Real Estate Listings
RE/MAX | residential and commercial real estate Residential Home Page Property Search Luxury Home Search Find an Agent Find an Office Real Estate 101 Mortgage Tools Moving Assistance Commercial Home Page Commercial Property Search Find a Commercial Agent Find a Commercial Office Commercial Wants Why RE/MAX Commercial Inside RE/MAX Home Franchise Opportunities Become an Agent News & Events Corporate Relocation Corporate Information Welcome to RE/MAX , home of real estate's most experienced and professional agents. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. "Everybody Wins" A new book gives homebuyers and home sellers their first in-depth look at the world's most successful real estate network. "Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX" is an independent view of the history, culture and leadership of the organization that revolutionized the real estate industry. MORE Children's Miracle Network Susan G. Komen Foundation RE/MAX Worldwide Select your Country United States Canada Antigua / Barbuda Anguilla Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Belgium Belize Bonaire Botswana Bulgaria Caribbean Cayman Islands Central America Chile Croatia Costa Rica Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Estonia Europe Germany Central Germany East Germany North/West Germany Southwest Germany Bayern Greece Guam Guatemala Honduras Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Luxembourg Mauritius Malta Mexico Namibia Netherlands Nevis New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Oman Panama Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Saudi Arabia Scotland Singapore Slovakia Southern Africa Spain St. Barth St. Croix St. John St. Maarten/St. Martin St. Thomas Sweden Switzerland Turkey Turks & Caicos United Arab Emirates UK Midlands UK London UK North UK South U.S. Virgin Islands Venezuela Wales Zambia remax.com en español RE/MAX Mainstreet | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact RE/MAX © 2005 RE/MAX International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The RE/MAX franchise network is a global real estate system of franchisee owned and operated offices and their affiliated independent professionals. RE/MAX affiliates lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. RE/MAX International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports the Fair Housing Act. Please select from the menu above
land for sale because
BLM Info: Land for Sale? Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC LANDS FOR SALE? Does the Federal Government ever sell public land? The answer is yes. Lands identified as excess to the public's andGovernment's needs or more suited to private ownership are sometimes offeredfor sale. This brochure explains the procedures and where to go for moredetails. First, it's important to understand the Federal Government has twomajor categories of property which it makes available for sale: real propertyand public lands. Real Property is primarily developed land withbuildings, usually acquired by the Federal Government for a specific purpose,such as a military base or office building. If you are interested in realproperty, contact the General Services Administration (GSA). This Federalagency is responsible for selling developed surplus property. Addresses andtelephone numbers for the GSA regional offices are listed in the back of thisbrochure. Public Land is undeveloped land with no improvements,usually part of the original public domain established during the westernexpansion of the United States. Most of this land is in the 11 Western Statesand Alaska, although some scattered parcels are in the East. This land is theresponsibility of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management(BLM). (Note: Because of land entitlements to the State of Alaska and to AlaskaNatives, no public land sales will be conducted in Alaska in the foreseeablefuture.) The BLM does not offer much land for sale because of a congressionalmandate in 1976 to generally retain these lands in public ownership. The BLMdoes, however, occasionally sell parcels of land where our land use planningfinds disposal is appropriate. We receive numerous questions about land sales and have prepared pageto answer the most common ones. You may also obtain more detailed informationfrom one of the -- BLMstate offices . Where are these public lands? Almost all are in the Western States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. There are also small amounts in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. There are no public lands managed by the BLM in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Is any of this land available free through homesteading? No. Congress has repealed the Homestead Act. What lands are available? Although homesteading is a thing of the past, the BLM does have some lands suitable for purchase by private citizens. These are lands that have been identified as unneeded by the Federal Government or as better utilized in private ownership. By law, these lands are made available for sale at no less than fair market value. How are these lands selected for sale? The law states that the BLM can select lands for sale if, through land use planning, they are found to meet one of three criteria: 1) they are scattered, isolated tracts, difficult or uneconomic to manage; 2) they were acquired for a specific purpose and are no longer needed for that purpose; or 3) disposal of the land will serve important public objectives, such as community expansion and economic development. What do the lands look like? Land types vary widely. Some may be desert; some are rural. Some are small parcels of just a few acres; some are several hundred acres in size. Is any land suitable for farming? Any lands with agricultural potential will be clearly identified in the sale notice. However, most public lands have little or no agricultural potential. On the average, what would public land cost per acre? There is no "average" cost. Each parcel is evaluated separately through established appraisal procedures, based on the value of surrounding parcels. Fair market value is determined for each parcel. No parcel can be sold for less than fair market value. How is the land actually sold? The BLM has three options for selling land: modified competitive bidding where some preferences to adjoining landowners are recognized, direct sale to one party where circumstances warrant, and competitive bidding at public auction. The sale method is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances of each particular parcel or sale. Are there any preferences for veterans? No laws currently exist allowing the BLM to give veterans any preference for land purchases. Where can find out about land that is going to be sold? Your best source is the BLM office with jurisdiction over the area you're interested in. The BLM State Offices and their jurisdictions are noted in the back of this brochure. They can send you sale information. Sale information will also be published and broadcast in local news media. Where are land sales held? They are held near the area to be sold, either at the local BLM office or in a suitable public location. Sales by the BLM are not held in Washington, D.C. Are there any restrictions on who can bid on these parcels? Federal law states that the BLM can sell public land only to U.S. citizens or corporations subject to Federal or State laws. Must I appear in person to participate at the sale? Your personal appearance is not required, but it is always to your advantage to examine the parcel and know exactly what you are bidding on. Sales can be conducted by oral bid, sealed bid, or a combination of both. However, even if only oral bidding is allowed, you can be represented by an agent. Details on procedures for a particular sale are specified in the sale notice available from the BLM. The notice will specify type of sale, the percentage of the full price that must be deposited with each bid, and the time period allowed for full payment. The highest qualified bidder is eligible to buy the land; the deposits of unsuccessful bidders are returned Now is payment made? Is there financing available? A certain minimum percentage of the full price is required with each bid. If you are the successful high bidder,the balance must be paid in full to the BLM within a set period of time before a deed or patent can be issued. Long-term financing must be arranged through private lenders. Once the BLM issues my deed, can I do anything I want with the land? Yes, according to the terms of the deed and subject to State or local restrictions. The sale notice will clearly specify any Federal reservations or conditions of sale. These might include reserving mineral rights to the Federal Government, or allowing some currently authorized uses, such as grazing, to continue for a certain period of time, or reserving rights-of-way or easements for powerlines, pipelines, etc. You are advised to review these conditions carefully so that you fully understand what your deed does and does not include. What about local taxes, zoning, etc.? Once you receive title, the land is subject to all applicable State and local taxes, zoning ordinances, etc. Are water, power, and sewer service available on all parcels? You should check with the city or county involved to see if such services are available. Are there roads or easements that guarantee I can get to the property? The sale notice will explain legal access to the property or any access restrictions. You are advised to check out the parcel before you buy, including finding out if available access meets your needs. I'd like to find out what parcels the BLM currently has listed for sale. Where can I obtain that information? The -- BLM State Offices are your best source. They can tell you what sales are currently scheduled and what prospects are coming up. You can write, call, or visit them periodically for latest details. If a sale is currently scheduled, information can be requested from the BLM describing the property and method of sale. More detailed information, such as land reports, environmental assessments, etc., is also available upon request for a small copy fee. TAX DELINQUENCY SALES Some local governments sell private land on which taxes have been delinquent to satisfy the tax debt. The Federal Government has no involvement in these sales. The best source for information is the local county tax assessor in the area involved. STATE LAND PROGRAMS State governments sometimes sell state-owned land. Information on these types of sales can be obtained through the State Lands Office in the State capital. Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --
Buy House
- Drought - AFA - USOC - CC Hockey Williams had to buy house, handle influx of big money (09/04/05) By FRANK SCHWAB THE GAZETTE ENGLEWOOD - Cornerback Darrent Williams was drafted April 23 by the Denver Broncos. He had three months and five days to get his life together in a new city before he reported to training camp. A few days after he was drafted, Williams had a lot on his mind, aside from the defensive and special-teams playbooks he had to learn. He had to find a house, furnish the house, get a car, hire a financial advisor and maybe buy his mom a house and a car, among other things. "It's different," Williams said. "I never had to look into buying a house or anything like that." His signing bonus was $1.275 million and his base salary is $230,000 this year. Williams said the hardest part probably was buying his house. Assistant defensive backs coach Jimmy Spencer gave Williams the name of a real estate agent shortly after he was drafted, which helped. Williams had never been to Denver, although he got some advice on the area from Broncos running back-Tatum Bell, a former college teammate. Williams stayed in the dorms during his first three years of college at Oklahoma State, then moved into an apartment his last year, so buying a house was a major step. "It was real hectic," Williams said. "I've never purchased anything really in my life, especially not a house. And now there's the mortgage and the payments and the loans and all the crazy stuff you have to go through." Williams said he looked at about 20 places before settling on a townhouse in Parker. "It was fun at first but it got old," Williams said. "I'm like `I'm tired of this. I just want to buy this and get it over with.'" Williams also had to buy a car and make a few other important purchases, but he said the other thing - aside from working out with the team, learning the playbook and going through the offseason camps - that stressed him out was hiring a financial advisor. "That was real stressful because these guys call you every day like they're your best friend now," Williams said. "You don't even know these guys. But everybody acts like they got your best interests. It's all about the money so you have to be careful with it." Williams eventually hired the same financial adviser employed by Broncos second-year receiver Darius Watts. Williams had his flat screen plasma television hooked up before he left for the Broncos' headquarters on the day the team reported to training camp. He still has some things on his to-do list - he is in the process of getting his mom a house but he was caught up enough that he could concentrate on his job. "I got moved in and everything, so I don't have to worry about anything," Williams said. "I can focus on football until the season is over."
home equity. Why? Certain
Home Equity Scams: Borrowers Beware! Home Equity Loans : Borrowers Beware! D o you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk. Homeowners-particularly elderly, minority and those with low incomes or poor credit-should be careful when borrowing money based on their home equity. Why? Certain abusive or exploitative lenders target these borrowers, who unwittingly may be putting their home on the line. Abusive lending practices range from equity stripping and loan flipping to hiding loan terms and packing a loan with extra charges. The Federal Trade Commission urges you to be aware of these loan practices to avoid losing your home. The Practices Equity Stripping You need money. You don't have much income coming in each month. You have built up equity in your home. A lender tells you that you could get a loan, even though you know your income is just not enough to keep up with the monthly payments. The lender encourages you to "pad" your income on your application form to help get the loan approved. This lender may be out to steal the equity you have built up in your home. The lender doesn't care if you can't keep up with the monthly payments. As soon as you don't, the lender will foreclose-taking your home and stripping you of the equity you have spent years building. If you take out a loan but don't have enough income to make the monthly payments, you are being set up. You probably will lose your home. Hidden Loan Terms: The Balloon Payment You've fallen behind in your mortgage payments and may face foreclosure. Another lender offers to save you from foreclosure by refinancing your mortgage and lowering your monthly payments. Look carefully at the loan terms. The payments may be lower because the lender is offering a loan on which you repay only the interest each month. At the end of the loan term, the principal-that is, the entire amount that you borrowed-is due in one lump sum called a balloon payment. If you can't make the balloon payment or refinance, you face foreclosure and the loss of your home. Loan Flipping Suppose you've had your mortgage for years. The interest rate is low and the monthly payments fit nicely into your budget, but you could use some extra money. A lender calls to talk about refinancing, and using the availability of extra cash as bait, claims it's time the equity in your home started "working" for you. You agree to refinance your loan. After you've made a few payments on the loan, the lender calls to offer you a bigger loan for, say, a vacation. If you accept the offer, the lender refinances your original loan and then lends you additional money. In this practice-often called "flipping"-the lender charges you high points and fees each time you refinance, and may increase your interest rate as well. If the loan has a prepayment penalty, you will have to pay that penalty each time you take out a new loan. You now have some extra money and a lot more debt, stretched out over a longer time. The extra cash you receive may be less than the additional costs and fees you were charged for the refinancing. And what's worse, you are now paying interest on those extra fees charged in each refinancing. Long story short? With each refinancing, you've increased your debt and probably are paying a very high price for some extra cash. After a while, if you get in over your head and can't pay, you could lose your home. The "Home Improvement" Loan A contractor calls or knocks on your door and offers to install a new roof or remodel your kitchen at a price that sounds reasonable. You tell him you're interested, but can't afford it. He tells you it's no problem-he can arrange financing through a lender he knows. You agree to the project, and the contractor begins work. At some point after the contractor begins, you are asked to sign a lot of papers. The papers may be blank or the lender may rush you to sign before you have time to read what you've been given. The contractor threatens to leave the work on your house unfinished if you don't sign. You sign the papers. Only later, you realize that the papers you signed are a home equity loan. The interest rate, points and fees seem very high. To make matters worse, the work on your home isn't done right or hasn't been completed, and the contractor, who may have been paid by the lender, has little interest in completing the work to your satisfaction. Credit Insurance Packing You've just agreed to a mortgage on terms you think you can afford. At closing, the lender gives you papers to sign that include charges for credit insurance or other "benefits" that you did not ask for and do not want. The lender hopes you don't notice this, and that you just sign the loan papers where you are asked to sign. The lender doesn't explain exactly how much extra money this will cost you each month on your loan. If you do notice, you're afraid that if you ask questions or object, you might not get the loan. The lender may tell you that this insurance comes with the loan, making you think that it comes at no additional cost. Or, if you object, the lender may even tell you that if you want the loan without the insurance, the loan papers will have to be rewritten, that it could take several days, and that the manager may reconsider the loan altogether. If you agree to buy the insurance, you really are paying extra for the loan by buying a product you may not want or need. Mortgage Servicing Abuses After you get a mortgage, you receive a letter from your lender saying that your monthly payments will be higher than you expected. The lender says that your payments include escrow for taxes and insurance even though you arranged to pay those items yourself with the lender's okay. Later, a message from the lender says you are being charged late fees. But you know your payments were on time. Or, you may receive a message saying that you failed to maintain required property insurance and the lender is buying more costly insurance at your expense. Other charges that you don't understand-like legal fees-are added to the amount you owe, increasing your monthly payments or the amount you owe at the end of the loan term. The lender doesn't provide you with an accurate or complete account of these charges. You ask for a payoff statement to refinance with another lender and receive a statement that's inaccurate or incomplete. The lender's actions make it almost impossible to determine how much you've paid or how much you owe. You may pay more than you owe. Signing Over Your Deed If you are having trouble paying your mortgage and the lender has threatened to foreclose and take your home, you may feel desperate. Another "lender" may contact you with an offer to help you find new financing. Before he can help you, he asks you to deed your property to him, claiming that it's a temporary measure to prevent foreclosure. The promised refinancing that would let you save your home never comes through. Once the lender has the deed to your property, he starts to treat it as his own. He may borrow against it (for his benefit, not yours) or even sell it to someone else. Because you don't own the home any more, you won't get any money when the property is sold. The lender will treat you as a tenant and your mortgage payments as rent. If your "rent" payments are late, you can be evicted from your home. Protecting Yourself You can protect yourself against losing your home to inappropriate lending practices. Here's how: Don't: Agree to a home equity loan if you don't have enough income to make the monthly payments. Sign any document you haven't read or any document that has blank spaces to be filled in after you sign. Let anyone pressure you into signing any document. Agree to a loan that includes credit insurance or extra products you don't want. Let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it. Deed your property to anyone. First consult an attorney, a knowledgeable family member, or someone else you trust. Do: Ask specifically if credit insurance is required as a condition of the loan. If it isn't, and a charge is included in your loan and you don't want the insurance, ask that the charge be removed from the loan documents. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around for the best rates. Keep careful records of what you've paid, including billing statements and canceled checks. Challenge any charge you think is inaccurate. Check contractors' references when it is time to have work done in your home. Get more than one estimate. Read all items carefully. If you need an explanation of any terms or conditions, talk to someone you can trust, such as a knowledgeable family member or an attorney. Consider all the costs of financing before you agree to a loan. For More Information 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. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER 1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov April 1998
Purchase Property
Home Buying - Home Buying and Home Selling Advice - Buying a Home You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling From Janet Wickell , Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show a house during the holidays, so home owners sometimes put off selling their homes until after the first week in January, when life starts returning to normal. If you're in that category take some time to evaluate the condition of your home before you list it with an agent or sell it by owner . Be sure to analyze your situation to determine if selling is your best move, then think about the home's curb appeal and get the interior and exterior in tip-top shape . It's not a bad idea to do a few inspections to make sure the house is ready for potential buyers. Handle as many tasks as you can now and you'll find that the sales process will be a breeze. Monday December 26, 2005 | permalink Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers have geared-up to offer us a wide selection of appliances. You'll find gas logs to put in a hearth, freestanding gas stoves, and fully contained fireplace units that are mounted to a wall. But did you know that the dangerous gas byproducts produced by gas logs is not always vented to the outside? It's important to understand the differences between vented and vent-free logs before you buy a gas log fireplace. Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent, but what's your motivation? Do you understand the type of work real estate agents do and are you savvy about the true pay they receive for their work? It can be a rewarding career choice, but it's definitely not the best option for everyone and there are lots of things to consider before you decide that a real estate career is right for you. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square footage is not the figure that was stated when the house was advertised. Owners sometimes decide to sue the people who were involved in the transaction, especially if the difference is significant. Real estate agents and for sale by owner sellers can reduce their risks of encountering a lawsuit by knowing how use accepted standards to measure and calculate a home's square footage . Get it right the first time so that everyone's happy with the results. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Buying Land for Your New Home If you've looked and looked, but can't find the perfect combination of land and house, maybe it's time to consider building. And while buying land for your new home can seem intimidating at first, you'll find it really isn't a horrible task if you fine-tune your wants and needs before you start searching for real estate. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Buying a Home with Great Resale Potential A few generations ago it wasn't unusual for people to live in the same home for many years, somtimes the rest of their lives after becoming homeowners. We're more mobile today, always "moving up" to a larger house or relocating to a new town. So it makes sense to put some thought into buying a home with good resale value , one that will sell easily and put extra dollars in your bank account if you do decide to move. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink What's a Quit Claim Deed? Home buyers usually receive a general warranty deed when they purchase real estate, because it's a type of deed that offers several guarantees from the seller that the title to the property is good. Another document that's sometimes used is a quit claim deed . It works perfectly for some situations, but it's important to understand the limitations of a quit claim deed before accepting one when you purchase real estate. Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink How Credit Scores Are Calculated Everyone looking for a mortgage to buy a home--and that's most of us--finds out right away that credit scores play a huge role in the types of loans and interest rates that are offered to them. It's helpful to study your credit reports and scores before you apply for a mortgage, and to do it as early as possible to give yourself time to correct errors before a lender takes a look. Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Moving Tips and Timeline Buying a home is exciting, but let's face it... moving is a chore. A big one. The only way I know to get through it without an excess of stress is to manage the moving process in little steps instead of letting it overwhelm you at the last minute. Start early and stay organized and you'll be ready for the moving truck before you know it. Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink Typical Home Buyer Closing Costs Closing costs are the expenses associated with buying real estate. You can expect to pay a large chunk of your closing costs the day the trasaction is complete, when the property becomes yours, but some closing expenses are nearly always paid before that day. There's no single set of expenses that every home buyer must pay--every transaction is different--but it's a good idea to become familiar with typical closing costs so that you'll have a better understanding of the items billed to you on your HUD-1 settlement statement . Wednesday December 07, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Important disclaimer information about this About site. Advertisement Related Blogs Mortgage Fraud Blog The Real Estate Blog The Money Pit Most Popular Modular and Manufactured Homes Finding Your Best Place to ... Home Buying Don'ts First Time Home Buyer Tips Before You Sell Your Home What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Related Topics Home Repair Architecture Credit / Debt Management Housekeeping Landscaping Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...