Home Mortgage Insurance Home

Looking for the Best Mortgage ESPAÑOL 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. Skip to content Obtain information from several lenders Obtain all important cost information Obtain the best deal that you can Remember: Shop, compare, negotiate Fair lending is required by law Credit problems? Glossary Mortgage shopping worksheet For more information 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) 888-4213 Experian: (888) 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 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. Mortgage Shopping Worksheet File for Printing Worksheet (12KB PDF) Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: ___ ___ Name of Contact: ___ ___ Date of Contact: ___ ___ Mortgage Amount: ___ ___ mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Basic Information on the Loans 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 somefees 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 ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated 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 ___ ___ ___ ___ Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan 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—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 require 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? ___ ___ ___ ___ 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 ( http://www.consumer.gov ), write to the Federal Citizen Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Center’s Web site at ( http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov ). The following brochures are available from the Center: A Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins 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 What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures | Accessibility | Contact Us Last update: January 22, 2004

Real estate investing is

** Real Estate Investment ** Foreclosures : Real Estate Investing Course : Foreclosure Information site map Buy Foreclosures - $0 Down Make $5,000-$50,000+ in 45 Days. FREE Foreclosure & Bank Lists included. Click Here Learn How To Make A Fortune Investing in Real Estate Foreclosures! Literally tens of thousands of homes and properties are facing foreclosure. More than 1% of ALL residential property in the United States today is already in, or facing mortgage foreclosure soon. With a staggering 1 million plus homes being foreclosed on any given day, opportunities for buying low-cost real estate foreclosures are plentiful. Every day, smart investors are amassing vast fortunes buying bank foreclosures. Real estate investing is undoubtedly one of the quickest, yet safest way to create enduring, financial wealth. Once you combine methods used by professionals with a proven investment strategy, you have a winning plan to create affluence for yourself. For the prepared individual, foreclosures give rise to circumstances for profit. Buying our ebook course gives you the essential, insider information to acquire a foreclosure home safely and earn considerable profits from any distressed property situation. Foreclosures: Opportunity For Investment There are 3 distinct windows of opportunity for foreclosure investment, each having its unique advantages and degree of risk - pre-foreclosures, real estate auction / sheriff sales and bank owned REO properties. Learning where to find foreclosures, when and how to buy them, the best foreclosure stage for investment, how to research titles, as well as deciding if a property has potential for profit are all critical to success. Our real estate investment course discloses everything you need to know to purchase foreclosure property successfully and profitably. Free Foreclosure Information & Consultation Got a question about buying foreclosures? Purchase our foreclosure course and receive crucial information direct from real estate investor / author Steve Maletos. Steve knows the strategies and shortcuts which can make you successful.Besides getting a complete investment system, you also gain a mentor at no extra charge! Steve's unlimited support and consultation is available only to students of his foreclosure course. Get FREE foreclosure consultation Locate Bank Foreclosures Bank owned, or real estate owned homes (REO) represent one of the safest methods of purchasing foreclosures, especially since their property titles are practically always guaranteed. Whether seeking safe investment opportunities, or a low price home residence, you can find bank foreclosure listings now. Hard Money Lender Source Foreclosure investing for most people will require funding. Included in both the CD-Rom and printed book version of our foreclosure courses, we provide private investor fund sources (with full contact information) who will loan investment money. We can also present your loan application to an exclusive list of hard money lenders . These are short term loans evaluated on an individual basis of property improvements and merit. Tell A Friend! Let your friends know about our Foreclosures Course materials! (or as a reminder to yourself) Testimonials Make Money in Real Estate Investment Affiliate Program Foreclosure Laws Industry Resources Foreclosure Listings Site Map Foreclosed Properties Steve Maletos Investor Mentoring Privacy Policy Real Estate Investor Loans

Texas Land & Cattle

Texas Land & Cattle Steak House - Austin, TX, 78717 - Citysearch 7 BOC Spa & Beauty: 7 days till voting begins -- New to Citysearch? Sign In · Help · Dec 29 2005 Home Restaurants Bars & Clubs Hotels Shopping Spa & Beauty Movies Events See More Categories » Search Business name, category, and/or keyword Search restaurants only Search by name only Address, city & state, or zip | Neighborhood Address, city & state, or zip | Neighborhood Address, city & state, or zip | Airport Address, city & state, or zip | Attraction Select a Austin Neighborhood Arboretum Bergstrom Airport Buda CedarPk/Leander Downtown Austin East Austin Georgetown Hill Country Hyde Park Lake Travis North Austin Northeast Austin Northwest Hills Oak Hill Round Rock/Pflugerville San Marcos South Austin Southeast Austin Tarrytown Travis Heights University of Texas - Austin West Austin West Lake Hills Select an Austin Airport Select an Austin Attraction My Locations Add/edit locations Recent Locations Clear recent locations Save to My Citysearch Printer Friendly Version Home · Restaurant · Profile Texas Land & Cattle Steak House 14010 N Hwy 183 Austin, TX 78717 (512) 258-3733 Cross Street: Lakeline Mall Drive Editorial Profile A Southwestern chain serving tender steaks in a bustling, family-style eatery. Read More | User Reviews (2) 9.2 Overall Recommended About our ratings Ratings feedback Send to a Friend Find a date Evite your Friends Restaurant Info Cuisines: · American (Traditional), Steakhouse Price: · $$ Payment: · American Express · Discover · MasterCard · Visa New! Mobile Biz Center Book a flight , get biz news , or locate WiFi hot spots . Learn More Own this business? » Enhance or edit your listing See something wrong? » Suggest a correction Things to do nearby: 14010 N Hwy 183 Austin, TX 78717 · Restaurants · Hotels · Bars · Movie Theaters · Department Stores · Shopping Centers & Malls · Grocery Stores · Pharmacies · Florists · Banks Related Searches · Austin Restaurants · Austin American (Traditional) Restaurants · Search anything in Austin · Search Yellow Pages in Austin · Search other Cities · Browse Austin Editorial Lists Citysearch Editorial Profile -- By Tara Fatemi Quick Results in Austin, TX Search Results 1 - 3 of for " " No results for " " found. Close this window Overall Offers and Discounts Overall Offers and Discounts Overall Offers and Discounts View all results A Southwestern chain serving tender steaks in a bustling, family-style eatery. Editorial Rating: Recommended The Scene Dark wood accents, a Western motif and a large fireplace decorate the bustling, sprawling restaurant. Decibel levels manage to remain quiet enough for conversation. Service can be inconsistent, despite a large staff. The Food Texas onion strings features tangy and spicy pale-pink dipping sauce combining liquid smoke, mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. The average smoked sirloin nachos are served with generous amounts of refreshing pico de gallo and jalapenos. The succulent signature pepper-smoked sirloin lives up to its reputation with its well-absorbed flavor. A side of chili, however, is tasteless and lukewarm while under-cooked, bitter spinach is smothered in butter. Two 8-ounce, mesquite-grilled pork chops are spicy-sweet with a peach glaze coating the tender meat exquisitely. The accompanying sweet mashed potatoes are delightfully creamy. Jack Daniels pie is strong, chunky and topped with vanilla ice cream. Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch. User Reviews What users are saying Prompt seating: yes Make reservations: no Romantic: no Good for kids: yes Good for groups: yes Write a review and share your thoughts with other users. Great Food that won't break the budget Posted by leafsfan2028 on 05/24/2005 I have visited this location several times and can't wait to go back. If you like steak, order the rib eye. It is outstanding. I made the mistake of changing gears last time I was there and went with the t-bone, whihc was good, but the rib eye is out of this world. Service has always been favorable. Overall user rating: Highly Recommended Was this review helpful: Yes or No | Request removal of this review » Read all 2 reviews Related Editorial Content Dog-Friendly Austin We've sniffed out the city's best spots for a full day of doggie nirvana. So grab a leash and lap up the fun. Downtown Walking Tour The must-dos of downtown. Campus Living Check out what the kids are up to these days in the shadow of the University of Texas at these cool campus area bars and shops . View More » About Us | Advertise with Us | Contact Us | Press Center | Site Guide | List Your Business on Citysearch | Become an Affiliate | Job Opportunities | Other Cities | Get a Business Website | Submit an Event | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Austin Yellow Pages Citysearch is a registered trademark of 720619 Ontario Inc. and is used under license (C) 2005 Citysearch.com All rights reserved. partner sites: Evite - Entertainment.com - Gifts.com - TripAdvisor - ServiceMagic - Ticketmaster - Expedia - Hotels.com - Hotwire - HSN - LendingTree - Match.com - RealEstate.com - ReserveAmerica - Zerodegrees - CondoSaver - ClassicVacations - Ballard Designs - Frontgate - Garnet Hill - Smith+Noble - The Territory Ahead - Travel Smith

Sell House Doctors Is

How To Sell - House Doctors E4 More4 FilmFour FourDocs TV Listings Site A-Z NEWS FILM HOMES LIFE ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY SCIENCE COMMUNITY SHOP SPORT CULTURE CARS MONEY VIDEO LEARNING HEALTH MUSIC GAMES Home Welcome News On TV Grand Designs Grand Designs Abroad Previous Houses Features Information Streets Ahead Property Ladder Location, Location Relocation, Relocation Home from Home City Gardener Selling Houses Room for Improvement Up Your Street Making Space A Place In The Sun The Great Garden Challenge Home or Away A Place in France A Place in Greece A Place in Greece House Auction More Programmes Presenters TV Listings Buying & Selling Where to Buy How to Buy How to Sell Special Cases House Price Index Renting Property Search DIY & Building Guides Building a House Ask the Expert Style Design Guides Features Living Rooms -- Bedrooms -- Kids Rooms -- Storage solutions -- Dining Rooms -- Home Office -- Hall -- Outdoor Living -- Period Styles -- Buying Abroad Country Guides Features Property of the Week Chat, Vote & Win Vote Win Forum -- Newsletter Forum Profit from Property Buy to Let Property Development Money Deals SEARCH All 4Homes: On TV Buying & Selling Renting Property Search DIY & Building Style Buying Abroad Chat, Vote, Win Profit from Property How To Sell House Doctors Is your house sick? (or are you sick of your house?) Then you'll be wanting to call in a doctor House doctors (also known as property presentation consultants, home stagers, house stylists…) offer professional help to people having problems selling their property. They'll give impartial advice on why your home isn't being snapped up and help with styling, or staging, your property in order to achieve a quick sale. There is evidence that house doctors really work. Their websites are full of stories of not only having helped people to sell within a short space of time, but of actually adding thousands of pounds onto the value of their property in the process. This is achieved with advice on tidying away clutter, repairing signs of wear and tear, carrying out necessary redecorating work, 'dressing' the property and how to hold a viewing. Where can I find one? Already massive in the US, house doctors are still very much a new idea in the UK. However, there are many small, local interior design or property renovation companies that offer a house doctoring service. The best way to find these is to look out for advertisements in your local paper. Some house doctors cover the nation as a whole: Property Presentation Services, Homestagers and The Final Touch are three of the most successful. What will it cost me? Daphne Leck of Property Presentation Services offers an obligation-free discussion in the first instance. Thereafter, the minimum fee is £250 for two visits, one before any work is done and one after. This includes a written report on each room and advice up to the point of selling, including how to choose an estate agent. PPS offer a consultation service: that is, they do not do the actual work themselves, but they can recommend and source materials and services. Home Stagers, run by interior designer Tina Jesson, is a UK-wide network of experts who have been trained and awarded an Open College Network-accredited professional certificate. Consultants offer services throughout the home ownership process. A Home Consultation costs £160 & includes a written report, online marketing and a 'Viewings Into Offers' guide. The Home Stagers website is content-rich and offers tips, free online advice and photo consultations. The Final Touch, run by interior designer Suzy Maas and estate agent Lottie Sanger, is London-based but will travel depending on the size of the project. They offer a written report after their initial visit, for which they charge £50 an hour. Should you choose to follow their advice, the couple then charge £450 a day plus VAT for two people's work re-presenting the property, including sourcing of all equipment and materials. UK PROPERTY SEARCH Over 150,000 homes Type a location: Price range: Min Price £0 £50,000 £75,000 £100,000 £125,000 £150,000 £175,000 £200,000 £225,000 £250,000 £275,000 £300,000 £325,000 £350,000 £375,000 £400,000 £425,000 £450,000 £475,000 £500,000 £550,000 £600,000 £650,000 £700,000 £750,000 £800,000 £850,000 £900,000 £950,000 £1,000,000 Max Price £50,000 £75,000 £100,000 £125,000 £150,000 £175,000 £200,000 £225,000 £250,000 £275,000 £300,000 £325,000 £350,000 £375,000 £400,000 £425,000 £450,000 £475,000 £500,000 £550,000 £600,000 £650,000 £700,000 £750,000 £800,000 £850,000 £900,000 £950,000 £1,000,000 £10,000,000 Min bedrooms: Min Beds 1 2 3 4 5 6 New homes only 4HOMES MAIL Enter your email to sign up to the 4Homes newsletter POLL Who is your favourite presenter? FIND OUT MORE Buying Abroad Advice on buying overseas GRAND DESIGNS CD ROM A comprehensive 'info tool' for anyone looking to renovate their dream home CHAT, VOTE , WIN Competitions Your chance to win a holiday and get away this winter CHAT Homes Chatroom Talk about all things Homes in the Channel 4 Chatroom About C4 | Jobs | Text Only | Access Advice | Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy | Help | Online Ad Sales

real estate loan fraud

Inman Real Estate News - Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Loss+from+real+estate+loan+fraud+soars+to+%241+billion FBI+launches+mortgage+fraud-fighting+initiative %3ca+href%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.inman.com'+target%3d'_blank'%3eInman+News%3c%2fa%3e 2005-12-16T00%3a00%3a00.0000000-08%3a00 49246 HOME | NEWS | JOIN | PRODUCTS | CONFERENCES | ADVERTISE | ADVICE | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBMIT A TIP Member Resources Members Home Search Inman News Content Warehouse Cartoon Database Weekly Newsletter Special Reports Audio Files Inman Blog Feedback Connect Registration Audio Conference LETTERS TO THE EDITOR There's no denying real estate bubble Re: ' Worst-case scenario for housing next year ' (Dec. 28) Dear Editor: I have been a real estate investor since I was 19. I am now 54. To deny a real estate bubble is to ignore the obvious market fundamentals. Obviously, there are different factors in different markets, but as a longtime investor/Realtor/broker there is no logical argument against real estate prices declining 10 percent to 30 percent in the "hot markets." The South Florida condo market will be a blood bath. The median income cannot buy the median house in most markets; interest rates will continue creeping up; speculators have driven prices to insane levels and when the going gets rough they will walk from a lot of residential properties. Most "hot" areas are becoming alarmingly overbuilt with residential inventories rising; lenders have ticking time bombs in their ARMs, negative equity and interest-only mortgages. Do your homework. Be wary of those whose opinions are tainted by the fact that they or their company have a stake in this insane market continuing. Michael H. Mosieur Mosieur Business Brokers Re: ' America closes doors to architectural expression ' (Dec. 26) Dear Editor: This is one of the most insightful articles I've read in a long time. We might add, "And what are we doing to our children as we worship at the altar of the mundane?" Years ago I read that about 1,000 children were tested for creativity just prior to entering kindergarten. Eighty-five percent of the children tested "creative." Twelve years later the same group was tested, and only 35 percent of the students tested "creative." What happened to the children along the scholastic way, and does the country even care? Where's the outcry? Isn't the creativity of our generations one of our most precious resources? It's been said that we're only one generation away from losing our freedom. Could it be that with escalating offshore competition in view, and stultifying U.S. scholastic models utilized, that the above advisory could also apply to our economic freedom? A. Bruce Belfield III Associate real estate broker Hurricane, W.V. FREE website content! Make Inman.com your homepage Get the Inman News Toolbar Link to Inman News Consumer News Commercial News Real Estate Articles from Inman News Already a Member? Log in below to view full story: User ID: Password: Lost Password? Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Friday, December 16, 2005 Inman News To read this article, become a Member of Inman News now! JOIN NOW TO BECOME AN INMAN MEMBER 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Group discounts available First Name: Last Name: E-mail: User Name: Call 1.800.775.4662 x128 8am - 5pm Pacific Time to order by phone or to get a discount group membership for your company or colleagues. View News Article Sample Hear Sample View Newsletter Sample Connect Info View Audio Conference Schedule Back Top © 2005 Inman News Home | Privacy | Editorial | Legal | Site Map