home mortgage loans, including

FRB: Understanding the Home Mortgage Process Where to Shop and What to Look For Skip to content The Mortgage Application Process Understanding Your Rights to Fair Lending Directory of Federal Agencies Mortgage home Once you have found the home of your choice, you may think that your shopping days are over. Actually, only the first phase has been completed. Next comes finding a mortgage and payment terms that fit your budget. Where you shop and what you look for are important. You might start by looking for a mortgage at the bank where you have your checking or savings account. But don’t limit yourself. A wide variety of institutions make home mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, commercial banks, mutual savings banks, and mortgage companies. The mortgages these institutions offer will have varying features. One way to find the creditor with the most attractively priced loan is to look in your local newspaper; check to see if it publishes a shoppers guide to mortgage credit. These shoppers guides are available in many localities and can be used to identify the lenders with low rates. But, basically, the way to find the loan with the most attractive terms is to shop around. You should have in mind some of the things to look for in a mortgage loan. For example, what types of loans are available from a given institution? Does the lender make privately or federally insured or guaranteed loans? Some lenders offer mortgage loans backed by a federal agency such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans). Loans that are not government-insured are called conventional mortgages. Insured mortgages may be more attractive than conventional mortgages in some ways--such as lower down payment requirements. But they may be more restrictive in other ways; for example, they may be available only for certain kinds of homes, or for properties whose value is below a specified price. Other factors important to your mortgage decision are the length of the loan and the down payment required by the lender. The longer the term and the larger the down payment, the smaller your monthly payments will be. The interest rate is important too, and in some cases the amount of the down-payment will influence the interest rate that you pay (the larger the down payment, the lower the interest rate). In addition, mortgage loans may have interest rates that will stay fixed for the life of the loan (fixed-rate mortgages), that may change (adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs), or that represent a combination of fixed and variable rates (convertible mortgages). The initial rate of an ARM is generally lower than the rate available on a fixed-rate mortgage; but remember, the rate may change during the lifetime of the loan. Don’t hesitate to ask the lender how one loan differs from another, how the different features of the loan will affect the mortgage, or whether your chances to qualify would improve if you made a higher down payment. When you're shopping around, you will find that some home mortgage lenders have special programs to assist veterans and low-income or first-time homebuyers. Ask the lender if such programs are available. Home | Brochures Accessibility To comment on this site, please fill out our feedback form. Last update: June 21, 2001

Buy Home

Amazon.com: Back Home: Music Your Store Music See All 32 Product Categories   Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | advanced search | browse styles | classical | top sellers | new & future releases | music you should hear | blowout music | used music | free downloads Search Amazon.com Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . MUSIC INFORMATION Explore this album buying info listen to samples editorial reviews customer reviews RATE THIS ALBUM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Visit the DVD Store Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005 DVD Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . 120 used & new from $4.75 Available for in-store pickup now from: $16.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Back Home Eric Clapton List Price: $18.98 Price: $13.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details . You Save: $5.49 (29%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours 120 used & new from $4.75 See more product details Best Value Buy Back Home and get American Made World Played at an additional $2 off Amazon.com's everyday low price. Total List Price : $37.96 Buy Together Today: $25.48 You Save : $12.48 Click here for promotion rules Customers who bought this title also bought: Souls Alike ~ Bonnie Raitt A Bigger Bang ~ The Rolling Stones Magic Time ~ Van Morrison Prairie Wind ~ Neil Young 80 ~ B.B. King Chaos and Creation in the Backyard ~ Paul McCartney Wildflower ~ Sheryl Crow Devils & Dust [DualDisc] ~ Bruce Springsteen Explore Similar Items : 20 in Music , 20 in DVD , and 20 in Books What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? More than 33% buy CDs from The Bob Dylan Bootleg Series . 26% buy this item(Back Home~ Eric Clapton 12% buy Cost of Living ~ Delbert McClinton 6% buy Hillbilly Deluxe ~ Brooks & Dunn 4% buy All That I Am ~ Santana 4% buy The Word Is Live ~ Yes 2% buy At Carnegie Hall, Vol. 1-4 (Chicago IV) ~ Chicago Explore Similar Items : 9 in Music , 9 in DVD , and 9 in Books Product Details Audio CD (August 30, 2005) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Warner Bros / Wea ASIN: B000A3DFZE Average Customer Review: Based on 114 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #248 in Music Yesterday: #215 in Music Popular in: Osseo, MN(#13) , Coventry, RI(#13) . See more Customers interested in Eric Clapton may also be interested in Sponsored Links ( What's this? ) Feedback Eric Clapton Songs Download Your Favorite Songs 100% Free And Legal! www.GetMusicFree.com Eric Clapton Concert 01/06/06 Ahoy Rotterdam Bestel uw tickets op onze website www.onlineticketshop.nl Listen to Samples To hear a song sample, click on the "Listen ." Visit our audio help page for more information. 1. So Tired Listen Listen 2. Say What You Will Listen Listen 3. Im Going Left Listen Listen 4. Love Dont Love Nobody Listen Listen 5. Revolution Listen Listen 6. Love Comes To Everyone Listen Listen 7. Lost And Found Listen Listen 8. Piece Of My Heart Listen Listen 9. One Day Listen Listen 10. One Track Mind Listen Listen 11. Run Home To Me Listen Listen 12. Back Home Listen Listen Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Back Home is Eric Clapton in a good mood, filled with upbeat toe-tappers about hearth and home (a young child even puts in a cameo on "So Tired"). Blues-rock ("Lost and Found"), reggae ("Revolution"), and R&B (the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody") mingle comfortably with laid-back pop (George Harrison's "Love Comes to Everyone"). Recorded around the same time as Me and Mr. Johnson , his bestselling collection of Robert Johnson songs, Clapton's first recording of (mostly) original material since 2001's Reptile is a combination of solo compositions, covers, and collaborations with writing partner Simon Climie. Backing musicians include John Mayer (guitar), Blind Faith mate Steve Winwood (synthesizer), and longtime associate Billy Preston (keyboards), whose expertise with the Hammond B3 shines brightest on the Vince Gill cowritten "One Day". There are no real surprises on Back Home , just Clapton doing what he does best--with an extra spring in his step. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Album Description Back Home, Eric Clapton's first album of original material in several years, follows this summer's historic and heralded Cream reunion and 2004's gold, Top 10 Me and Mr. Johnson covers disc (and it's audio/video companion, Sessions for Robert J). With Back Home, three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 16-time Grammy winner Clapton finds his way home with another modern classic. Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 104 of 126 people found the following review helpful: A happy Eric is not Eric... , September 2, 2005 Reviewer: Albert G. Smith Jr. (Daytona Beach, Fl USA)- See all my reviews I am torn here. In the review I posted for the last Mark Knopfler CD, I defended the lower prominence of lead guitar, based on the fact that this is 20-something years later than "Sultans of Swing", and an artist grows, as they should. I tried to apply this same standard to this Clapton album, but it just doesn't work for me. Knopfler might have cut back on the guitar gymnastics, but the tone and subject matter of the songs remain that same Knopfler that made me buy all of those albums. A happy Clapton is not Clapton. I'm glad his life is going well, but this also might prove that art comes from suffering. I am not a casual fan. I have every Clapton release (some on old vinyl), and tracked every vintage of his career. I can throw an old disc on that I have heard a thousand times, and experience it like new every time. I'm afraid "Back Home" will soon be relegated to the back of my CD shelf next to the dusty Pilgrim and Reptile discs. Thanks for the decades of great music Eric, but it looks like the days of buying every new album sight unseen has reached the end. I wanted to like this disc, I really did. 3 stars because this is technically a fine recording. The two missing stars are for the missing desire for me to listen to this disc after the first couple of tries. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 33 of 37 people found the following review helpful: In a nutshell - pleasant, but unexciting , September 20, 2005 Reviewer: Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)- See all my reviews It's been about five years since Eric Clapton delivered an album with original material. Of the twelve songs, Clapton has writing credits for five, including the first single "Revolution", a reggae-based song reminiscent of "I Shot the Sheriff", except unlike the latter, this one is a somewhat flat, unexciting track. Boosted by guest appearances, the album mixes reggae, R&B, pop and country. Contributors include George Harrison, who wrote "Love Comes to Everyone"; The Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody"; "I'm Going Left" from Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright; plus Vince Gill, Steve Winwood and John Mayer among others. Most of the songs can be classified as "easy listening" and can evoke the occasional head bob and hum, but they're all relatively standard songs, with nothing really worth shouting about. An average album, and not one of Clapton's best, something like an Oreo cookie without the good stuff inside. Rated 3.5 stars Amanda Richards, September 21, 2005 Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Middle of the Road , December 29, 2005 Reviewer: John Harwell (Grove City, OH USA)- See all my reviews Eric Clapton's new CD is not Eric Clapton. That's as plain as I can say it. The majority of the cuts are lilting Top-40ish sounding ditties about love and kids and general non-offensive subjects. The few blues sounding cuts have huge organ runs and what sounds like an entire choir backing his vocals. Orchestrated Blues? C'mon. There will probably huge numbers of fans who like this album, but they are NOT Eric Clapton fans. This is purely a generic "hit" album. I am not saying EC should not do happy songs, but I did not buy the CD for this "kinder, gentler" music. I personally want raw guitar and damnable blues. He is too talented for this pop album. Pure middle of the road. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) What's wrong with this album? , December 29, 2005 Reviewer: Andrew Brooks (Carson, California)- See all my reviews After one listen, particularly after the jigging "So Tired," I started liking this album immediately. It's an easy-listening/bluesy album about love, introspection ("Back Home" comes to mind), family, and belonging. I don't understand why people only listen to just Eric Clapton's guitar and not his vocal. The singer's vocal, as well as his/her instrument, is what sets the mood for the song. Just like that saying in "Death of a Salesman," it's not "what you say." It's how you say it. And here, Eric Clapton says it well. He's happy, he's living life to its fullest, and he wants his audience to know it. A person doesn't always have to be depressed in order to make good music. Eric Clapton is one of THEE best musicians that have ever lived, next to Bob Dylan. Give the man a break. :-) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: quit knockin a great master , December 27, 2005 Reviewer: Patrick Tsushima (San Diego, CA USA)- See all my reviews Clapton has been through more than any other musician alive the only part he may have been beat on is the drugs by say perhaps ozzy but clapton can still talk like a normal person. Anyhow point is this album may not be his classic heavy blues and whiskeyed downtime kind of thing, but for some jack ass to say that a sad clapton is not clapton annoys me enough to waste my damn time writing this stupid review when I could be playing the git fiddle I was juts and will be in just a second laying on my lap. That jackass may not be a casual eric clapton fan but he probably doesn't play guitar otherwise he would know how to critique a guitarist singer, without making himself look like a fool, and yes jackass too. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Give him a break, he's happy! , December 23, 2005 Reviewer: C. Lyons (Phoenix, AZ USA)- See all my reviews I have been a fan of Eric Clapton since he was in Cream, and have every one of his CDs. I think that Mr. Clapton has earned the right to let his fans know that he has found love and happiness in his beautiful wife and children. I think he has accomplished that without being untrue to his roots. I for one, and happy that he has found happiness and I am enjoying this toe-tapping CD! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 114 customer reviews... Customers who bought titles by Eric Clapton also bought titles by these artists: Derek & The Dominos John Mayall Cream Allman Brothers Band Jimi Hendrix Explore similar artists So You'd Like To... Stock up on these great things. :by Philipa C. Field , SL Interpreter, shopper, parent Have A Fundamental Eric Clapton Collection :by Mike Vegas King , A Journeyman Fan delete a "so you'd like to?" but can't? lol :by MovedbyMusic , can find loopholes anywhere Listmania! What"s in the CD changer right now :A list by Earl Biringer , Music Listener The Rolling Stones Studio Albums :A list by DEAN M. Dent , Musician Bonnie Raitt: Blue Angel From ... Southern California! :A list by Themis-Athena , a rock music fan Browse for music in: Styles > Pop > Adult Contemporary > General Styles > International > Europe > British Isles > Britain Styles > Pop > General Styles > Rock > General Travel > Music for Travelers > Europe > British Isles > Britain Feedback I have listened to this recording, and I want to review it. Tell a friend about this album . Write a So You'd Like to... guide . Check Purchase Circles . Is there a specific product you'd like us to sell? Tell us about it. Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. 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Real Estate Investing

National Real Estate Investor - commercial real estate investing and development About Us | Contact Us | Advertising | For Search Partners | Privacy Policy Sort by Date Relevancy Resources and Services Capital Markets Center Retail Tenant Directory Best of the Best Industry News Developer News Broker News Area Reviews Executive Q&A Office Multifamily Retail Industrial Hotel Net Lease/1031 Exchanges REIT Updates Investors Capital Markets Property Management Corporate Real Estate Technology Tax Issues First Word Financing Today Money & Real Estate Tax Notes Washington Wire Last Word Retail Traffic Industry Associations Data Points Home -- Kelo Verdict Bolsters Private Development As Public Use -- TIME TO SELL? New research from National Real Estate Investor and Retail Traffic , and sponsored by Hutensky Capital Partners, provides insights on the climate for shopping center sales. Click here to download . December's Cover Story Forecast 2006: Five trends driving the industry Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM While mounting pressures may produce cracks in the economic recovery in 2006, the nation is on track to close out 2005 on a resilient note. Real GDP growth... More -- FEATURED DOWNLOAD 100 Ways to Save Costs in your Retail Operation Supplement For ways to save on day-to-day operational products and services, be sureto to download a copy of our 100+ Ways to Save including a complete listing ofSimon Preferred Vendors and Service Providers. Clickhere to download . News Articles GE/Arden Deal Caps Big M&A Year Dec 28, 2005 3:32 AM When General Electric agreed to buy office real estate investment trust (REIT) Arden Realty last Thursday, the $3.2 billion deal capped a heady year for REIT mergers. Not only is the southern California-based office landlord the eighth publicly-traded REIT to change hands this year in roughly $20 billion worth of deals, but its also further evidence that institutional capital still has a voracious appetite for real estate. And December proved to be an especially active month for REIT mergers: Centerpoint Properties Trust was sold to a joint venture earlier this month for $2.4 billion.... More -- Ground Zero Waiting Game Dec 21, 2005 1:49 PM Four years after the 9-11 attacks, lower Manhattans office market is on the mend. But 7 World Trade Center, one of the first towers to rise along Ground Zero, is lagging behind the recovery with just 40,000 sq. ft. of its entire 1.7 million sq. ft. leased as of late December. The problem, say brokerage sources, are the above-market rents at 7 World Trade Center, which is being developed by Silverstein Properties and is slated for occupancy in March. ... More -- D.C. Hotel Property Sold Dec 21, 2005 10:57 AM LaSalle Hotel Properties has bought a downtown Washington, D.C. hotel for $44.6 million. The hotel REIT also plans to invest another $21 million into the Holiday Inn Downtown. ... More -- GE Buys Swedish Office Tower Dec 21, 2005 10:55 AM GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has bought the leasehold to Gta Ark, an office building located in downtown Stockholm. The purchase price amounts to roughly $57 million (U.S.). Approximately 28% of the property is leased to the Local Authority of Stockholm. This is the second office property that GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has acquired in Stockholm since last summer. ... More -- GE Lends To Investment Fund Operator Dec 21, 2005 10:54 AM GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has closed a $28.7 million transaction with HEI Hospitality for the HEI acquisition of the 250-room, full service Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport. ... More -- Hoteliers Eye Booming 2006: Report Dec 16, 2005 11:48 AM The U.S. hotel industry should post record profits in 2006, based on a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers hospitality practice. Not only is 2006 likely to bring record profits but also the industry should expect two more years of solid growth. ... More -- No Worries On Non-Core Industrial Development Spike Dec 14, 2005 1:34 PM Planned development activity in secondary and tertiary industrial markets set a blistering pace in the third quarter with 38.5 million sq. ft. of new construction starts, reports CB Richard Ellis. That was up from only 16 million sq. ft. in the second quarter. Whats more interesting, however, is that a full third of that third quarter activity was initiated in secondary and tertiary industrial markets rather than the major shipping hubs on the west and east coast. ... More -- Property Fund Launched Dec 9, 2005 4:24 PM Henderson Global Investors has launched an open-ended, commingled real estate fund that will invest in a range property classes. The fund will chiefly buy apartment, retail, industrial and office properties located in select U.S. markets. Henderson Global Investors manages more than $10.1 billion in assets. ... More -- CB Richard Ellis and Trammell Crow Agree… The top 2 U.S. asset managers -- CB Richard Ellis and Trammell Crow -- have all moved to the Realm PAY Platform for Paper-Free A/P. Click here to discover why. The Best of the Best 2005 Oct 20, 2005 1:55 PM National Real Estate Investor presents its annual rankings of the leading commerical real estate companies. Intent on shedding its image as a highly fragmented industry, commercial real estate continues to experience a wave of consolidation. For industry veterans, it's like watching a game of PacMan. The giants of the industry are gobbling up smaller players and each other at a healthy clip.... More -- IN PRINT Current issue Hurricane Winds Blow Through Condo Market Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM The condo market in Miami-Dade County, which is bursting at the seams with new construction and intense investor demand, took an unexpected hit in October... More -- Unlocking Building Value Through Repositioning Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM One of the most striking buildings on Chicago's skyline is CNA Center. Since it was built in 1972, the 1.3 million sq. ft. red tower has operated as a... More -- Why Public REITs Are Going Private Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM During the early 1990s, private real estate companies with large portfolios rushed to become public real estate investment trusts. Now the pendulum has... More -- Magazine Subscriptions Email Newsletter Advertiser Information Online Marketplace Back to Top © 2005 Primedia Business Magazines and Media. 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Texas Land Title Abstracts

AncestryLibrary.com- Search Texas Land Title Abstracts Sorry, we were unable to authenticate you. Click here to login Texas Land Title Abstracts Description: This database contains abstracts of original titles located in the archives of the Texas General Land Office in Austin, Texas. The records provide information about lands granted and transferred within the state of Texas including those dated in the 1700s. Fields of information include the district name (a three-letter code) the county, page in original document, grantee, patentee, date, volume, description/location, acreage, class, file, and any additional data found in the record. This database will prove useful for those seeking ancestors in Texas. Thanks to the Texas General Land Office who have worked with Ancestry.com to update this database with current and accurate information. Extended Description: The following are the prefix codes for land districts in Texas: AUS ------- Austin LAM Lamar BAS ------- Bastrop LIB Liberty BEX ------- Bexar MAT Matagorda BOW ------ Bowie MIL Milam BRA ------- Brazoria MON Montgomery BRS ------- Brazos NAC Nacogdoches COL ------ Colorado PAN Panola FAN ------ Fannin PAS Paschall FAY ------ Fayette RED Red River FOR ------ Fort Bend REF Refugio GAL ------ Galveston ROB Robertson GOL ------ Goliad RUS Rusk GON ------ Gonzales SAB Sabine HAR ------ Harris SAU San Augustine HAS ------ Harrison SHE Shelby HOU ------ Houston SPA San Patricio JAC ------ Jackson TRA Travis JAS ------ Jasper VIC Victoria JEF ------ Jefferson Requests for more information about a name found in the land title abstracts of Texas may be obtained for $5.00 from the Texas General Land Office. Please click on the link to access the name submission form. (Link here) Upon completion of the form, please mail the form and fee to the following address: Texas General Land Office Stephen F. Austin Bldg. 1700 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701-1495 http://www.glo.state.tx.us/archives.html Source Information: Ancestry.com. Texas Land Title Abstracts [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original data: Texas General Land Office. Abstracts of all original Texas Land Titles comprising Grants and Locations . Austin, Texas: , 19--.

Sell House

Tips on Buying and Selling Your House Remarked out per Bob Gent 4/11/02 -- TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME MORE QUICKLY Owners can help expedite the sale of their home by following a few guidelines to make the house more attractive to potential buyers. A thorough self-inspection and a walk-through with your real estate agent can reveal imperfections that might hinder a sale. (Please note: in Washington state, as in many other states, the seller must complete a "Real Property Transfer Disclosure Statement" form about the condition of property being offered for sale. Material defects must be disclosed.) House-hunters typically begin their inspection of a property bypreviewing its "curb appeal." A surprising number ofhomes are eliminated from consideration before potential buyersget out of their car because they find the exterior appearanceunsightly or uninviting. Following are some basic suggestions for improving the marketabilityof your home. Examine the lawn and flower gardens, making sure the lawnis mowed and free of drainage problems. Colorful flowers andshrubs can enhance the home's attractiveness. Check the sidewalks and driveway to make sure they're freeof weeds and clutter. Inspect the home's exterior, looking for loose, missing ordamaged siding and brickwork, a cracked and uneven foundation,and gutters, downspouts or fences that are in disrepair. Paintor repair any problem areas. Clear the decks! Clean decks, patios and steps, removingunnecessary furniture, toys and debris. Tidy up any pet areas. Inspect the front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain anda clean doormat can help create an inviting "first impression." Check lighting, making sure pathways and entry have adequateillumination. Inside the home, you should conduct an equally thorough inspection,since potential buyers are likely to open doors and cupboards,look into, look behind and operate everything to make sure thehome offers the space, layout and features they need. Extensiveredecorating isn't usually recommended, but all rooms should beclean and clutter-free. Think "light," "bright,""open" and "airy." Clear rooms (including closets and storage areas) of everythingbut the basics. Arrange furniture so rooms look spacious. Remove clutter from the basement and garage. Sweep floors,degrease spots and dust. Have carpets and drapes professionally cleaned. Patch walls and ceiling cracks, then repaint or wallpaper,using neutral shades. Check the basement for musty smells and signs of mildew orleaks, correcting any defects. Inspect bathroom and kitchen fixtures to make sure they sparkle,are leak-free and are otherwise functioning well. Remove stainsfrom countertops, sinks, tubs and showers. Test major mechanical components, including the furnace, waterheater and electrical system. Make sure windows and doors open and close easily. Replacecracked or scratched glass. Be aware of the amount and type of insulation. DETERMINING HOW MUCH HOUSE YOU CAN AFFORD Low mortgage rates and special incentives for first-time buyersare making the dream of home ownership a reality for more individualsand families. As you begin your search, you'll want to determinehow much house you can afford and what type of mortgage is bestfor your budget. In general, four factors will influence your ability to buy thatdream home. They are: how much of a down payment you will make. The more cash youput down, the less you'll have to borrow. the amount you need to borrow (your mortgage) to cover a monthlypayment for the loan principal (amount borrowed), interest ("price"charged for your use of the lender's money), taxes ( a portionof property taxes), and insurance. the mortgage interest rate. the repayment terms of your loan. When applying for a mortgage, your current earnings and expectedincome during the next few years may influence your borrowingpower. Outstanding long-term debt and how long you expect tostay in the home you're buying may also be considered. Most realty agents recommend getting preliminary approval fora loan, usually by getting "pre-qualified" or "pre-approved"for a certain monthly payment. Getting approved for a loan requireshaving a lender verify your financial situation, including yourcurrent assets (income, savings, investments and other sourcesof revenue) and your liabilities (existing loans, credit cardbalances and other obligations). Using this information, thelender will evaluate whether there are sufficient funds for thedown payment, whether you have adequate income to make monthlypayments, and your overall credit-worthiness, which is based ona review of your borrowing history. According to many real estate professionals and lenders, the biggestreason people get turned down for a loan is poor credit. Reviewingyour credit status and correcting any mistakes before applyingfor a loan can help you avoid surprises or disappointments. Consumersmay request a copy of their credit report from one of three majorreporting services: Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 Trans Union: 1-800-851-2674 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) A small fee may apply, although if you've been denied credit recently,federal law mandates that the lender tell you which company suppliedthe information. You have a right to a free copy of your reportfrom that company so long as you request it within 30 days ofthe credit denial. Pre-qualification, based on numbers you supply to a lender, isan indication of the range of what you can afford. Getting pre-qualifiedis neither a commitment to loan you money, nor is it an obligationby you to borrow from a particular lender. Lenders typically use one of two guidelines when evaluating aloan request. Most lenders will limit the loan amount to a percentageof your gross monthly income or to a multiple of your annualhousehold income. As a general rule, individuals or families can usually handlea housing payment that amounts to 25- to-28 percent of their grossmonthly income. Following this guideline, if gross monthly incomeis $3,500, monthly payments (inclusive of taxes and insurance)in the range of $875 to $980 are considered reasonable. Somelenders use an alternate ratio that allows 36 percent of totalmonthly income for housing expenses and other long-term debts,such as car loans, credit card payments and obligations for childsupport. (Monthly living expenses for utilities, groceries, entertainment,medical and auto insurance are not calculated in this formula.) Another guideline, based on gross annual household income, assumesmost borrowers can afford up to 2.5 times their gross annual income. This means a borrower with total income of $40,000 may qualifyfor a loan of up to $100,000. Whether using a "multiplier method" or a "percentagemethod," prospective home buyers should allow for closingcosts and moving expenses. (Closing costs are the fees and taxesthat are paid when the deed is transferred. These usually amountto 5-to-10 percent of the mortgage amount. Moving expenses includecosts for movers, as well as "move-in" deposits forutilities and other "necessities"). Many lenders provide work sheets and charts to help you calculateyour borrowing power, along tables so you can compare paymentsat different rates and for different loan periods. (Some realestate brokers and financial institutions even have "mortgagecalculators" on their Internet site to help you determinewhat you can afford.) Your borrowing power can be increased with favorable interestrates and terms. With lower rates, you can borrow more money. Different types of loans and the duration of the payback periodwill influence the interest rate that will be applied to yourmortgage. In general, the shorter the term of the loan, the lowerthe interest rate. There are dozens of different types of mortgage programs froma wide variety of financial institutions, including mortgage companies,saving and loan associations, commercial banks and credit unions. Prudent consumers will find it pays to compare options to findthe right loan for their particular situation. THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS) A multiple listing service is a system for collecting and organizinginformation on available properties in a given area. Such informationis shared by members who agree to cooperate with each other andto abide by certain operating procedures. This service enablesbuyers to have a vast selection of homes to consider, while sellersbenefit from having their property exposed to a large networkof real estate professionals and their clients. Most brokers in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma area are members of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), formerly called Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association (PSMLA). More than 1,300 companies with approximately 15,000 licensed sales professionals currently belong to this independent association. In addition to its primary function of maintaining a comprehensive database on thousands of properties, NWMLS produces various legal forms, publications and reports for its members. The "multiple" also maintains an electronic keybox system, which allows access to listings by authorized agents. Other benefits include an array of computerized services to assist with property searches, financial analysis, communications between offices, and access to data on property taxes, local schools and other information. Ongoing training and technical support are also available to NWMLS brokers and agents.