purchase property in Paris.
Google Directory - Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Property > International Directory Help Search only in International Search the Web International Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Property > International Go to Directory Home Web Pages Viewing in Google PageRank order View in alphabetical order 1st for French Property - http://www.1st-for-french-property.co.uk/ Offers property search by region and includes information about adding properties. WEF - http://www.vefuk.com/ Estate agents specialising in the sale of properties in France, and international new build property. Federation of Overseas Property Developers, Agents and Consultants - http://www.fopdac.com Trade association for specialists in the international property market. Contains a directory of members and fact sheets. Owners Overseas - http://www.ownersoverseas.com/ Properties mainly in Spain and the USA. Site includes a database of properties and a buyers' guide. Solvista - http://www.solvista.co.uk Specialise in country properties in Andalucia, Southern Spain. Luxury coastal apartments, villas and farm houses with land for renovation. Spanish Connection - http://www.spanish-connection.co.uk Information for UK residents wishing to buy properties in Spain. Ultra Villas - http://www.ultravillas.co.uk/ Spanish property consultants specialising in the sale of freehold properties. Details of homes and prices available. Elite Spanish Properties - http://www.espvillas.com Offer estate agency service for villas on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida coast. David Headland Associates - http://www.headlands.co.uk/ Offering property in Spain, Portugal and Cyprus. Includes a search feature and a brochure request form. French Property Service - http://www.frenchpropertyservice.com Buy, sell or rent French property. Searchable database. Spanish Property Auctions - http://spanishpropertyauctions.com Re-possesed property coming to auction in Spain. Fine Property France Estate - http://www.finepropertyfrance.com Properties for sale in South West France. Search the property database. The Turkish Property Centre - http://www.theturkishpropertycentre.com/ Turkish homes for sale. Details of properties, advice, rentals, services and customer testimonials. Sunny Property - http://www.sunny-property.co.uk/ UK and Turkey based estate agents offering property for sale in North Cyprus. Eurofarms - http://www.eurofarms.com Help for farmers wanting to relocate to continental Europe. Lemon Tree Villas - http://www.lemontreevillas.com/ British property management agents for the Costa del Sol offering both property for sale and holiday rental management and advertising. World Class Homes - http://www.worldclasshomes.co.uk Independent international real estate agency. Offering homes throughout Spain, the Balearic Islands, Gibraltar, Portugal and Bermuda. Spanish Property Company - http://www.spanishpropertycompany.co.uk Country properties and building plots for sale in Almeria, inland from Mojacar Southern Spain. Coastal Estates - http://www.coastal-estates.com/ Offers for homes for sale, rent and investment in Orlando, Florida. Details of properties and service. Based in Southampton. Propertunities - http://www.propertunities.co.uk Selling properties, villas, apartments, maisonettes, on the Spanish Costa Blanca. Spain Direct Ltd - http://www.torrevieja.uk.com/ Sells new freehold property on the Costa Blanca in and around Torrevieja. Profile, services and brochure request., CIPS International - http://www.cipsinternational.co.uk/ Assists and guides people through the property purchasing procedure in Spain and Portugal. Spain SA - http://spainsa.com/ New and resale property in Costa Calida and La Manga, Spain. Profile, property database, brochure request and buying hints. London Paris Dream Home - http://www.parisdreamhome.com/ Provide search, legalities, renovation, refurbishment and decoration services for those wishing to purchase property in Paris. The International Property Show - http://www.internationalpropertyshow.com/index2.htm UK exhibition for information on properties overseas. Your Property Abroad - http://www.yourpropertyabroad.com Guide for UK residents wishing to manage their properties abroad. Assist in property inspections, relocation, property sales, and holiday homes. Homes in Bulgaria - http://www.homesinbulgaria.co.uk/ Property and real estate purcasing in all areas of Bulgaria including advice on business and holidays in ski resorts and on black sea coast. DSI Properties - http://www.dsiproperties.co.uk Spanish Property for sale on the Costa Calida, Costa Almeria and Lanzarote. Harringtons Estates Limited - http://www.euro-properties.net Searchable database offering properties for sale in Spain. Information on schools, taxation, mortgages and legal terminology. Bluewater Homes - http://www.bluewater-homes.co.uk UK based real estate company specialising in the sale of properties on the Costa del Sol, Spain and in Crete. Overseas Property Shop - http://www.overseaspropertyshop.com/ Offers freehold apartments, villas, bungalows located in Jalon Valley, Moraira, Calpe, Denia, Torreveija and La Marina. Spanish Dream Homes Ltd - http://www.spanishdreamhomes.co.uk/ Offer a selection of properties for sales in Torrevieja. Rose Developments - http://www.rosedevelopments.com/ Independent Spanish home finder service focused on Almeria area. Details of service, location and buyer's guide. Office in Cheltenham. Spanish Property Sales - http://www.spanishpropertysales.co.uk Spanish properties for sale. Hotspotz - http://www.hotspotz.co.uk/ Sells new and used mobile homes in Spain, France, Portugal and the Canaries. Profile, services, available properties and FAQ. Classic Florida Realty, UK - http://www.classicfloridarealty.com/ Specializes in Florida villas for sale and rental. El Sol de Espana - http://www.elsoldeespana.co.uk/ Independent Spanish property agency with two offices in the UK. Details of regions and properties. Zafra - http://zafra.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ London based firm specialising in finding properties in Spain. Flamenca Homes Spain - http://flamencahomes.tripod.com/ Covering aspects of purchasing property in Spain for holiday, retirement or investment. Details of properties and resources for buyers available. Property in France - http://www.propertyinfrance.co.uk/ Property company specialising in the sale and rental of property in France. Details of service, properties and company background. Based in Solihull. Wrights Overseas Properties - http://www.wrights-overseas.com Property available in the Costa Blanca. Lowery's USA - http://www.lowerys.co.uk Specialists in US property sales and rental accommodation, based in the UK, but with offices in Kissimmee, Florida. Belair Spanish Homes - http://www.belaircasas.com/ A Marbella-based estate agent with a UK office offering properties for sale in Spain. Details of properties and the region. Properties of Distinction - http://properties-of-distinction.com Offers a selection of properties for sale throughout France with a search facility by area. The Overseas Property Partnership - http://www.property-partnership.com/ Introduction agency for properties in Spain and Cyprus. Details of services, properties and flights for viewing. Based in Yorkshire. Mayenne Properties - http://www.mayenneproperties.com/ Land and houses for sale in northern France. Picture and prices available online. Belle Maison French Property Investments - http://www.belle-maison.co.uk Information on investments based on the renovation and resale of French properties. ReposenFrance - http://www.reposenfrance.net Property locating service for Normandy, Brittany and northern France. Spanish Homes Direct - http://www.spanishhomesdirect.com/ Offers a single point of contact for advice on buying, furnishing and renting property on the Costa Del Sol. Move to France - http://www.movetofrance.co.uk/ Offers property for sale in Brittany and Normandy. Profile, illustrated property list and information about fees. Sol Mar Properties - http://www.solmarproperties.com Property agents selling new property on the Costa blanca and the Costa del sol. Sunstate Properties - http://www.i-buy-property-in-spain.com/ UK estate agent offering properties for sale in Spain. Details of region and current properties. Exchange Estates Ltd - http://www.exchange-estates.co.uk/ Offers a Spanish villa sales service with a UK showroom. Based in Liverpool. Grassroots - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.hortonis Brittany garden and property maintenance service. Estates24 - http://www.estates24.com A searchable online database of international real estate listings of residential and commercial property for sale. Database entries concentrated in United Arab Emirates. Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web. Submit a Site - Open Directory Project - Become an Editor Modified by Google - ©2004 Google Advertise with Us - Jobs, Press, Cool Stuff...
Home Loans To find
Home Loans Friday, 30.12.2005 Ways of Banking Ways to pay Loans Credit Cards Transaction Accounts Savings Accounts Investments Foreign Currency Service Fees Rebates More Information Search this site Go | BNZ Home | Site Map | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us | Rates & Fees | Careers | Home Loans To find out about the Interest Rates, Service Fees, Account Fee Rebates for our Home Loans just select the option you prefer below: Classic Home Loan Interest Rate Standard, Fly Buys, GlobalPlus Home Loans and Packaged Offers Interest Rates Service Fees Rebates All interest rates are current as at the dates shown below and are subject to change without notice. Classic Home Loan Interest Rate Fixed Rates (Tailored and Standard Home Loans) Current % p.a. Effective from (new loans) Term 8.45* 28 November 2005 6 Month 8.45* 28 November 2005 1 Year 8.25* 12 December 2005 2 Years 8.15* 28 November 2005 3 Years 8.05* 28 November 2005 4 Years 7.90* 12 December 2005 5 Years 7.85* 12 December 2005 7 Years *Rate applies to Classic Home Loans only. Excludes Fly Buys, GlobalPlus Home Loans and packaged offers. Classic Home Loan fixed rate rolls onto our standard variable rate. All interest rates are current as at the dates shown below and are subject to change without notice. Standard, Fly Buys, GlobalPlus Home Loans and Packaged Offers Interest Rates Fixed Rates (Tailored and Standard Home Loans) Current % p.a. Effective from (new loans) Term 8.55 28 November 2005 6 months 8.55 28 November 2005 1 year 8.35 12 December 2005 2 years 8.25 28 November 2005 3 years 8.15 28 November 2005 4 years 8.00 12 December 2005 5 years 7.95 12 December 2005 7 years Variable Rates (Tailored, Standard, Rapid Repay, Mortgage One Home Loans) Current % p.a. Effective from (new loans) Effective from (existing loans) Loan type 9.55 16 December 2005 30 December 2005 Tailored/Standard 9.55 16 December 2005 16 December 2005 Rapid Repay 9.80 16 December 2005 16 December 2005 Mortgage One back to top Please note that Account Fees may be charged in addition to Service Fees and that all fees are subject to change without notice. Service Fees Type of Service Fee Loans they apply to Charge for service Establishment Fee** Residential owner occupied Home Loans $250 Establishment Fee** (includes switching to GlobalPlus) GlobalPlus $250 Top Up Fee, Rollover Fee, Re-draw (Standard Home Loans) All Home Loans (Excluding GlobalPlus) None Top Up Fee, Rollover Fee (Global Plus Home Loans) GlobalPlus $150 Re-draw Fee All Global Plus Home Loans $25 Account Fees for Rapid Repay Home Loan Account Fee Rebates may apply³ Monthly¹ Base Fee Rapid Repay Home Loan $3.50 BNZ Internet Banking † Rapid Repay Home Loan 25 cents Service Fees may apply Electronic transactions: EFTPOS, Bill Payments, Direct Credits, Direct Debits, Telephone Banking†, self service transactions Rapid Repay Home Loan 35 cents Service Fees may apply Automatic Payments² Rapid Repay Home Loan 50 cents Service Fees may apply ATM † Rapid Repay Home Loan 50 cents Service Fees may apply Cheques Written Rapid Repay Home Loan 65 cents Freepost Deposits Rapid Repay Home Loan 65 cents Branch/Staff Assisted transactions Rapid Repay Home Loan $1.25 Service Fees may apply Express Deposit Tower deposits Rapid Repay Home Loan $1.25 Customer Account Fee Rebates Rapid Repay accounts are eligible for monthly Account Fee Rebates on account transaction fees, monthly base fee, overdraft facility fee and Telephone Banking call charges. The monthly Customer Account Fee Rebate is determined by the average daily Group Balance for the month, as follows: Rebates Group Balances 100% of Account Fees rebated each month to a maximum of: Less than $25,000 $0.00 $25,000 - $49,999 $5.00 $50,000 - $74,999 $10.00 $75,000 - $99,999 $15.00 $100,000 - $124,999 $20.00 $125,000 - $149,999 $25.00 $150,000 - $299,999 $30.00 $300,000 or more $40.00 Our usual Service Fees are not included in the Customer Account Fee Rebates. If you have more than one Rapid Repay transaction account under the same base number then the account with the highest fees accrued will automatically receive the rebate (unless you nominate a specific suffix) To find out more about Home Loans click here . For further information including terms and conditions please send us an email or call us free on 0800 ASK BNZ (0800 275 269). back to top 1. Fees are charged on the last business day of each calender month and are based on the period between the last business day of the previous calender month and the second to last business day of the current month, inclusive. 2. Automatic Payments into your account from other parties are classed as Electronic Transactions. 3. Our usual Service Fees apply and are not included in the Account Fee rebate. † Although the Telephone and Internet Banking and ATM services will normally be available 24 hours a day, maintenance of the system is required from time to time. Accordingly, certain options may not be available for an average of three hours a week. This maintenance, however will be carried out at times which will cause the least disruption to you. ** For all home loans involving investment properties, family trusts and companies an establishment fee of up to 1% of the loan amount applies. © Bank of New Zealand 2001. Use of the information contained on this page is subject to our Terms and Conditions
Land For Sale
Homes on Sale - Browse - property for sale by owner Sell Car | Insurance | mortgage | credit cards | loans | England (3219) Scotland (422) Wales (294) Ireland (244) Europe (7560) USA (823) Canada (265) Africa (392) Asia (1150) Caribbean (91) Middle East (450) Oceania (143) All England Scotland Wales Ireland Europe USA Canada Africa Asia Caribbean Middle East Oceania Any words All words Exact Phrase Advanced Search Search By AD # villa in Marbella REDUCED 1. 200 yards from beach. 2. 39K - 3/4 Bed. Sea Captains House 3. bargain house near greek and turkish border ,spa resort ,lakes 4. Jumeirah Islands, Dubai 5. Disney Orlando 5 minutes 6. Dalmatian old stone house/TRGOSTAN 7. Samui Island Luxury House + Red teak wood furniture no fee & Tax, !!Spacial price!! 8. 1 Bedroom and Studios in Dubai International City 38k+ Freehold (Dubai Property) 9. Attractive house near Greek border 10. FREEHOLD PROPERTY DUBAI MARINA Online Now Welcome, guest ! We have 4 members and 376 guests online. Home : there are (15074) homes for sale by owner! Sell your house online today! It is free to advertise this month normally £25 now £0.00 until sold ... hurry offer lasts only until January 2006! [ register now ] Sell your house FAST! Buy a " For Sale " board England (3221) English property for sale, rent, PX ... Scotland (422) Scottish property for sale, rent, PX ... Wales (295) Properties on sale in Wales Ireland (244) Properties on sale in Ireland Europe (7569) Properties on sale in Europe USA (826) Properties on sale in the USA Canada (270) Properties for sale in Canada Africa (393) Properties on sale in Africa Asia (1150) Properties on sale in Asia Caribbean (91) Buy and sell property in the Caribbean Middle East (450) Properties on sale in the Middle East Oceania (143) Properties on sale in Australia, New Zealand, Fiij Featured homes - being sold by owner Cosy And Spacious 4 Bed Room Apartment Almere P269, 4 bed, Price euros180000 Detached Country House with 3acre Vineyard Balcombe, 4 bed, Price 895000 Stunning Victorian Semi-Detached House OFFERS Accepted Saltash, 4 bed, Price 245000 House for Sale (URL to 360' Virtual Tour) Brighouse (between Bradford & Huddersfield), 2 bed, Price 127500 Beautiful 4 bed family home on private estate Latimer, 4 bed, Price 379950 Spanish Holiday Home 4 Sale Quesada, 2 bed, Price Euros154500 Luxury Villa In Warsaw, Poland (European Union) Warsaw, 4 bed, Price EUR3900000 Impressive timber-framed family home Hoxne, 3 bed, Price 440000 3 houses in Ballantyne Park - extended family living with guesthouse opportunity Harare, more than 12 bed, Price USD450000 Restored stone house close to lake at Agia West of Hania Crete Hania, 2 bed, Price euro87500 House for sale Garforth, 3 bed, Price 153000 Polruan/Fowey with harbour views Polruan/Fowey, 2 bed, Price 315000 Latest 10 Property Ads Photo Title Beds, City Price Posted 1 Bedroom Apartment in Downtown Yerevan 1, Yerevan USD 90000 29, Dec 2005 Country Residence 5, Bulawayo US$ 0 29, Dec 2005 Large 5 Bedroom Terrace 5, Liverpool 195000 29, Dec 2005 6 Bedroom Art Deco Flat 6, Saltdean 365000 29, Dec 2005 France , Corse : House with a swimming pool near sea NOW 420000 5, France, bastia 390000 29, Dec 2005 Established Gite Complex For Sale 10, Pouligny Notre Dame 425000 29, Dec 2005 HOUSE IN COSTA DAURADA 3, TORREDEMBARRA ( LA POBLA DE MONTORNS) 228385 29, Dec 2005 Equestrian Property on 20.000 square meters 3, Susteren EUR 1135000 29, Dec 2005 Near BISCAROSSE St Julien en Borne 1, St Julien en Borne Euro 125000 29, Dec 2005 Detached 4 bedroom villa 4, Kusadasi 49500 29, Dec 2005 Featured Ad's Home LOAN Conveyancing Home Insurance Credit Cards For Sale Board Compare Mortgages Mortgage calculator Property Books Finance Check? Guides Savings Calculator Estate Agents Spin Selling your own home Adding a photo Standard Loans Loan APR Northern Rock Loan 5.6% Liverpool Victoria Loan 5.8% cahoot fixed rate loan 5.8% Amberloan 6.2% Home | Place Ad | Browse | Terms | Privacy | Top Sites | Sitemap | Forum | Links | Services | Contact us ©2005 Homes On Sale
Investment Property
Investment Property Databank IPD Home About IPD Portfolio Analysis Services Events Indices and Market Information Indices for Derivatives Online Services -- Home Company Overview Directors IPD Measurement Methods Locations Sponsors IPD Links IPD Awards FAQs Press Releases Contact Us Jobs at IPD IPD Frequently Asked Questions Q: Who is IPD? Q: What countries do you cover? Q: What is the company structure? Q: What does IPD do? Q: What services does IPD offer? Q: What is OPD? Q: Who are the IPD's main clients? Q: How do the clients use IPD information? Q: What do you gain from using IPD? Q: How do I join IPD? Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? Q: How do you start a new country service? Q: Who is IPD? A: IPD is an independent research company, who employs over 100 graduates to provide investors, occupiers, advisors and researchers with objective, reliable property benchmarks and indices. back Q: What countries do you cover? A: We cover a growing range of countries. At present we have databanks in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and USA. back Q: What is the company structure? A: IPD’s Head Office is based in London, UK with subsidiaries in Paris, France (IPD France) , Johannesburg, South Africa (IPD South Africa) and Sweden (IPD Norden). In other countries we work with local partners who are established within their particular country to provide a regional contact in the national language. back Q: What does IPD do? A: IPD produces high quality reports and results which are used around the world by investors, occupiers, advisors, lenders, analysts and researchers. These consist of : • Portfolio analysis on commercial property investment funds. This gives fund managers and investors fair benchmarks for total returns, plus a full evaluation of investment strategy and portfolio quality. • Indices and market information to give the definitive statement for property returns in each country and each city. This provides a consistent basis for comparison with other assets, and for research that informs investment decisions from international portfolio allocation down to individual building selection. Annual indices are free and can be downloaded from this site. Other publications are various prices and come in the from of an annual subscription. Please email marketing@ipdglobal.com" marketing@ipdglobal.com for more information or call +44 (0)20 7643 9246. back Q: What services does IPD offer? A: • Portfolio analysis (PAS) & benchmarking • Market information and publications • D-PAS – (Desktop-PAS). Available for PAS clients this software can be used to analyse the performance and characteristics of the portfolios and benchmarks from your own PC, with exclusive access to figures not available in the report. • IPD Online - Available for PAS clients, this is a secure delivery mechanism giving secure access to report publications. • Research - Publications and custom data. • TICCS - Tenants, Income, Credit Rating & Covenant Strength - adds business information to Dun & Bradstreet on each tenant, to give investors unique benchmarks of portfolio income quality and the covenant strength of individual tenants. • Management Cost Survey - the only source of comprehensive benchmarks for overall costs of portfolio management, the eficiency of in-house management teams and charging rates of external providers. • Remuneration Service – This offers independent design advice to instruct lawyers, help with selection of appropriate benchmarks and targets, ability to model historic or potential out-turn of proposed schemes and authoritative advice on all technical aspects of performance measurement. • IPD Events - These include conferences , training and briefings. back Q: What is OPD? A: IPD Occupiers Property Databank is the market leader in its field of performance measurement for occupiers, with clients from a long list of FTSE 100 and multinational companies. The Databank contains a building-by-building record of complete estates showing total occupational costs, building utilisation, facilities and estate management overheads to give owners a thorough profile and comparative management tool. OPD also runs a Facilities Management benchmarking group, a Workplace Productivity Appraisal and publishes the International Total Occupancy Cost Code. To see OPD's website go to www.opd.co.uk. back Q: Who are IPD's main clients? A: IPD’s clients are mainly Pension and Life Fund companies. IPD has over 300 UK clients, internationally over 200 clients. OPD has approximately 60 clients. back Q: How do the clients use IPD information? A: Property owners need an industry standard yardstick against which they can compare the returns they achieve on their investments and evaluate their performance. The IPD annual database is the most reliable benchmark of direct property performance in the UK. It comprises 11,000 properties (with a total value of over €170bn at December 2004), equivalent to 45% of the total property assets of UK Institutions and listed property companies. back Q: What do you gain from using IPD? A: • An independent audit of investment returns, calculated on an industry standard basis • A benchmarking service which gives owners an objective measure of their performance against relevant yardsticks • Systematic analysis of the sources of above- or below-average performance • A powerful internal management tool to help to set agendas, monitor progress against targets, and to guide strategy, stock selection and active management decisions • Results in electronic form to permit further internal analysis. back Q: How do I join IPD? A: Please contact claire.herd@ipdindex.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7643 9217 to join or for more information. back Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? A: To participate in the Portfolio Analysis Service you will need to provide: • A series of annual Open Market capital values, carried out to standard RICS Red Book specification, property level rent passing and open market rental value. • A schedule of tenant leases as at the most recent valuation date, including tenant level rent passing and market rental value. • Annual capital expenditure amounts, preferably timed to the month or quarter. • Completion dates of transactions, with gross and net purchase and sale prices. • Property management costs. • Other non-recoverable revenue expenditure (vacant rates, non-recoverable maintenance costs, bad debts etc). back Q: How do you start a new country service? A:IPD systems can be established in any country where property investors are committed to understanding the financial performance of their holdings. This commitment can then ensure that the essential building blocks of the IPD databank are in place: • Valuations: In the property market where transactions are few, appraisals of market value are needed to form the capital basis of the return calculation. If necessary, IPD will work with local bodies to develop valuation standards to performance measurement. • Participation: IPD databases require a critical mass to build adequate samples of properties to cover complex national markets. Typically investors holding at least 20% of the investment market are required to form the core of the new system. • Definitions: Nationally accepted and appropriate data definitions must be agreed to ensure the compatibility between investors while maintaining the application of international principals. How will the system be established? • Promotion: IPD will work within the market, most likely in collaboration with a local partner, to identify and secure the critical mass of participating investor organisations. • Development: The databank will be constructed by IPD in collaboration with participating investors to ensure that market characteristics are reflected and their reporting needs are met. • Data Testing: IPD will analyse the data initially submitted to ensure its quality is sufficient to support the benchmarks and market indices. Improvements will be proposed and verified before full products and services are available. 1 St. John's Lane London EC1M 4BL Tel: +44 (0)20 7336 9200 Fax: +44 (0)20 7336 9399 Privacy Policy | © 2005 IPD Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Home | About IPD | Portfolio Analysis Service | Events | Indices and Market Information | Indices for Derivatives | OPD Designed by Webrepro
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.