Selling Home & Garden

10 Steps to Take Before You Sell Your House - Home Selling You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > How To Sell a House > 10 Steps to Take Before You Sell Your House - Home Selling 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 Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page More Home Selling Articles Understanding Material Facts and Property Disclosures Get Ready for Your Home Inspection Should You Buy a Home Warranty? More Home Selling Resources How to Read the HUD-1 Settlement Statement Getting the House Ready to Sell How To Measure Your Square Footage Recent Discussions Excellent credit, no savings- help!! Buying an out of state home ? Re-financing... Related Blogs Mortgage Fraud Blog The Real Estate Blog The Money Pit Most Popular Modular and Manufactured Homes Finding Your Best Place to ... Home Buying Don'ts First Time Home Buyer Tips Before You Sell Your Home 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 Related Topics Home Repair Architecture Credit / Debt Management Housekeeping Landscaping 10 Important Steps to Take Before You Sell Your House From Janet Wickell , Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Essential Home Selling Preparations The home selling process differs from state to state, but there are some important steps that most home sellers should take before listing a house with an agent or selling it for sale by owner. Every bit of prep work you do helps you get the most return from your investment. 1. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan I've known sellers who signed a contract to sell their house before they knew if they were qualified to buy another. Either their financial circumstances had changed since their last purchase, and they could no longer qualify for a loan, or they weren't able to sell at a price that allowed them to buy the type of replacement house they wanted. They ended up renting or buying something that was far from ideal. Before you decide to sell the house, get pre-approved by a lender you trust and research the housing market in the area where you wish to live so that you have a good idea how much it will take to buy a replacement. Start looking for two types of real estate: houses that seem to match the one you'd like to buy and houses that are similar to your current home. How do the two categories compare in price? Can you handle the difference if you're planning a step up? Mortgage Helpers: Are You Pre-Approved for a Mortgage? And to compare for-sale homes to your own, learn how to Measure Residential Square Footage . 2. Check Your Mortgage Payoff Call your lender to check the payoff for your current home mortgage. You'll need the figure to complete Step 6. 3. Determine How Much Your House Is Worth Determine your home's fair market value. Real estate agents will usually help you determine value as a courtesy, but you might take it a step further and order an appraisal . 4. Estimate Your Costs to Sell Real estate commission if you use an agency to sell. Advertising costs, signs, other fees if you plan to sell by owner. Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees. Excise tax for the sale. Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, home owner association fees, and fuel tank rentals. Any other fees typically paid by the seller in your area (surveys, inspections, etc.). Real estate agents deal with transactions every day and can give you a very close estimate of seller closing costs. 5. Estimate Costs to Buy a New Home Calculate moving expenses, loan costs, downpayment, home inspections, title work and title policy, paying for a new hazard insurance policy--all expenses related to buying a home. Your lender should give you a disclosure of estimated costs when you apply for loan pre-approval. 6. Calculate Your Estimated Proceeds Deduct your mortgage payoff from your home's fair market value. Deduct your costs to sell from the remainder to get an estimate of the proceeds you will be paid at closing. Will your closing proceeds cover your costs to buy a new home? If not, do you have cash or other funding to make up the difference? 7. Make Necessary Repairs Make all needed repairs unless you want the house to be regarded as a fixer-upper. I'm not referring to cosmetic updates--just items in need of repair. Anything that's obviously broken gives potential buyers a reason to offer you a lower price, especially if it's one of several repair hot spots that worry buyers the most. 8. Get the House Ready to Show Most houses need at least a little spiffing up before they are shown to potential buyers. Great curb appeal , fresh paint indoors (and sometimes out), organized closets and cabinets, sparkling clean windows and appliances and a clutter-free look are essential if you want the house to appeal to buyers. Be sure to avoid the things buyers hate most about houses. 9. Get Psyched Up to Let People In If you're listing with a real estate agent, she'll ask you to leave when the house is shown. Why? Because lurking sellers make buyers nervous--they don't feel comfortable inspecting the house when they feel they are intruding in your personal space. Unless there's a valid reason for it, don't ask your agent to be present for all showings, because that requirement can be the kiss of death for showing activity. Other agents want privacy with their buyers and they don't usually have time to work around your agent's schedule. Make the house accessible. That means it should always be ready to show. Many agents won't bother showing a house that takes 24 hours to get into. Important disclaimer information about this About site. 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DENVER REAL ESTATE Direct:

Denver Real Estate Agent specializing in Highlands Ranch Real Estate, Littleton Real Estate LEILA CUNNINGHAM DENVER REAL ESTATE Direct: 303.257.1001 Fax: 303.470.5722 E-Mail: leila@anewwayhome.com Welcome Property Search Buying & Selling Mortgages Community Extras Contact Me Welcome to a New Way Home in the Denver Real Estate Market! The real estate process is always more enjoyable when you fully understand each phase of the transaction. As your Denver real estate agent, I will keep you informed and up to date throughout the process. My technique is based on solid, proven methods and utilizes technology to meet new challenges in today's market. My experience offers a sophisticated approach to analyzing your needs. I am a full-time Denver real estate agent dedicated to providing the best possible service to my clients, while upholding the highest ethical standards. I believe in constant communication and protecting your best interests throughout all phases of your real estate transaction. My excellent follow-through record helps ensure ongoing satisfaction. I am proud of myself being knowledgeable and staying current with changes in the Denver real estate market and other markets that will affect the success of your transaction. I believe that a good relationship is achieved by establishing trust and mutual respect between all participants. My approach is honest and straightforward. I am committed to excellence and to providing professional, result-driven service. In the meantime, feel free to look around my site. Search for a new Denver home, gain valuable real estate buying and selling knowledge, learn about mortgages, request a free CMA or Denver relocation information, and when your ready to take that next step, give me a call. Thank you! Real Estate News November 2005 NAR Welcomes Sen. Enzi's Small Business Health Care Bill The National Association of Realtors today welcomed legislation put forth by U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) to help small businesses provide affordable health care benefits to their employee Pending Home Sales Are Close to Record A reading of 128.8 makes this month's pending home sales the the second highest level on record. October 2005 NAR Board Raises Alarms Over Tax Proposals NAR's Board of Directors formally opposes proposals being considered by President Bush's tax reform panel. REALTORS Back State, Local Remedy to Eminent Domain Cases Almost 70 percent of REALTORS said each state should have the power to make its own laws about eminent domain. Realtors to Homebuyers: Let Your Buyer's Agent Be Your Guide From the first steps of qualifying for a mortgage and deciding whats important in a home, to making a strong offer, coordinating appraisals and inspections, and getting to the settlement table, every transaction is as unique as the people and properties Features Colorado Properties Current Denver Listings Resale Denver Home Search New Denver Home Search Real Estate Services Get a Free CMA Relocating to Denver Denver Home Buying Selling a Denver House 1st Time Buyers Send Me an E-Mail School Information Colorado Recreation Denver Entertainment Related Links Denver Area Weather Financing Check Current Rates Learn Mortgage Basics Loan Types Loan Calculators Find a Denver Lender Featured Listings $199,000 Mortgage Rates Loan Type Rate Points 30 Year Fixed 6.00 0.00 15 Year Fixed 5.62 0.50 ARM 3/1, 30 Years 5.25 0.00 ARM 5/1, 30 Years 5.50 0.25 Last updated on 11/13/2005. Home | Denver Existing Home Search | Denver New Home Search | Buying | Selling | Buying Your First Home | Mortgage Basics | Loan Types | Loan Calculators | Mortgage Lenders | Schools in Colorado | Colorado Recreation | Local Denver Entertainment | Denver Weather | Map the Denver Metro Area | New Home Builders | Relocating to Denver | Frequently Asked Questions | Related Real Estate Links | Contact Leila | Estimate the Value of Your Denver Home | Colorado Real Estate

Home Loan Program VA

Information on the VA Home Loan Program Information on the Home Loan Program Am I Eligible for a VA Loan? Property Management Construction and Valuation Lenders & Servicers Contact VA Loan Guaranty Service Forms Loan Guaranty HomePage VBA HomePage VA Homepage If You Owe VA VA Monitoring Unit Loan Production Specially Adapted Housing Information on the VA Home Loan Program VA Pamphlet 26-4 VA-Guaranteed Home Loans for Veterans. This pamphlet is designed to help veterans planning to purchase or construct homes, particularly those veterans who intend to finance with VA home loans VA Pamphlet 26-91-1 A Quick Guide for Homebuyers & Real Estate Professionals VA Pamphlet 26-6 To the Homebuying Veteran - A guide for veterans planning to buy or build homes with a VA loan Start here for brief information about VA Home Loans. Pamphlet 26-71-01 Questions and Answers on Manufactured Home Loans for Veterans . The questions and answers included in this pamphlet are intended to cover major items of interest to veterans interested in buying a manufactured (mobile) home. VA Pamphlet 26-93-1 VA Direct Home Loans for Native American Veterans Living on Trust Lands . VA direct home loans are available to eligible Native American veterans who wish to purchase or construct a ho me on trust lands. Home Buying Links Useful links to help you with your homebuying experience . Fact Sheet Information on VA Home Loans Information on the Home Loan Program / Am I Eligible for a VA Loan? / Property Management Construction and Valuation / Lenders & Servicers / Contact VA Loan Guaranty Service / Forms Loan Guaranty HomePage / If you owe VA / Monitoring Unit / Loan Production / SAH Disclaimer / Privacy & Security Statement / Freedom of Information Act Contact the VA / VBA HomePage / VA HomePage This page has been accessed since February 16, 2003. Reviewed/Updated: May 19, 2005 [kt]

Property Search

Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt Online Services | Privacy | Accessibility | Security Search Instructions: Any name which begins with the letters you enter will match, so entering BROW will match Brower, Browning, Brown, etc. You may also specify part of the first name, by entering the complete last name, a comma, and the first part of the first name. For example BROWN, J will match 'Brown, John' but not 'Brown, Brad'. Enter a last name to search for: Auditor of State Jim Wood's "Notice of Names of Persons Appearing to be Owners of Abandoned Property" (not Real Estate) MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE WAITING TO BE CLAIMED! If your name is on this list, State Auditor Jim Wood may have money waiting for you. The names on this list have been reported to the Auditor of State Unclaimed Property Division as persons who may be entitled to abandoned or unclaimed property. Each year millions of dollars in unclaimed property - uncashed checks, bank accounts, utility deposits, and stock certificates - are turned over to the State by companies who cannot locate the owners. Some of this money could be yours! Information concerning the amount of money and the name and address of the holder of the account may be obtained by persons possessing an interest in the account. If your name appears on this list , please download a claim form. E-Mail: The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt Write: The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt 1400 West Third Street, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201-1811 Call: 1-800-CLAIM-IT (1-800-252-4648) or 501-682-9174