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FHLBank Atlanta Login | News | Careers | Events | Site Map | Contact Us * Learn More * Member Login * FAQs * Learn More * Approved PFIs * View Pricing * 2006 AHP Announcement * 2006 AHP Updates * CIS Sponsor Login * Sponsor Registration Highlights from the Bank Bank Declares 4.60 Dividend The board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta has approved an annualized dividend rate of 4.60 percent. Readmore Historical Interest Rates Now on FHLBAccess All FHLBank interest rates are available on FHLBAccess, the Banks online, members-onlysystem. In early 2006, current and historical interest rates will no longer beavailable on the Bank's public website. Readmore Learn More About Funding In Key West FHLBank representatives will be presenting at the Southeastern Conference of Community Bankers on Jan. 27, 2005. They will be describing innovative ways to fund your loan growth. Read more New Forms for EDP\CIP Advances Available The Bank has revised the application and supporting documentation for the Community Investment and Economic Development advance programs. New forms are in effect immediately and can be downloaded from our website. View EDP forms View CIP forms First-time Homebuyer Funds Still Available The Bank has nearly $200,000 of matching funds available for member financialinstitutions that are working with first-time homebuyers who need down paymentor closing cost assistance. Read more November BankTalk and HillTalk Available Get the details behind structured repos, streamline securities safekeeping and wire transfers with FHLBAccess, and learn how the Banks Community Investment Program can help you save money. Read more Structured Repo Discussion The Expander Advance Member Products and Services Guide Capital Plan Reference Contact List COLLATERAL CVR Fee Schedule Webinar Recording Eligibility Qualifying Collateral Reports (QCRs) Verifications Government & Industry Relations Legislative Action Center HillNet: Grassroots Advocacy Program Terms and Conditions | Member Privacy Statement | General Privacy Policy © 2005, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. All Rights Reserved. Atlanta, GA, 30309; 1.800.536.9650.

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For Sale By Owner, homes for sale, houses, real estate, for sale - ForSaleByOwner.com Sell a Home Buy a Home Services Mortgages City Profiles Appraisals Service Directory Foreclosures Mortgages Service Providers Appraise Your Home Moving & Relocation Home Improvement Title Company Search Insurance Lawyers Virtual Tours Home Builders Real Estate Agents Research What is FSBO? City Profiles City Comparisons School Reports Crime Comparisons Salary Calculator Cost of Living Comp. Home Sale Prices Tools Free eBook DIY Software Mortgage Calculators Home Selling Guide Home Buying Guide Ad Writing Tips Real Estate Forms Home Buying Checklist Utilities Connections Your Credit Report Glossary Real Estate News Edit Your Ad Modify Your Ad Cancel Your Ad Upload Photos Help/FAQ BUYING A HOME? Search the largest real estate database of For Sale By Owner homes for sale! 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List your home for sale with markets starting at only $89.95. ( for prices in your area click here ) Sell Your Home Guaranteed Home Owner; if your home doesn't sell, we'll give you your money back. That's correct. Your house will sell or you'll receive a full refund! ( For Sale By Owner house selling guarantee ) Act now, and start selling your house on your own in the largest For Sale By Owner site (with up to 6 color home photos and a 1,000 word house description - try buying that in a newspaper ad). Sell your home for sale by owner and market your fsbo home to millions of home buyers that might be looking to buy a home just like yours. Want to see what your home could look like on For Sale By Owner.com ? Check out our featured Home click here What Will I Save? Calculate your savings when you use us! You save ! City Profiles Find Out more about your new location! 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Real Estate Online - Properties for sale or rent in Perth Western Australia   Login | REIWA Online Home REIWA Online Home Properties for Sale Properties for Rent My Home News & Articles Property Research Find a REIWA Member Helpful Info Resources Training Other Institutes About REIWA Jobs Available Contact Us Real Estate Links Residential Home Open Virtual Tour Properties Showcase Properties Land About My Property List About Property Alerts Commercial Business Rural Residential Commercial Create Public Account About My Property List About Property Alerts News Feature Articles Press Releases What's My Home Worth Suburb Profile Price Growth by Suburb Long Term Growth Rates Rental Survey Market Indicators Perth House Price Chart Suburb Price Increases REIWA Member Search Accredited Specialist Top Achievers(Reps) Top Achievers(Branches) Tips & Information Public Forum Local Information Heritage Register Foreign Investment Code of Conduct Councillors & Senior Staff Loan Calc/Interest Rates Financing Glossary FAQs Stamp Duty REIWA Hosted Websites REIWA Learning Website Careers in Real Estate Course Details Licensing Course Details REIA (Australia) REIACT (ACT, Australia) REINSW (NSW, Australia) REINT (Northern Territory) REISA (South Australia) REIQLD (Queensland) REITAS (Tasmania) REIVIC (Victoria) Mission Statement What does REIWA do? Benefits of Dealing with a REIWA member EAC Real Estate View Realnet QLD World Properties View Homebuyer Online For sale For rent Residential Commercial Business Rural Enter a property's listing number to view its details Register your details and we'll send you regular emails listing all matching properties. Give Homebuyers a Christmas Present ... More View All Did you know that the average 2004sale price for a 3 bedroomhome in Dampier was $309,786? How much was your home worth? Find out The following suburbs recorded the largest growth in Median House Prices in the last 12 months: Rank Suburb Growth View 1 Coolbinia 58.30% 2 Ascot 53.20% 3 Bunbury 41.60% 4 Geraldton 37.30% 5 Mundijong 33.00% Select a letter to browse for your suburb: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | username: password: NEW! Search through & purchase sales history data for Western Australian properties sold over the last five years. Help for First Home Buyers Value - it's all in the Land How Does The Median Price Apply To Your... Tips on Buying Units and Apartments Network City Requires Sensible Re-Zoning Finding the Right Home in a Limited Mar... View All REIWA Learning is Australia's leading provider of innovative and quality real estate training and development programmes. As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the REIWA PDC offers nationally recognised training and ongoing professional development opportunities to current and prospective real estate professionals. The REIWA job board lists current real estate employment opportunities within REIWA member agencies. Who are REIWA's current 'Top Achievers'? Top 30 Representatives for November Top 30 Branches for November About REIWA | Contact REIWA | Comments & Questions Disclaimer Privacy Statement REIWA disclaims liability for the accuracy of information on this site, details of matters such as property listings should be checked, full details can be found by clicking "Disclaimer" above. REIWA collects information via this website and other sources, full details of REIWA's Privacy Act Collection Statement can be found by clicking "Privacy Statement" above.

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RISMedia - Residential Real Estate's Largest Independent News & Information Service - Immediate access to industry news,top real estate professionals,and the nation's most respected product and service firms real estate referral,real estate training,real estate education,real estate news articles information consulting expertise real estate professionals reference resources industry worldwide database national regional state real estate referral,real estate training,real estate education,real estate news articles information consulting expertise real estate professionals articles information consulting expertise real estate professionals reference resources industry worldwide database national regional state real estate referral,real estate training,real estate education,real estate news reference resources industry worldwide database national regional state real estate referral,real estate training,real estate education,real estate news Today's News Products/Services Article Search Events Feedback Login Real Estate Magazine Realtors/Services Power Broker Report Real Estate Leadership Power Broker Event Realestate Magazine Feedback Daily News Feedback Advertising Opportunities Feedback Other Feedback Today's Real Estate News Get our free News Feed Existing-Home Sales Trend Lower in November Sales eased 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.97 million units in November from a pace of 7.09 million in October More. Inverted Yield Curve Influences Mortgage Rates Fixed mortgage rates fell slightly this week, as long-term interest rates declined following a large decrease in new home sales More. NAR Provides Access to Updated Study of Emerging Legal Issues in Real Estate Study tracks historical data regarding more than 90 different legal liability issues faced by real estate professionals More. Pitching Property in the Blogosphere Real estate blogs rising in popularity at a time when the Internet is becoming more important in home-buying process More. Todays HOME Spun Wisdom New Years resolution: Adopting a healthy diet More. November Illinois Home Sales Nearly Even with Last Year Median Price at $202,000 Total home sales down less than 200 from the prior year More. 2005 California Housing Market Eclipses Previous Records Sales of detached, existing single-family homes are expected to reach 635,000 this year More. Housing Costs Up in Western Massachusetts Prices outside of the city are up much faster this year than in the Boston area More. NAR PULSE: NAR Welcomes Federal Guidelines on Specialty Mortgages The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS on Dec. 20 welcomed proposed guidelines from the federal financial regulatory agencies on specialty mortgage products that allow consumers to defer repayment of the home mortgage principal and interest. More. NAR PULSE: Terrorism Insurance Readied for President The U.S. House and Senate have reached agreement on extension of federal terrorism re-insurance for an additional two years, setting the stage for signing by President George W. Bush. The legislation increases the point at which federal backstop assistance kicks in from $5 million this year to $50 million in 2006 and $100 million in 2007, and creates the President's Working Group on Financial Markets (which includes the Treasury secretary and the Chairs of the Fed and SEC). NAR supported extension to ensure the availability and affordability of terrorism coverage, vital to the financing of commercial properties. More. NAR PULSE: New Resort Certification to Serve Growing Second-Home and Resort Market To better serve the growing second-home and resort real estate sector, a new certification for REALTORS called the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) will be offered by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. The new certification program was announced at the 2005 NAR Conference & Expo in San Francisco last October. More. Sedgwick CMS Holdings Agrees to Acquisition by Fidelity National Financial FNF will acquire company for $635 million More. RE/MAX Moves to No. 8 in Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Study Company moves up in ranking More. W.C. & A.N. Miller to Help Build a Town Town of Haymount will be new venture for Miller More. Millionaires Bank on Orange County, Calif., Homes At a time when half of all county homes sell for more than $600,000, one out of six crosses into seven-figure territory More. Todays HOME Spun Wisdom Looking for a good quote to add to your New Years toast? Here are some thoughts on ringing in the New Year from some of historys most notable quotable. More. Online Marketing: New Years Resolutions for Your Web Site Commentary by Israel Rothman More. Sharp Increase in Average Time Needed to Sell a Home: Survey 75% of respondents say homes in U.S. now taking more than 30 days to sell, up from 39% in second quarter; new sales data suggests more balanced market emerging More. Floridas Lake Worth Favors Industrial Park over Building Affordable Townhomes Leaders want seven-acre mobile home park to become part of growing industrial area More. Top Mistakes of Home Buyers and Sellers in 2005 Mistakes made in 2005 may help those looking to buy or sell in 2006 More. Home Buyers Put Faith in Concrete Recent hurricanes, higher energy costs cause for more concrete structures More. California Median Home Cost Up 16.2% But sales are down 11.2% compared with last year More. Training & Business Development: Final Four Days for $125,000 Deadline for Real Estate Apprentice is approaching fast More. Todays HOME Spun Wisdom For 2006, make one resolution as a couple. Here are some guidelines. More. State Home Sales Slide For the first time in 47 months, the median price of a home in two Santa Barbara County, California markets declined from its prior annual level More. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Author Launch the Great American Homeowner Challenge New Year's Eve Times Square 2006 celebration to kick-off campaign to inspire long-term financial success through homeownership More. List of Real Estate Training Courses for Real Estate Designations Updated Prominent real estate designations and certifications that are managed by an equally long list of real estate associations, institutes, councils and societies are now available for review in one spot More. MLSSoftware.com, RealBird Partner to Provide Map-Based Searching Services MLSSoftware to resell a branded version of RealBirds service to its clients More. Training & Business Development: The Magnificent 12 Four more industry leaders now in official judges lineup for Real Estate Apprentice More. Training & Business Development: Profiles in CourageThe Entrepreneur Agent The short cut to fearlessness More. Training & Business Development: Becoming 100% Invested in the Present Making the customer feel as though they are the only one is key More. Real Estate Continues as Prime Investment for 2006 Second consecutive year that industry has been one of the top investment choices in the survey More. Action Against Fraud Urged Jury calls for new $2 deed-filing fee to fund a new real-estate fraud prosecution unit More. Houston Home Sales Near Record Single-family home sales increased by 8.7% to 4,735 in November, up from last year's 4,357 More. Number of Homes for Sale Hits Nine-Year High in Orlando However, existing-home sales through November remained on pace to set a 13th consecutive annual record More. Todays HOME Spun Wisdom Hosting a New Years party? Here are some resolutions to think about to help you enjoy your own bash. More. Nations Strong Housing Market Seen Simmering Down in 2006 Economists: production will ease back next year to 2004s historically healthy levels More. Bankrate: Mortgage Rates in a Holiday Holding Pattern Average 30-year fixed rate mortgage dipped from 6.34 percent to 6.33 percent More. Most Homeowners Oppose Proposal to Replace Home Mortgage Interest Deduction Presidents tax reform panel would eliminate other consumer deductions More. ABN AMRO Mortgage Ranks Highest Among Primary Mortgage Lenders Highly satisfied customers refer their loan originator to others more than twice as often More. Todays HOME Spun Wisdom Regifting and exchanging 101some tips on the dos and donts of regifting More. Builders Take Steps to Curb Homes Sales Backlog of units becoming a problem for some companies More. Foreclosure.com Adds Content That Helps Subscribers Make Smart Property Decisions State-specific Foreclosure Laws and How to Buy Foreclosures offer helpful tips More. Weichert, Realtors Expands with Four New Franchises in New York and Massachusetts Company now has 31 opened affiliated offices and 11 company-owned offices in New York More. Prudential California Realty Launches Architectural Collection Division 15-year architecture and design expert to spearhead new division More. NAR PULSE: Historically Strong Home Sales Expected in 2006 The housing market for 2005 is headed for a fifth consecutive annual record, and sales activity in 2006 is expected to be the second best year in history. For more information, click here . More. NAR PULSE: NAR Launches RESPA Compliance Tools as Part of Awareness Campaign The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS has launched four new tools to help real estate professionals better understand and comply with the requirements of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) as part of NARs RESPA Awareness Campaign. For more information, click here . More. NAR PULSE: New Resort Certification to Serve Growing Second-Home and Resort Market To better serve the growing second-home and resort real estate sector, a new certification for REALTORS called the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) will be offered by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. The new certification program was announced at the 2005 NAR Conference & Expo in San Francisco last October. For more information, click here . More. Wealthy Americans Remain Confident Home Values Will Increase PNC survey finds fewer than one in 10 expect decline in value of their primary homes More. Housing Market Strengthens in November Record year for single-family home construction expected More. -- Current Issue Previous Issue Past Issues Reprints Realtor Solutions CURRENT ISSUE April, 2005 Past Issues -- Daily News Email Submit your email address to receive a daily news email from rismedia.com SITE SPONSORS Today's Profile Barbara Reynolds A Smooth Transition Poll Has your market become a buyer's market? Yes No Don't know Results Polls

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Common Questions from First-time Homebuyers - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Common Questions from First-time Homebuyers Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Why should I buy, instead of rent? Answer: A home is an investment. When you rent, you write your monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home, you can deduct the cost of your mortgage loan interest from your federal income taxes, and usually from your state taxes. This will save you a lot each year, because the interest you pay will make up most of your monthly payment for most of the years of your mortgage. You can also deduct the property taxes you pay as a homeowner. In addition, the value of your home may go up over the years. Finally, you'll enjoy having something that's all yours - a home where your own personal style will tell the world who you are. What are "HUD homes," and are they a good deal? Answer: HUD homes can be a very good deal. When someone with a HUD insured mortgage can't meet the payments, the lender forecloses on the home; HUD pays the lender what is owed; and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then we sell it at market value as quickly as possible. Read all about buying a HUD home . Check our listings of HUD homes and homes being sold by other federal agencies. Can I become a homebuyer even if I have I've had bad credit, and don't have much for a down-payment? Answer: You may be a good candidate for one of the federal mortgage programs . Start by contacting one of the HUD-funded housing counseling agencies that can help you sort through your options. Also, contact your local government to see if there are any local homebuying programs that might work for you. Look in the blue pages of your phone directory for your local office of housing and community development or, if you can't find it, contact your mayor's office or your county executive's office. Are there special homeownership grants or programs for single parents? Answer: There is help available. Start by becoming familiar with the homebuying process and pick a good real estate broker. Although as a single parent, you won't have the benefit of two incomes on which to qualify for a loan, consider getting pre-qualified, so that when you find a house you like in your price range you won't have the delay of trying to get qualified. Contact one of the HUD-funded housing counseling agencies in your area to talk through other options for help that might be available to you. Research buying a HUD home, as they can be very good deals. Also, contact your local government to see if there are any local homebuying programs that could help you. Look in the blue pages of your phone directory for your local office of housing and community development or, if you can't find it, contact your mayor's office or your county executive's office. Should I use a real estate broker? How do I find one? Answer: Using a real estate broker is a very good idea. All the details involved in home buying, particularly the financial ones, can be mind-boggling. A good real estate professional can guide you through the entire process and make the experience much easier. A real estate broker will be well-acquainted with all the important things you'll want to know about a neighborhood you may be considering...the quality of schools, the number of children in the area, the safety of the neighborhood, traffic volume, and more. He or she will help you figure the price range you can afford and search the classified ads and multiple listing services for homes you'll want to see. With immediate access to homes as soon as they're put on the market, the broker can save you hours of wasted driving-around time. When it's time to make an offer on a home, the broker can point out ways to structure your deal to save you money. He or she will explain the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mortgages, guide you through the paperwork, and be there to hold your hand and answer last-minute questions when you sign the final papers at closing. And you don't have to pay the broker anything! The payment comes from the home seller - not from the buyer. By the way, if you want to buy a HUD home , you will be required to use a real estate broker to submit your bid. To find a broker who sells HUD homes, check your local yellow pages or the classified section of your local newspaper. How much money will I have to come up with to buy a home? Answer: Well, that depends on a number of factors, including the cost of the house and the type of mortgage you get. In general, you need to come up with enough money to cover three costs: earnest money - the deposit you make on the home when you submit your offer, to prove to the seller that you are serious about wanting to buy the house; the down payment , a percentage of the cost of the home that you must pay when you go to settlement; and closing costs , the costs associated with processing the paperwork to buy a house. When you make an offer on a home, your real estate broker will put your earnest money into an escrow account. If the offer is accepted, your earnest money will be applied to the down payment or closing costs. If your offer is not accepted, your money will be returned to you. The amount of your earnest money varies. If you buy a HUD home, for example, your deposit generally will range from $500 - $2,000. The more money you can put into your down payment, the lower your mortgage payments will be. Some types of loans require 10-20% of the purchase price. That's why many first-time homebuyers turn to HUD's FHA for help. FHA loans require only 3% down - and sometimes less. Closing costs - which you will pay at settlement - average 3-4% of the price of your home. These costs cover various fees your lender charges and other processing expenses. When you apply for your loan, your lender will give you an estimate of the closing costs, so you won't be caught by surprise. If you buy a HUD home , HUD may pay many of your closing costs. How do I know if I can get a loan? Answer: Use our simple mortgage calculators to see how much mortgage you could pay - that's a good start. If the amount you can afford is significantly less than the cost of homes that interest you, then you might want to wait awhile longer. But before you give up, why don't you contact a real estate broker or a HUD-funded housing counseling agency ? They will help you evaluate your loan potential. A broker will know what kinds of mortgages the lenders are offering and can help you choose a lender with a program that might be right for you. Another good idea is to get pre-qualified for a loan. That means you go to a lender and apply for a mortgage before you actually start looking for a home. Then you'll know exactly how much you can afford to spend, and it will speed the process once you do find the home of your dreams. How do I find a lender? Answer: You can finance a home with a loan from a bank, a savings and loan, a credit union, a private mortgage company, or various state government lenders. Shopping for a loan is like shopping for any other large purchase: you can save money if you take some time to look around for the best prices. Different lenders can offer quite different interest rates and loan fees; and as you know, a lower interest rate can make a big difference in how much home you can afford. Talk with several lenders before you decide. Most lenders need 3-6 weeks for the whole loan approval process. Your real estate broker will be familiar with lenders in the area and what they're offering. Or you can look in your local newspaper's real estate section - most papers list interest rates being offered by local lenders. You can find FHA-approved lenders in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. HUD does not make loans directly - you must use a HUD-approved lender if you're interested in an FHA loan. In addition to the mortgage payment, what other costs do I need to consider? Answer: Well, of course you'll have your monthly utilities. If your utilities have been covered in your rent, this may be new for you. Your real estate broker will be able to help you get information from the seller on how much utilities normally cost. In addition, you might have homeowner association or condo association dues. You'll definitely have property taxes, and you also may have city or county taxes. Taxes normally are rolled into your mortgage payment. Again, your broker will be able to help you anticipate these costs. So what will my mortgage cover? Answer: Most loans have 4 parts: principal: the repayment of the amount you actually borrowed; interest: payment to the lender for the money you've borrowed; homeowners insurance: a monthly amount to insure the property against loss from fire, smoke, theft, and other hazards required by most lenders; and property taxes: the annual city/county taxes assessed on your property, divided by the number of mortgage payments you make in a year. Most loans are for 30 years, although 15 year loans are available, too. During the life of the loan, you'll pay far more in interest than you will in principal - sometimes two or three times more! Because of the way loans are structured, in the first years you'll be paying mostly interest in your monthly payments. In the final years, you'll be paying mostly principal. What do I need to take with me when I apply for a mortgage? Answer: Good question! If you have everything with you when you visit your lender, you'll save a good deal of time. You should have: 1) social security numbers for both your and your spouse, if both of you are applying for the loan; 2) copies of your checking and savings account statements for the past 6 months; 3) evidence of any other assets like bonds or stocks; 4) a recent paycheck stub detailing your earnings; 5) a list of all credit card accounts and the approximate monthly amounts owed on each; 6) a list of account numbers and balances due on outstanding loans, such as car loans; 7) copies of your last 2 years' income tax statements; and 8) the name and address of someone who can verify your employment. Depending on your lender, you may be asked for other information. I know there are lots of types of mortgages - how do I know which one is best for me? Answer: You're right - there are many types of mortgages, and the more you know about them before you start, the better. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In a fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage, which normally is 30 years. The advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it. Another kind of mortgage is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). With this kind of mortgage, your interest rate and monthly payments usually start lower than a fixed rate mortgage. But your rate and payment can change either up or down, as often as once or twice a year. The adjustment is tied to a financial index, such as the U.S. Treasury Securities index. The advantage of an ARM is that you may be able to afford a more expensive home because your initial interest rate will be lower. There are several government mortgage programs,including the Veteran's Administration's programs and the Department of Agriculture's programs . Most people have heard of FHA mortgages. FHA doesn't actually make loans. Instead, it insures loans so that if buyers default for some reason, the lenders will get their money. This encourages lenders to give mortgages to people who might not otherwise qualify for a loan. Talk to your real estate broker about the various kinds of loans, before you begin shopping for a mortgage. When I find the home I want, how much should I offer? Answer: Again, your real estate broker can help you here. But there are several things you should consider: 1) is the asking price in line with prices of similar homes in the area? 2) Is the home in good condition or will you have to spend a substantial amount of money making it the way you want it? You probably want to get a professional home inspection before you make your offer. Your real estate broker can help you arrange one. 3) How long has the home been on the market? If it's been for sale for awhile, the seller may be more eager to accept a lower offer. 4) How much mortgage will be required? Make sure you really can afford whatever offer you make. 5) How much do you really want the home? The closer you are to the asking price, the more likely your offer will be accepted. In some cases, you may even want to offer more than the asking price, if you know you are competing with others for the house. What if my offer is rejected? Answer: They often are! But don't let that stop you. Now you begin negotiating. Your broker will help you. You may have to offer more money, but you may ask the seller to cover some or all of your closing costs or to make repairs that wouldn't normally be expected. Often, negotiations on a price go back and forth several times before a deal is made. Just remember - don't get so caught up in negotiations that you lose sight of what you really want and can afford! So what will happen at closing? Answer: Basically, you'll sit at a table with your broker, the broker for the seller, probably the seller, and a closing agent. The closing agent will have a stack of papers for you and the seller to sign. While he or she will give you a basic explanation of each paper, you may want to take the time to read each one and/or consult with your agent to make sure you know exactly what you're signing. After all, this is a large amount of money you're committing to pay for a lot of years! Before you go to closing, your lender is required to give you a booklet explaining the closing costs, a "good faith estimate" of how much cash you'll have to supply at closing, and a list of documents you'll need at closing. If you don't get those items, be sure to call your lender BEFORE you go to closing. Be sure to read our booklet on settlement costs . It will help you understand your rights in the process. Don't hesitate to ask questions. More information? Answer: See our 100 questions and answers about buying a home. Content updated October 25, 2005 Back to top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you