Real Estate Agent By

BuyMyself - Canale, IRED Attitude & News Home Directories Int'l Realty US Realty BuyMyself Choosing A Real Estate Agent By Stephen M. Canale, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA There's a common saying in the real estate industry regarding the vast number of agents in the business: "If you don't have any friends who are agents, then you probably don't have any friends at all." With so many agent out there, how can you make an intelligent decision? Do you choose a friend, neighbor or coworker? Should you work with an agent at a large firm, a small firm, a franchise or an independent? While there's an exception to every rule, and every marketplace has its own nuances, here are some solid rules to apply when you want the best representation to protect your interests. Demand Experience The real estate profession is plagued by high turnover. This creates a workforce that is made up of many newcomers. While there are brand new agents with good intentions, why trust one of the largest investment you'll ever buy or sell to someone without experience? Always look for an agent with at least two years of experience. Anyone still in the business after two years has probably learned at least the fundamentals of real estate. Look for Commitment Another problem we have in the industry is a large number of part time and recreational salespeople. These folks have either retired from some other career, work in real estate seasonally or are earning a second income for the family and honestly don't need to work full time. No matter how long they have been in real estate, their lack of full-time commitment makes it impossible for them to keep up with the vast changes in law, marketing and business practices that are occurring in the profession today. If an agent isn't working at least thirty hours a week, fifty weeks a year, look for someone else. Consider Education In the majority of states, the requirements for real estate licensing are substantially less than those for cutting hair. In Michigan, for example, all that is required is a forty-hour class and a multiple choice test. You cannot rely on licensing to indicate competence. And, unfortunately, many agent's real estate education ends with their pre-license education. While there are numerous advanced real estate education courses available, the only technical and competence based program available nationwide is the Graduate, REALTORS® Institute (GRI) series, which is administered under the direction of the National Association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR® who completes the fifteen eight-hour modules, and passes examinations, may then use the designation of GRI. While only 15%-20% of agents have earned this accreditation, it should not be too difficult finding a GRI in your marketplace as they will commonly print the designation behind their name in advertising as well as on letterhead and business cards. Conduct Interviews Before you hire an agent to help you buy or sell a home, you should interview at least three agents in person. In order to do this, first get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. Then look on the web, in homes magazines and the local newspaper to see what kind of marketing the various companies are doing in your area and call a few that impress you. Then make brief fact-finding calls to determine which of the agents on your list are full time, experienced and either hold the GRI designation or are at least working aggressively toward it. You will probably need to call ten to fifteen agents in order to find three that are worth interviewing. The interview itself need not be a formal one. It is simply an opportunity for you to meet the candidate and explain your needs; and to determine whether you would be comfortable working with them. Ask whatever questions you like, or simply explain your goals and listen carefully to what they propose to do for you in meeting your needs. The decision If you follow the suggestions above, you will find that there are excellent agents working for firms both large and small; both franchised and independent. Thus, the real decision must be made based on the competency of the individual agent you will be working with on a day-to-day basis. Stephen M. Canale is President, Broker/Instructor of Acclaim Residential Marketing Ann Arbor, Michigan | IRED Home | Search IRED | © 1995-2005 IRED.Com, Inc All Rights Reserved

NEW HOMES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT

News Room : ENERGY STAR What is ENERGY STAR? | Newsroom Search History Partners News Archive Awards Media Resources PRODUCTS HOME IMPROVEMENT NEW HOMES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PARTNER RESOURCES -- Home > News Room -- -- News Room ENERGY STAR in the News What's New: Program Highlights Half of the States Join ENERGY STAR Challenge (December 2005) Half of the states across the nation are joining with the EPA to address critical energy issues in our communities in conjunction with EPA's ENERGY STAR Challenge. Through the ENERGY STAR Challenge, state governments will offer a variety of programs to help building owners assess how much energy their buildings use now, establish efficiency improvement goals of 10 percent or greater portfolio-wide, and make efficiency improvements wherever cost effective. EPA Press Release List of Participating States (87KB) More Information Businesses: Save on Energy Bills this Winter (November 2005) American businesses are experiencing higher than ever energy prices, which are expected to continue this winter. EPA has advice almost any business can take to save 10% or more on their energy bills this winter. The advice shares lessons learned from EPA's ENERGY STAR partners who have saved through simple steps and adopted longer term energy management strategies with even greater savings. If every business in the US saved 10% on their energy bills, Americans would save about $10 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 15 million vehicles. EPA Press Release Advice for Saving Energy EPA Recognizes 18 Leading Organizations for Efforts to Cut Energy Bills (October 2005) On October 26, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson recognized 18 organizations as ENERGY STAR Leaders for achieving significant energy savings and leading their industries in responding to EPA's ENERGY STAR Building Challenge. The ENERGY STAR Commercial Building Challenge, launched in Spring 2005, encourages building owners and managers to make their buildings at least 10% more efficient. EPA Press Release Fact Sheet (66KB) Leader Profiles (36KB) More Information on the ENERGY STAR Challenge Save Energy this Winter with help from ENERGY STAR (October 2005) In the face of higher energy bills this winter, the EPA encourages everyone to take action in their home to be more energy efficient. The average American household spends $1,500 annually on energy bills — a number that may go up as much as 50 percent this year. EPA offers five places to look and practical advice for home energy savings. EPA Press Release Home Energy Quiz (240KB) More Information K-12 Schools take the ENERGY STAR Challenge (October 2005) Ten leading associations representing state school boards, superintendents, principals, facility planners, parents, and teachers are joining with the EPA to address critical energy issues in our nation's K-12 schools. Currently, the nation's more than 17,000 K-12 schools spend $5 billion on energy bills each year. However, school districts can save up to 30 percent on their energy bills through cost-effective energy efficiency improvements. Through the ENERGY STAR Challenge, school decision-makers assess how much energy school districts use now, establish efficiency improvement goals of 10 percent or greater district-wide, and make efficiency improvements wherever cost effective. EPA Press Release Fact Sheet (82KB) Participants List (62KB) More Information EPA and DOE Announce ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day (October 2005) EPA and DOE, together with more than half of US Governors, declared October 5th ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day, and encouraged every American to change a light in their home to one that is more energy efficient. Lighting accounts for 20 percent of a home's electricity costs. ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs reduce household energy bills because they use one-third the energy of traditional lighting and last up to 10 times longer. This small step can make a big difference for our nation's energy resources and environment. EPA Press Release Campaign Fast Facts (98KB) Governors Declaring ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day (307KB) 250+ Participating Organizations (628KB) Take the Pledge EPA Raises the Bar for New Homes to Earn ENERGY STAR Label (September 2005) Builders of new homes in the United States will have to significantly increase the energy efficiency of their homes to meet the new ENERGY STAR requirements which take effect July 1, 2006. To qualify under the revised ENERGY STAR specifications, new homes must have higher levels of insulation inspected for proper installation; complete framing and air barrier assemblies that enable insulation to perform at its full rated value; windows that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR requirements; high-efficiency and properly sized heating and cooling equipment appropriate to the climate; and more energy-efficient water heating, lighting and appliances. EPA Press Release More information ENERGY STAR Annual Report Released (September 2005) EPA recently released its annual report summarizing the success of ENERGY STAR and other voluntary climate protection programs. The report summarizes the accomplishments of these programs for 2004. For example, Americans, with the help of the ENERGY STAR, avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million automobiles – up from 18 million in 2003 – while saving $10 billion on their energy bills. EPA Press Release 2004 Annual Report (1.27MB) New Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency Announced (July 2005) On July 11 the EPA, DOE and HUD announced a new multi-agency effort, the Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency, to bring greater energy efficiency to the U.S. housing market to save 10 percent or more on home energy bills over the next decade. A 10 percent savings would total almost $20 billion a year, help increase the affordability and comfort of homes, reduce demand for natural gas by more than 1 quad, avoid the need for 40 power plants and avoid the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 25 million vehicles. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR plays a large role in delivering these savings to consumers. EPA/HUD/DOE Press Release Report: Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency (3.00MB) Overview Fact Sheet: Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency (247KB) Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (141KB) ENERGY STAR Products for American Homes (186KB) Quality Installation for Air Conditioning Equipment (109KB) Case Studies: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Aurora, CO (137KB) Austin, TX (131KB) Fresno, CA (214KB) Ithaca, NY (216KB) Manlius, NY (88KB) St. Louis, MO (146KB) Suwanee, GA (108KB) EPA Announces Energy Performance Indicator for Auto Assembly Plants (June 2005) The energy efficiency of automobile assembly plants can now be rated on a national basis. EPA has recently made available a tool to help the automobile industry evaluate the energy performance of its assembly plants. This tool, the first of its kind for a manufacturing facility, compares the energy efficiency of any assembly plant producing passenger cars, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans in the U.S. to that of the entire industry. EPA Press Release Auto Assembly Plant Energy Performance Indicator EPA Offers Smart Ways to Stay Cool this Summer (June 2005) Energy use escalates when hot summer days set in across the nation. EPA's ENERGY STAR program is offering advice this summer on how to save money, remain cool and comfortable and help reduce the risks of global warming – all at the same time. Advice includes keeping your air conditioner maintained, using a programmable thermostat, sealing up gaps and cracks in the home envelope, and replacing old equipment with products that have earned the government's ENERGY STAR for energy efficiency. EPA Press Release EPA's Guide to Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling (663KB) Cool Your World Fast Facts (English) (150KB) Cool Your World Simple Steps (English) (44KB) Cool Your World Fast Facts (Spanish) (68KB) Cool Your World Simple Steps (Spanish) (49KB) New Water and Wastewater Industry Focus Announced (May 2005) EPA is launching a new initiative to increase the energy efficiency of U.S. drinking water and wastewater systems, with participation from more than 20 leading organizations. The new ENERGY STAR Water and Wastewater Industry Focus will work over the next year to develop an energy performance rating system, a guide to assessing energy efficiency opportunities, strategies for superior energy management, and innovative approaches to financing energy efficiency projects for each of the two industries. This new ENERGY STAR focus is part of a series of efforts to improve the energy efficiency of selected industries. EPA Press Release Fact Sheet (55KB) EPA announces ENERGY STAR Building Challenge (March 2005) EPA joined with more than 20 leading associations, States, and businesses to announce a national challenge for the owners of commercial and institutional buildings across the country. The ENERGY STAR Challenge encourages building owners to improve the efficiency of their buildings by 10 percent or more and to capitalize on the environmental benefits and cost savings that will result. EPA Press Release List of organizations partnering with EPA More information 2005 ENERGY STAR Awards (March 2005) EPA and DOE are recognizing 50 organizations as winners of the 2005 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Awards. These organizations have made outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. EPA and DOE sponsor these awards annually to recognize energy efficiency investments made by ENERGY STAR partners that saved consumers money while helping the environment. The Partners of the Year are selected from the over 7,000 ENERGY STAR partners based on their efforts to utilize energy-efficient technologies, communicate the benefits of energy savings to consumers and businesses, and encourage others to partner with ENERGY STAR. This year's award winners include Lowes Companies Inc., Food Lion, Pardee Homes, USAA Real Estate and 3M. EPA Press Release List of 50 award winners (15KB) More on Awards EPA's Public Service Announcement (PSA): 2005 ENERGY STAR Awards (2.84MB) International Power Supply Design Competition Winners Announced at Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), Austin, TX, March 6-10, 2005 (March 2005) On March 7, 2005 at APEC's plenary session, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Energy Commission announced the winners of Efficiency Challenge 2004, an international design competition for power supply efficiency. Twelve winners were selected, including two Grand Champions: Power Integrations in the Market Ready Category and Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the Open Category. All the winning entries are more energy efficient, and in many cases radically smaller than typical power supplies on the market today, demonstrating what is possible in future consumer electronics products. Efficiency Challenge APEC Presentation (62KB) Andrew Fanara, EPA, Andy Williams, ON Semiconductor, and Peter Schwartz, representing the California Energy Commission Andrew Fanara, EPA, Balu Balakrishnan, Power Integrations, and Peter Schwartz, representing the California Energy Commission Andrew Fanara, EPA, Speaking at APEC 2005 Product Picture, Power Integrations, Winner of Best in Class A1, Market Ready Grand Champion EPA Efficiency Challenge Press Release (62KB) Judging Criteria Fact Sheet (55KB) Efficiency Challenge 2004 Judge Bios (33KB) Efficiency Challenge Winner Fact Sheets (162KB) ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes Near 10 Percent of Housing Starts Nationwide (March 2005) Nearly 10 percent of all homes built in 2004 earned the ENERGY STAR label. According to a recently released report, A Decade of Change in Home Building with ENERGY STAR (2.36MB), since 1995 over 360,000 of the Nation's new homes have earned the ENERGY STAR, saving homeowners an estimated $200 million and eliminating approximately 4 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Press Advisory Report: A Decade of Change in Home Building with ENERGY STAR (2.36MB) More information on ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Almost 2,000 Buildings Have Earned EPA's ENERGY STAR (January 2005) As of January 1, 2005, almost 2,000 of the nation's most energy efficient buildings, representing almost 400 million square feet, have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR designation for superior energy performance. The buildings qualifying as ENERGY STAR use about 40 percent less energy than average buildings without compromising comfort or services. Press Release List of buildings (2.14MB) More information ENERGY STAR Awareness Climbs to Over 60 Percent (February 2005) Public awareness of ENERGY STAR has jumped to 64 percent of U.S. households, according to a recent nationwide survey. In many major markets where local utilities and other organizations use ENERGY STAR to promote energy efficiency to their customers, public awareness of ENERGY STAR is even higher, averaging 74 percent. EPA Press Advisory (14KB) Survey Report (1.58MB) Energy-Efficient External Power Adapters Can Now Earn the ENERGY STAR (January 2005) On January 6, 2005 EPA announced that the ENERGY STAR is now available for qualifying external power adapters. Power adapters, also known as external power supplies, are used to power many electronic products such as cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, routers and other electronics and appliances. As many as 1.5 billion power adapters are in use in the U.S. – which is about five for every person. The new guidelines for power adapters will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; in the U.S., more efficient adapters have the potential to save over 5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy and prevent the release of more than 4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road. Press Release More on Power Adapters Photos: CES Show , EPS Booth New ENERGY STAR Monitor Specification (January 2005) Beginning January 2005, computer monitors must meet more energy-efficient requirements to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. For the first time, the specification addresses energy consumption while monitors are in use, as well as while they are idle. Many models on the market already meet EPA's new specifications. By 2010, EPA estimates that the new requirements will result in carbon emission savings of almost 5 million metric tonnes (carbon equivalent), or the equivalent of taking more than 3 million cars off the road. The previous computer monitor requirements called for only a "sleep mode" energy-saving function. Press Release More Information News Archives Press Contact: Maria T. Vargas, (202) 343-9451 Consumer Contact Information: energystar@optimuscorp.com 1-888-STAR-YES Products | Home Improvement | New Homes | Business Improvement | Partner Resources Newsroom | Privacy | Contact Us | Site Index EPA Home EPA Search DOE Home DOE Search

Denver Real Estate

REcolorado.com - brought to you by Metrolist Inc. -- Welcome to REcolorado - Colorado's Premier Public Property Listing Website Find A Home Required Fields Property Type: Residential Condominium Income Land Sort Order: Price City Square Feet Bedrooms Bathrooms Street Name Optional Fields Price: (default $0 to $999,999,999) From To Finished Square Ft: From To Bedrooms: From To Bathrooms: From To Car Spaces: From To Address #: From To Street Name: City: ALL AGATE AGUILAR AKRON ALLENSPARK ALMA ARVADA AURORA BAILEY BELLVUE BENNETT BERTHOUD BLACK HAWK BOULDER BOW MAR BRECKENRIDGE BRIGHTON BROOMFIELD BRUSH BUENA VISTA BUFFALO CREEK BYERS CALHAN CANON CITY CARBONDALE CASTLE ROCK CEDAREDGE CENTENNIAL CENTRAL CITY CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE COALDALE COKEDALE COLORADO CITY COLORADO SPRINGS COLUMBINE VALLEY COMMERCE CITY COMO CONIFER COPPER MOUNTAIN COTOPAXI CRAIG CRESTED BUTTE DACONO DEER TRAIL DELTA DENVER DILLON DIVIDE DRAKE DUMONT DUPONT EAGLE EASTLAKE EATON EDGEWATER ELBERT ELIZABETH ELK SPRINGS EMPIRE ENGLEWOOD ERIE ESTES PARK EVANS EVERGREEN FAIRPLAY FEDERAL HEIGHTS FIRESTONE FLAGLER FLORISSANT FORT COLLINS FORT LUPTON FORT MORGAN FOUNTAIN FOXFIELD FRANKTOWN FRASER FREDERICK FRISCO GARDNER GEORGETOWN GILCREST GLENDALE GLENWOOD SPRINGS GOLDEN GRANBY GRAND JUNCTION GRAND LAKE GRANT GREELEY GREENWOOD VILLAGE GROVER GUFFEY HAMILTON HARTSEL HENDERSON HIGHLANDS RANCH HILLROSE HOEHNE HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS HUDSON HUGO IDAHO SPRINGS IDLEDALE INDIAN HILLS JAMESTOWN JEFFERSON JOHNSTOWN KEENESBURG KEYSTONE KIOWA KITTREDGE KREMMLING LA SALLE LA VETA LAFAYETTE LAKE GEORGE LAKEWOOD LARKSPUR LAST CHANCE LEADVILLE LIMON LINDON LITTLETON LIVERMORE LOCHBUIE LONE TREE LONGMONT LOUISVILLE LOVELAND LYONS MATHESON MEAD MEEKER MERINO MILLIKEN MOFFAT MONTROSE MONUMENT MORRISON NATHROP NEDERLAND NIWOT NONE NORTHGLENN NUNN ORCHARD OTIS PALMER LAKE PARKER PARSHALL PEETZ PENROSE PEYTON PINE PINECLIFFE PLATTEVILLE PUEBLO RAMAH RED FEATHER LAKES ROGGEN ROLLINSVILLE RUSH SAGUACHE SALIDA SAN LUIS SAN PABLO SEDALIA SEIBERT SEVERANCE SHAWNEE SHERIDAN SILVER PLUME SILVERTHORNE SIMLA STEAMBOAT SPRINGS STERLING STRASBURG SUPERIOR TABERNASH THORNTON TRINIDAD TWIN LAKES VAIL VICTOR VONA WALDEN WALSENBURG WATKINS WATTENBURG WESTCLIFFE WESTMINSTER WESTON WHEAT RIDGE WIGGINS WINDSOR WINTER PARK WOODLAND PARK WOODROW WRAY YODER Zip Code: County: ALL ADAM ALAMOSA ARAPAHOE ARCHULETA BENT BOULDER BROOMFIELD CHAFFEE CLEAR CREEK CONEJOS COSTILLA CROWLEY CUSTER DELTA DENVER DOLORES DOUGLAS EAGLE EL PASO ELBERT FREMONT GARFIELD GILPIN GRAND GUNNISON HINSDALE HUERFANO JACKSON JEFFERSON KIOWA KIT CARSON LAKE LARIMER LAS ANIMAS LINCOLN LOGAN MESA MOFFAT MONTROSE MORGAN OURAY PARK PUEBLO RIO BLANCO ROUTT SAGUACHE SEDGWICK SUMMIT TELLER WASHINGTON WELD YUMA Subdivision: -- MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: MLS Number: Terms of Use Privacy Policy Fair Housing © 1998-2005 Metrolist, Inc. All rights reserved.

Florida real estate market.

Tampa Bay Real Estate - Tampa Bay Florida Real Estate - Hillsborough County Relocation Tampa Bay Real Estate - Tampa Real Estate Beth Copenhaver CRS E-Mail: Bethcop@Coldwellbanker.com Local: (813) 962-6345x239 Toll Free: (800) 755-2895 I provide relocating families with a valuable asset, their need for the most knowledgeable agent available!!!! I am an experienced Tampa Realtor that knows the Tampa Florida real estate market. Welcome to Tampa Bay , a diverse paradise that features white sands, emerald waters, and beautiful bayous. Tampa Bay is one of the most popular real estate relocation destinations in the world, which is growing at a much faster pace than most other areas in U.S. People from all over the nation come to Tampa Bay to bask in the Florida lifestyle that gives residents that glow of health, common to those who truly enjoy life. Owning a piece of Tampa Florida real estate is like owning peace of mind! Visit Tampa Bay for all the best reasons.... Why invest in Tampa Bay? History and Culture of Tampa Tampa Bay Demographics Tampa Real Estate - Tampa Bay Real Estate - Hillsborough, Pasco & Pinellas Counties . Brandon, Odessa, Lutz, Valrico, Riverview, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Cheval, Avila & Westchase , Channelside , New Tampa , South Tampa, Fish Hawk Ranch and Trails and The Beaches and Much More! E xplore the Hillsborough County communities of Brandon, South Tampa , New Tampa , Valrico, Riverview, MiraBay , Waterchase, Avila, Plantation Palms, Pasco county, Pinellas county , Cheval(Lutz), Pinellas , Westchase and Channelside/Ybor City Channelside News and Downtown Development. This award winning Tampa Bay Florida real estate site has what you need to know as a first time home buyer or someone who has B ought and Sold residential real estate before. Our goal as your Tampa Bay Realtor is to help you be an informed buyer or seller in today's changing real estate market. When looking for homes for sale or if you need to sell a house, selecting your Realtor is the first important step. You will benefit from our experience of over fourteen years, marketing real estate and helping home buyers - from first time buyers to experienced buyers. To start your relocation process click here!! Get the advice you deserve The Internet is a great place to find information. But it can't give you the in depth local knowledge and personal service of a local real estate agent. The challenges are getting more complex every day. You need a professional that is on top of the market who will protect your interests and guide you through the transaction step by step. View Beth's Rankings On Internet Serach Engines View The Actual Location By Street-Community-City-Zip Tampa Bay Area Map ---- Tampa Bay Area Beach Map View listings in the following communities Cheval,Villa Rosa,Westchase, Waterchase, Windsor Park, Van Dyke Farms Preferred Mortgage Lenders And Brokers Make this your first stop in the home buying process!! Translate this page into : Select Language French Spanish German Italian Portuguese Find a school in Hillsborough County Elementary schools Middle schools High schools Private schools Charter schools Specialty schools Click Here Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota school info Click here for information on higher levels of education http://www.privateschoolreview.com http://www.boardingschoolreview.com http://www.publicschoolreview.com For Realtors With Referrals TAMPA , FL - Retirement Communities and Retirement Homes Beth's Featured Listing- 6200 Fitzgerald Rd--Odessa With Virtual Tour Real Estate Tips and Advice Articles Relocation Cost Estimator - Calculate your moving costs Beth's Relocation Network Tell me about your relocation plans ! Mortgage Calculators-- Get down to the nitty gritty!!!!! Article Of The Month - Remodeling's Payoff--- 2005 COST vs. VALUE REPORT Click Here --To Go To Beth's Tampa Bay Links Tampa Real Estate!!! -- Articles & Answers School Information- Choose by area or address !! More School Information-Another informative link!! Tips For Buyers & Tips For Sellers Tampa Condos- A guide to condo's being built or conversions Real Estate Commissions- What we do for you!! Cost of Living Comparison for Relocation Chamber Of Commerce-- A good place to start your research What will the taxes be on my new home? Hills County Tax Estimator Hillsborough County Flood Maps- See if your home is in a flood zone Relocation & Mortgage Tools Relocation, Mortgage Tools, City and State Profiles and Neighborhood Information. Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Staging Your Home Checklist ((New) An Interactive Map Of All Golf Courses In The Country !! N EW T AMPA T HE P LACE T O L IVE Lutz's newest community with prices starting at $800,000. Sign up here for a bi-monthly newsletter, which includes on-going updates of homes recently sold in you r area ************** Search the MLS in any of the following Major cities and Areas....... S t Petersberg Properties Miami Beach Luxury Condo s Temecula RE Ohio Properties Phoenix, Scottsdale Arizona New and Resale Ho mes San Clemente Homes Baton Rouge Area Scottsdale Arizona Homes Henderson(Nv) Homes For Sale Orange County Real Est ate Great Las Vegas Homes Mortgage Rates - Lowest rates Va . Fl. Md. NC. Bullhead City Properties Scottsdale Homes BusinessSeek .biz Business Directory Northern Virginia Properties San Jose Properties Austin Homes L as Vegas Homes MLS Search Sarasota Florida Properties Reaestatepopular.com Garden City Homes St Augustine Beach RE Myrtle Beach Saskatoon Canada Nantucket Estates Iowa Properties Myrtle Beach Vacations Blue Springs Estate Tucson Real Estate Orlando Homes Myrtle Beach Golf Packages Maui Kauai Oahu Home s Sedona Arizona Real Estate Homes Minneapolis-St Paul Properties Southern Delaware Beach Homes Oak Island & Holden Beach Real Estate Des Moines Iowa Homes America Realtors Directory Real Estate Agents & Realtors NewWebDirectory.com Link Pratners RealEstateI M.com Maui Kauai Oahu Real Estate Utah Properties Realtor Directory San Jose Real Estate Dominican-Sun Properties - R.E.-4-U Rental Searchers Apartment and house for rent guide. Come see our vacation rental, roommate, moving and job section of our site. GlobeRE.com for a Real Estate Expert Anywhere and Everywhere RE Directories MatrixMT.com: Internet Advertising Services , search engine optimization, and online marketing solutions for corporate and professional businesses. Our Partners Sites Travel Sites "Tampa "Golfing Mecca of the World," boasts many fine golf courses, many designed by World famous designers such as Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio, Peter Dye and sponsors many golf tournaments. The communities listed are just a few of the country club and golfing communities available. Everything you need to know about buying or selling a home can be found here on my Web site at www.BethCopenhaver.com ! As one of the top real estate professionals in the Tampa Bay area, I am dedicated to providing the finest real estate services available. Beth Copenhaver CRS Coldwell Banker Residential 14502 N. Dale Mabry Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33618 Business: (813) 962-6345x239 Fax: (813) 968-9468 Toll Free: (800) 755-2895 E-Mail: Bethcop@Coldwellbanker.com Relocation Network & Partners Click here to link with this site! Real Estate Associates Relocation Connection REALTOR® Partners National Realtor Directory Apartments for Rent Florida Realtor Real Estate Agents & Realtors Florida Real Estate Agents You are the 69,774th visitor to my website. Web Site Design and Hosting Provided By: Advanced Access © 1998-2005

Buy Home

Buying a Home - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Buying a Home Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Counseling and Education Housing counseling agencies can give you advice about buying a home. Find a housing counselor near you. Common questions Homeownership videos More from HUD Mortgage glossary FHA mortgage limits HUD approved lenders HUD approved condos Healthy homes Environmental maps Energy info About appraisals Links Rural housing loan programs Loan programs for veterans Freddie Mac Fannie Mae US Postal Service Mover's Guide The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home! Nine steps to buying a home Figure out how much you can afford Know your rights Shop for a loan Learn about homebuying programs Shop for a home Make an offer Get a home inspection Shop for homeowners insurance Sign papers Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, downpayment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. How much home can you afford? Buying vs. Renting Need help with your downpayment and/or closing costs? Homebuying programs in your state A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that downpayment! Find a housing counselor near you Step 2: Know your rights Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Borrower's rights Predatory lending Back to Top Step 3: Shop for a loan Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan. Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure Let FHA help you Step 4: Learn about homebuying programs Homebuying programs in your state FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers. Let FHA help you HUD's special homebuying programs Good Neighbor Next Door Program - for police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians Homeownership for public housing residents Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) Step 5: Shop for a home Choose a real estate agent Wish list - what features do you want? Home-shopping checklist take this list with you when comparing homes Homes for sale (including HUD homes) " Fixer-uppers " - home purchase and repair programs Manufactured (mobile) homes Build a home If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing. Back to Top Step 6: Make an offer Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Making an offer Step 7: Get a home inspection Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around. Homeowners insurance 12 ways to lower your homeowners insurance costs Step 9: Sign papers You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign! Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Content updated December 1, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you