Selling Home

FCIC: Selling a Home Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- Life Advice About... Selling A Home This Life Advice section about Home Improvement was produced by the MetLife Consumer Education Center reviewed by the Real Estate Educators Association and the U.S.D.A. Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service. If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new dream house or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new adventures. Whatever turbulent feelings you're experiencing right now, there are plenty of practical matters that need your attention. Keep in mind the following considerations to help the whole process go more smoothly. Time Becomes Money It's a good idea to place your home on the market as far in advance as possible of purchasing a new one. If you find a new home first and then try to sell your present home, you may wind up with two mortgages. If this does happen, ask your real estate agent or banker about a bridge loan to help you make the double payments. Lenders use the same criteria for offering bridge loans as they use for mortgages. Should you qualify for a bridge loan, beware of the expense; during the term of the loan you must continue to pay both mortgages. Shop around for the best terms. Keep in mind that when people move, sell and buy, there usually is a domino effect. Closing and moving dates have to be coordinated, and the more firmly everyone commits to a window of dates and sticks to them, the better for all involved. Put all agreements about dates in writing, and protect yourself by negotiating financial penalties for failure to comply. Check Your Curb Appeal A home that's visually appealing and in good condition will attract potential buyers driving down the street. Use this checklist to view your property through an outsider's eyes. Are the lawn and shrubs well maintained? Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways? Does the driveway need resurfacing? Are the gutters, chimney and walls in good condition? Do the window casings, shutters, siding or doors need painting? Are garbage and debris stored out of sight? Are lawn mowers and hoses preperly stored? Is the garage door closed? On the Inside Strong curb appeal will lure potential buyers inside, where you have to live up to their expectations. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy improvements you can make to your home's interior without spending a lot of money. Cleaning is No. 1. Your windows, floors and bathroom tiles should sparkle. Make sure you have clean heating and air conditioning filters. Shampoo dirty carpets, clean tubs and showers, repair dripping faucets and oil squeaky doors. Keep your home neat, clean and picked-up at all times. It may not seem fair, but a peek in the oven may be the hallmark by which a buyer judges how well you have kept up your home. Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic, closets and straighten stored items. Also remove any items that might make a statement that would be offensive to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor. If your home is crowded with too much furniture, consider putting some things into storage. If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white. Think, too, about how your home smells. You may be used to the smell of a pet or cigarettes, but such odors can be a strong turn-off to others. Be certain to remove valuables such as jewelry and other items from view. It might be wise to put these items in a safe deposit box before showing your home. Finally, set a mood for the buyer. Make your house homey with live flowers and fresh guest towels in the bathroom. Place scented potpourri around the house or, on the day you're expecting a potential buyer, pop a batch of frozen cinnamon rolls into the oven for a welcoming aroma. Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact, costly home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It's attention to the basics—anything that says “this home has been carefully maintained”—that will help you get the price you want. Go It Alone Some homeowners decide to sell their homes themselves in order to save the commission charged by a real estate agent. The commission rate may vary, depending on where you live or what agency you choose, but it is generally upwards of 5%. However, handling your own sale means you will be responsible for placing ads, answering phones and showing your home to strangers. What's more, buyers who know you are saving on an agent's commission may offer less for your home, wiping out the financial incentive to do it all yourself. You may decide an agent's commission is a bargain the first time that a would-be buyer shows up unannounced at dinnertime. Also, be aware that a real estate agent probably knows a lot more about the business of selling a home than you do. Here are some of the advantages professional agents offer: They will help you establish a fair asking price for your home. They will promote your home to other agents and list your property in multiple listing services. A multiple listing service is a book or computer database that all real estate agents who subscribe to the service can access. Your home will get exposure to all those agents, one of whom may have the perfect buyer. They will create, pay for and place advertising for you. They will schedule appointments to show your home to prospective buyers even when you are not there. They can weed out buyers who will not qualify for a mortgage. They can refer you to sources for insurance, inspections, legal counsel and financing. They will help you negotiate with the buyer. They can make suggestions to help make your home more attractive to a potential buyer. If you decide to sell through an agent, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Talk to several agents before picking the one you want to work with. Taking a walk through your home with an agent should give you a feel for how that person will handle prospective buyers. Ask prospective agents how they plan to market your home. Don't sign with an agent just because he or she suggests the highest asking price. Negotiate the broker's commission prior to listing your home, and sign for a limited period of time—usually three to six months. Setting a Fair Price Naturally, you want to get top dollar for your home. But, at the same time, you don't want to scare off potential buyers with a price tag that's too high. Setting an artificially high price may cause your property to languish on the market for months. Reducing your asking price later on may lead buyers to wonder if there is something wrong with your home. Here are some of the factors to consider in pricing your home. Your location Economic conditions Supply and demand in the local housing market Seasonal influences Local schools Average home prices in the neighborhood Your home's extras -- pool, fireplace, central air, etc. To determine the value of your home, you probably will want the advice of a real estate agent or appraiser. Ask an agent to prepare a market analysis for you, showing the recent selling prices of three neighborhood properties comparable to your own. The agent can help you adjust for the unique features of your own property. Qualifying a Buyer Either you or your agent will want to quickly weed out potential buyers who cannot really afford to purchase your home. A number of factors will help determine whether or not you are wasting your time negotiating a sale. The buyer's debt and credit history The buyer's current income and employment The buyer's cash position and availability of a down payment The length of time the buyer needs before closing on your home How interested the buyer appears to be in your home versus others Seek Legal Representation When selling your home—particularly if you are selling on your own—it's a good idea to be represented by an attorney. Look for an attorney with expertise in real estate transactions. When a potential buyer puts an offer in writing and you accept it, the signed acceptance becomes the sales contract. Your attorney will be present at the actual closing to protect your interests and can assist you with the following elements of a sales contract: The sale price What is included in the sale price -- draperies, carpeting, light fixtures, heating oil, etc. The amount of the down payment The date of closing and possession date Contingencies to the sale--inspections (e.g. structural, lead-based paint, radon), required improvements, legal review of the contract by the buyer's or seller's attorney, etc. The amount and length of the mortgage loan, interest rate and time limits to secure the loan Determining which closing costs are to be paid by the buyer and which by the seller Tax Implications Selling a home can have a major impact on your federal and state tax returns. Check with your tax consultant on the factors that may affect taxes resulting from the sale of your home. For example: Whether you purchased the home or acquired it by gift or inheritance Whether you used your home partly for business or rental Costs associated with selling your home Home improvements or additions, which may help to offset capital gains The sale of your home. In certain cases you can exclude up to $250,000 in gain ($500,000 for married couples filing a joint return) on the sale of property that was your principle residence for at least two years. Generally, you can use this exclusion every two years. Congratulations! You've successfully weathered the logistics of selling your current home, and you're ready to move on to a new and exciting chapter in your life.As you prepare for the coming changes, check out the Life Advice sections Moving and Buying a Home to aid you in this transition. For More Information 100 Questions Every Home Seller Should Ask Ilyce R. Glink, Times Books $14 Life Advice price $11.20 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-02. Price and availability subject to change without notice. The American Bar Association Family Legal Guide Times Books$34.50 Life Advice price $28 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-04. Price andavailability subject to change without notice. How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days William G. Effros, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 The Consumer Bible, 1001 Ways to Shop Smart Mark Green, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 Tips and Traps When Selling a Home Robert Irwin, McGraw-Hill $12.95 PAMPHLETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The quarterly Consumer Information Center Catalog lists more than 200 helpful federal publications. For your free copy write Consumer Information Catalog, Pueblo, CO 81009, call 1-888/8-PUEBLO, or find the catalog on the Net at www.pueblo.gsa.gov . A Home for You and Your Family Publication Series, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Housing & House Furnishings, Box 7605, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7605 (single copies free). Also contact the Extension Service office listed in the white pages of your phone book. Related Life Advice pamphlets See the following related Life Advice pamphlets: Buying a Home, Moving, Home Improvement, Homeowners Insurance, Renting an Apartment, Enjoying Retirement and When Your Children Leave the Nest. Helpful Links HomeWEB You'll find consumer information on selling a home from this comprehensive real estate and relocation source. Topics include info on real estate agents, marketing your home, financing & mortgages, sales contracts, pricing your home and more. Basically, this is a great place to start, if you're thinking about selling your home. Audrie's Advice Audrie provides a complete check-list for selling your home without an agent and thereby retaining all the profit for yourself. SellYourHomeYourself.com SellYourHomeYourself.Com is a unique site that helps the For Sale By Owner seller save money. On this FSBO web site you'll find all the resources you need to sell a home yourself. * Because the content of newsgroups and Websites changes constantly, it is impossible for us to review it all. We are not responsible for the content of any of the above links. Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --

Las Vegas Real Estate

6%? $299 MLS Listing Arizona Idaho California Las Vegas Real Estate FSBO For Sale By Owner Over $400,000,000 Sold Since 2002 - Questions? Call (800)657-6579 HOME | BUYERS | SELLERS | OUR LISTINGS | SEARCH MLS | LOANS | PRIVATE CLIENT Flat Fee MLS Listing Real Estate Broker List your Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada or New Mexico property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and REALTOR.com® for a $299 FLAT FEE and 0% Listing commission . SAVE THOUSANDS! MLS Listing $299 Extras Listing on the MLS for up to 6 months Listing on REALTOR.com® for up to 6 months State-association approved Contacts & disclosure Forms $50 Professional yard sign , post, custom-printed $50 Automated phone lead forwarding system $50 Maximum # of photos in MLS and REALTOR.com® $25 Open Houses advertised in MLS and REALTOR.com® $50 Ability to renew listing for up to 2 years $200 UPGRADED PACKAGE (All of the items in this column plus a $35 lockbox credit) $100 Professionally-photographed virtual tour $25 "Spinning-house" icon on REALTOR.com® $35 Numeric punch key lockbox $100 e-Lockbox rental fee (deposit extra) Shipping and handling not included NEED FULL SERVICE AGENT SUPPORT? Upgrade to the Full Service Option for ½ % @ Close of Escrow Additional Broker Support includes communication w/ buyer broker, all negotiations & paperwork Buy Properties in Arizona and Nevada Buyers Why Pay 6%? Arizona Nevada Flat Fee MLS Real Estate FSBO Sellers Congress Realty Property Listings List Search MLS Search MLS Las Vegas Loan Phoenix Arizona Nevada Mortgage: CongressLoan.com Loans PRIVATE CLIENT Private Client User Name: Password: FEATURED HOME Chandler $273,195 Arizona | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | New Mexico | California | Affiliate Program | Offices & Licensing | Link Swap Las Vegas Homes MLS Search | Oceanfront Real Estate | Southern California Real Estate Post Your Property | MLS Listing FSBO | De Novo Bank | Office Condos Bonita Springs Florida Real Estate | Chicago Real Estate Congress Realty, Inc. info@congressrealty.com © 2002 - 2005 Congress Realty, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Home For Sale

Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Resources & Tools > Home Values and Prices Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Search • Find Homes for Sale • Find Properties for Rent REALTORS • Find & Compare REALTORS Mortgages & Financing • Find a Lender • Today's Mortgage Rates • Loan Calculators • Credit Reports • Refinance Loans Resources • Moving Services • Foreclosure Center Neighborhood Research • What's My Home Worth? • School Profiles • Neighborhood Profiles Specialty Property • Foreclosures • New Homes • Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Real Estate Home Improvement & Services • Home Services • Home Improvement Library • House Facts Get Home Values and Prices Sponsored by Get Home Values and Prices Access millions of public real estate records instantly! This comparable sales data helps you analyze the value of your home or other homes in seconds. Results include price, square footage, bedrooms, and year built (where available). You can also get a custom home valuation from a top-performing local REALTOR! Street Address: City & State or Zip: Sponsored Links Free Mortgage Quotes Find great rates for new loans, re-finances and home equity loans. Start saving now. www.trimyourdebt.com Free Mortgage Quotes at Homestore.com Find information, articles and quotes for home loans in your area. We have the loan that's right for you. Complete our easy form and get free, competitive quotes. homestore.com Free Mortgage Quote Considering refinancing? Get free quotes from multiple lenders. Takes only 2 minutes. Refinance with or without a perfect Credit. Find great low rates today. c.azjmp.com Free Mortgage Quote: Click Here Complete four easy steps and get matched to four qualified brokers. We have created this service to help you finance a home. www.mortgages.root.net (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

New Home Construction Boston.com

Buying Guides - Real Estate Guides - Massachusetts Home Builder - New Home Construction - Boston.com Buying Renting Recent Sales Place an ad Luxury Living Community data Mortgage Commercial Moving Guides Buying Guides - Real Estate Guides - Massachusetts Home Builder - New Home Construction Boston.com Check out the Buying Guides - Real Estate Guides - Massachusetts Home Builder - New Home Construction Section on Boston.com. December 29, 2005 -- Search homes for sale Luxury living Classic starter home styles Real Estate section Saying yes to housing A new law is aimed at doing something about the number one competitive issue facing Massachusetts -- the high cost of housing. (Boston Globe, 11/23/05) Open house etiquette Remember, open houses are not held for your entertainment. They are business events for buyers. Hunting and gathering: Open houses 10 tips for... Selling on your own Hiring a broker Moving guide Follow this step-by-step guide to walk you through everything from changing your address to printing box labels to tips on packing. (Boston.com) Step-by-step moving guide How to pack like a professional Print box labels Self storage how-to What are your moving tips? Your complete buying guide If you are new to the real estate game or are just looking for a few tips, this in-depth guide covers everything from making a budget to the closing process. (Mass Housing) What can I afford? How to find an affordable home Home buyer counseling Making an offer Applying for a mortgage The home inspection The closing process It doesn't hurt to ask for extras Welcome to the world of the extra, that twilight zone of property negotiation that goes beyond the selling price and everything that’s not nailed down. (Boston Globe) Ten things you must do when buying a home Need a mortgage? Try family, friends The basics of Condos and Co-ops The single-family detached home with a yard isn't everyone's American Dream. In high-priced markets with space at a premium, the only affordable solutions for some buyers are condominiums, townhouses or co-op apartments. (Inman News) Tips on negotiating to buy a home Latest articles: Real estate transactions ( Boston Globe, 12/29/05 ) A term every home buyer, real estate agent, homeowner should know (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Dry rot leaves home buyer in the gutter (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Home sellers beware: Undisclosed info comes back to bite (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) In bankruptcy sale, must co-owner pay 50 percent of expenses? (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) ENeighborhoods exec. has roots in real estate technology (Inman, 12/28/05) Visions of gold entice a tin city (Boston Globe, 12/28/05) Government requirements for disclosure fail to make the grade (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Electrical panel requires upgrading (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Should landlords rent to section 8 subsidized tenants? (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) 'House Poor' a profitable read for home buyers (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Inside capital gains tax law for real estate (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) Ensuring home's proper ventilation (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) America closes doors to architectural expression (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) 5 negotiation tactics for real estate deals (Inman, 6:06 a.m.) HOME OF THE WEEK: Old styles inside, bustling outside (Boston Globe, 12/25/05) ON LOCATION: Historic cottage escaped demolition, now it's a gem for sale (Boston Globe, 12/25/05) BUSINESS LETTERS: Home prices are falling, but why? (Boston Globe, 12/25/05) Brockton builds on factory legacy (Boston Globe, 12/25/05) COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT: Holbrook (Boston Globe, 12/25/05) feedback form | help | site index | globe archives | rss © 20 The New York Times Company

Land Loan With a

15-Year Fixed Rate Land Loan Thursday, December 29, 2005 Serving our 'Fire Family' since 1935 ©2005 Los Angeles Firemen's Credit Union 15-Year Fixed Rate Land Loan With a fifteen year term, you'll have a shorter loan life and pay less in interest than a thirty year term. And, if a low payment is not a priority, then you'll receive a greater savings benefit from a lower rate. Features: No fees 15-year fixed rate loan 50% loan to value $359,650 loan limit 45 Day Rate Lock from date of completed application Only two (2) land loans permitted per household Available in all states that the Credit Union currently lends in, subject to verification of all applicable State laws > Apply Now > Check Rates This loan is a 15-year fixed rate loan, 50% loan to value with a limit of $359,650 (secondary market conforming loan limit.) Loans may not be used for business purposes and may not be located in a commercial or manufacturing area. Rates are subject to change daily. A one-point fee, if applicable, is based on the loan amount. Year-end rebates may apply at the discretion of the LAFCU Board of Directors. Participation in this program will not be confirmed until the completed application has been submitted to the Real Estate Department. All requests will be processed and must meet LAFCU's underwriting guidelines. Funding of these loans is subject to credit approval and verification of employment, equity, and all other related file documentation necessary to qualify applicant(s). The principal and interest payments for a 15-Year Fixed Trust Deed Land Loan in the amount of $180,000 at 7.75% results in monthly payments of $1,694.66. Mortgage Loans > Check Mortgage Rates > First Trust Deeds > Second Trust Deeds > Home Equity Lines > 7/23 > 15 Year Fixed > 15 Year Fixed Land Loan > 20 Year Fixed > 30 Year Fixed > Construction Loans > Non-owner occupied properties > Vacation / 2nd Home > Rental / Investments