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(Please provide your phone number) I have a MEDIUM interest in buying a home, but I just started my search and need to become more familiar with the market. I do not have any definite plans to move at this time. I am just curious about the listings that are currently on the market. I currently: * live in Colorado plan to move to Colorado Your Comments Any additional information that will help us better understand your needs I agree with Colorado HomeFinder Terms & Conditions Just getting familiar with Westminster Colorado real estate? Or, do you know the exact street where you want to live? No matter what stage you are in your Westminster home search, Automated HomeAlert is for you! The latest technology makes finding Westminster homes for sale easier than ever ! Automatic email notification of new listings and access to all the Westminster real estate listings from all the brokerages saves you time - and makes searching for homes fun. You are in control! 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MSN Money - Real estate investing MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Investing Home Portfolio Markets Stocks Funds ETFs Commentary Brokers CNBC TV MSN Money Insight Jubak's Journal SuperModels Start Investing Strategy Lab Company Focus Mutual Funds Street Patrol Other Views Contrarian Chronicles TheStreet.com Resources Commentary Index Decision Centers Start Investing Mutual Funds Find Hot Stocks Simple Strategies Power Tools Investing For Income Real Estate Related Links Expert Picks Market Dispatches CNBC Stock Picks Message Boards Decision Center Real estate investing Capitalizing on great opportunities in real estate Top Story When you -- and the IRS -- flip a condo It's the flipper's dream. You buy a condo, put in lots of hard work and sell it for a big profit. If you're not careful, though, most of the gain could go to your Uncle Sam. Featured tool Portfolio Manager Follow your investments on MSN Money Other tools Top performers Best funds for real estate and other categories Find an adviser Financial help is only a few clicks away Research Wizard Scope out performance of individual REITs Also on MSN Shop for personal finance resources Find books, software and more at MSN Shopping The Basics Do you have what it takes to be a landlord? Ground your retirement fund with real estate How to find good investment property The real risks of investing in real estate More on MSN Money The safest ways to buy foreclosures Real estate clubs ride the housing boom 3 ways you can go broke in real estate More on this topic... Question & Answers What are income properties? What is an equity REIT? What is the gross rent multiplier? What are limited partnerships? Special offers Download Microsoft Money Trial 2005 Free auto insurance quotes Find the right home equity loan advertisement Community Share portfolio resources and investment strategies on Start Investing message board advertisement MSN Money Search MSN Money | Message Boards | Site Status | Site Map © 2005 Microsoft MSN Privacy Legal Advertise Feedback Help
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Texas Real Estate, Texas Luxury Homes, and Texas Land for Sale Texas Real Estate Search Results Texas Luxury Homes and Texas Land for Sale HOME | SITE MAP | SEARCH | LUXURY HOMES | WHAT'S NEW | EMAIL THIS PAGE | UPDATE ME BY EMAIL | SIGN IN | PRINT Your search returned 3 Texas Properties Find More Luxury Real Estate and Land for Sale | Show All Texas Private Communities Properties 1 through 3 of 3 1 Mountain Springs Homesites Canyon Lake, Texas $40,000 To $100,000 Mountain Springs Ranch Newly opened hilltop neighborhood with jaw-dropping views-- many extending over 20 miles. Approximately half of the homesites overlook the adjacent 85-acre nature preserve so views will never change. The community is offering exceptional promotions during the early development phase. Read More about this Texas Land for Sale 2 Robert S. Thornton Great Homes Model San Antonio, Texas $959,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full Baths 1 Half Bath Cordillera Ranch Spectacular Robert S. Thornton Great Homes model. Featured in the May issue of Country Lifestyle Magazine. 4 bedrooms (master down), 4.5 baths on 4+ acres. The separate Master Suite and gourmet kitchen must be seen to be appreciated. Wet weather creek and 43 acre neighbor enhance the privacy for... Read More about this Texas Real Estate 3 The Peninsula Spring Branch, Texas Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake Recently opened neighborhood in the exclusive gated section of The Peninsula. Neighborhood is surrounded by water on three sides and located on Canyon Lake where the Guadalupe River feeds into it. These homesites are among the best in the community offering both lake and river frontage as well as... Read More about this Texas Land for Sale Properties 1 through 3 of 3 Pick One - They're ALL Great! Albemarle Plantation - Hertford, North Carolina Bald Head Island - Southport, North Carolina Balsam Mountain Preserve - Sylva, North Carolina Barefoot Resort and Golf - North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Bay Creek - Cape Charles, Virginia Bay Harbor - Bay Harbor, Michigan Bear Lake Reserve - Cashiers, North Carolina Bear River Lodge - Hot Springs, North Carolina Bedford at Falls River - Raleigh, North Carolina Berkshire Forest - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Biltmore Lake - Biltmore Lake, North Carolina Brays Island Plantation - Sheldon, South Carolina Canyon Ridge - Lookout Mountain, Georgia Carriage Park - Hendersonville, North Carolina Champion Hills - Hendersonville, North Carolina Chapel Ridge - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Colleton River Plantation - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Colonial Heritage - Williamsburg, Virginia Cordillera Ranch - San Antonio, Texas Cotton Bay - Rock Sound, Eleuthera Creston - Black Mountain, North Carolina Daniel Island - Charleston, South Carolina Dataw Island - Dataw Island, South Carolina DeBordieu Colony - Georgetown, South Carolina East Haven - Covington, Georgia Fairvue Plantation - Gallatin, Tennessee Fawn Lake - Fredericksburg, Virginia Ford's Colony - Williamsburg, Virginia Fox Acres Country Club - Red Feather Lakes, Colorado Glenmore - Charlottesville, Virginia GlenRiddle - Berlin, Maryland Governors Club - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Grand Harbor - Vero Beach, Florida Grand Haven - Palm Coast, Florida Grande Dunes - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Grande Vista Bay - Rockwood, Tennessee Greenbrier Sporting Club - White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Haig Point - Hilton Head Island/Daufuskie Island, South Carolina Hammock Beach - Palm Coast, Florida Hammock Dunes Private Community - Palm Coast, Florida Hampton Hall - Bluffton, South Carolina Harbour Ridge YCC/HR Properties - Palm City, Florida Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club - Gainesville, Virginia Heritage Shores - Bridgeville, Delaware Indian River Club - Vero Beach, Florida Indian River Colony Club - Viera (Melbourne), Florida Jefferson Landing on the New River - Jefferson, North Carolina Kiawah Island - Kiawah Island, South Carolina Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - Golden, British Columbia Kingsmill on the James - Williamsburg, Virginia Lake Jovita - Dade City, Florida Longleaf at Callaway - Pine Mountain, Georgia MiraBay - Apollo Beach, Florida Mission Inn's Las Colinas - Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida Montreux - Reno, Nevada Mount Vintage Plantation - North Augusta, South Carolina Mountain Air - Burnsville, North Carolina Mountain Springs Ranch - Canyon Lake, Texas Mystic Forest at Queens Lake - Nantahala, North Carolina Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake - Spring Branch, Texas North Hampton - Fernandina Beach, Florida Oakbridge - Lakeland, Florida Oldfield - Okatie, South Carolina Oleta Falls - Hendersonville, North Carolina Osprey Cove - St. Marys, Georgia Pinnacle Falls - Hendersonville, North Carolina Piper's Landing Yacht & Country Club - Palm City, Florida Private Escapes Platinum Destination Club PUNTACANA Resort & Club - Punta Cana, Higuey, Dominican Republic Quail Ridge Country Club - Boynton Beach, Florida Quail West - Naples, Florida Quechee Lakes - Quechee, Vermont Rarity Pointe - Lenoir City, Tennessee Renaissance - Fort Myers, Florida Reunion Resort & Club - Reunion, Florida Reynolds Plantation - Greensboro, Georgia River Dunes - Oriental, North Carolina River Hall - Fort Myers, Florida River Landing - Wallace, North Carolina River Oaks - Savannah, Georgia Roaring Fork Club - Basalt, Colorado Rock Barn Golf & Spa - Conover, North Carolina Roosevelt Ridge Private Reserve - Boulder, Colorado Rose Hall - Montego Bay, Jamaica Santeetlah Lakeside - Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina Savannah Lakes Village - McCormick, South Carolina Savannah Quarters - Savannah, Georgia Seabrook Island - Seabrook Island, South Carolina Seawatch at Sunset Harbor - Southport, North Carolina Sharp Mountain Preserve - Jasper, Georgia Somersby Park - Hendersonville, North Carolina Southbridge - Savannah, Georgia Southern Hills Plantation Club - Brooksville, Florida Southern Woods - Homosassa, Florida Spring Island - Spring Island, South Carolina Spruce Creek Country Club by Del Webb - Summerfield, Florida St. James Plantation - Southport, North Carolina Sugarloaf Country Club - Duluth, Georgia Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club - Superstition Mountain, Arizona Symphony Village - Centreville, Maryland Tellico Village - Loudon, Tennessee Tesoro - Port St. Lucie, Florida Teton Springs - Teton Valley, Idaho The Abaco Club on Winding Bay - Marsh Harbour, Bahamas The Cliffs at Walnut Cove - Asheville, North Carolina The Cliffs Communities - Travelers Rest, South Carolina The Enclave - Savannah, Georgia The Ford Plantation - Richmond Hill, Georgia The Landings on Skidaway Island - Savannah, Georgia The Peninsula on The Indian River Bay - Millsboro, Delaware The Powder Horn - Sheridan, Wyoming The Ramble - Asheville, North Carolina The Reserve at Lake Keowee - Sunset, South Carolina The Reserve at Litchfield - Pawleys Island, South Carolina The Retreat - Lewisburg, West Virginia The Ridges at Mountain Harbour - Hayesville, North Carolina The Settings of Black Mountain - Black Mountain, North Carolina The Settings of Mackay Point - Jasper County, South Carolina Tidelands - Palm Coast, Florida Trillium - Cashiers, North Carolina Tucan Country Club & Resort - Balboa, Panama Turks & Caicos Sporting Club - Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands Verrado - Buckeye, Arizona Virginia Heritage at Lee's Parke - Fredericksburg, Virginia Vista at Bill's Mountain - Lake Lure, North Carolina Vista at The Riverbank - Tryon, North Carolina Wakefield Plantation - Raleigh, North Carolina WaterColor - Seagrove Beach, Florida Waterfall at Lake Burton - Clayton, Georgia Waterford of the Carolinas - Leland, North Carolina West Bay Club - Estero, Florida Winchester Country Club - Meadow Vista, California Windswept - Morristown, Tennessee Woodside Plantation - Aiken, South Carolina Wyboo Plantation - Manning, South Carolina Arizona California Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Maryland Michigan Nevada North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wyoming Bahamas Canada Dominican Republic Jamaica Panama Turks And Caicos Islands Destination Clubs and Luxury Travel New! 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When Your Home Is on the Line: home More and more lenders are offering home equity lines of credit. By using the equity in your home, you may qualify for a sizable amount of credit, available for use when and how you please, at an interest rate that is relatively low. Furthermore, under the tax law--depending on your specific situation--you may be allowed to deduct the interest because the debt is secured by your home. If you are in the market for credit, a home equity plan may be right for you. Or perhaps another form of credit would be better. Before making a decision, you should weigh carefully the costs of a home equity line against the benefits. Shop for the credit terms that best meet your borrowing needs without posing undue financial risk. And remember, failure to repay the amounts you've borrowed, plus interest, could mean the loss of your home. What is a home equity line? What should you look for? How will you repay your home equity plan? Lines of credit vs. traditional second mortgage loans Disclosures from lenders What is a home equity line of credit? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumer's largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses. With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credit--your credit limit , the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the home's appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage. For example, [D] In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history. Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this "draw period," you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the "repayment period"), for example, 10 years. Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line. There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up. What should you look for when shopping for a plan? If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so you'll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders. Interest rate charges and related plan features Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value of the index at a particular time plus a " margin ," such as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin. Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for home equitylines--a rate that is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months. Variable-rate plans secured by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap ) on how much your interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest rate may fall if interest rates drop. Some lenders allow you to convert from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment loan. Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap. Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you pay when you buy a home. For example, A fee for a property appraisal to estimate the value of your home An application fee , which may not be refunded if you are turned down for credit Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit) Closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes. In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line. You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lender's risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs. How will you repay your home equity plan? Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends. Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan. Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the plan--whether youpay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loan--when the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this " balloon payment " by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home. If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period. If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your homeequity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement. Lines of credit vs. traditional second mortgage loans If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home. In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently: The APR for a traditional second mortgage loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line of credit is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges. Disclosures from lenders The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change. When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all fees--including any application and appraisal fees--paid to open the account. The material on this site is adapted from the brochure "When Your Home Is on the Line." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax . Order on line . Glossary | Where to go for help | Checklist Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures Accessibility To comment on this site, please fill out our feedback form. Last update: July 25, 2001