Florida Real Estate Southwest

Florida Real Estate Florida Gulf Coast Southwest Real Estate Preconstruction Properties add submit url Houses for sale homes multiple listings mls search usa Florida Real Estate Southwest Gulf Coast Properties Your #1 Resource for Southwest Florida Real Estate My name is Myke Lucas, and Im a real estate agent specializing in Southwest Florida Gulf Coast properties . Several years ago, after 30 years of managing car dealerships in Michigan, my wife and I packed our bags and headed to The Sunshine State to begin a new chapter in our lives. Its different here in Southwest Florida. Maybe its the people who live here; they seem to be always smiling. It might be the weather, which is positively blissful year round. Or, it could be that we have some of the finest homes and living communities in the nation! Thinking of buying real estate in balmy, beautiful Southwest Florida? If youre looking for information on buying real estate in Naples , Estero , Bonita Springs , Fort Myers , and Fort Myers Beach youre right where you need to be. From magnificent golf course communities to luxurious estate homes along the beach to high rises in the sky I can show you the finest real estate Southwest Florida has to offer. Search Complete MLS listings: To do a custom search of our complete listing of fabulous real estate properties, please click here . >> Southwest Florida Real Estate Weekly Specials: Dont miss these incredible deals on Southwest Florida golf community homes, luxury homes, and more! Click here . >> Golf Communities: I have exclusive listings in almost all of the popular golf communities in Southwest Florida. I can also give you details on the cost and process of buying at pre-construction prices. To search the complete listings for golf homes, please click here . >> Click on the links below to explore some of the many available golf real estate properties in these friendly and beautiful Southwest Florida Gulf Coast communities: Naples , Florida Real Estate Gleneagle Quail Creek Mediterra Estero , Florida Real Estate Stoneybrook Pelican Sound The Vines Miromar Lakes Grandezza Bonita Springs , Florida Real Estate Bonita Bay Cedar Creek Pelican Landing Highland Woods The Strand The Brooks Spanish Wells Selling your home or property? Get a free comparison real estate market analysis for your Florida Gulf Goast real estate! If youre interested in selling your Southwest Florida real estate, please e-mail me with the correct address and the name of the legal owner of the property. I will review your information in a timely fashion and get back to you with a free comparison real estate market analysis . Member of : National Association of Realtors Bonita Springs Florida Association of Realtors Realty World A Nationwide Broker Network Women's Council of Realtors MLS I have amazing real estate listings for resale in almost all of the popular golf communities in Southwest Florida. Plus, for the communities that are still building, I can furnish needed information and counsel on the cost and specifications connected with buying at preconstruction prices. Myke Lucas Your Southwest Florida Real Estate Agent! What I like best about being a Southwest Florida real estate agent is the challenge of finding ideal solutions for the unique circumstances of my clients. I am committed to providing you with exceptional customer service and making your real estate transaction a pleasant one. Whether youre looking for a single family home in a traditional neighborhood, high rise, luxury estate home, or condo, I will be proud to serve as your Southwest Florida buyers agent and assist you in finding a Florida Gulf Coast home that fits your lifestyle and budget. Your Southwest Florida Dream Home Awaits Call Myke Today Toll Free ! 866-See-Myke or e-mail me at Thanks for your interest and please come back soon. Myke Lucas 24600 S Tamiami Trail Suite 218 Bonita Springs, Florida 34134 866-See-Myke Toll Free 239-390-0116 Office 239-398-6928 Cell 239-390-0120 Fax Florida real estate Mortgage Loan Payment Calculator Mortgage Loan Finance Refinance Add Submit URL Rental Property Guestbook Pre-construction Recommended Sites: CD Data Recovery | Bariatric Gastric Bypass Surgery | Data Recovery map | Mercedes Benz 450SL | Voice over talent

Home Mortgage Insurance Home

Federal Trade Commission -- Search: Facts for Consumers PDF Version Looking for the Best Mortgage Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage—whether it's a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan—is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. You'll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars. Obtain Information from Several Lenders Home loans are available from several types of lenders— thrift institutions , commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure you're getting the best price. You can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker. Brokers arrange transactions rather than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A broker's access to several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you should with banks or thrift institutions. Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers' advertisements do not use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may be separate from and in addition to the lender's origination or other fees. A broker's compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest rate , or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as well as the lenders. Obtain All Important Cost Information Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and broker: Rates Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week. Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable . Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment. If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down. Ask about the loan's annual percentage rate (APR). The APR takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate. Points Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate. Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount—rather than just as the number of points—so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Fees A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees , broker fees, and transaction , settlement, and closing costs . Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates. Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure. Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance Some lenders require 20 percent of the home's purchase price as a down payment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down—sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans . If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially smaller. Ask about the lender's requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to verify that funds for your down payment are available. Ask your lender about special programs it may offer. If PMI is required for your loan, Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be. Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium. Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI. Obtain the Best Deal That You Can Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees to pay is an overage . When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the price of any loan may contain overages. Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or fewer points. You'll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. There's no harm in asking lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than those you have found elsewhere. Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however, you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a compromise with the lender or broker. Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you'll want to check your newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees, so be sure to ask the lenders about them. The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Don't be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal. Fair Lending Is Required by Law The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant's income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate Don't assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances, such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders. If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more than borrowers who have good credit histories. But don't assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and negotiate the best deal that you can. Whether you have credit problems or not, it's a good idea to review your credit report for accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit report, contact: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 TransUnion: (800) 916-8800 Experian: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Glossary Adjustable-rate loans , also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay. Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance. Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan. The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions. Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing. A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off on the loan. Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value. Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations. Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys' fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range. This brochure was prepared by the following agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of the Treasury Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Housing Finance Board Federal Reserve Board Federal Trade Commission National Credit Union Administration Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Office of Thrift Supervision These agencies (except the Department of the Treasury) enforce compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the home financing process, you may want to contact one of the agencies listed above about your rights under these laws. For more information on home lending issues , visit www.consumer.gov , write to the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Center's Web site . The following brochures are available from the center: A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-lns A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Home Buyer's Vocabulary Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Rights to Fair Lending How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment How to Dispute Credit Report Errors The HUD Home Buying Guide When Your Home Is on the Line Mortgage Shopping Worksheet Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Name of Contact Date of Contact Mortgage Amount Basic Information on the Loans Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Type of Mortgage: Fixed rate, adjustable rate, conventional, FHA, other? If adjustable, see below. Minimum down payment required Loan term (length of loan) Contract interest rate Annual percentage rate (APR) Points (may be called loan discount points) Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums How long must you keep PMI? Estimated monthly escrow for taxes and hazard insurance Estimated monthly payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, PMI) Fees Different institutions may have different names for some fees and may charge different fees. We have listed some typical fees you may see on loan documents. Application fee or Loan processing fee Origination fee or Underwriting fee Lender fee or Funding fee Appraisal fee Attorney fees Document preparation and recording fees Broker fees (may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on) Credit report fee Other fees Other Costs at Closing/Settlement Title search/Title Insurance For lender For you Estimate prepaid amounts for interest, taxes, hazard insurance, payments to escrow State and local taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes Flood determination Prepaid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Surveys and home inspections Total Fees and Other Closing/Settlement Cost Estimates Mortgage Shopping Worksheet - continued Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Are any of the fees or costs waivable? Prepayment penalties Is there a prepayment penalty? If so, how much is it? How long does the penalty period last? (for example, 3 years? 5 years?) Are extra principal payments allowed? Lock-ins Is the lock-in agreement in writing? Is there a fee to lock-in? When does the lock-in occur -0 at application, approval or another time? How long will the lock-in last? If the rate drops before closing, can you lock-in at a lower rate? If the loan is an adjustable rate mortgage: What is the initial rate? What is the maximum the rate could be next year? What are the rate and payment caps each year and over the life of the loan? What is the frequency of rate change and of any changes to the monthly payment? What is the index that the lender will use? What margin will the lender add to the index? Credit life insurance Does the monthly amount quoted to you include a charge for credit life insurance? If so, does the lender required credit life insurance as a condition of the loan? How much does the credit life insurance cost? How much lower would your monthly payment be without the credit life insurance? If the lender does not require credit life insurance, and you still want to buy it, what rates can you get from other insurance providers? 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 1999

Home Mortgage

Home Loans, Refinancing, and Home Mortgage Financing tag, as close to the beginning of it as possible-- Purchase Refinance Home Equity Apply Now Online Application Status -- Check Out Today's Rates Search Need Help? Home Quick Info Tools CUSTOMIZE ONLINE RATES Loan Product: Purchase Refinance State: -Select a State- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada N.Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Zip Code: Loan Amount: Est. Home Value: Loan Amount: Interest Rate: Term (Years): Estimated Monthly Payment: SHORTCUTS Today's Rates Local Branch Calculators Privacy & Security The Right Loan Program First-Time Buyer Guide Buying a Home Loan Programs Simplified Flexible Options for New Home Construction THE LEARNING CENTER MY ACCOUNT Registered? Forgot Password? User Name: Password: Log into My Account Build equity faster with the GMAC Mortgage Equity Rewards MasterCard credit card... more... -- Hurricane Relief Current GMAC Mortgage Customers: Call 1-800-766-4622 for assistance if you have been affected by the storm. Find out how we're helping customers Loan Applicants: If you applied for a loan in one of our Louisiana or Mississippi offices, you can check the status of your application by contacting your loan officer or processor directly, or by calling the regional office at 1-888-682-9844 . If you applied for a loan online or over the phone, you can check the status of your application by calling 1-800-876-4622 . Donate Now Donate Now GMAC Mortgage customers affected by the storm should call 1-800-766-4622 for assistance. If you have a loan application in process with one of our local offices in Louisiana or Mississippi, please contact your local office or call our Regional Office at 1-888-682-9844 . -- Start Your Online Application Find a Local Expert Privacy | Legal Information | Auto Insurance | GMAC HomeSolutions | Contact Us | About Us | Careers | Site Map © 2005 GMAC Mortgage Corporation. All Rights Reserved. GMAC is a registered service mark of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation Real Estate and moving services offered by GMAC Home Services, Inc. and GMAC Global Relocation Services, Inc. GMAC Residential Holding Corporation is the parent of GMAC Mortgage Corporation, GMAC Home Services, Inc., Ditech Escrow Services, Inc., GMAC Bank and GMAC HomeSolutions. Because of these relationships, any of these referrals may provide GMAC Residential Holding Corporation with a financial or other benefit. Close This link will take you to another site that is not affiliated with gmacmortgage.com. Therefore, GMAC Mortgage's privacy policy will not apply. For your safety, please check with the sites privacy policy before entering your information. Thank you. Close

Land Loan , In

LoanUniverse Community - Commercial Land Loan loanuniverse.com Help Search Members Calendar Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register ) LoanUniverse Community Community Forums Loanuniverse Forums Outline ·[ Standard ] · Linear+ Commercial Land Loan , In Miami Florida Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic Marnie1065 Dec 6 2005, 08:37 PM Post #1 Summer Intern Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 6-December 05 Member No.: 1,029 Hi everybody. I just found this website. I am looking for commercial loans. I have a client that owns 42 acres , it is zoned agriculture. It is a great location , next to a school and subdivision. He is looking to refi at the highest LTV possible. He does plan on building homes in the future or possible selling off individual lots. The land currently has a 2 million loan on it. The value is 6.5 million. He has owned it for 1 yr. It is actually a corporation of 4 and they all have great credit and tons of assets, their worth is in the millions They also want to purchase another piece of land for 12 million. Any ideas? Thanks -- loanuniverse Dec 7 2005, 09:27 AM Post #2 Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 1,089 Joined: 23-September 02 Member No.: 1 Is the $152M per acre value an as is value as agricultural land? Or an speculative value assuming a rezoning? Is it supported by actual sales? If the value can be supported, I am sure someone can be found to lend at least 50%. Depending on the adjusted net worth of the individuals, maybe significantly more. Many lenders are avoiding land right now in my market unless there is an existing relationship with the developer. I know that I would feel uncomfortable recommending a land loan unless the investors are experienced. -- lelting Dec 14 2005, 10:48 PM Post #3 Full-Time Teller Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: 13-November 05 Member No.: 971 I can help you with the 12 million dollar purchase>I have private investors that will fund at 100 LTV -- LenderBuddy Dec 15 2005, 10:55 AM Post #4 Head-Teller Group: Members Posts: 23 Joined: 11-November 05 From: San Francisco Member No.: 968 If there are crops growing on the land or the land is zoned agricultural then we are talking agricultural land loan and that is a different beast. I haven't worked on one of them in a while but you need to speak with someone who specializes in ag loans. FarmerMac is involved in those transactions and I believe the LTV can go as high as 70%. Good credit and strong financial position are required. Drop me a personal message and I'll forward you the contact information of a guy who specializes in agricultural loans. He can give you all the information you need. -- « Next Oldest · Loanuniverse Forums · Next Newest » 2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users) 0 Members: Close Topic Options Track this topic Receive email notification when a reply has been made to this topic and you are not active on the board. Subscribe to this forum Receive email notification when a new topic is posted in this forum and you are not active on the board. Download / Print this Topic Download this topic in different formats or view a printer friendly version. Forum Home Search Help Community Forums |-- Loanuniverse Forums Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th December 2005 - 03:39 PM Invision Power Board v2.0.4 © 2005 IPS, Inc.

Buy House Plans Having

How to Buy House Plans - eHow.com Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything Web eHow.com Home Finance & Business Center Real Estate How to Buy House Plans Having trouble finding an existing house that you want to buy? Consider buying plans and building your own home. That set of blueprints, with or without minor modifications, may well be the first step you take to create your dream home. Steps: 1. Determine the size of the house you can afford to build. The National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org) has information on the average cost per square foot for new homes in any area. Multiply the square footage of the home you want by the average cost per square foot to determine a ballpark cost. 2. Draw up a detailed, prioritized list of what you want your home to include in terms of number of bedrooms and baths, and garage size. What are must-haves and what can you live without? Include outdoor features such as porches, decks and a pool. 3. Ask yourself how you want to use the house now and in the future. Do you like to entertain? Do you want a casual great room or formal dining and living rooms? Will your home eventually need to accommodate aging parents, returning adult children or grandchildren? Do you need a separate entrance for an au pair? 4. Consider your lot requirements, such as sloping, corner or zero-lot line (where one side of the house sits on one lot line). Foundation options (basement, crawlspace or slab) will be dependent on what the lot will allow, based on the grade and other factors. If you've found plans for your ideal home, buy them and then look for a lot on which that particular layout will work. Otherwise, if you find the perfect lot (see How to Buy a Lot ), you'll need to be pickier as you choose your home plans in order to be sure that they'll fit on your land. 5. Browse house plan catalogs and magazines found at home improvement stores or bookstores. Many architects offer plans for sale online. Some sites let you specify exactly what features you want, such as a certain size kitchen or number of bedrooms. 6. Evaluate the plan for overall size, traffic patterns, appealing exterior materials, efficient use of space and materials, and well-planned work and storage areas. Ask a contractor to review the blueprints as well. 7. Expect to spend anywhere from $400 to $1,300 for plans depending on the project size and level of complexity. Buy up to eight nonreproducible sets--enough to distribute to tradespeople, contractors and lenders, or one reproducible master set. 8. Hire an architect to review your plans. He or she can make any modifications you think are necessary. See How to Hire an Architect . Overall Tips: Chances are good that plans will need to be adapted to meet your family's specific needs, so don't be afraid to make modifications with the help of an architect. Seismic and local building requirements will also likely mandate changes. What to look for: Plans that suit your needs Architect to modify plans Lot requirements Please Share Your Tips with Us More Resources: Contribute to eHow: Write an eHow Article Suggest a Topic Give Us Feedback on This Article Related eHows: Hire a Builder Have Your Home Custom Built Buy a Lot Hire an Architect Pull Building Permits Project Details: Skill Advisory: Moderate New! -- Related eHows: Hire a Builder Have Your Home Custom Built Buy a Lot Hire an Architect Pull Building Permits Check out Thousands of How-To Solutions in eHow's Centers Automotive Careers & Education Computers & Home Electronics Family & Relationships Finance & Business Food & Entertaining Health Hobbies & Games Holidays & Traditions Home & Garden Personal Care & Style Pets Sports & Fitness Travel How to: --? Web eHow.com Home | Site Map | About Us | How To Books | Link to eHow Subscribe to the eHow of the Day Mailing List : Have the eHow of the Day appear on your My Yahoo! Page: Add the eHow of the Day to your RSS reader: © 1999-2005 eHow, Inc. How things get done. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .