Real Estate Broker

TREC - Home Page -- Licensee Info Search Quick Links -- To Popular Pages -- Licensee Info Search R. E. Contract Forms Renew or Apply Online Salesperson Application Real Estate License Forms Education Providers Core R.E. Course List Freq. Asked Questions Real Estate License Act TREC Rules Data File Downloads HOME Area TREC Home Page Licensee Info Search Meetings & Agenda What's New Archive What Does TREC Do? Freq. Asked Questions Email Notification List Related Web Site Links Topics of Special Interest Mission Statement Compact with Texans Customer Service Survey Link Your Site to TREC Site Map KEY To Symbols =Page is in area (folder tab) of this color = Adobe PDF file format = Web site external to TREC About This Web Site: Get Help Navigating the TREC Web Site Comment on the TREC Web Site here Web Site Wins 2005 Award The November 2005 issue of the TREC Advisor is available in both printable PDF and HTML formats. Licensees and other subscribers can access the TREC Advisor here . Commission Enacts Temporary License for Evacuees from Katrina Click here for details for prospective temporary licensees , including a special application form, the press release and the new rules pertaining to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Our mission is to assist and protect consumers of real estate services, thereby fostering economic growth in Texas. What's New? The Texas Real Estate Commission proposed revisions to 6 contract forms and 4 addenda at it regular meeting on December 5, 2005. View the proposed forms and summaries here . A periodic Sunset Review of the Texas Real Estate Commission is currently underway, as required by the Texas Sunset Act. Broker Minimum Services Requirements . . . read the latest updates . 2005 Legislative Report - Two new bills to affect the Real Estate License Act; one new bill to affect the Texas Timeshare Act . . . read more Inspectors! We now publish the Minutes of recent Inspector Committee Meetings. Also, see the new, searchable Inspector Questions & Answers page. List of Providers for the new Legal Update and Legal Ethics courses. Please see our updated MCE FAQs page , covering the new Legal Update course and Legal Ethics course. Most Recent Enforcement Questions and Answers (past 6 months) -- Find former "new" items in the What's New Archive Important Information! TREC Redesigns Licenses The Real Estate License Act is now codified at Ch. 1101, Tex. Occ. Code File and Pay Online! Broker & Salesperson Applications; Broker & Salesperson Renewals; All Inspector & ERW Renewals All Licensees! Easily update your permanent mailing address online free. Look up MCE courses completed in the Quick Links' Licensee Info Search . Page last modified: 12/18/2005 Site Map Privacy & Security Policy Open Records Accessibility Texas Online Statewide Search TX Homeland Security

Buy Property

British Expat: Expat World: Moving to Spain: Buying Property in Spain - the Rights Group glossary British Expat Magazine | British Expat Forum | British Expat Country Forum | British Expat Classifieds | British Expat Mail | British Expat Shop British Expat Tax Havens Banking Anonymous ATM Cards BVI IBC Panama Company Gibraltar Company News, humour and information for Brits worldwide! Sitesearch powered by Web British Expat BE HOME PAGE EXPAT WORLD Resources Bulgaria France Germany Ireland Malta Poland Spain Moving to Spain English Lessons Features Switzerland Bahrain Cambodia China India Indonesia Israel & Occupied Territories Korea Malaysia Singapore Thailand Turkey Australia Fiji New Zealand Samoa Canada Costa Rica Mexico USA Botswana Ethiopia Ghana Malawi South Africa Tanzania Tunisia Uganda ABOUT BE Spain > Moving to Spain > Buying Property in Spain - the Rights Group glossary Buying Property in Spain - The Rights Group's Glossary of Property terms by Mark FR Wilkins Our colleagues at Overseas Property Professional have reported that Britons have spent £12 billion on second homes over the last two years, based on new statistics from the UK Office for National Statistics. Apparently, Britons are spending £6 billion a year on the purchase of second homes a staggering £4 billion more than two years ago. We at The Rights Group felt it would be useful to put together a glossary of terms that we use every day but which may be a little alien to would-be property purchasers in Spain. We are constantly striving to increase the level of information available to Northern Europeans who may be attracted to the idea of buying in Spain but who may equally be daunted by the press in recent months, which has portrayed our market as a den of thieves. It's not, particularly if you approach it with your eyes wide open seeking advice and assistance early in your quest for your dream property and making certain that the professional advice you receive is wholly independent. We see this as a "living" glossary, so if you come across words and phrases that could usefully be added please let me know at mark@therightsgroup.com . We hope you'll find it useful. Abogado Lawyer Adosado - Semi-detached or town house Aire acondicionado Air conditioning Agua Water Agua potable Drinking water Albañil - Bricklayer Alfombra - Carpet Amortización - Depreciation, Redemption Antigüedad(es) / Tienda de Antique/Antique shop Aparcamiento - Parking Arquitecto - Architect Armario Cupboard, wardrobe Asesoría Económica Accountant, Financial adviser Balcón Balcony Banco/cuenta de/tarjeta de - Bank/bank account/bank card Baño Bath/WC Barbacoa Barbecue Basura - Rubbish bins and rubbish taxes Bombilla Light bulb Buzón - Mailbox Caja de Ahorros - Savings bank Calefacción central Central heating Campo - Countryside Cargas Land charges registered against the property Carpintero Joiner Casa unifamiliar - Detached house Casita - Cottage Certificado registral - Certificate showing debts attaching to a property Chalet Villa Cocina Kitchen Comedor Dining room Comunidad de propietarios Committee of property owners Constructor - Builder Construido - Built area, of property Construir - Build Contable Accountant Contrato de Compraventa Privado - Property sales contract Costa del Sol Sun Coast Costa de la Luz Coast of Light Costa Blanca White Coast Corriente - Electricity Cortijo - A country property inland with farming roots Cuarto de Baño - Bathroom Cuenta de Banco - Bank account Documento privado - Private document Documento público - Public document Dormitorio - Bedroom Ducha Shower Duplex Apartment over two floors Ebanista Joiner Edificio Building Electricista Electrician Escayolista - Plasterer Escritura - Deeds of ownership Escritura pública de compraventa - Title Deeds Euribor Variable interest rate set by European banks Fontanero - Plumber Finca Farm house or small estate Fin de Obra Formal Completion of Works on a new property Fuente - Fountain Garaje - Garage Gas Butano Butane gas, often used for cooking and water heating Gestoría Specialists used to obtain official authorisations, permits and licences Habitación A Room Hipoteca - Mortgage IBI: Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles - Property tax levied yearly Impuesto extraordinario sobre el patrimonio - Wealth Tax - extraordinary tax on assets Impuesto sobre el Incremento del Valor de los Terrenos - Tax on the increase of land value Impuesto sobre el patrimonio - Capital gains tax Incremento de patrimonio A Capital gain Inmobiliaria/agente - Estate agent Inversión en terreno - Land investment ITP Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrionales - Property Transfer Tax of 7% levied on all re-sale property IVA VAT Jardn - Garden Ladrillo Brick Libre de cargas Debt free Libro del edificio - Documents from the promoter when building is finished Licencia de obra - Building permission Licencia de prima ocupación Licence to occupy a completed property Limpiadora Cleaner Luz - Electricity Madera Wood Mármol - Marble Martillo - Hammer Metros cuadrados Square metres units floor area is measured in N.I.E. - Identity Number for Foreigners required for a property purchase Notario - Notary records the legal details of property and land sales Nota Simple - Certificate from Property Registry Obra nueva - Document certifying a new building Oferta vinculante - Bank document specifying mortgage conditions Ordenador Computer Pago en efectivo - Cash payment Parcela - Lot or plot Pestillo Door lock Pintor - Painter Piscina - Swimming pool Piso - Apartment Playa - Beach Plusvalía - Municipal Capital gains tax on the sale of property Poder Power of Attorney Pozo - Well Préstamo Loan Préstamo con techo Loan with variable interest with fixed minimum and maximum Préstamo hipotecario - Mortgage loan Pueblo - Town or village Puerta - Door Registro de la Propiedad - Register of Property Ownership Representante fiscal Foreigner's official tax representative Resale Property A second hand property, already registered at the property register in Spain. Residencia - Residency permit Residente - Resident Sala, salón - Lounge Se vende or en venta - For sale Se alquila For Rent Sevillana - Electricity company Seguro de amortización de préstamos - Loan repayment insurance Seguro Multirriesgo Hogar - House insurance Señal Deposit or down payment Solar - Lot for building Sótano Basement Subasta - Auction Tarjeta de Banco - Bank card Tasación - Independent valuation of property Tasa de cambio Exchange rate Tasadores Official Bank Valuers Techo - Roof Teja - Roof tile Terraza - Terrace Terreno - Land, plot of land Terreno en venta - Land for sale Terreno para construir - Building land on the Costa del Sol Tipo de interés - Rate of interest Título de propiedad - Deeds stating the ownership of property, date of sale etc. Trastero - Storeroom Valor Catastral - Assessed value of property for tax purposes Vidriero Glazier Yesero - Plasterer Yeso Plaster Compilation © Mark F R Wilkins 2005 (Marbella) Mark F R Wilkins The Rights Group SL email: mark(AT)therightsgroup.com website: www.therightsgroup.com tel.: +34 600 343 917 +34 952 930 435 Other links in this section Buying Property in Spain - the pitfalls! Why are property prices going through the roof? Relocation, Relocation, Relocation - Deciding to Move Buying Habits and New Hot Spots What made me up sticks? Relocation, Relocation, Relocation - Arriving in Spain Relocation, Relocation, Relocation - Checklist for a move to Spain Relocation, Relocation, Relocation - Sun, Sea and Risk The Rights Group Guide - How to Avoid... Part 1 Expat Websites in Spain Other relevant BE pages English Lessons: The Bonk On The Bitch English Lessons: A Lesson At Christmas English Lessons: The Pain In Spain English Lessons: Get Into The Bit English Lessons: Strong Arms And The Law English Lessons: Tiptoe Through The Tutus English Lessons: Chicken Chests And Cheeps English Lessons: Never Forget Lesson Number One English Lessons: Lesson Number One English Lessons: May And Daisy, Sam And Ella Canada for Brits: Property Canada Property: A Land of Opportunities Expat Resources: Property Tax: Let Property Property: UK Property Links Property: Investing in property Property index Expats Near You: Spain Spain Features: Fiesta Fireworks! Spain Features: Siesta in the Sierra Spain Features: I'm Turning into a Nomad (Part One) Spain Features: I'm Turning Into A Nomad (Part Two) Property: Selling your home in the UK Property: UK Buy to Let Spain Features: Hiring a Car in Spain Spain Features: Renting a Villa - Tips Spain Features: Having a Baby in Tenerife Spain Features: Feria at Sierra de Yeguas Spain Features: Renting a Villa Spain Features: Learning Spanish Spain Features: Shopping in Spain Spain Features: Timekeeping in Spain Back to Top EXPAT SERVICES Webmail Newsletter Send free eCards Buy BE stuff! BOOK NOW Flights Top Deals Hotels Holidays Published by British Expat Ltd © 2000-2005 All rights reserved Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & conditions Privacy policy | Security policy | Morality policy | Advertising policy | Contact us Powered by Typo3 with additional scripting by ICi Technology Many thanks to sillyart.com for the "man with suitcase" logo

Home Loans Share Loans

Myiris.com - Personal Finance India for Home, Loan, Loans, India, Housing, Best Interest rates for home loans India, Property, Finance, Ghar, Construction, Plot, Refinance, Flats, New House , Mortgage, Improvement, Extension, Bridge Loans, NRI, Scheme, Compare Banks, EMI Calculator, Charges, Documentation, Benefits, Tips, FAQ. -- Home Shares Mutual Funds Loans Credit Cards Insurance News centre About Us Feedback E-Mail Page -- Main Auto Housing Share Consumer Educational E-Mail Page Get NAV News Returns Announcements Get Quote Charts Research Snapshot Financials News Trade-Online -- Wealth Tracker Newsletter Tax Corner NRI Centre Forums E-Mail Chat Masala Housing Loans IRIS Tools Loan Finder by Loan Amount Loan Finder By EMI Details of your Preferred FI Interest Rate ScoreCard Compare FI's Myiris University Tips Select the Category Auto Loans Home Loans Share Loans Consumer Loans Educational Loans FAQS Select Category Auto Loans Home Loans Share Loans Consumer Loans Educational Loans FEATURES Sure Insure Saral Samadhan Rate Ka Funda Discussion Forum View Discussion Create new discussion Contact Zone Mail Us E-mail buddies Your Preferred FI IRIS Lender Search Status : Indian NRI Occupation : Salaried Self employed Purpose of Loan : Purchase of New House Purchase of Existing House Purchase of Plot Construction on a Plot Home Extension Home Improvement Bridge Loans Finance Company Choose a Lender Allahabad Bank Andhra Bank Birla Home Finance BOB Housing Finance Ltd Canara Bank CANFIN Citibank Dena Bank DHFL Global Housing Finance Hometrust Finance Ltd. HDFC ICICI IDBI Bank IOB LIC PNB Housing Finance Ltd. SBI Home Finance Sicom Housing Finance State Bank of India Standard Chartered Sundaram Home Finance Tata Home Finance Union Bank UTI Bank Scheme : Choose a Scheme Best Interest Rates Tenure 1 lakh 5 lakhs 25 lakhs 100 lakhs 2 yrs 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 5 yrs 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7 yrs 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 10 yrs 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 15 yrs 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % 7.75 % Search by Loan Amount Tell us your loan amount and we will find you the best Housing Loan in Town LOAN INFO Amount Tenure years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Finance Company All the Finance Companies Allahabad Bank Andhra Bank Birla Home Finance BOB Housing Finance Ltd Canara Bank CANFIN Citibank Dena Bank DHFL Global Housing Finance Hometrust Finance Ltd. HDFC ICICI IDBI Bank IOB LIC PNB Housing Finance Ltd. SBI Home Finance Sicom Housing Finance State Bank of India Standard Chartered Sundaram Home Finance Tata Home Finance Union Bank UTI Bank PERSONAL INFO Residential Status : Indian NRI Occupation : Salaried Self employed Purpose of Loan : Purchase of New House Purchase of Existing House Purchase of Plot Construction on a Plot Home Extension Home Improvement Bridge Loans -- Search by EMI Tell us your Monthly Installment and we will find you the best Housing Loan in Town LOAN INFO E M I p.m. Tenure years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Finance Company All the Finance Companies Allahabad Bank Andhra Bank Birla Home Finance BOB Housing Finance Ltd Canara Bank CANFIN Citibank Dena Bank DHFL Global Housing Finance Hometrust Finance Ltd. HDFC ICICI IDBI Bank IOB LIC PNB Housing Finance Ltd. SBI Home Finance Sicom Housing Finance State Bank of India Standard Chartered Sundaram Home Finance Tata Home Finance Union Bank UTI Bank PERSONAL INFO Residential Status : Indian NRI Occupation : Salaried Self employed Purpose of Loan : Purchase of New House Purchase of Existing House Purchase of Plot Construction on a Plot Home Extension Home Improvement Bridge Loans Compare FI's Housing Loan Comparision at your finger tips LOAN INFO Loan Amount Tenure of Loan years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Finance Company All the Finance Companies Allahabad Bank Andhra Bank Birla Home Finance BOB Housing Finance Ltd Canara Bank CANFIN Citibank Dena Bank DHFL Global Housing Finance Hometrust Finance Ltd. HDFC ICICI IDBI Bank IOB LIC PNB Housing Finance Ltd. SBI Home Finance Sicom Housing Finance State Bank of India Standard Chartered Sundaram Home Finance Tata Home Finance Union Bank UTI Bank PERSONAL INFO Residential Status : Indian NRI Occupation : Salaried Self employed Purpose of Loan : Purchase of New House Purchase of Existing House Purchase of Plot Construction on a Plot Home Extension Home Improvement Bridge Loans -- Spotlight There are no stories under this section EMI Calculator Loan amt: Rate : % Period : years Basis : Annual Bi-yearly Quaterly Monthly EMI Result : TIPS Use Clicks For Bricks Loan Mela Why take a home loan? What all can I take a loan for? How much will the bank/ HFC lend? What all is required to get a loan? Do I need to get insurance for my house? How much time does it take to get the loan sanctioned? 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Selling Home

Selling Your Home, Sell home, selling a house, selling house, sell your home - Home Services Mortgages Research Moving Zero Down Appraisals -- -- A Simple Guide for Selling a Home on Your Own Preface: Why sell yourself? Selling a home yourself, without an expensive real estate broker is easier than most people think. However, it will take some work on your part. You will be doing a lot of things that a real estate agent might normally do. Just follow the For Sale By Owner.com step-by-step selling guide below, and you'll not only save lots of money, but we'll make the house selling process as effortless as possible It's the money! Sellers save thousands of dollars not paying a 6% or 7% commission. For example, if your home can sell for $250,000, youd save $15,000 to $17,500 in commissions. Sell Your Home Fast. Because you are not paying an outrageous selling commission, you can afford to price your home more aggressively. The lower the price, the more likely it sells fast. You will still walk away with thousands in savings, but you'll just be doing it faster. It's so easy. Despite what a real estate broker may say, selling a house is not rocket science. They know that, and soon you will too. Just follow the simple selling steps below. And, if you have any questions, call us and one of our representatives will try to answer any questions you may have. You are not alone - For Sale By Owner.com will help you every step of the way. We are one of the largest and fastest growing real estate service companies in America. In fact, our web site is one of the top-five most visited real estate sites in America. Thousands of eager home buyers visit us everyday. Perhaps one of them is looking for a home just like yours. Over the past five years, we've helped sell thousands of homes, saving home owners millions of dollars. So let's get started. 8 Easy Steps to Selling a Home Yourself Step 1. Preparing your home to sell - make it look great Presentation is everything! Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious and attractive houses. Your goal is to dazzle buyers. Brighten-up the house and remove all clutter from counter tops, tables and rooms. Scrub-down your house from top to bottom. Make it sparkle. Simple aesthetic improvements such as trimming trees, planting flowers, fixing squeaking steps, broken tiles, shampooing rugs and even re-painting a faded bedroom will greatly enhance the appeal of your house. Also, make sure your house smells good. That's right, clean out the cat box and light mildly scented candles. Invite a neighbor over to walk through your house like a buyer would. Get their opinion on how it "shows." The stuffed donkey in the family room may have to go to your in-laws for a while. Step 2. Pricing your home effectively Do not over price your home. Over-pricing when you sell a home reduces buyer interest, makes competing homes look like better values, and can lead to mortgage rejections once the appraisal is in. Over-pricing when selling a home is the single biggest reason why many "for sale by owner" home sellers don't sell their homes successfully. Remember: the home selling market dictates the price (not what you think it should be worth). One of the best ways to correctly price your house when selling is to find out how much other homes, similar to your own, recently sold for in your neighborhood. Talk to home sellers, buyers and check out the real estate listings in your local newspaper. Typically, if you set the price of your home at 5 to 10 percent above the market price, you are likely to end up with an offer close to your home's true value. Also, you may try calculating the cost per square foot of your home compared to the house selling prices in your area (divide list price by square footage of livable space). If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a slightly higher house selling price. The easiest way to accurately price your home is to contact your local home appraiser . Finally, set your house selling price just under a whole number, such as $169,900 rather than $170,000. Step 3. Get a real estate lawyer Even though it's an additional expense, it may be wise to hire a lawyer who will protect your interests throughout the entire transaction. An experienced real estate lawyer can help you evaluate complicated offers (those with a variety of conditions), act as an escrow agent to hold the down payment, evaluate complex mortgages and/or leases with options to buy, review contracts and handle your home's closing process. They can also tell you what things, by law, you must disclose to buyers prior to a sale and can also help you avoid inadvertently discriminating against any potential buyers. In some areas, title companies will handle all aspects of the transaction and have in-house legal departments that can assist you with legal issues that may arise. To locate a title company in your area, click here . Unless you're significantly experienced in the home selling process, having a real estate lawyer at your side provides peace-of-mind. You know you've got someone looking out for your interests, not just the buyers. To locate a lawyer in your area, click here Step 4. Marketing your home Exposure, exposure, exposure. That's how sellers sell their home fast. For Sale By Owner.com provides extensive home exposure because over 700,000 unique visitors come to the web site each month (that's Internet-speak for new people). In fact, For Sale By Owner.com is one of the top-five most visited real estate web sites in the U.S. getting literally millions of visitors looking to buy or sell a home. We spend tens of thousands of dollars a month to assure that For Sale By Owner.com is prominently placed on Internet search engines so buyers can easily find our site throughout process of selling your home. If your home is in a market where For Sale By Owner.com has a mass-distributed magazine, your home's exposure will be even greater because they can be found at thousands of locations frequented by buyers that include grocery stores, shopping centers, convenience stores and restaurants (the magazine is in over 40 markets nationwide). Writing your sell ad While For Sale By Owner.com allows you a 3,000 word description of your house (try to afford that in a newspaper ad), your advertising copy should be thorough yet short, simple and to-the-point. Long, flowery prose will not make your house sound more appealing. It will simply make it harder for the home buyer to read. Make sure to provide the critical facts buyers are looking for such as the house's number of bathrooms, a re-modeled kitchen, etc. Most home buyers quickly scan ads, so it is important that your house stands out. For example, you may want to add a theme-line such as "Priced below market" or "Great schools." Stay away from industry jargon and use language that makes home buyers comfortable. Survey our web site and see how others have written their ads. You will quickly see which are "buyer friendly." Copy their approach for your ad. Home Photos: Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words If you are taking a photo of your home, be sure that the home's yard/driveway is uncluttered. Remove bikes, garbage cans and parked cars. The same applies for interior shots. People are looking to buy your house, not your possessions. Think of furniture as props and the room a stage. Move things around if you have to. Also, take lots of house photos. Film is cheap...your home deserves quality. The more you shoot, the better the odds are that you'll get a few really good shots. Lawn signs Lawn signs are one the most important marketing tools for home sellers. They attract attention to your home. Professionally-produced signs (like the ones we can send to you) telegraph to home buyers a "quality" image of your house. Directional signs also help drive buyers to your property, especially if you do not live on a busy street. Open houses Open houses are sometimes a good way to attract buyers to your home. Typically, real estate agents conduct open houses for two reasons; 1. Clients expect them 2. They are a good way to attract buyers, not just for the open house but for all houses for sale in the Real Estate Agent's area (yes, your competition). The fact is that very few houses sell due to a open house itself. Home Brochures/Information sheets It is a good idea to create an information sheet (with a photo) about your home to give potential buyers. Consider printing copies of your ad from For Sale By Owner.com to give to people who visit your home. The MLS The MLS or Multiple Listing Service can also help market your home, particularly to real estate agents who may know of buyers seeking a property like yours. The MLS is a directory used by real estate agents to announce to other agents that they have a home for sale. In many selling markets, For Sale By Owner.com can put your house on the MLS (for an additional fee). However, if a real estate agent finds you a buyer after seeing your home on the MLS, you must usually pay that agent a 2.5% to 3% commission (the law states that all commissions are negotiable, however). You are your home's best salesman As every salesman knows, to be effective you have to really know your product. And who knows your home better than you? Certainly not a real estate agent, who, in all likelihood, has spent only a few moments in your house before showing it to prospective buyers. Sell your neighborhood as well as your house. Show enthusiasm, but don't get caught-up talking too much about how "your daughter spent the best years of her life in this very room." Step 5. Negotiating an offer on your home When a home buyer makes an offer (this is often presented to you directly from the buyer or through their lawyer), you should consult with your attorney. Buyers and sellers have an Attorney Review Period, which is usually three days, to cancel or amend the offer. The offer becomes a contract at the end of the Attorney Review Period, and is binding. Many of your home's offers can be complicated and contain special clauses that favor the buyer. Purchase price isn't everything. Carefully consider the purchase contract's other terms and conditions. Too many contingencies can leave loopholes and cause a deal to collapse. Especially avoid contingencies that favor the house's buyer, such as linking the escrow closing date to the buyer's sale of their current home. If the buyer insists on such terms, include a so-called kick-out clause in the contract that will allow you to consider other offers if the buyer isn't able to sell within a certain period of time. Assess your buyer's financial qualifications Is the buyer pre-approved? How much of a loan is the buyer seeking? Unless you are in an active market, lenders tend to shy away from underwriting a deal in which the purchase price is higher than the nearest comparable sale and the buyer is putting less than 10% down. If this is the case, your buyer may not be able to obtain financing. Know the home selling market How you judge an offer also can depend on market conditions. If the selling market is slow, you may feel vulnerable, especially if circumstances are pressing you to sell. Make sure any offer you accept does not keep you in escrow longer than 30 days. In a hot market where multiple offers are likely, be wary of countering more than one offer at a time (you could end up in legal trouble if two buyers both accept your counter offer). Also be wary of offers that promise more money but contain poor contract terms (long escrow, multiple contingencies, etc.). If you feel the home's offer is insufficient, make a counter offer. Rarely is a first offer the buyer's absolute highest price they are willing to pay. Negotiating is part of the home selling process. Again, your lawyer should review the details of all offers. Step 6. Home inspections All standard real estate contracts are going to give the prospective home buyer the right to inspect your property - so be prepared. Under a general inspection you are obligated to make major repairs to appliances, plumbing, septic, electrical and heating systems - or the buyer may cancel the offer. The inspection will also include your property's roof, as well as a termite inspection (in some states, house sellers must provide proof that the home is termite free). If you are concerned about how your home will fair when inspected, you may want to visit your local inspector . They can conduct an inspection for you before a potential buyer has one done. This way, you can address the problems before a buyer stumbles upon them. Once the inspections are complete, the buyer makes an application to a mortgage lender. Step 7. Buyer appraisals and other details The mortgage lender will order an appraisal of your home to make sure they are not paying more than the house is worth. They may also order a surveyor to make sure that the property boundaries are properly laid out. They will also order a title search to determine if there are any liens against your property. These tasks are all the responsibility of the buyer and/or their attorney. At this point too, the mortgage company will issue a commitment . Again, the buyer (and their attorney) must complete all conditions listed on the mortgage commitment. Prior to closing, you should notify your lender that you will be paying off your mortgage. After a closing date has been agreed to, you should contact your utility providers and advise them of your final billing date. Step 8. Closing The day of the closing , the home's buyer will do a "walk through" of the property to make sure all agreed repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as when the buyer made their offer. If problems arise that this point, the closing can still take place with funds held in escrow to remedy the problem. Closings usually occur 30 - 45 days after you have signed the sales contract. Depending on what state you reside in, you may close with an attorney, or with a title company. At the closing, all monies will be collected, any existing loans or liens will be paid, the deed will be transferred, and insurance will be issued insuring a free and clear title. The home seller will receive the proceeds of their home in one to two business days after the closing. Conclusion This step-by-step home selling guide is a general overview of the process when selling a home. Each state has slightly different laws and customs as they relate to the transaction process. Selling a home yourself can be time consuming, but the financial rewards can be tremendous. With help from For Sale By Owner.com , we try to make the process of home selling on your own as easy as possible. For Sale By Owner.com Your experts in selling a home on your own. -- Privacy & Disclaimer Partner With Us Career Opportunities Press Room Contact Us Buying A Home Your Credit Report Terms and Conditions Home Selling Tips Selling Your Home © 1997-2005 For Sale By Owner.com Your source for selling a home on your own. We make the home selling process a cinch. Sell real estate, sell a home, and sell your house, fsbo. Real estate selling, home selling, house selling. Site Map Home

Buy Property

MONEY Magazine: Buying property with family or friends - Oct. 21, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Buying property with family or friends Is it a blessing or a curse? The right due diligence makes all the difference. October 21, 2005: 4:10 PM EDT By Gerri Willis , MONEY Magazine Top things to know Are you ready? Lining up cash Picking a team The hunt Closing the deal For sellers only NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - John D. Rockefeller once said that "a friendship founded on business...is a good deal better than a business founded on friendship." He might have added: "Except in real estate." That's because some of the most successful real estate companies have started as alliances of friends and family. Orange County, Calif. megadeveloper the Irvine Company was created in the 19th century by James Irvine and his son. Donald Trump's dad Fred taught his Apprentice plenty about the family biz. Chicago real estate guru Sam Zell credits much of his success to his longtime partnership with his college pal, the late Robert Lurie. (Old John D.'s spawn didn't fare too badly either with a family venture in the 1930s called Rockefeller Center.) To be sure, if you're just starting a real estate project, you'll find it difficult to resist the temptation to bring in friends and family as partners and investors. After all, those are the people you know and probably trust the most. But how do you avoid the seemingly inevitable "Dallas"-style dramas? 1. Trust but verify Even if she's your sister or cousin, you should investigate a would-be partner's finances before doing business with her. Handy Web sites like Intelius.com and Public-records-now.com can help you unearth basic background info like tax liens or bankruptcy filings. Ask her to share a copy of her latest credit report. Talk to her former business associates. To avoid ill will, tell her from the get-go that you'll be prying -- and invite her to do the same with your background. If she balks, calmly explain that such precautions will only make for a stronger team, suggests Nicole McAllister of the University of Southern California's Lusk Center for Real Estate. "Remember, this is business." 2. Share a vision It's critical that you and your partners agree to common goals before you buy. Will you renovate that apartment house to a level that would make a Hyatt Regency manager blush? Or do you want to rent the property "as is"? Is the goal long-term cash flow or cashing out quickly? Many partnerships founder on these simple points. 3. Get it in writing Lawyers and their contracts can't prevent every calamity, but a written agreement -- think of it as a prenup before your partnership marriage -- can prevent headaches (and heartaches) for you and the family or friends who invest with you. At the very least, an operating agreement will force you to plan for the unexpected, including death, divorce or a change of mind. You must also spell out exactly what happens if one of your partners wants to sell. Establishing a contingency plan "gets everything on the table," says Philip Davis, a C.P.A. and principal at accounting firm Kauffman & Davis in Boston. "It's like going to a therapist." 4. Hire strangers Unbiased advice is essential for all involved. Brooklyn real estate broker Tammy Shaw knows plenty about the business, but she says she'd never have bought her brownstone with family without professionals at her side. "Build a team ahead of time -- an attorney, mortgage broker or banker, and contractor," she suggests. "They have to be people all of you feel comfortable with." 5. Be an open book Garry Klein, co-founder of real estate fund Highpoint Equities in Scarsdale, N.Y., knows both the hazards and huzzahs of working with friends and family. He started buying real estate nearly a decade ago with his buddy Jeff Gault; family members have been a big source of capital ever since. "The upside is that these people know you and know what you're about; they cut you more slack," he says. "The downside is these are people you're going to see at Thanksgiving dinner." Klein shares thorough, detailed investment results every six months. Ultimately, success depends on your own ability to find good deals and execute. Friends and family can make a newcomer feel more comfortable, but you'll need to adopt professional practices for your effort to really pay off. ____________________ Gerri Willis is host of CNN's Open House. Write her at real_assets@moneymail.com . For more articles on Real Estate, subscribe to MONEY Magazine . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? 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