APR for a traditional second mortgage loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line of credit is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges. Disclosures from lenders The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change. When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all feesincluding any application and appraisal feespaid to open the account. The information on this site is adapted from the brochure "What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax . Order online . Glossary | Where to go for help | Checklist Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures Accessibility | Contact us Last update: March 1, 2004
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How to Buy a Home and Other Real Estate - Home Buying Advice You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > How To Buy a Home Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling > How To Buy a Home How To Buy a Home and Other Real Estate Find the answers to your questions about buying a home or other real estate. The home buying tools here help you understand all of the steps you must take to have a successful and stress-free home buying experience. Subtopics Blogs (3) Home Seller Disclosures (4) Boundary Surveys (3) Mortgage Info and Advice @ Condo, Townhouses, Co-ops (8) Offers and Contracts (7) Easement & Right of Way (4) Real Estate Auctions (1) eCourses (3) Real Estate Deeds (2) Eminent Domain (5) Real Estate Glossary (57) Escrow and Closing (9) Title Insurance (5) First Time Home Buyers (2) Working with Agents (9) Home Buying Book Reviews (2) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent 10 Things You Shouldn't Do When You're Buying a Home You might be pre-approved for a home mortgage, but that doesn't mean buying a home is a sure thing. Here are ten things you shouldn't do before the keys are in your hand. 11 Steps to Buying a Home You'll feel more confident about your home buying journey when you understand what is required of you and every other person who is involved in the transaction. Use this step by step home buying guide to get started. Buying a Home with Good Resale Potential Most of us won't live in the same house for the rest of our lives, so it makes sense to at least try to buy a home with good resale potential. Here's some advice to help you do just that. Coping with Buyer Remorse Are you suddenly feeling queasy about the house you just agreed to purchase? You might have a case of buyer remorse, a condition that sometimes occurs between the time your home buying contract is accepted until you actually go to the closing table. Here's some advice to help you determine if your concerns are valid or a simple case of nervousness. Dealing with Unethical and Incompetent People Are you uneasy about some of the events that are taking place during your home buying transaction? Is your real estate agent, attorney or other person involved less than helpful--or worse, unethical? Then it's time for you to take charge of the transaction and do what's necessary to make sure your interests are protected. Staying Secure if the Real Estate Bubble Bursts I'm sure you've heard talk about the real estate bubble, a condition that occurs when real estate values balloon very rapidly, then burst, driving prices downwards. You can help protect yourself from a bursting bubble by following a few basic guidelines. Taking Your Final Walk-Through When you're buying a home, it's essential to do a final walk-through inspection prior to closing. Learn the best times for you to take your walk through and find out what you should be on the lookout for. Working With a For Sale By Owner Seller Advice to help you work effectively with a for sale by owner seller. These tips help you avoid problems at or before closing. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...
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Real Estate Investing Books and Courses Find Out Which Real Estate Investing Courses Will Really Make You Money! Read (and Write!) Amazon-style Reviews Of The Most Popular Real Estate Investing Courses & Real Estate Investing Seminars & Speakers. Home Page Real Estate Courses Latest Reviews Site Map Contact Us For A Limited Time... Subscribe To Our Newletter and Get Our... 7 Day E-Course "The Top 5 Mistakes All Investors Make And How You Can Avoid Them" Retail Value of $29.99 - yours absolutely FREE! Name : Email : Best Sellers November 2005 Apartment House Riches By David Lindahl Real Estate Investor Business Plan By Steve Cook Quick Cash Quick Turning Houses By Chuck Smith Texas Houses For Pennies II By Darius Barazandeh Borrowing Millions From Private Lenders By Alex Gurevich What's New Motivated Seller Magnet By Ben Innes-Ker What's New How To Create A Bullet Proof Corporation By Bill Bronchick What's New Alternative Real Estate Financing By Bill Bronchick What's New Apartment House Riches By David Lindahl Best Seller Subject To Is What I Do By John "Cash" Locke Best Seller Deals On Wheels By Lonnie Scruggs Best Seller Ugly House Workshop DVD By Steve Cook Best Seller Quick Turning Houses For Amazing Profits By Chuck Smith Swap links with us! Click here if you own a real estate web site and you'd like to join our reciprocal link program and get more traffic. We are currently only linking to real estate related websites. If your website is not real estate related please don't link to us. Real Estate Investing Site Map Real Estate Investing Courses | Latest Reviews A.D. Kessler A.D. Kessler is the publisher of "Creative Real Estate Magazine" and other real estate investing products and programs. Al Aiello Albert "Al" Aiello is a CPA and has written several tax courses for real estate investors. Alex Gurevich Alex Gurevich sells real estate investment information products on how to raise and use private money, and how to "Super Charge" your cash flow. Alan Cowgill Allen Cowgill is the author of a course on how to raise private money to fund your real estate investment deals. Barney Zick Bernard "Barney" Zick has written 19 home study courses about creative real estate investing. He is also the author of a negotiation book called "The Negotiating Paradox." Barry Grimes Barry Grimes has written a creative real estate investment eBook called "Real Estate Jobbing 101." Ben Innes-Ker Ben Innes-Ker has written a creative real estate investment eBook called "Motivated Seller Magnet." Bill Bronchick William "Bill" Bronchick is a real estate attorney who has authored several books and courses on real estate financing, asset protection and more. Bill Gatten Bill Gatten has authored several books on real estate investing and is the inventor of the "Equity Holding Land Trust(tm) System" -- the PACTrust (tm) and NEHTrust(tm). Brad Martineau Bradley "Brad" Martineau is the author of "The Complete System" a book of "No Money Down" strategies. Bruce Norris Bruce Norris is the author of the "Making Power Profits" real estate investment series. Bryan Wittenmyer Bryan Wittenmyer has authored several books on the subject of creative real estate investing and how to develop and manage cash flow streams. Carleton Sheets Carlton Sheets is probably responsible for teaching more people about real estate investing than any other person. He is the king of late-night infomercial gurus. Charlie & Randy France Charlie and Randy France are the "Get The Deed" people. Their creative real estate investing courses deal with buying and selling property "Subject To" or "Sub 2" the existing financing. Chuck Smith Chuck Smith is a retired cop who has written a real estate course on quick-turning houses. Claude Diamond Claude Diamond is a creative real estate investor who uses lease options. He also has a mentoring program for beginning real estate investors. Darius Barazandeh Darius Barazandeh is a real estate attorney. His creative real estate courses offer information on real estate investing in tax liens, asset protection and more. David Alexander David Alexander is an expert bandit sign advertiser and he teaches courses on beginning and advanced subject to investing. David Butler David Butler is the author of "Tin Can Alley." He specializes in mobile home investing and mobile home parks. David Lindahl David Lindahl wrote a real estate investing course called "Apartment House Riches." Dean Graziosi Dean Graziosi is the author of a real estate investing course called "Think A Little Different" which he sells through an infomercial. Diane Kennedy Diane Kennedy is a "Rich Dad" Advisor for Robert Kiyosaki. She is a tax accounting expert and has written a book called "Legal Tax Loopholes." Dolf De Roos Dolf De Roos is one of Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Advisors ."TM He also puts on real estate investment seminars. Dwan Bent Twyford & Sharon Restrepo Dwan & Sharon have written real estate investing books and courses on short sales, wholesaling, and foreclosures. Dyches Boddiford Dyches Boddiford has written several books on various creative real estate investing topics including mobile home investing and asset protection. Ed Garcia Ed Garcia instructs a real estate seminar with Terry Vaughan on how to get bank lines of credit to finance your real estate investments. Ernest Tew Ernest Tew has one of the brightest minds in creative real estate investing. His primaryspecialties are mobile home parks and asset protection. Gary DiGrazia Gary DiGrazia is the author of a real estate investing course on buying probate properties called "Diamond Farming." Gerhard Cronje Gerhard Cronje is the author of "Marketing To Attorneys". H. Roger Neal H. Roger Neal writes real estate investing books and courses on fast-flip and rehabbing junkers. Hal Roark Hal Roark has written a real estate investing course called "Landlording Secrets" which shows you how to properly use section 8. Heather Seitz Heather Seitz has written a real estate course on rehabbing. Hugh Bromma Hugh Bromma teaches real estate investors how to invest their self directed IRA's in real estate. Jack Miller Jack Miller is one of the countries leading experts in mobile home investing. Jay Decima Jay Decima offers real estate books and courses on buying and rehabbing "ugly houses." Jeff Beaubien Jeff Beaubien sells real estate investing courses on Lease Option and Lease Purchase strategies. Jeff Kaller Jeff Kaller is "Mr. Preforeclosure." He's has real estate investing courses and seminars on preforeclosure investing and short sales. Jeffrey Taylor Jeffrey Taylor is "Mr. Landlord" and teaches real estate investors how to become better and more efficient landlords . Jerry Hoganson Jerry Hoganson is known as Mr. Mobile Home. Jerry specializes in Mobile Home Parks and Mobile Home note investments. Jim Banks Jim Banks teaches creative real estate investing techniques on the subject of probate investing. Jimmy Napier Jimmy Napier has written several real estate investing books on the subjects of discounted mortgages, buying notes and creating "paper." Joe Brillante & Lou Castillo Joe Brillante & Lou Castillo a real estate investing book called "The A to Z startup kit. Joe Crump Joe Crump is the author of "Zero Down Real Estate Investing" and the publisher of "Real Estate Money Maker" newsletter. Joe Kaiser Joe Kaiser has done a variety of products on creative real estate investing. He has some very interesting & unique approaches to finding foreclosure deals. John (Cash) Locke John "Cash" Locke is a popular writer & of buying real estate "Subject To" and "Bird Dogging." John Beck John Beck can be seen on T.V. infomercials selling his tax lien investing course. John Behle John Behle is the author of "The Paper Game" which teaches real estate investors how tobuy, sell, and create notes. John Burley John Burley has developed a plethora of creative real estate investing courses geared toward building wealth. John Hyre John Hyre is a tax attorney, accountant and real estate investor. He has developed a bookkeeping course for real estate investors and a course on entities. John Schaub Johan Schaub sells real estate courses and seminars on "Making It Big On Little Deals". Schaub has been teaching creative real estate investing for many, many years. John T. Reed John T. Reed is the watch-dog of the real estate investing gurus. He also sells his own real estate investing courses. John Ulmer John Ulmer has written several creative real estate investing books and courses including a private lending course. Jon Richards Jon Richards is the publisher of "Noteworthy Newsletter" a creative real estate investing newsletter about buying discounted cash flows. Kathy Kennebrook Kathy Kennebrook is a Ron LeGrand student who created a marketing system to find motivated sellers. Kevin Myers Kevin Myers is the author of "Buy It, Fix It, Sell It, Profit." Myers has rehabbed numerous single family houses over his 25 year career. Kris Kirschner Kris Kirschner is the author of "The Auto Pilot System For Selling Houses." Lisa Moren Lisa Moren is the author of "Soup To Nuts Real Estate" which is a beginners guide to real estate investing. Lonnie Scruggs Lonnie Scruggs is the best selling author of the mobile home investing book "Deals On Wheels." Lou Vukas Lou Vukas is the author of a real estate investing eBook called"Real Estate Uncovered." Lou Brown Lou Brown is the self-proclaimed "King of Cash Flow." Brown offers real estate investing courses on both acquiring property as well as landlording. Marco Kozlowski Marco Kozlowski sells a real estate course called "Big Fat Checks" which teaches investors how to buy and sell high end luxury homes. Mark Sumpter Mark Sumpter is a real estate investor specializing in the area of short sales. Michael Carbonare Michael Carbonare sells a real estate investing course which specializes in Lease Purchase information. Mike King Mike King has written a real estate investing course and teaches boot camps on forbearances. Pete Youngs Pete Youngs created a real estate investing course called "Rehab 101." Peter Conti & David Finkle Sell courses on lease options, buying apartment buildings, negotiating and more. Very active on the seminar circuit. Ray Alcorn Ray Alcorn is the author of "The Deal Makers Guide To Mobile Home Parks." Ray Como Ray Como sells real estate investing courses on transaction engineering, advanced house-buying and marketing for motivated sellers. Richard Roop Richard Roop sells creative real estate investing courses on marketing and finding motivated sellers. Robert Allen Robert Allen has written several best selling real estate investing books including Nothing Down and The One Minute Millionaire. Robert Kiyosaki Robert Kiyosaki is the author of the "Rich Dad/Poor Dad" book series. Robert Kiyosaki also sells a course on creative real estate investing. Robert Shemin Robert Shemin is another real estate attorney and real estate investor who has created courses on both creative real estate investing & landlording. Robyn Thompson Robyn Thompson is most noted for her real estate investing course on buying and selling distressed properties or "ugly houses." She is also a Ron LeGrand student. Roger Dawson Roger Dawson is a negotiating expert. He is the author of "Secrets Of Power Negotiating." Ron Legrand Ron LeGrand is one of the best-known real estate investing gurus. He had authored several creative real estate books and courses on wholesaling, lease options, and buying pretty houses. Russ Whitney Russ Whitney is another name you might recognize from late-night infomercials. Russ Whitney sells real estate investing books and courses as well as seminars. Scott Britton Scott Britton is the publisher of "The University Of Real Estate Letter" as well as a couple of creative real estate investing courses. Scott Rister Scott Rister has authored several real estate investing products on wholesaling, marketing for motivated sellers and more. Scott Scheel Scott Scheel is a real estate investor who invests in commercial properties. He also conducts a commercial real estate investing bootcamp. Stacy Holder Stacy Holder sells a course on rehabbing and speaks for Robert Allen. Steve Cook Steve Cook is an active real estate investor who has written courses on how to Wholesale & Rehab houses. Ted Thomas Ted Thomas teaches real estate investors how to invest in tax liens. Terry Vaughan Terry Vaughan is the author of the creative real estate investing book "Paper Into Gold." Tim Randle Tim Randle is a creative real estate investor who sells a course on how to buy real estate "Subject To", or "Sub 2" as it's also called. Vena Jones-Cox Vena Jones-Cox is the author of home study courses on basic real estate investing, wholesaling, deal-finding, selling on lease/options, and creative finance. Wade Cook Wade Cook is a best selling author of several real estate investing books as well as books on trading stocks. Wendy Patton Wendy Patton is the author of a real estate investing course on lease options. William Tingle William Tingle has written a real estate investing course on buying properties "Subect To" or "Sub 2" the existing financing. William Tingle is an active real estate investor. Wright Thurston Wright Thurston has written several creative real estate investing courses including "Diamonds In The Rough" which teaches investors how to invest in multi-family rentals property. Real Estate Investing | Real Estate Investing Products | Real Estate Investing Links | Real Estate Investing Site Map | Contact Us © 2003-2005 RealEstateCourseReviews.com™ • All Rights Reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced electronically or otherwise without express written permission Loading Page...
Real Estate Broker NEW
CBS News | Be Your Own Real Estate Broker | May 21, 2004 22:03:39 CBSNews.com The Web Home | U.S. | World | Politics | SciTech | Health | Entertainment | Business | Opinion | NEW --Strange News | Sports | Public Eye | Interactives | FREE CBS News Video The Early Show | CBS Evening News | 48 Hours | 60 Minutes The Saturday Early Show -- | CBS Sunday Morning | Face The Nation | Up To The Minute | Build Your Own Newscast Main Page Living HealthWatch Leisure Series The Saturday Early Show Chef On A Shoestring Second Cup Caf Ask Mike Up Next Program Facts Bios Contact Info Inside Scoop Contributors Bios Special Report Money Matters Early Show financial adviser Ray Martin offers tips to keep your financial house in order. Interactive U.S. Markets History of trading and definitions of key terms RELATED STORIES & LINKS Let The House Hunting Begin Tips For Those Diving Into The Real Estate Market This Spring Taking A Home Equity Loan? Be Careful What You Use The Money For Home Mortgage Rates Up A Bit Both 30 and 15-Year Rates Up, Ending A Three Week Stretch Of Drops Inflation Isn't A Problem Consumer Prices Dip 0.2 Percent In November, After Flat October Be Your Own Real Estate Broker NEW YORK, May 22, 2004 (CBS) The housing market is hot. In fact, homes are in such high demand that many sellers are wondering if they even need to hire a real estate agent to broker the deal. Financial adviser Ray Martin gave some tips on The Saturday Early Show for owners who want to sell a home themselves. Home values are up, mortgage rates are low and properties in hot markets are selling in days. The only fly in the ointment for many sellers is the traditional six percent commission paid to real estate brokers who make the deal. As home values continue to skyrocket, the broker commission skyrockets as well. Meanwhile, it seems as though these brokers are doing nothing more than watching the home sell and then collecting a large commission. The thought of having to pay brokers $10,000 or more to sell a home that fetches a buyer in less than week is causing many sellers to stop and think: "Do I really need to spend that money?" FSBO (For Sale By Owner) can be a good option for some people, Martin says. If your home is in a hot location, at a price that is affordable to many potential buyers, and similar homes are in short supply, this can be a good strategy. But, Martins says, FSBO is not for everyone. The following are three potential pitfalls of being your own broker: Setting A Price: The housing market is constantly changing and you really need to have a good feel for the market in order to set a reasonable price. You don't want to lose money by naming a price that's too low, but your don't want to frighten buyers away by over-charging. Getting the Word Out: Putting a "For Sale" sign in your yard is probably not going to sell your house. Most buyers don't have time to cruise around neighborhoods, searching for signs. When you list your home with a broker, they place your information in the area's MLS (Multiple Listing Service). This alerts all real estate agents in the area that your home is for sale -- making it easy for them to pinpoint potential buyers and bring them by for a visit. You can't do this alone. Becoming Emotionally Involved: Selling a home is the second-most emotional transaction you'll ever make, Martin says, second only to buying a home. Mixing emotion and business is not a good thing. If a buyer comes through the door and immediately points out your home's flaws instead of the beautifully restored floors or lovingly painted walls, it's going to hurt. You may be tempted to turn down this buyer's offer, even if it's fair. This is where a realtor can help. It's not a home to them, it's a business deal -- one they want to close quickly and collect on. Despite these pitfalls, Martin says he is not trying to steer everyone away from selling their homes themselves. He says you need to be aware of the pitfalls and if you think you can tackle them, give it a try -- particularly if you're in a hot market. You can try FSBO for a set amount of time, and if you're not successful, you can turn to a broker. If nothing else, use the knowledge that you could be your own broker to negotiate a commission with your broker. That storied six percent is a result of tradition, not law; nowhere does it say that you have to pay brokers six percent. There are conflicting numbers on how many homeowners are selling their homes themselves. About 14 percent of sellers went solo in 2003, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Boston Globe newspaper reviewed sales in its area and found that closer to 25 percent of sales were FSBO. There's no question that there are a lot of services targeted to sellers looking to go FSBO. If you are looking for an alternative to a traditional real estate agent, here are some popular options: Flat Fee Brokers: There seem to be two major players here -- Help-U-Sell and Assist-2-Sell . Both companies are franchises that connect you with local licensed real estate agents. You show your home yourself, and these agents perform all other duties of a traditional broker. The best part, Martin says, is that you pay them one flat fee that varies based on home's value and location. If you pay them a little more, the realtors from these companies will show your house too. An example: a Help-U-Sell customer in Chicago was selling his home for $345,000. The six percent commission would have totaled $21,000. Instead, he paid Help-U-Sell $4,950 to sell his home. If the agent lists your home on the MLS, and another broker brings you a buyer, you will have to pay that broker their two or three percent commission. FSBO Marketing: Other companies such as FSBO.com and ForSaleByOwner.com offer you a variety of marketing options at different price points. You can choose to have your home listed on the companies' Web sites. You can pay more and have yard signs and color brochures designed for your home. Pay even more and have a virtual tour included in your home's listing. Each company is different and offers different packages. Martin says the ultimate packages, which costs $500 or more, allow you to list your home on the MLS -- the same place real estate agents list houses. Again, there's a catch here: if a buyer is brought to your home by an agent who saw the listing on MLS, you do have to pay that broker's two or three percent commission. Negotiated Broker Commission: Again, Martin says you don't have to pay a six percent commission. So don't! In fact, commissions now average a bit over five percent, according to a survey by Real Trends publishers. If your home is on the expensive side and in a hot market, have a serious conversation with your potential broker. Remind him or her that if you list with them, they will get paid. But if you strike out on your own, they get nothing. Isn't one or two percent better than nothing? MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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