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Buy House

Amazon.com: House of Wax (Widescreen Edition): DVD: Elisha Cuthbert,Chad Michael Murray,Brian Van Holt,Paris Hilton,Jared Padalecki,Jon Abrahams,Robert Ri'chard,Dragicia Debert,Thomas Adamson,Murray Smith (VII),Sam Harkess,Damon Herriman,Andy Anderson (II),Emma Lung,Jaume Collet-Serra Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Best of Slasher Films Part 4 : A list by Jason Voorhees "Jason V" Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 108 used & new from $6.75 Available for in-store pickup now from: $20.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? House of Wax (Widescreen Edition) (2005) Starring: Elisha Cuthbert , Chad Michael Murray Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $20.98 Price: $15.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $4.99 (24%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Friday, December 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 108 used & new available from $6.75 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (DVD) List Price Price Other Offers: DVD House of Wax / Gothika $35.98 $31.99 57 used & new from $27.78 DVD House of Wax (1953) / House of Wax $35.98 $31.99 47 used & new from $27.37 DVD House of Wax (Full Screen Edition) $20.98 $15.99 119 used & new from $6.95 Better Together Buy this DVD with The Amityville Horror (Widescreen Special Edition) DVD ~ Ryan Reynolds today! Total List Price: $49.93 Buy Together Today: $37.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought The Amityville Horror (Widescreen Special Edition) DVD ~ Ryan Reynolds The Skeleton Key (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Kate Hudson War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Tom Cruise Land of the Dead (Unrated Edition) DVD ~ Simon Baker Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music Storyline Genres: Horror Tagline: Prey. Slay. Display. Plot Outline: Six friends are stranded in a ghost town where a towering wax museum looms ahead. And inside are two brothers who have a special way of making the wax figures look real... Plot Synopsis: A group of friends on their way to a college football game falls prey to a pair of murderous brothers in an abandoned small town. They discover that the brothers have expanded upon the area's main attraction.. the House of Wax. And created an entire town filled with the wax-coated corpses of unlucky visitors. Now the group must find a way out before they too become permanent exhibits in the House of Wax... Plot Keywords: Title Spoken By Character | Car Trouble | Remake | Museum | Wax Museum | Interracial Relationship | Child Abuse | Doctor | Sheriff | Twins | American Football | (Show all 61 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Elisha Cuthbert , Chad Michael Murray , Brian Van Holt , Paris Hilton , Jared Padalecki , See more Directors: Jaume Collet-Serra Format: Ac- , Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Anamorphic Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Rated: (Not for sale to persons under age 18.) Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: October 25, 2005 Run Time: 113 min (original theatrical or airing runtime) Average Customer Review: Based on 176 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1) B-roll and bloopers video cast commentary From Location: Joel Silver Reveals House of Wax Wax On: The Design of House of Wax The House Built on Wax: visual effects Alternate open: Jennifer killed Gag reel Theatrical trailer From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B000AM4P9K Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,264 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: May 6, 2005 MPAA: for horror violence, some sexual content and language. Production Company: Warner Bros., Dark Castle Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures, ImageMovers, Silver Pictures USA Box Office: $32 Million Budget Estimate: $30 Million Filming Locations: Australia| Movieworld, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia| Queensland, Australia Editorial Reviews Amazon.com You know the one about the group of horny kids who get offed one by one? Yeah, so do director Jaume Collet-Serra and his screenwriters, who have updated an old Vincent Price flick and sandwiched it between hearty slices of The Blair Witch Project and various Friday the 13th films. Lots of WB and Fox network hotties--including 24 's Elisha Cuthbert, One Tree Hill 's Chad Michael Murray, and, well, Paris Hilton--have car trouble and stumble onto a town populated by real killer personalities. The R-rated result is fairly gruesome and, though no one ever quite looks frightened enough, Collet-Serra knows his way around a jolting suspense sequence or two. Cuthbert and an unintentionally funny Murray (striking ludicrous poses as some kind of real toughie) act more like angry ex-lovers than the fraternal twins they're supposed to be; Hilton acts bored while her real-life video scandal is exploited for ironic kicks; and the film heads shamelessly over-the-top with each new twist. As an exercise in bloody mayhem, it has a few novel touches, but you can easily find better scares. --Steve Wiecking Product Description: House of Wax tells the story of a group of friends who fall prey to a sinister plot while passing through a small town on their way to a college football game. Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Sin City DVD ~ Robert Rodriguez Saw (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Leigh Whannell Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Brad Pitt Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition with Comic Book) DVD ~ Christian Bale Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Books Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 44 of 61 people found the following review helpful: Above Average Slasher , May 10, 2005 Reviewer: Mr. Censored - See all my reviews This new version of "House Of Wax" bears very little resemblance to the original, released over fifty years ago. That right there means certain people are gonna be angry about it. And I'm sure it must pain fans of the original to see this updated version with Paris Hilton as one of the stars. Nevertheless, if you are just looking for a good, fun slasher, with a hard R-rating (believe me, this puppy earned it), you could do much worse. Forget that this is a remake, and you will probably find yourself being pleasantly surprised. And if you still aren't sold, look at it this way: You get to watch Paris Hilton die! "House Of Wax," which stars Chad Michael Murray (from WB's...well, just the WB I guess) and Elisha Cuthbert (who is way sexier than Hilton, without even trying) tells the familiar story of a group of twenty somethings, on their way to a football game, who pull over for the night to set up camp and get a little R & R. However, an automobile problem, a broken headlight, and some damn stinky squirrels and deer, cause this group to wander into a town that time seems to have forgotten. The town, however, has one interesting feature, and that is the infamous House Of Wax. Not only is everything inside made out of wax (or is it?), the House itself is Of Wax. Of course, things go horribly wrong. Why does it feel like the wax figures can see us? Who was that outside the window? Why does that guy keep flirting and leering at my girlfriend? The movie plays out much like classic slashers such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and even more like the 2003 "T.C.M." remake. Not only are both remakes extremely pumped up from the original, but you will notice many parellels between the two, from the bizarre torture scenes, to the creepy towns people, all the bases are covered with this movie. If you are a genre fan, you can't help but enjoy this movie. It does try a few different things and will take you by surprise a few times. Heck, one major surprise is Paris Hilton playing someone with moderate intellect. When someone says "What's that smell?" she doesn't want to find out. When she is being chased by the antagonist, she finds a weapon, and uses it. Not just your average teen slasher/splatter flick. As far as the gore goes, this movie has an abundance of it, but I found the wax much more effective. On a list of worst ways to die, I'd put that at the top! And when will people realize, if you keep picking at it, it won't heal (watch it and find out)? If it's possible to have a fear of wax, this movie may put it in you. So try not to let the seemingly shallow nature of this movie turn you away. Afterall, it's actually quite good, and it's refreshing, in a world of nuetered "PG-13" "horror" flicks, that a nice, solid "R" comes along and gives us the flanking we so badly needed. It's got it's flaws, and it does take a while for the film to build momentum, but if you want thrills, this one's got it. Just try not to cheer or laugh too much when Paris has her big moment... Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 20 of 30 people found the following review helpful: A TERRIFIC GOOD RIDE WITH ALL THE THINGS A SLASHER FAN WANTS!! , October 11, 2005 Reviewer: Paulo Leite (Lisbon, Portugal) - See all my reviews At first, I wasn't expecting anything from this movie... I thought "well, here we go again for another stupid slasher with nothing new to offer". But I was wrong. In fact I found this film to be a terrific new entry into the slasher genre. The screenplay is very nice. I does not start to kill people right away.. it develops the story... lets you know ter characters... and THEN... just when you are dying to see some killings... it starts. ...And never lets go. The plot is better than you'd expect. Not the usual "six kids get to a wax museum". Instead they get separated in three groups (which opens the space for three almost-independent storylines). This may not look much... but in fact it allows the screenplay to build some plausability and complications. The characters come and go separate ways and the script creates great shock moments exactly at the moment different storylines meet. And the killings... they are brutal, sadistic... and go beyond the usual "slash-and-you're-dead"... In fact (laughs) nobody dies at first. The screenplay takes the detail up to the limit. All the killings are beautifully constructed. Without wanting to spoil the fun, I just should say this film goes further on the sadistic things the killers do. Much further than what was acceptable years ago. I think this film brought new breath to the genre. Casting is good, makeup is fine. Directing is solid, art direction is discreet enough... I really liked it. Of course there are better films made 20 or 30 years ago. But this one sits along the best slashers in the last 10 years (if it is not THE best one in 10 years). But beware! This film is very cruel! Maybe you would like to pass on it if you play the piano, if you love your fingers... or if you like to walk barefooted. By the way... It has nothing to do with the 1953 Vincent Price version... just the title and what it suggests. Obviously, this DVD is a great buy. Watch it alone... or with friends... with 2 tons of popcorn. Great! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. The cast of hotties , December 29, 2005 A Kid's Review Almost the whole cast is hot like my cousin thinks paris hilton and elisha cuthbert are both hot&sexy.but i think jon arahams,jered&chad are hot espesialy jon abrahams his hot i lllllllllllooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeee him .oh yeah the movie its the best movie ever made .the only ugly people are bo&vincent .the movie its about 6friends on their way to a collage foot ball game but dalton and page get teird so they camp out near a abanded town. CAST:Elisha-Carly Brian van holt-Bo/Vincent Chad-Nick Jered-Wade Paris-Page Jon Abrahams-Dalton Robert-Blake Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) The cast of hotties , December 29, 2005 A Kid's Review Almost the whole cast is hot like my cousin thinks paris hilton and elisha cuthbert are both hot&sexy.but i think jon arahams,jered&chad are hot espesialy jon abrahams his hot i lllllllllllooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeee him .oh yeah the movie its the best movie ever made .the only ugly people are bo&vincent .the movie its about 6friends on their way to a collage foot ball game but dalton and page get teird so they camp out near a abanded town. CAST:Elisha-Carly Brian van holt-Bo/Vincent Chad-Nick Jered-Wade Paris-Page Jon Abrahams-Dalton Robert-Blake Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: The House Isn't The Only Thing That is Wax.... , December 28, 2005 Reviewer: fra7299 "fra7299" (California, United States) - See all my reviews Call me a bit of an overachiever, but I had to wait a day for this movie to sink in before I actually sat down to write a review for House of Wax. The verdict: It still wasn't very good. A film scripted for the MTV Generation of slasher-type films, House of Wax definitely pales in comparison to the Vincent Price version with the same name (I'm still not sure if they actually meant to call it that, or if this was to be an actual remake). There is loud music every so often, horny teens, and a wannabe tough street-type guy, and a generally creepy family (brothers) in a generally creepy town. At any rate, the two movies are a separate as you can get, so you won't have much of a chance to confuse them. If there is one thing to compliment this movie on, it's those momentary points of lurking suspense. We don't see the truly evil characters for awhile, so there is at least an attempt at build up. There is an attempt at trying to introduce us to the background of the two brothers, but it really is an empty explanation. They just show a family trying to get a rambunctious child to eat his food, and an overly aggressive father yelling. Then they flash forward, as if this explains everything. The movie seemingly begins to melt (no pun intended) before your eyes at certain points, despite its efforts to scare and thrill. I think a lot of it had to do with the seriously ridiculous plot and inane motives of the characters. The teens, who decide they want to go on a road trip to make it to the football game (it is a really important game, but we never know who is playing), of course don't make it in time and decide to spend the night in the creepiest place they can possibly find. Then, once there, they decide to hang out and party until some guy in a truck comes by and flashes his lights (he never gets out though, so we don't know who or what he is). Rather than suspecting that this guy might be some sort of serial killer out in the middle of no where, one of them decides to throw something at the truck, breaking one of the headlights and, in turn, making the possible homicidal maniac a little more upset. The truck leaves, and all appears to be fine. Fast forward to the next day....One of the guys really wants to get to the game (Why exactly everyone slept in until 2:30 in the afternoon is a question I can't answer..), but then one of the guy's cars has a broken fan belt (go figure), so they must deal with that. After accidentally slipping into a big pit with dead rotting animal flesh, which, for some reason Elisha Cuthbert's character insisted on seeing, her and her boyfriend decide to into town with some crazy derelict looking guy who makes his living apparently dumping dead animals into this pit....all in the name of a fan belt...sheesh! After the teens separate, you can use your imagination to guess what happens. The couple goes into the town to find the shop with fan belts, and, while in the process, decide to go into the spookiest place in town, the House of Wax. From there they meet another crazy guy who owns the shop, but happens to have that exact fan belt at his house. You know where this is going right? Eventually, Elisha Cuthbert's character realizes that there aren't any "real" people around, and that her boyfriend has been in that house just a little too long, and so chaos ensues. In the process of trying to get back to the town to get to the couple, some of the other teens meet up with the crazy brothers as well. They make the same silly mistakes that many teens make in these movies, and so, many points become a bit predictable and cumbersome to watch. I guess it could have been worse...Paris Hilton could have said something like, "Look! Wax, that's hot." There have been worse movies made, and definitely worse horror movies made. But, this is just another lower than average horror movie to make a few bucks for Hollywood. 1 stars for an effort at suspense. For kicks, I'll even round it up to 2. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Teen Slasher Movie with an interesting plot. , December 27, 2005 Reviewer: Ernest Hemmingway "Shawn" - See all my reviews When i first rented this movie, i was told that it was a horrible movies with some cheap scares. I was told wrong as a began to watch House of Wax. Six teenagers are on there way to a college football game when they experience car trouble, someone, overnight, had ruined one of the cars fan belts...as two of the characters venture into the seemingly empty town, they uncover a sinister plot involving the famous Trudy's House of Wax. The teenagers must fight for their lives, or they might become permanant displays... Paris Hilton's character could have been cast better, and it was fun to see her die in an ironic sort of way. The movie is interesting with it's plot twists and the final breathtaking conclusion. I enjoyed the ending of this movie because it didn't leave you hanging, you knew who was going to live or not. I doubt there will be a sequel. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 176 customer reviews... Listmania! Best of Slasher Films Part 4 : by Jason Voorhees "Jason V" 2005 Is Full Of Horror! : by S. Medeiros "Gentleman_caller8... The Best B-Rate Horror Films! : by Paul So You'd Like to... Know what movies are coming out to DVD in 2005 : by Aaron Watkins , Movie Browser October is one expensive month! : by sec127 , High School Student Know What's Coming to a DVD Store Near You : by Joe , Movie Lover Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Awards Click here to see more Awards Teen Choice Awards: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Thriller, Choice Movie Scream Scene, Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure/Thriller Nominations Click here to see more Nominations Teen Choice Awards: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Performance - Female, Choice Movie Rumble, Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure/Thriller, Choice Movie Breakout Performance - Male Trivia Click here to see more Trivia On 26 June 2004, a sound stage being used for the film burned to the ground during a test of special effects equipment. The fire was started by a candle destroying a studio where this movie was being filmed at Warner Bros Movie World on Australia's Gold Coast. One crew member was treated for burns to his arm no one else was injured. The smoke from the fire also crossed onto a nearby heavily used Highway which caused health concern's for driving motorists, the Highway was not shut down during this incident. Paris Hilton did not have to audition - she was the director's only choice for her role. The rest of the cast was built around her. Goofs Click here to see more Goofs Carly leaves the voice mail message for Paige and the whole scene with the truck gets on the voice mail. When Blake checks his phone after the music stops, the message isn't the same as earlier. Crazy Credits Click here to see more Crazy Credits Random letters in the end credits of the movie begin to melt down from thescreen as they appear. Also, some pairs of letters are joined, just like Boand Vincent when they were born. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections Remake of: Mystery of the Wax Museum | House of Wax References: Alternate Versions Click here to see more Alternate Versions The uncut version is rated R21 in Singapore. Two scenes needed to be trimmed to secure an NC16 rating. First is the body dragging scene where the head slowly detaches itself from the torso. Next is the scene where the killer graphically removes a pole that is jammed into a female victim's head. The DVD features an alternate opening: A young woman, Jennifer (Emma Lung), (the woman who is sculpted into Miss Ambrose) is stranded on the road after her car breaks down. As she calls a towing company, Bo's truck drives up. She tries to signal him, but gets no response. Then, the truck speeds up. Jennifer tried to run, but Bo grabs her by the neck and throws her face-first into her windshield, instantly killing her. Two versions are available in Germany: the uncut version with a "Not under 18" rating and an edited version (with a "Not under 16" rating) which misses ca. 3 minutes. Quotes Click here to see more Quotes [Carly hears a noise outside the tent] Carly Jones : Wade, wake up. Wade! I heard something. Wade : Yeah, it's probably the serial killers or something. [to Nick and Dalton] Blake : Hey are you two gonna have sex? Nick Jones : No... Blake : Oh, cause 'um, me and Paige ARE, so you should probably be the one to go pick up your sister. For more information about "House of Wax (Widescreen Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( R ) > Richard, Robert DVD > Genres > Horror > General DVD > Genres > Horror > Slasher Flicks DVD > Genres > Horror > Teen Terror DVD > Genres > Science Fiction & Fantasy > General Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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Foreclosure Property Below Market

Buying a Foreclosure Property Below Market Value: Five Tips from the Pros Select USA State -- Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Dist Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Mortgage Broker Data -- Develop Loan Leads Loan Products Property Services Insurance Services International Lending Mortgage News News Miscellaneous Government Web Links Publications & Magazines Buying a Foreclosure Property Below Market Va Loans! | Advertise | FREE LINK! | Forum | Search | Help | EMail | News | Home    Home Loans | Media | Brokers | Mortgage Bank | Employment | Real Estate | Legal | Finance | Banking | Technology    Loan Officers   MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER/BRO   ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES   Loan Officer   LOAN OFFICERS - INDEPENDE   I am seeking for a mort   Financial Services Dire   I am looking for a comp   Commercial Realty leasi   I am looking for contra   Liberty American Mortgage   New Account Executive Boo   CitiFirst Mortgage Servic   US Bank Introduces ``Fees   American Residential Fund   INDYMAC BANK ANNOUNCES N   What Does it Take to be a   Commercial Capital Bancor   Consortium Announces Laun   Meritage Homes Corporatio   Its All About PeopleAll   ABN AMRO Mortgage Group O   AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE LAUNC Visit the Veteran Loan Center to apply for a VA Mortgage or a VA Refinance Buying a Foreclosure Property Below Market Value: Five Tips from the Pros Buying a Foreclosure Property Below Market Value: Five Tips from the Pros House hunting can be a very daunting experience, especially in today s real estate market. Both investors and home buyers have been priced out of the market by escalating costs, and good real estate deals are increasingly difficult to find. But there are bargains out there, for people who know where to look. For people willing to do some homework, the foreclosure market offers some of the best opportunities in real estate today, explains James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer at RealtyTrac, the leading online foreclosure marketplace. Web-based services such as RealtyTrac give consumers access to foreclosure and pre-foreclosure information that was previously available only to professional real estate brokers and investors. Today, homebuyers can use these services to identify and research potential home purchases, as well as to find the tools and professional resources they need to help them close the deal. With interest rates ticking up and ARMs adjusting upward, experts predict an increase in the number of foreclosure properties on the market. RealtyTrac, which provides all the foreclosure data for both MSN House and Home and Yahoo! Real Estate, has already compiled a list of over 550,000 foreclosure properties across the country. Foreclosure properties can be a terrific investment, or give home buyers a much more affordable option than traditional properties, notes Saccacio. But they re not a way to get rich quick, and a foreclosure purchase needs to be approached in an educated, intelligent manner. Saccacio offers five tips to help you close a deal on a foreclosure property: 1. Learn about the different types of foreclosure properties, and the foreclosure process. There are three basic types of foreclosure properties, representing different stages in the foreclosure process: notice-of-default (NOD) and notice of trustee sale (NTS), which are both pre-foreclosure properties; and real-estate-owned (REO), a foreclosure property which has been re-purchased by the bank. For most consumers, buying a pre-foreclosure property from a private homeowner is the best option. It s important that both the buyer and the seller see the situation as a win-win situation, in order to ensure a smooth process. In this case, the seller is able to get out from under a mortgage without destroying their credit rating, the lender is saved the time and expense of foreclosing on the property, and the buyer gets a below-market price on a home. Foreclosure auction sales are typically the domain of the professional investor. These properties are formally in default, and sold to the highest bidder at an auction. Buyers are required to be physically present at the auction, and must pay 100% of the sale price in cash, on the spot. Though foreclosure auctions can offer significant savings, they are not for the feint of heart or the uninformed. Unless the buyer is already familiar with a particular property, there is usually little time to examine it. And the buyer will be competing against professional investors and sometimes even the lender at the auction. Once the lender officially reclaims a home, it becomes a real-estate-owned property (REO). While REO properties typically offer more time for evaluation and a more standard bank-managed transaction, their prices are usually very close to full retail market value. 2. Secure financing early It s important for a buyer to be pre-qualified before engaging in discussions with a seller. This ensures that the buyer is in a financial position to purchase the property, and is in the strongest possible position to negotiate. It s best to work with a lender who understands the foreclosure process, and can guide the buyer through certain steps, such as ensuring that a property is FHA-compliant. Another reason to consider pre-qualification is that not all lenders finance foreclosure properties. Having approved financing in-hand makes negotiations with both the seller and the lender easier, and may even make it possible for the buyer to simply cure the default and take over the existing loan to reduce loan processing fees. 3. Engage a real estate agent as a buyer s representative Most people hire a real estate agent to sell their home. These seller s representatives are charged with making the sale and negotiating the best deal for their clients. Buyer s representatives have the home buyer s interests at heart, and are charged with finding the right property and negotiating the best price for their clients. Picking the right real estate agent will make a buyer s life much easier. There are agents who specialize in the foreclosure market, with specific experience in REO properties. Look for an agent with foreclosure transaction experience, as well as knowledge of local, regional and state laws. But it s also important to consider the agent s knowledge of the area; their ability to close a deal; and their access to other professionals (attorneys, lenders, mortgage and title professionals) to ensure that the buyer is in good hands. 4. Do your homework Stocks offer higher potential returns for investors than traditional savings programs, but are also riskier. Similarly, purchasing foreclosure properties is somewhat more risky than buying traditional real estate properties, but offers much higher potential savings. With the right examination and due diligence, buyers can significantly reduce the risks. It makes sense to give any property under consideration a thorough examination. Here are eight steps for doing a professional-level exam. 5. Make a realistic offer Despite what you may see on late-night cable TV, investing in foreclosure properties isn t a sure fire get rich quick formula. Lenders aren t likely to give properties away, particularly in a real estate market where prices continue to rise. And homeowners in financial distress may be difficult to deal with, particularly early in the foreclosure process. The keys to a successful foreclosure property purchase are diligence and patience. As a rule of thumb, the best savings can be made at the pre-foreclosure stage, where home owners can avoid a foreclosure and lenders can save the time and cost involved in going through the process. Another critical point in the process is immediately prior to the auction date, when all parties might be most open to a last-minute solution. It s not unusual to save from 10-30% of the market value on a foreclosure property, and certain properties offer savings of 50% or even more. An educated buyer one who knows how much is owed on the property and what its market value is can usually come up with a realistic offer; one that offers significant savings, while meeting the requirements of the lender. Source: 10/06/2000 10/6/2000 410_024 Company: RealtyTrac Contact: jennifer white, jennifer@atomicpr.com Loans! | Advertise | FREE LINK! | Forum | Search | Help | EMail | News | Home   Mortgage Mag San Antonio, Texas 78255 Webmaster Email WebSite Map & Help

buy property in Spain.

Buying property in Spain - A full guide to buying property in Spain Buying Property in Spain A full guide Sponsor this Page for 720.00 a year Over 250,000 Unique Visitors every month! Click here Home | Spanish Shop | Photo Library | Message Board | Classified Ads | Property | Currency Converter | Site Map | Stats | Search | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us Property in Spain - A full guide Introducing the new service from idealspain.com www.idealspain-properties.com - Properties for sale & to rent throughout the whole of Spain CrawfPro Spain SL - CrawfPro is a private company based in Granada, selling select homes in the area. We can also find your property, survey it, lead the buying process, inspect construction, manage your project, look after your property and deal with bureaucracy. Don't be alone. HIFX - Save money on currency, regular payments & overseas property insurance. Lump sums: excellent exchange rates & totally free transfer of funds to Spain. Regular payments: fix an exchange rate for your mortgage or pension transfer for up to 2 years ahead with no monthly transfer changes (this alone could save you 300 per year!). Buying a property in Spain Foreigners buying property in Spain has become very popular. The country has a pleasant, healthy climate and in recent years the local authorities have made great efforts to increase the number foreign tourists and residents. Spain now derives more of its foreign income from tourists than any other country in Europe. Due to low European interest rates, now is a good time to buy property in Spain. There is a very wide selection of standards, from farmhouses (fincas) and plots through to villas, townhouses and new apartment developments. There is no shortage of real estate agents in Spain and it pays to search out a good company who will care for your requirements. Before you buy a property in Spain you should use our website to look at the different areas then consider visiting your favourites before deciding where to buy. Many people also rent a property in that area first. Here's a simple guide to get the most out of buying a property in Spain: Set your budget limit and stick to it. Visit the property at least twice before you make a decision. Check what amenities the property has such as electricity, water, gas. Have a builder or architect examine the structure of the building. Talk to your prospective neighbours about the area. If you are unsure about a property, take photos and draw sketches to take home with you. Have your legal advisor check ownership of the property before you sign anything. Have your legal advisor check outstanding debts on the property before you sign anything Initial Costs As well as the cost of the property, the buyer will be liable for transfer tax (IVA), which at present is 6% on a second-hand property and 7% on a new one, plus 1/2% stamp duty. The property registration office will charge you a fee to change the new deeds into your name. This is usually around 300€. There will also be notary charges for copies of the 'escritura publica'. The charge is on a scale depending on the contract price. In total you should allow 10% of the purchase price for costs. It is often the case that the buyer also pays the sellers fees. Check this at the point of enquiry and it is often possible to negotiate. Banks may also charge an opening commission for mortgage loans. Annual Costs The local town hall charge IBI which is an annual real estate tax. The previous owner is obliged to give you copies of previous bills. Community charges apply when you buy a property on a community development. These cover things like maintenance, swimming pools, gardens etc. You will also be liable for a wealth tax, payable annually and based on the value of the property and a property owners income tax based on your income from the property. You should clarify these in detail with your estate agent at point of enquiry . Finance See our mortgages section here Many developers of new properties are now offering up to 80% over 20 years for non-residents. Local banks will offer anything up to 60% for European residents. Most loans are long-term and secured on the property. When seeking a loan, make sure you are aware of the interest rates and if they are fixed or floating. Banks will ask for passports, residence permits, payslips, sale contracts and copies of the title deeds. There are many advantages to taking out a loan to purchase your property, in the form of tax allowances. We have not listed them here as they are subject to fluctuation. You may need to transfer money into Spain and you need to protect yourself: When you buy a property in Spain, you will know the price of the property in Euros but you will not know the actual cost until you buy all of the currency to pay for it. This means that the property could either cost you more than you had planned (if the Euro strengthens) or the property could become cheaper (if Sterling strengthens). Recently Sterling has fluctuated more than 10% against the Euro within a matter of months, so this does deserve careful consideration. On the basis that you are buying a property and not speculating on the currency markets, it is worth fixing the exchange rate for all of your future stage payments to the agent / developer. How to fix the exchange rate: 1/ Buy all of the currency now on a "spot contract". Hold the currency on deposit and send payments when they are due from your Euro account. To do this you need to have full funds available. 2/ Buy as much currency as you can afford now (e.g. for the first 2 payments) and reserve an exchange rate for the remaining payments. To reserve an exchange rate you need to buy a 'forward currency contract'. In effect you are buying currency now but paying at a later date when you have the funds available. The exchange rate that you achieve on a "forward contract" is not quite as good as that for a "spot contract" but it does guarantee that you know the cost of the property. You will be required to pay 10% of the value immediately and the balance by the date that you have reserved the currency for. Use a specialist currency broker : As a result of extensive research idealspain are pleased to offer preferential currency transfer rates for all their clients and visitors, click here for more information . It is also advisable to speak to your new bank with regards to High Interest Sterling Accounts where your mortgage payments can be taken directly and converted on your behalf. Approx cost to buy a home at 128,000 euros or (80,000 pounds) IVA 7% Spanish VAT payable on declared property value 8,960.00 Legal fees Searches, preparing deeds and translation etc 900.00 Notary's fees Preparing escritura, registering and stamp duty 600.00 I.A.J.D Spanish tax of 0.5% of the declared value 640.00 Connection charges Water, gas, drainage, electricity etc 300.00 Plus Valia Capital Gains Tax on increased value of plot since last sold. Levied by the Town Hall 60.00 Total Approx 7,355 pounds €11.460.00 Currency Converter Legal Matters Most properties in Spain are in fact NOT registered. Most of the re-sale properties are sold by Spanish ....still.... since they earned about 100 a year from selling fruit and veg they would certainly not pay 300 to pay for their property to be registered. The only way someone may find out if how many square meters is legally theirs to sell is by investigating at the Catastral Department and Town Hall. If they have ever declared that there is a property at all. A great deal of families have never informed the Town Hall that a senior family member has deceased and therefore many sales take months to proceed to completion. There are many families with complicated backgrounds, most children believe they actually own what is and sometimes what once was their parents, sometimes resulting in an Expediente Dominio where there can be no proof of title at all. A great deal of the beautiful villas you see advertised are not registered by the builder and therefore the purchaser pays for the first registration, sometimes no licences have been issued and the seller is required to pay fines to the Town Hall. Many many properties are then registered with less than the actual square meters of built area, and a great many are not mortgageable. Most urbanisation properties now being built are of course registered first because there is a compulsory registration system in Spain for new developments but this is Urban land - not countryside. Most of the old village properties have no Title Deeds. The seller of a second-hand home should provide the following documents: The title deed of the property Receipt of payment of the real estate tax for the last year Receipt of payment of the tax on the increased value of Urban Land Certificate that any community charges (if applicable) have been paid up to date Latest copies of domestic bills so that you can take over the services such as electricity and water The seller or developer of a new property should provide you with: Deed of declaration of new construction Occupancy permit Certificate of rateable value of the property Normally, before the purchase of a property is made official, there is a prior agreement drawn up between the buyer and seller. This document will identify the two parties and set out the terms of purchase. You must seek legal advice before signing this and you must be sure that this is the property you want to buy. You can lose any deposit you have paid if you pull out of the purchase and there is a penalty clause in the contract. In the case of the seller defaulting then he has to pay twice the amount. When it comes to signing the contract, this has to be before a notary, in the form of a public deed. This ensures that the details are entered onto the public records. Insurances Fire insurance is compulsory by law when taking out a mortgage. Comprehensive household insurance is available to protect your home and contents. Life insurance can be taken out to guarantee payment of the loan in the case of death. The cost of property - trends Official figures for the Costa del Sol state that property prices will increase this year by 12-15%. It is claimed that an average new property with two bedrooms in a block now costs 241,000 euros (around 2,000 euros per square metre). An average villa costs 388,100 euros. On the Costa del Sol there are around 20,000 homes for sale, 40% of which is in the Marbella area. 75% of home buyers on the Costa del Sol are foreign. The increase in prices is leading to an increase in the number of smaller, cheaper municipalities springing up, away from the coast. Tax advantages for property owners If you spend more than six months a year in Spain, you are obliged by law to apply for a residents permit.* This law is currently being abolished. There are however, several tax advantages for residents of Spain that do not apply to non-residents. Inputted income tax is an annual tax on an imaginary income resulting by virtue of ownership of a property and is charged as 0.5% of the catastral value. If you are a resident you will not be charged this on your principal home. Wealth tax is a tax on all assets in Spain and is charged at 0.2% of the catastral value of any house owned. For residents the first 108,000€ is exempt and for a joint ownership this would apply to each partner. These two taxes are paid annually as long as you own the property. Non-residents do not receive any relief so therefore have to pay 0.7% of the catastral value every year. When you come to sell the property, capital gains tax will be charged on any profit you have made. This is 35% for non-residents but only 20% for residents. A further concession for residents is that if you are over the age of 65 and have lived in your property for at least three years, you are totally exempt from capital gains tax. Finally, if you are 60 years of age or more and have lived in your property for at least three years, you can bequeath your property to your spouse or children and avoid paying inheritance tax on 95% of the valuation. The inheritor must also be a resident of Spain and agree not to sell the property for at least ten years. WSI - Start Your Own Business and Profit from the Internet! Now in its 10th year of business, WSIs systems are used by over 1000 franchisees in 87 countries around the world. Currently rated the "#1 Fastest Growing Business Services Franchise" and the "4th Fastest Growing Franchise in the world" , WSI has established one of the most profitable Franchise Opportunities in the world today with a Proven Business System! Home or office based. Complete Training and Support. No Business experience required. For your free information package & CD please visit: www.wsicorporate.com . Learn Spanish Today for FREE! Learn Spanish the interactive and fun way! Our web site will help you learn Spanish free of charge. Not just a few Spanish verbs, but over 500 words of the Spanish language, including complete Spanish phrases and sentences. Watch our free online demo that plays the first 15 minutes of a lesson. In this demo, the in program manual is displayed on the screen. spanish-online.co.uk Spanish book, cd and cd-rom publishers. User-friendly material for complete beginners to intermediate level. To make the most of our great offers, use the promotional code IDEALSPAIN on our online shop. Intasure - Insurance for your holiday home in Spain - Property insurance for expatriates in Spain - Comprehensive golf cover 365 days of the year which covers theft of equipment, medical expenses, travel, public liability and even hole in one cover - Low, low cost travel insurance. Avro is the UK's leading charter flight-only company, selling over one million seats every year. We have recently expanded and now offer scheduled flights to destinations worldwide, with flights available from over 70 of the world's leading airlines. Bookings.org - The best selection of Hotels, at great prices, throughtout Spain... 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Sell House

Boston.com / Real estate Buying Renting Recent sales Place an ad Luxury Living Community data Financing Commercial Moving Guides THE RIGHT LISTING AGENT Tips for home sellers to find a listing agent -- Interview at least three or four agents before making a choice. Sometimes a good agent can be found through recommendations from friends or relatives who have recently sold property. Many burrow their way through the Yellow Pages. Some pick up a name at the office water cooler or a health club. It's fine to happen onto names this way, as long as you follow up by screening candidates. Ask the right questions: • What is my home worth? The broker should prepare a market analysis recommending a selling price for your house. You should insist that the agents you interview provide detailed market information supporting whatever price they propose. You want to see "comparable sales" – that is, the selling prices of properties similar to yours, located in the same or similar neighborhoods, that have sold recently. You also want the agents to provide detailed information about current conditions in your market area. That information should include the average time properties are on the market before they sell, and a listing of homes similar to yours that are for sale. How are those homes priced and how does the broker explain the speed – or lack of speed – with which they are selling? You are not going to select the broker who recommends the highest selling price, tempting though that may be; you're going to select the one who seems most knowledgeable about your market, who gives you the most realistic assessment of how much you should ask for your house, and who can articulate the factors that are likely to enhance or impede its sale prospects. • What is your marketing plan for my home? Insist that the brokers you interview submit a comprehensive marketing plan, explaining precisely what steps they plan to take to sell your home. The plan should specify, among other details: - How, where, and how often the broker will advertise your property. Bear in mind that the major daily newspapers are not the only, or necessarily the best, advertising media. Depending on the property, the location and the market, community newspaper, direct mail and even handbills may be equally appropriate. - Will your broker list your house in the Multiple Listing Service, and if so, when? (The answers should be, "yes," and immediately after the agreement is signed.) - Will the broker hold one or more open houses for other brokers to introduce them to the property? (Definitely a good idea.) - How many buyer open houses will the broker host and how will those be advertised? - What repairs or improvements, if any, does the broker think will be needed? You should be concerned if the broker recommends a gut rehab, but listen carefully to suggestions that you do some repainting, trim the hedges, and repair broken railings. • What are the terms of the contract? Once you've selected your broker, pay careful attention to the terms of the listing contract. Make sure it obligates the broker to implement the key components of the marketing plan and allows you to terminate the agreement if the broker fails to do what the plan specifies. You also want to require the broker to report periodically, preferably in writing. Don't agree to an unnecessarily long listing term. TYPES OF CONTRACTS Exclusive right to sell. Most sellers use this. One agent is assigned your property to sell; if that listing broker sells the property, he or she gets the whole commission. If another agent sells, the commission is shared, usually equally. Exclusive agency listing. One agency gets the contract, but if you sell the property, you don't pay a commission. The disadvantage is that brokers may lose some incentive to sell, since you are competing with them. Open listing. Anyone can sell, including the owner, with only the selling broker getting a commission. Some brokers may want you to commit to a six-month listing, but you shouldn't accept a term any longer than 90 days. You always can renew a listing if you're satisfied with the broker's efforts. Also make sure you understand the listing terms. Most brokers will require what is known as an "exclusive agency" agreement. That means the broker will be entitled to a commission if the house is sold any time during the listing period (and for a specified period of time after it expires), even if the broker is not directly responsible for the sale. You should expect to pay a commission of around 6 percent. Although the fee is negotiable, as a practical matter, you won't find too much variation. • What are your references? Rarely do those signing on with a real estate agent check references the way they would when hiring an office employee. Any prospective agent should provide references readily. Goyeau said you should ask any reference you call, "Would you hire this agent again?" To gather accurate information on an agent, limit the references you use to those who have worked with the agent within the previous two years. "The agent could have been great five years ago, but slacked off lately for a variety of reasons," said Joan McLellan Tayler, the author of two real estate books. • Show me the statistics. Brokers should be able to present prospective clients with a computer printout that shows the number of sales they had in the last 12 months, the listing price, the selling price, and the length the homes stayed on the market, said Carol Brenner of Carol Brenner Realty in Newton Highlands. The difference between the initial listing price and the final selling price should be no more than five or 10 percent, she said. Also, an average home should not be on the market for more than three months, she said. What to look for in an agent: • A good reputation. Verify the reputation as well as the competence of any agent with whom you deal, so check with both the Board of Registration for Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen and the Better Business Bureau to see if there is a history of complaints against the broker or the broker's firm. Also contact friends, acquaintances and references the broker provides. "Sellers should look at the reputation of the firm and the integrity of the agent to be sure they are represented ethically and professionally," said Nora F. Moran, former president of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. • Certification from a professional organization. There are a lot of real estate agents in the field, but not all of them are "Realtors," and you want to deal only with agents who have that (R) designation. That indicates the agent belongs to the National Association of Realtors, which implies a level of professional training and commitment, and adherence to ethical standards that you can't otherwise assume. Ask brokers if they have "board designations," or certification from professional organizations. For example, CRS stands for certified residential specialist, and is the toughest level to achieve in residential sales. It's awarded by the Residential Sales Council, a group with the National Association of Realtors, and requires the completion of course and a certain level of experience. The National Association of Realtors also certifies brokers as having completed the GRI – graduate realtor institute – a less-arduous set of courses, brokers say. • Someone you feel comfortable with. When choosing a broker to list a home with, you need someone you feel comfortable with, said John Neale, a broker with Sprogis Real Estate in the South End. "If you get a good feeling from a broker, a buyer is going to get that same good feeling, too. That's going to help you sell your house," he said. • An agent who specializes in your community. You could hire a perfectly good agent from across town. But unless that agent is well-known in your area, he may fail to fulfill the potential of your home sale. Why? Because real estate is a cooperative profession, and the odds are good it will be a local agent who brings you the right buyer for the best price and terms. More tips: • Try to work in concert with the agent you choose. Homeowners are sometimes resistant to the suggestions of their listing agents on matters as basic as keeping their property clean and their beds made. A capable, committed agent is worthy of your respect and cooperation. As Tayler explained, "The relationship between an agent and a client is supposed to be a partnership. That's how you sell your property fast and for top dollar." • Consider asking for an agent who meets your specific needs. Are you a young mother compelled to sell your home due to a divorce? Then perhaps you'd be most comfortable working with an agent who has a similar background. Likewise, a senior might wish to seek an older agent who understands the art of downsizing. One way to locate an agent whose background mirrors your needs is to call the owner, broker or sales manager of a realty office in your area. Be candid about your situation and ask for several names, said Tayler, who operated her own real estate company for 17 years. • Don't give your business to someone as a favor. With more than a half-million Americans involved in real estate sales, chances are you have a friend or relative in the field. Don't engage an agent solely on the basis of friendship or to do a favor. There's too much at stake. This article was compiled from the Boston Globe archives. feedback | help | site map | advertising | globe archives | rss © 2006 The New York Times Company Real Estate Guide - Massachusetts Home Builder - New Home Construction