Sell House

Tips on Buying and Selling Your House Remarked out per Bob Gent 4/11/02 -- TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME MORE QUICKLY Owners can help expedite the sale of their home by following a few guidelines to make the house more attractive to potential buyers. A thorough self-inspection and a walk-through with your real estate agent can reveal imperfections that might hinder a sale. (Please note: in Washington state, as in many other states, the seller must complete a "Real Property Transfer Disclosure Statement" form about the condition of property being offered for sale. Material defects must be disclosed.) House-hunters typically begin their inspection of a property bypreviewing its "curb appeal." A surprising number ofhomes are eliminated from consideration before potential buyersget out of their car because they find the exterior appearanceunsightly or uninviting. Following are some basic suggestions for improving the marketabilityof your home. Examine the lawn and flower gardens, making sure the lawnis mowed and free of drainage problems. Colorful flowers andshrubs can enhance the home's attractiveness. Check the sidewalks and driveway to make sure they're freeof weeds and clutter. Inspect the home's exterior, looking for loose, missing ordamaged siding and brickwork, a cracked and uneven foundation,and gutters, downspouts or fences that are in disrepair. Paintor repair any problem areas. Clear the decks! Clean decks, patios and steps, removingunnecessary furniture, toys and debris. Tidy up any pet areas. Inspect the front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain anda clean doormat can help create an inviting "first impression." Check lighting, making sure pathways and entry have adequateillumination. Inside the home, you should conduct an equally thorough inspection,since potential buyers are likely to open doors and cupboards,look into, look behind and operate everything to make sure thehome offers the space, layout and features they need. Extensiveredecorating isn't usually recommended, but all rooms should beclean and clutter-free. Think "light," "bright,""open" and "airy." Clear rooms (including closets and storage areas) of everythingbut the basics. Arrange furniture so rooms look spacious. Remove clutter from the basement and garage. Sweep floors,degrease spots and dust. Have carpets and drapes professionally cleaned. Patch walls and ceiling cracks, then repaint or wallpaper,using neutral shades. Check the basement for musty smells and signs of mildew orleaks, correcting any defects. Inspect bathroom and kitchen fixtures to make sure they sparkle,are leak-free and are otherwise functioning well. Remove stainsfrom countertops, sinks, tubs and showers. Test major mechanical components, including the furnace, waterheater and electrical system. Make sure windows and doors open and close easily. Replacecracked or scratched glass. Be aware of the amount and type of insulation. DETERMINING HOW MUCH HOUSE YOU CAN AFFORD Low mortgage rates and special incentives for first-time buyersare making the dream of home ownership a reality for more individualsand families. As you begin your search, you'll want to determinehow much house you can afford and what type of mortgage is bestfor your budget. In general, four factors will influence your ability to buy thatdream home. They are: how much of a down payment you will make. The more cash youput down, the less you'll have to borrow. the amount you need to borrow (your mortgage) to cover a monthlypayment for the loan principal (amount borrowed), interest ("price"charged for your use of the lender's money), taxes ( a portionof property taxes), and insurance. the mortgage interest rate. the repayment terms of your loan. When applying for a mortgage, your current earnings and expectedincome during the next few years may influence your borrowingpower. Outstanding long-term debt and how long you expect tostay in the home you're buying may also be considered. Most realty agents recommend getting preliminary approval fora loan, usually by getting "pre-qualified" or "pre-approved"for a certain monthly payment. Getting approved for a loan requireshaving a lender verify your financial situation, including yourcurrent assets (income, savings, investments and other sourcesof revenue) and your liabilities (existing loans, credit cardbalances and other obligations). Using this information, thelender will evaluate whether there are sufficient funds for thedown payment, whether you have adequate income to make monthlypayments, and your overall credit-worthiness, which is based ona review of your borrowing history. According to many real estate professionals and lenders, the biggestreason people get turned down for a loan is poor credit. Reviewingyour credit status and correcting any mistakes before applyingfor a loan can help you avoid surprises or disappointments. Consumersmay request a copy of their credit report from one of three majorreporting services: Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 Trans Union: 1-800-851-2674 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) A small fee may apply, although if you've been denied credit recently,federal law mandates that the lender tell you which company suppliedthe information. You have a right to a free copy of your reportfrom that company so long as you request it within 30 days ofthe credit denial. Pre-qualification, based on numbers you supply to a lender, isan indication of the range of what you can afford. Getting pre-qualifiedis neither a commitment to loan you money, nor is it an obligationby you to borrow from a particular lender. Lenders typically use one of two guidelines when evaluating aloan request. Most lenders will limit the loan amount to a percentageof your gross monthly income or to a multiple of your annualhousehold income. As a general rule, individuals or families can usually handlea housing payment that amounts to 25- to-28 percent of their grossmonthly income. Following this guideline, if gross monthly incomeis $3,500, monthly payments (inclusive of taxes and insurance)in the range of $875 to $980 are considered reasonable. Somelenders use an alternate ratio that allows 36 percent of totalmonthly income for housing expenses and other long-term debts,such as car loans, credit card payments and obligations for childsupport. (Monthly living expenses for utilities, groceries, entertainment,medical and auto insurance are not calculated in this formula.) Another guideline, based on gross annual household income, assumesmost borrowers can afford up to 2.5 times their gross annual income. This means a borrower with total income of $40,000 may qualifyfor a loan of up to $100,000. Whether using a "multiplier method" or a "percentagemethod," prospective home buyers should allow for closingcosts and moving expenses. (Closing costs are the fees and taxesthat are paid when the deed is transferred. These usually amountto 5-to-10 percent of the mortgage amount. Moving expenses includecosts for movers, as well as "move-in" deposits forutilities and other "necessities"). Many lenders provide work sheets and charts to help you calculateyour borrowing power, along tables so you can compare paymentsat different rates and for different loan periods. (Some realestate brokers and financial institutions even have "mortgagecalculators" on their Internet site to help you determinewhat you can afford.) Your borrowing power can be increased with favorable interestrates and terms. With lower rates, you can borrow more money. Different types of loans and the duration of the payback periodwill influence the interest rate that will be applied to yourmortgage. In general, the shorter the term of the loan, the lowerthe interest rate. There are dozens of different types of mortgage programs froma wide variety of financial institutions, including mortgage companies,saving and loan associations, commercial banks and credit unions. Prudent consumers will find it pays to compare options to findthe right loan for their particular situation. THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS) A multiple listing service is a system for collecting and organizinginformation on available properties in a given area. Such informationis shared by members who agree to cooperate with each other andto abide by certain operating procedures. This service enablesbuyers to have a vast selection of homes to consider, while sellersbenefit from having their property exposed to a large networkof real estate professionals and their clients. Most brokers in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma area are members of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), formerly called Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association (PSMLA). More than 1,300 companies with approximately 15,000 licensed sales professionals currently belong to this independent association. In addition to its primary function of maintaining a comprehensive database on thousands of properties, NWMLS produces various legal forms, publications and reports for its members. The "multiple" also maintains an electronic keybox system, which allows access to listings by authorized agents. Other benefits include an array of computerized services to assist with property searches, financial analysis, communications between offices, and access to data on property taxes, local schools and other information. Ongoing training and technical support are also available to NWMLS brokers and agents.

home equity loan, ask

Shopping for a Home Equity Loan? -- Search: FTC Consumer Alert PDF Version Shopping for a Home Equity Loan? If you decide that the timing’s right for a home equity loan, ask your friends or family for recommendations of lenders. Then, comparison shop . Comparing loan plans will help you get a better deal. Contact several lenders, not just the ones that send you mail, call you, or knock on your door. Talk with banks, savings and loans, credit unions, mortgage companies, and mortgage brokers. Remember, brokers don’t lend money: they help arrange loans. Ask all the lenders you interview to explain the loan plans they have for you. If you don’t understand any loan terms and conditions, ask questions . They could mean higher costs. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Pay close attention to fees , including: the application or loan processing fee, origination or underwriting fee, lender or funding fee, appraisal fee, document preparation and recording fees, and broker fees which may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on. If points and other fees are added to your loan amount, you’ll pay more to finance them. Also ask for your credit score . Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit. Information about you and your credit experiences – like your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts — is collected from your credit application and your credit report . Creditors compare this information to the credit performance of consumers with similar profiles. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. A total number of points — your credit score — helps predict how creditworthy you are, that is, how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments when they’re due. Negotiate with more than one lender. Don’t be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete for your business by letting them know that you’re shopping for the best deal. Ask each lender to lower the points, fees or the interest rate. And ask each to meet — or beat — the terms of the other lenders. Before you sign, read the loan closing papers carefully . If the loan isn’t what you expected or wanted, don’t sign the loan. Either negotiate changes or walk away. You also generally have the right to cancel the deal for any reason — and without penalty — within three days after signing the loan papers. The lender must return any money you’ve paid to date. Your Credit Report Because your credit report is an important part of many credit scoring systems, it’s very important to make sure it’s accurate before you submit a credit application. To get copies of your report, contact the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 Experian (formerly TRW): (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Trans Union: (800) 916-8800 These agencies may charge you up to $9.00 for your credit report. To Learn More For more information about shopping for a home equity loan and a glossary of home loan terms, call the FTC’s Consumer Response Center toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Ask for a free copy of Looking for the Best Mortgage: Shop, Compare, Negotiate ; and Home Equity Loans: The Three-Day Cancellation Rule . Or visit us online at ftc.gov . Lender A Lender B Lender C What are the monthly payments? What is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR)? (the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate; includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and other credit charges) What is the interest rate? (the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate) Will the interest rate change? When? How often? By how much? What will you have to pay in points? What will you have to pay in fees? Application or loan processing fee Origination or underwriting fee Lender or funding fee Appraisal fee Document preparation and recording fees Broker fees Other fees Are any of the application fees refundable if you don't get the loan? How many years will you have to repay the loan? Is this an installment loan or a line of credit? Is there a balloon payment? What are the total closing costs? If you use a broker, how will he or she be paid? Does the loan include optional credit insurance? (You don't have to accept optional credit insurance to get your loan.) If you want optional credit insurance, can you pay for it monthly instead of financing the premiums as part of your loan? Did you get a copy of your credit score? Can you afford this loan? The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues , visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel , a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. January 2001

Buy Home

PCWorld.com - Home ')-- Cameras PCs Laptops Printers Monitors Spyware DVD VoIP PRODUCT FINDER Find the best prices on the technology products you want. Enter Product Name or Select Category Select Product --Hardware-- Accessories Components Computer Sys Notebooks Cameras Graphic Cards Input Devices Memory Modems Monitors Multimedia Networking PDAs & Access. Printers Pwr Protection Scanners --Software-- Business Prods. Communicatns Design Games Operating Sys See all categories GPS Navigation for Drivers We tried three new GPS offerings and found that their maps and turn-by-turn voice directions are great for reaching unfamiliar locations. more Gizmos from the Last 50 Years Digital Photo Superguide Software Gets Pushy around the site News & Trends > Winners and Losers 2005 Reviews > Test Center: Top 10 Value Desktop PCs How-To > Great Freeware Squeezes More Out of Windows Downloads > Best CD and DVD Utilities Columns > Online Virus Scanners Techlog Blog > Fifty Years of Great Gadgets Today @ PC World Blog > Extremely Critical Windows Security Hole New Product Reviews Hands-on Testing of the Latest Hardware and Software. • Digital Photo Superguide • Lenovo's Long-Running X41 • Z-Wave Updates Home Automation More First Look Reviews > Advertisement more highlights Guide to Digital Entertainment There is a whole new world of Digital Entertainment to tempt you this year. Find it all here. Today @ PC World Blog PCW staffers blog the hottest products and trends. PC World's Techlog News, opinion, and links from Editor-in-Chief Harry McCracken. Spyware Help Center Tips, tools, and news in the fight against spyware and adware. Spam Watch Defeat junk mail with these valuable tips & tools. Columns Complete listing of all our columnists. Buying Guides Easy-to-read guides to buying all the most popular products. PC World's Super Guides Check out our collections of tools, tips, and tutorials from our award-winning editors. The PC World Toolbar The PC World Toolbar ranks search results based on their popularity with members of the PCWorld.com community. The toolbar also includes easy access to a pop-up blocker and PC World RSS feeds. Bargain Finder Daily deals and bargains on technology products. HotSpot Finder Find Wi-Fi hot spots around the U.S. and the world. RSS Feeds Our latest content delivered to you via convenient RSS feeds. World Bench 5.0 Measure your PC's performance with this dynamic tool. browse by topic Systems Components Peripherals Electronics Software Internet & Networking Downloads Consumer Advice Privacy & Security Tech/Industry Trends Tips & Troubleshooting Browse Topics by alphabetical listing 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 123 Artwork by: Marc Simon (top left); Chip Taylor, Beth Kamoroff (middle left); Rick Rizner (middle center); Sara Jorde (middle right); Diego Aguirre (bottom left) Get 2 Risk-Free Issues and 15 Free Gifts! Customer Service and Subscriptions Sponsor Offers and Demos Shop Now Online Special Bonus: Free Software CD-ROM! Digital Subscriptions Receive 2 RISK-FREE Issues of PC World and 15 FREE Power Guides! Enter your trial subscription and you'll receive 2 Risk-Free Issues plus 15 FREE Instant Power Guides and Bonus CD-ROM. If you like PC World, pay just $19.97 for 10 more issues (12 in all). Otherwise, write "cancel" on the bill, return it, and owe nothing. Try PC World Risk-Free, just fill in the form and click Submit! Name City Address 1 State Zip Code Address 2 E-Mail (optional) Canadian residents, click here | All other foreign residents, click here Customer service, click here RSS Feeds About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Corrections | Member Services | Site Map Terms of Service Agreement | ASME Guidelines | Privacy Statement | IDG International IDG NETWORK: CIO Computerworld CSO GamePro GamerHelp Infoworld ITWorld Canada JavaWorld Macworld MikroDatorn Network World PC Advisor PC-Welt PC World Latin America Playlist tecCHANNEL Techworld

Real Estate Loan

Find Today's Rates on Mortgages, Refinance Loans, Home Equity Loans, and Mortgage Calculators on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Today's Rates on Mortgages, Refinance Loans, Home Equity Loans, and Mortgage Calculators Choose Location Home Homes For Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Home Loans Features Just starting out? First-Time Home Buyer's Guide to Mortgages For Current Homeowners: Refinance Center Home Equity Center More Tools & Resources: • Calculators • Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Loan • What's My Home Worth? • Free Credit Report • Mortgage Glossary Mortgage News Homeowners Can Still Refinance at Low Rates Dec 29, 2005, Quicken Loans Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005, Quicken Loans New Home Sales for 2006 Look Good Dec 23, 2005, Quicken Loans Home sales fall as weekly claims up Dec 29, 2005, Yahoo! Finance Home loan applications fall to over 3-1/2-yr low Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! Finance New home sales tumble but consumers bright Dec 23, 2005, Yahoo! Finance more real estate news Visit our partners' sites National Mortgage Rates Provided by Bankrate.com Updated Wed Dec 28 Mtg Loan Today +/- Last Week 30-yr Fixed 5.7% 5.74% graph 15-yr Fixed 5.27% 5.34% graph 30-yr Jumbo 5.98% 6.03% graph 5/1 ARM 5.24% 5.29% graph 5/1 Jumbo ARM 5.42% 5.45% graph 5/1 ARM Interest Only 5.31% 5.36% graph 5/1 Jumbo ARM Interest Only 5.47% 5.5% graph Mortgage Rate Trends National 3-month trend for 30-yr Fixed Mortgages More in trends and analysis Find Local Interest Rates State: AL AK AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MS MO MT NE NH NJ NM NV NY NC ND OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV Metro Region: Loan Product: 30-yr Fixed 15-yr Fixed 5/1 ARM 30-yr Jumbo 5/1 Jumbo ARM 5/1 Jumbo ARM (interest only) 5/1 ARM (interest only) Amount: $ Just starting out? Learn everything you need to know (but were afraid to ask) in the First-Time Home Buyer's Guide to Mortgages . Already own a home? Visit the Refinance Center and Home Equity Center to learn how to get the most out of your home. Get a Quote Loan Purpose: Purchase Refinance Home Equity Property Value: $ .00 Loan Amount: $ .00 State: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY From From Loan Payment Calculator Calculate monthly payments for different loan amounts, interest rates and amortization terms. Loan Amount: $ Interest Rate: % Term (years): Show Table: NO YES See more calculators Sponsored Links Real Estate Mortgage Quotes Find low rates with ApplyCompareSave.com. Get matched up with up to five qualified lenders. Save money. applycomparesave.com Compare Mortgage Offers From Top Lenders Up to 4 free mortgage, refinance or home equity offers - 1 easy form. Competitive rates from top lenders. No obligation. Bad credit ok. www.leadsteps.com Shop for a Mortgage Loan with LoanWeb Shop hundreds of mortgage lenders and make them compete for your mortgage or home loan. Free online service. Affiliate. www.loanweb.com Real Estate Mortgages at Homestore.com Find information, articles and quotes for home loans in your area. We have the loan that's right for you. Complete our easy form and get free, competitive quotes. homestore.com (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

Texas Land Trusts About

Texas Land Trusts Directory: Introduction Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc Dir Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Texas Land Trusts Directory: Introduction Texas Land Trust Directory A land trust is a local, state or regional nonprofit organization directly involved in protecting land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical or productive value. Texas landowners have a variety of options available to them which can preserve and protect the special qualities of their property. The land trust organizations in this directory work with landowners to help them meet their long-term land use objectives. These organizations may be willing to purchase land or accept donated properties and easements for conservation purposes. These tools can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the property owner. Land trusts have varying conservation objectives. Some work in specific geographic areas, or concentrate on protecting different natural or cultural features; many provide technical assistance and educational programming about land conservation. Also listed in this directory are organizations in Texas that advise property owners on their land conservation options, but do not accept land donations or manage conservation easement agreements. Land trusts are a creative answer to today's land conservation challenges. They offer a flexible, cooperative and effective approach to land conservation. Land trusts are the fastest growing conservation movement today, with new land trusts forming at an average rate of more than one per week. America's 1,200 plus land trusts protect millions of acres of farms, ranches, wetlands, wildlife habitat, urban parks, forests, watersheds, coastlines and river corridors. Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: July 29, 2005, 4:38 pm