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Is Foreclosure Investing for You? Online Catalog | Shopping Cart HOME | Foreclosure Investing | Short Sales | Articles | Financing | Commercial | Mobile Homes | Cash Flow | Legal | News Group CRE Online > Money-Making Ideas > Is Foreclosure Investing for You? Is Foreclosure Investing for You? by Ronald Starr If you are new to real estate investing and considering buying foreclosure properties, you need to be realistic about what you are facing. If you feel more sober about foreclosure investing after reading what I have written below, I will have accomplished my goal. Foreclosure investing is not a good investment approach for beginners. I recommend that you have at least a couple of years' experience with more traditional real estate investing first. The profits from foreclosure investing can be huge. That makes foreclosures attractive. There is an awful lot to know in order to avoid the problems that can occur. If you don't know what you are doing, one disastrous foreclosure investment can wipe out your capital and your enthusiasm for all real estate investing. Three ways to buy a foreclosure property There are three basic approaches to buying properties in foreclosure depending on the stage of the foreclosure process: buying pre-foreclosures, buying at the foreclosure auction, and buying from lender after the foreclosure sale. If you buy from the delinquent property owner before it goes to auction, you have bought a pre-foreclosure deal. Buying at the auction is self-explanatory. If nobody bids, the lender ends up with the property. Buying from the lender after the auction is called buying REOs (real estate owned) or Repos, (repossessions). Sometimes you will see them referred to as "corporation owned" or, my favored term, "lender owned." REOs are the least risky way to buy foreclosures You may have more risk than you would in a regular real estate transaction, but REOs are less risky than in buying at the auction. Since REOs are somewhat similar to a regular sale, they can be pretty safe. You might not get a seller's disclosure. In California, a lender who acquires a property through foreclosure does not have to offer a disclosure to you as a buyer. But, if there are problems after you buy the property, you might be able to sue the lender who sold you the property, or at least threaten to sue them, and they might make things right or pay part of the cost. There's a good chance they will still be around after the sale. The risks of buying pre-foreclosure real estate The next riskiest foreclosure purchase is the pre-foreclosure. If an owner of a pre-foreclosure disappears, you risk not getting anything from him after the sale. A pre-foreclosure seller might be desperate and lie to you about the condition of the property and the neighborhood. There might be liens on the property that the seller "forgot" to mention. The big utility bills become the buyer's responsibility if the pre-foreclosure investor failed to check them out. Ditto for unpaid property taxes. There may be another person on title who did not sign the deed, and so on. In California and, I believe, some other states, there are special laws related to dealing with and buying a property from a homeowner occupant who is in default on a loan. If the contracts and the sale are not done according to the law, the seller has the right to rescind the sale and could, long after the sale, sue to have the sale reversed. There are extreme penalties for violating the law. Remember, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." You need to know the state law when you do pre-foreclosure investing. Can the seller can legally deed the property to you? What if the seller is already in bankruptcy? The deed is likely not valid unless it has gone through the bankruptcy court. You have to call the local bankruptcy court to check for a possible filing. And, of course, the seller could have filed bankruptcy in another bankruptcy court that you did not call. And, even if the seller does not file bankruptcy until after your purchase, you may have to deed the property back to the seller up to three years after you bought it. If selling the property made the seller destitute, and the seller sold for much below market value--which you hope he did so you could make a good profit--the bankruptcy trustee can require you to deed the property into the bankruptcy estate on the grounds that the sale was a "fraudulent transfer," wherein the seller deprived his creditors of an asset which could help pay the debts. At that point, you become a creditor of the bankruptcy estate. Is this really what you planned when you bought the "great pre-foreclosure deal"? A lot of pre-foreclosure buyers may forego some of the inspections because they are hurrying to buy before the foreclosure auction. Sometimes the buyers will give money to the owner, get a deed, and record the deed themselves in the land records office of the county. The pre-foreclosure buyer has to be very alert to a lot of possibilities and check them out. You must have superior knowledge of real estate investing before you start doing pre-foreclosure investing. But, if you sign a proper sales contract with the owner, get appropriate inspections, go through an escrow with a knowledgeable escrow agent, and look at the property yourself, you probably will not be at great risk. If you use the safeguards above, you are going to have less risk than in most foreclosure auction buys. The risk of buying at the foreclosure auction Buying at the auction is the riskiest foreclosure purchase. At the auction you have no real estate agent to lead you through the process. You have no escrow and no title report let alone title insurance. In most jurisdictions it is an all cash sale. In some states you may have a week to a month to come up with the full purchase price. If you do not raise the money, you lose your deposit. At the auction the people conducting the sale will announce that the successful bidder will receive NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. You have no assurance that there are not other liens or loans on the property. You do not have any inspections by contractors, roofers, pest inspectors, building inspections, water well, or septic system experts. You get no disclosure from the seller as to the condition of the building or what is happening in the neighborhood. Usually you cannot see the inside of the building; perhaps not even the back of the outside. You know nothing about the electrical system, the plumbing, the heating, or air conditioning. If you buy an occupied property, you have to do an eviction, which, in some states, can drag out for a while, preventing you from getting into the property quickly to prepare for resale. Sometimes the occupants, if they are former owners, will vandalize the properties before leaving or steal items, such as cabinets, doors, fixtures, lamps, etc. If you are buying to resell the property quickly for a profit, you had better know if your buyer can readily get title insurance when buying your foreclosed-upon property. When you get a very good deal at a foreclosure auction, you may find that the former owner files a lawsuit to attempt to overturn the sale. So be prepared to hire an attorney and fight for your profit. Experience and knowledge build your foundation Now do you begin to understand why I recommend that beginners not start investing in foreclosures? Start with simpler buying approaches and get some experience with properties, laws, ordinances, deeds, and loans, and so on to provide a foundation. Learn to do title searches as fast as the professionals. Get to know intimately the government offices that have property records and tax assessment rolls. Get to know the property values in an area where you invest. Learn about the problems with properties in different neighborhoods, such as bad soil, poor construction in certain subdivisions, problems with septic systems and wells, and soil contamination. When you have learned all that, start studying up on foreclosures. Study the foreclosure laws in your state. Study law books on the priority of liens, bidding at auctions, title insurance, and bankruptcy. When you fully understand foreclosures, start buying them. I am not trying to stop you from investing in foreclosures. They can be profitable for those who can practice it well. But, few beginners can do it well. I'm telling you to be realistic and get the background that will allow you to be successful in foreclosure investing. The field is rife with risk. You can easily lose your whole investment if you make a single mistake. Please believe me, even with all my years of real estate investing experience, it has happened to me. Good Investing, Ron Starr MORE INFORMATION More on this topic... Customers also bought...

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Breckenridge real estate, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado real estate, resort homes, condos, townhomes and land for sale - NUMBER1EXPERT(tm) Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County real estate and homes, ski condos and townhomes for sale in Colorado - Susan Gunnin,REALTOR® - NUMBER1EXPERT™ Pop-Up Window" WIDTH="89" HEIGHT="21" All agents are NOT alike! Find out why I am a top real estate expert. Call me: 800-289-7005 Ext. 341 Request My Free Relocation Package! Moving your family to another town or state is a major event in your life! I have helped many families and individuals relocate! Find Out More > View All Offers > The Highest Level of Service Thank you for all you did for me. Frank B., Colorado Read Quote > View All Quotes > Compare three mortgages at one time. Download TripleCalc now. It's free. Find Out More > Download Now > Susan Gunnin is one of The Top Selling Real Estate Experts™ Find Out More > Welcome! Here You Can Find Great Information on Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado Real Estate Search Breckenridge MLS Search my Feature Listings Sign up for new Breckenridge listings, emailed to you daily! There's a good chance that you arrived at my web site because you've experienced Summit County personally and you now you want to learn more about the possibility of property ownership here. To get really current information, check out my new blog site. Maybe you're looking for that perfect second home, resort property, investment property, vacation home, ski condo or townhome, vacant land, rental property. One with mountain views, ski-in/ski-out, close to national forest, or fishing streams. If so, you can find it right here on my web site. You probably need local real estate information or you want to learn about the Breckenridge real estate market and why Summit County is such an incredible place to own property. I have over a decade of experience helping folks buy and sell real estate here. To make intelligent decisions, you need expert advice. No web site, large or small, can take the place of a top Realtor. Not even mine! This site is filled with ways that you can contact me for one-on-one expert help and advice. That's my job. Contact me with confidence! I guarantee your privacy will be respected. And I offer the services on this site for free and without obligation. Why? I want to be YOUR Realtor. As your trusted, professional real estate partner, I will help you find the best property available within your price range. And together we will find your home. Buying and selling real estate is one of the biggest events in your life. As a top Breckenridge Realtor, I have the experience and track record you are looking for. Please let me help. - Susan Gunnin From time to time I will present exceptional opportunities in the space immediately below Lomax Estates A rare, ski-access building lot opportunity Adjacent to the Skyway Skiway Best priced ski lots on the market Easy access to Four O'Clock Run and the Snowflake Lift Private cul-de-sac Click on image for complete info About Summit County Located about 60 miles west of Denver on I-70 smack dab in the middle of Colorado's glorious Rocky Mountains, Summit County is in a valley surrounded on the east and south sides by the Continental Divide, and on the west side by Vail Pass. Entrance to Summit County from Denver is through the Eisenhower Tunnel, a mile and a half long tunnel through the Continental Divide some 11,500 feet above sea level. Read about this highest tunnel in the world. Hoosier Pass defines the southern edge of Summit county, about 10 miles south of Breckenridge. It, too, is a pass over the Continental Divide which is the watershed separating water flows to the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the Pacific Ocean on the west side. Hoosier Pass, at 11,500 feet, forms the headwaters of the Blue River, which, when it flows out of Dillon Reservoir, is one of the most beautiful and pristine, Gold Medal trout fisheries in the country. Traveling along Interstate 70, the western edge of Summit County is Vail Pass, at about 10,600 feet. About 15 miles beyond Vail Pass is the city of Vail which hosts the most popular ski area in North America. Breckenridge is the county seat for Summit County, and home of one of the most popular ski areas in the country. There are three other ski areas -- Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin in Summit County, and Vail Resort is about 25 miles west. Frisco , Dillon and Silverthorne are principal towns in Summit County and provide a variety of real estate opportunities which I would be happy to help you with. Peruse my web site and then contact me for that dream resort property. "A model of how the Internet can facilitate the process of deciding where to send your children to school" - America's Best School Profiles by The Heritage Foundation Colorado Public, Private and Charter Schools : Compare them using these top-rated, comprehensive reports. Schools in Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County Working With A Realtor What Is CRS, GRI? CRS, which stands for Certified Residential Specialist, is a designation that recognizes a high level of professional accomplishments in real estate experience and education. The Residential Sales Council grants the CRS designation only to the most outstanding sales associates in the residential sales field. Besides the completion of a rigorous course of study, the candidate must be able to demonstrate 75 successful transactions or average sales of $1 million per year of experience. Only 4% of all real estate agents are awarded the CRS designation. GRI stands for Graduate, REALTOR Institute. The REALTOR Institute offers a series of 90 hours of required and elective courses conducted by the local Board or Association of REALTORS. These courses cover all areas of real estate -- residential, investment, construction and mortgage. The GRI designation is a prerequisite of many specialized courses in the REALTOR organization. See All Tips In The "Working With A Realtor" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories > Q What is the highest altitude hotel in the world? A The Hotel Everest View sits at the record altitude of 3,962 feet above sea level, in the rarified atmosphere of Namche, Nepal, the village closest to the Mount Everest base camp. See More Real Estate Trivia > See the Nation's Top Rated: School Reports - Public, Private & Charter > Get My Latest Listings Before Anyone Else! As soon as I list another home for sale, I'll email you. You'll know first. Name: Email: Find Out More > Susan Gunnin RE/MAX Properties of the Summit 220 S. Main Street; P.O. Box 4600 Breckenridge, CO. 80424 Toll Free: 1-800-289-7005 Ext. 341 Local: 1-970-453-7000 Ext. 341 Denver Direct: 1-303-278-7000 Cell: 1-970-389-0182 Fax: 1-970-453-7364 Email: breck4sale@NUMBER1EXPERT.com Susan is a top producer specializing in the ski resort town of Breckenridge, as well as the surrounding area. Susan specializes in mountain homes, ski condos, investment properties and vacant land; she provides old-fashioned service with state-of-the-art technology to help you any way she can. With over ten years of experience with buying, selling, and developing real estate, Susan's clients have come to expect the best. Representing both buyers and sellers, and giving all clients an indepth consultation on all aspects of the the real estate transaction, Susan is your BEST choice in real estate. Call or email her today! www.breck4sale.com isbrought to you by Susan Gunnin NUMBER1EXPERT ™ in real estate,ski condos and townhomes for Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado Read My Privacy Guarantee , Terms of Service ,and Free & Without Obligation Pledge Colorado Real Estate Agents - Homes - NUMBER1EXPERT™ Listings Some real estate agents outsell others 10 to 1. NUMBER1EXPERTS average a staggering 73 properties sold per year. How good is YOUR real estate agent? © Best Image Marketing and/or its clients. All rights reserved. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit Here . JUMP TO: WELCOME | FIND HOMES | FOR BUYERS | FORSELLERS | LOCAL INFO | RESOURCES | ABOUTSUSAN GUNNIN WELCOME: Breckenridge Real Estate, Ski Condos and Townhomes Welcome: Return to welcome/home page ABOUT SUSANGUNNIN: Who Am I?: Who is Susan Gunnin of Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado? Susan's Family Photo Album: Photos of Susan's family My Professional Resume: Susan Gunnin's Breckenridge real estate career in home buying & selling in Colorado Testimonials: What Susan Gunnin's clients are saying about this top Realtors real estate marketing Quick Response Guarantee: Susan Gunnin guarantees a quick response to your email request for more Colorado home buying & property selling information Privacy Guarantee: Susan Gunnin guarantees this Breckenridge real estate web site will respect your privacy No Obligation Guarantee: Susan Gunnin's real estate help by email is free & without obligation for Breckenridge home owners in Colorado For Realtors: Let Susan Gunnin help you with your professional real estate broker and agent needs in the Breckenridge area About NUMBER1EXPERTS: NUMBER1EXPERTS are top real estate professionals, find out more Contact Information: How to contact Susan Gunnin, Breckenridge real estate agent FIND BRECKENRIDGEHOMES, ski condos and townhomes: Feature Homes: Homes, properties, & other real estate in Breckenridge and Colorado with virtual tours, photos, and more Search All Local Listings: Search all Breckenridge area MLS listings in Colorado from real estate brokers National Listings Databases: Homes for sale in national American USA web site listings databases of properties New Construction: New homes for sale, new construction and newly built properties and real estate subdivisions Unique & Luxury Homes: Home buyers, find luxury homes, real estate, beach front properties, mansions, & acreage/land for sale on these top national & international listings web sites International Properties: Find international homes for sale on these international/global real estate web sites from Canada, Europe, France, Germany, UK, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Asia, Africa, and beyond Search ALL the Experts' Homes: Search the best local homes for sale from all the real estate experts, agents, Realtors, and brokers BRECKENRIDGEINFO: About Breckenridge: Moving to Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado? 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Relocating?: Free real estate information & relocation package if you're relocating to Breckenridge, CO School Information: Breckenridge schools and the education system in Colorado: kindergarten, elementary, high schools, colleges & universities Local Maps & Links: Breckenridge maps & local/Colorado web site links for news & media, TV stations, radio stations, daily Breckenridge newspapers, transportation, airports & bus terminals, Colorado & local government, and more Local Weather: Weather in Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado: spring, summer, winter, and fall climate changes Breckenridge Photo Gallery: Tour Colorado in pictures REAL ESTATERESOURCES: Special Offers: Special offers for Breckenridge homeowners from Susan Gunnin, top Realtor Monthly Payments & Schedule: Monthly loan payments java mortgage calculator How Much Can You Afford?: Calculate how much home you can afford with this financial calculator Determine Tax Savings: Calculate how much your monthly Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado mortgage payments save you on your taxes because of loan interest Should You Rent or Buy?: Is it better to rent a home in Colorado or buy your own Breckenridge house, ranch, luxury property, condominium, acreage, or other real estate? Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Adjustable rate Breckenridge mortgages information and interest rate java calculator What Is Your APR?: Determine the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for your mortgage. Fixed or Adjustable Rate Mortgage?: Use this calculator to compare a fixed rate mortgage to two types of ARMs, a Fully Amortizing ARM and an Interest Only ARM. Are Balloon Mortgages For You?: Balloon mortgage calculator. A balloon mortgage can be an excellent option for many home buyers. 15 vs. 30 Yr Mortgages: With a 15 year mortgage you will pay significantly less interest, but only if you can afford the higher monthly payment. Use this calculator to compare these two mortgage terms. How Much Should Your Income Be?: What income is required to qualify for a mortgage? Use this calculator to find out. What's Your Maximum Mortgage?: This calculator will help you determine your maximum monthly housing payment and the resulting mortgage amount. Will Buying Points Save You Money?: This calculator helps you determine if you should pay for points, or use the money to increase your down payment. Experts: Real estate, homes for sale, and other properties: links in Colorado, United States and Canada TripleCalc: FREE Software Download: TripleCalc lets you compare three loans at one time for your property or other Colorado real estate Top National Real Estate Web Sites: Real Estate Web Sites that include some unique sources of realty information, listings, and more Direct Links: Direct real estate links to web sites mentioned in this Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado site Link Partners: Link Partners page for Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado Ask Anything: Ask Susan Gunnin anything real estate NUMBER1EXPERTS: List of all the NUMBER1EXPERT real estate agents and realty professionals and brokers in the USA and Canada with links to their personal web sites with homes for sale Real Estate Tips: Susan Gunnin's realty library of real estate tips and advice on everything from preparing your home for sale to negotiating with home buyers to escrow, closing costs, property inspections, and mortgage brokers Real Estate Trivia: Susan Gunnin's collection of real estate trivia questions and answers that include real estate topics such as the most expensive home, largest swimming pool, and more Real Estate Dictionary: Complete real estate dictionary and glossary of realty words you'll use when you list and sell your Breckenridge property in Colorado, including legal terms definitions, and more FOR HOMEBUYERS: Why Buyers Choose Me: Why homebuyers in the Breckenridge area choose Susan Gunnin as their Realtor Second-Home Buyers: Are you relocating? Buying a second home? Susan Gunnin can help Latest Listings: Get Susan Gunnin's latest Breckenridge listings of homes for sale first! Find Your Perfect Home: Susan Gunnin will search for your ideal home and email you the newest Breckenridge MLS listings of properties First Time Homebuyers: Are you a first time homebuyer in Breckenridge, CO? As a top Realtor, Susan Gunnin can guide your home buying search Mortgage Prequalification: Pre-qualify for a mortgage or loan for your Breckenridge house or other real estate or property FOR HOMESELLERS: Why Sellers Choose Susan Gunnin: Why home sellers in Breckenridge choose Susan Gunnin Free Presentation: Free in-home listings presentation on marketing your Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado property Property Valuation: How much is your Breckenridge home worth? What Did That Home Sell For?: What did that Breckenridge, Frisco and Summit County, Colorado property or other real estate sell for? 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Home Loans Australia - Wizard Home Loans home loans loans for your situation buying your first home refinancing your home loan investing in property selling and buying a home building a new home renovating your home self employed loans, rates & fees home buyers information tools home loan selector how much can you borrow? apply for a loan calculators online loan access market update real estate services search for a property find a lawyer other types of loans personal loans car loans car leasing, plant & equipment trouble qualifying? business loans insurance home and contents landlords insurance home loan protection credit cards clear advantage service centre existing customers customer rewards refer a friend online loan access about Wizard our profile our service promise awards news room sponsorships competition winners own a branch careers search this site: Home Help Feedback Site Map Find a loan to suit your situation Buying your first home Refinancing your home loan Investing in property Selling and buying a home Building a new home Renovating your home Self employed Consolidating your debts Buying a car Not sure which home loan you need? Struggling to save a deposit? Borrow 100% of the property value for owner occupied purchases with the Rent Buster home loan. No deposit required in some cases. Details Not sure which home loan you need? Simply select a few options that describe your situation and features you want in a home loan and let our handy Home Loan Selector find the Wizard home loan that best suits your needs. Details Wizard Clear Advantage MasterCard At last, a credit card with nothing to hide! No annual fee. No transaction fees. 0% interest for 6 months on balance transfers from date of account opening. Low 12.4% rate. Details Compare and save Basic loan Mid-range loan Full featured loan Amount $ over 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 years home loans | real estate services | other types of loans | insurance | credit cards | existing customers | about Wizard Privacy Policy | Security | Terms and Conditions 29 Dec 2005 or call 13 19 70 you can always change your mind or call 1300 650 921 enter your email for news and offers Wizard Home Loans New Zealand Looking for a USA home loan?

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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. 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