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Common Questions from First-time Homebuyers - 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 Common Questions from First-time Homebuyers Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Why should I buy, instead of rent? Answer: A home is an investment. When you rent, you write your monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home, you can deduct the cost of your mortgage loan interest from your federal income taxes, and usually from your state taxes. This will save you a lot each year, because the interest you pay will make up most of your monthly payment for most of the years of your mortgage. You can also deduct the property taxes you pay as a homeowner. In addition, the value of your home may go up over the years. Finally, you'll enjoy having something that's all yours - a home where your own personal style will tell the world who you are. What are "HUD homes," and are they a good deal? Answer: HUD homes can be a very good deal. When someone with a HUD insured mortgage can't meet the payments, the lender forecloses on the home; HUD pays the lender what is owed; and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then we sell it at market value as quickly as possible. Read all about buying a HUD home . Check our listings of HUD homes and homes being sold by other federal agencies. Can I become a homebuyer even if I have I've had bad credit, and don't have much for a down-payment? Answer: You may be a good candidate for one of the federal mortgage programs . Start by contacting one of the HUD-funded housing counseling agencies that can help you sort through your options. Also, contact your local government to see if there are any local homebuying programs that might work for you. Look in the blue pages of your phone directory for your local office of housing and community development or, if you can't find it, contact your mayor's office or your county executive's office. Are there special homeownership grants or programs for single parents? Answer: There is help available. Start by becoming familiar with the homebuying process and pick a good real estate broker. Although as a single parent, you won't have the benefit of two incomes on which to qualify for a loan, consider getting pre-qualified, so that when you find a house you like in your price range you won't have the delay of trying to get qualified. Contact one of the HUD-funded housing counseling agencies in your area to talk through other options for help that might be available to you. Research buying a HUD home, as they can be very good deals. Also, contact your local government to see if there are any local homebuying programs that could help you. Look in the blue pages of your phone directory for your local office of housing and community development or, if you can't find it, contact your mayor's office or your county executive's office. Should I use a real estate broker? How do I find one? Answer: Using a real estate broker is a very good idea. All the details involved in home buying, particularly the financial ones, can be mind-boggling. A good real estate professional can guide you through the entire process and make the experience much easier. A real estate broker will be well-acquainted with all the important things you'll want to know about a neighborhood you may be considering...the quality of schools, the number of children in the area, the safety of the neighborhood, traffic volume, and more. He or she will help you figure the price range you can afford and search the classified ads and multiple listing services for homes you'll want to see. With immediate access to homes as soon as they're put on the market, the broker can save you hours of wasted driving-around time. When it's time to make an offer on a home, the broker can point out ways to structure your deal to save you money. He or she will explain the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mortgages, guide you through the paperwork, and be there to hold your hand and answer last-minute questions when you sign the final papers at closing. And you don't have to pay the broker anything! The payment comes from the home seller - not from the buyer. By the way, if you want to buy a HUD home , you will be required to use a real estate broker to submit your bid. To find a broker who sells HUD homes, check your local yellow pages or the classified section of your local newspaper. How much money will I have to come up with to buy a home? Answer: Well, that depends on a number of factors, including the cost of the house and the type of mortgage you get. In general, you need to come up with enough money to cover three costs: earnest money - the deposit you make on the home when you submit your offer, to prove to the seller that you are serious about wanting to buy the house; the down payment , a percentage of the cost of the home that you must pay when you go to settlement; and closing costs , the costs associated with processing the paperwork to buy a house. When you make an offer on a home, your real estate broker will put your earnest money into an escrow account. If the offer is accepted, your earnest money will be applied to the down payment or closing costs. If your offer is not accepted, your money will be returned to you. The amount of your earnest money varies. If you buy a HUD home, for example, your deposit generally will range from $500 - $2,000. The more money you can put into your down payment, the lower your mortgage payments will be. Some types of loans require 10-20% of the purchase price. That's why many first-time homebuyers turn to HUD's FHA for help. FHA loans require only 3% down - and sometimes less. Closing costs - which you will pay at settlement - average 3-4% of the price of your home. These costs cover various fees your lender charges and other processing expenses. When you apply for your loan, your lender will give you an estimate of the closing costs, so you won't be caught by surprise. If you buy a HUD home , HUD may pay many of your closing costs. How do I know if I can get a loan? Answer: Use our simple mortgage calculators to see how much mortgage you could pay - that's a good start. If the amount you can afford is significantly less than the cost of homes that interest you, then you might want to wait awhile longer. But before you give up, why don't you contact a real estate broker or a HUD-funded housing counseling agency ? They will help you evaluate your loan potential. A broker will know what kinds of mortgages the lenders are offering and can help you choose a lender with a program that might be right for you. Another good idea is to get pre-qualified for a loan. That means you go to a lender and apply for a mortgage before you actually start looking for a home. Then you'll know exactly how much you can afford to spend, and it will speed the process once you do find the home of your dreams. How do I find a lender? Answer: You can finance a home with a loan from a bank, a savings and loan, a credit union, a private mortgage company, or various state government lenders. Shopping for a loan is like shopping for any other large purchase: you can save money if you take some time to look around for the best prices. Different lenders can offer quite different interest rates and loan fees; and as you know, a lower interest rate can make a big difference in how much home you can afford. Talk with several lenders before you decide. Most lenders need 3-6 weeks for the whole loan approval process. Your real estate broker will be familiar with lenders in the area and what they're offering. Or you can look in your local newspaper's real estate section - most papers list interest rates being offered by local lenders. You can find FHA-approved lenders in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. HUD does not make loans directly - you must use a HUD-approved lender if you're interested in an FHA loan. In addition to the mortgage payment, what other costs do I need to consider? Answer: Well, of course you'll have your monthly utilities. If your utilities have been covered in your rent, this may be new for you. Your real estate broker will be able to help you get information from the seller on how much utilities normally cost. In addition, you might have homeowner association or condo association dues. You'll definitely have property taxes, and you also may have city or county taxes. Taxes normally are rolled into your mortgage payment. Again, your broker will be able to help you anticipate these costs. So what will my mortgage cover? Answer: Most loans have 4 parts: principal: the repayment of the amount you actually borrowed; interest: payment to the lender for the money you've borrowed; homeowners insurance: a monthly amount to insure the property against loss from fire, smoke, theft, and other hazards required by most lenders; and property taxes: the annual city/county taxes assessed on your property, divided by the number of mortgage payments you make in a year. Most loans are for 30 years, although 15 year loans are available, too. During the life of the loan, you'll pay far more in interest than you will in principal - sometimes two or three times more! Because of the way loans are structured, in the first years you'll be paying mostly interest in your monthly payments. In the final years, you'll be paying mostly principal. What do I need to take with me when I apply for a mortgage? Answer: Good question! If you have everything with you when you visit your lender, you'll save a good deal of time. You should have: 1) social security numbers for both your and your spouse, if both of you are applying for the loan; 2) copies of your checking and savings account statements for the past 6 months; 3) evidence of any other assets like bonds or stocks; 4) a recent paycheck stub detailing your earnings; 5) a list of all credit card accounts and the approximate monthly amounts owed on each; 6) a list of account numbers and balances due on outstanding loans, such as car loans; 7) copies of your last 2 years' income tax statements; and 8) the name and address of someone who can verify your employment. Depending on your lender, you may be asked for other information. I know there are lots of types of mortgages - how do I know which one is best for me? Answer: You're right - there are many types of mortgages, and the more you know about them before you start, the better. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In a fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage, which normally is 30 years. The advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it. Another kind of mortgage is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). With this kind of mortgage, your interest rate and monthly payments usually start lower than a fixed rate mortgage. But your rate and payment can change either up or down, as often as once or twice a year. The adjustment is tied to a financial index, such as the U.S. Treasury Securities index. The advantage of an ARM is that you may be able to afford a more expensive home because your initial interest rate will be lower. There are several government mortgage programs,including the Veteran's Administration's programs and the Department of Agriculture's programs . Most people have heard of FHA mortgages. FHA doesn't actually make loans. Instead, it insures loans so that if buyers default for some reason, the lenders will get their money. This encourages lenders to give mortgages to people who might not otherwise qualify for a loan. Talk to your real estate broker about the various kinds of loans, before you begin shopping for a mortgage. When I find the home I want, how much should I offer? Answer: Again, your real estate broker can help you here. But there are several things you should consider: 1) is the asking price in line with prices of similar homes in the area? 2) Is the home in good condition or will you have to spend a substantial amount of money making it the way you want it? You probably want to get a professional home inspection before you make your offer. Your real estate broker can help you arrange one. 3) How long has the home been on the market? If it's been for sale for awhile, the seller may be more eager to accept a lower offer. 4) How much mortgage will be required? Make sure you really can afford whatever offer you make. 5) How much do you really want the home? The closer you are to the asking price, the more likely your offer will be accepted. In some cases, you may even want to offer more than the asking price, if you know you are competing with others for the house. What if my offer is rejected? Answer: They often are! But don't let that stop you. Now you begin negotiating. Your broker will help you. You may have to offer more money, but you may ask the seller to cover some or all of your closing costs or to make repairs that wouldn't normally be expected. Often, negotiations on a price go back and forth several times before a deal is made. Just remember - don't get so caught up in negotiations that you lose sight of what you really want and can afford! So what will happen at closing? Answer: Basically, you'll sit at a table with your broker, the broker for the seller, probably the seller, and a closing agent. The closing agent will have a stack of papers for you and the seller to sign. While he or she will give you a basic explanation of each paper, you may want to take the time to read each one and/or consult with your agent to make sure you know exactly what you're signing. After all, this is a large amount of money you're committing to pay for a lot of years! Before you go to closing, your lender is required to give you a booklet explaining the closing costs, a "good faith estimate" of how much cash you'll have to supply at closing, and a list of documents you'll need at closing. If you don't get those items, be sure to call your lender BEFORE you go to closing. Be sure to read our booklet on settlement costs . It will help you understand your rights in the process. Don't hesitate to ask questions. More information? Answer: See our 100 questions and answers about buying a home. Content updated October 25, 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

Real Estate Loan

Find Amortization Calculators with Amortization Schedules, Mortgage Calculators, Today's Rates on Mortgages and Refinance Loans on Yahoo! Real Estate This tool will only function with browsers which support JavaScript version 1.1 or later. Find Amortization Calculators, Amortization Schedules and Mortgage Calculators Choose Location Home Homes For Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Home Loans > Calculators > Amortization Tools & Resources • Mortgage Payment Calculator • Affordability Calculator • Amortization Calculator • Rent vs. Own Calculator • Refinance Calculator • First-Time Buyer's Guide to Mortgages Next Steps: • Search Local Rates • Online Rate Quotes • Graph Interest Rates • Refinance Loans & Rates • Home Equity Loans & Rates Amortization Calculator Provided by Bankrate.com This loan amortization calculator shows you the breakdown between principal and interest in your mortgage payments. Each calculation shows you amortization tables with complete mortgage amortization schedules for the loan. You have the options of making extra principal payments on the mortgage every month or once a year. Loan Amount: $ Interest Rate: % Term: years Extra Payment: $ per Month Year View Results: Yearly Full Strating Month: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Starting Year: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 See more calculators document.write(' ',dateSelector('start'),' '); Amortization Calculator Results Summary Calculate Again Principle Loan Balance: Annual Interest Rate: Loan Term: Starting Date: Summary of Payments and Interest Calculate Again Monthly Payment: Total Interest Paid over Life of Loan: Interest Paid in 2005: Interest Paid in 2006: Average Monthly Interest Paid over Life of Loan: First Year Payment Schedule Month Principle Paid Interest Paid Loan Balance Yearly Payment Schedule Month Principle Paid Interest Paid Loan Balance -- Visit our partners' sites Sponsored Links Foreclosure Search Save up to 50% on your next home purchase, search hundreds of thousands of foreclosures nationwide. Sign up now for your free trial. www.foreclosuretimes.com Houston Home Rebate - New Home Builders New Houston homes and Home Builders receive up to a 2% rebate for new Home purchases in Houston Tx. New Home Lstings Provided. Registration Required. www.houstonhomerebate.com Rebate Offer New Homes Locating Service Purchase Smart. Use are new homes and homebuilder locating service and receive up to an additional 2%. www.newhomerebaterealty.info Lower Your Mortgage Payment and Save Compare up to 4 Free Mortgage Quotes by completing an Easy Online Form. Competitive rates from leading banks. No obligation. www.leadsteps.com (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

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Find a Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agent Home faq contact sitemap Home Buy a Home Sell a Home Directory Glossary FAQ Contact Us Dec 29,2005 Find a Real Estate Agent! -- Whether you're planning on buying or selling a home, choosing the right Real Estate Agent is one of the most important decisions youll make. Let Real Estate Agent.com help. Please enter in your zip code of interest below or browse our city and county directory to find a local real estate agent. Buy a Home Enter Your Zip Code of Interest: Sell a Home Enter Your Zip Code of Interest: You can also browse our Directory to find a Real Estate Agent in your State, County, and/or City. Real Estate Agent .com is one of the fastest growing directories of Real Estate Agents on the Internet, so if you are unable to find an agent in your area, contact us and we will find an agent to contact you shortly! Advanced Search Buy a Home Sell a Home City OR County State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Why Use A Real Estate Agent? When selling a home , a real estate agent can be an indispensable resource. Real estate agents can give you up-to-date information regarding prices, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties, and information about the housing market in general. A real estate agent will market your property to other real estate agents as well as to the public, and will know the best way to go about doing so. A real estate agent can also help you objectively evaluate buyer proposals, and then, finally, help you close the sale. In fact, a 2002 study on Home Sellers reports that the median sales price of an agent-assisted home was 27% higher than one sold "by owner". When buying a home , having the assistance of a real estate agent can be equally as important. Real estate agents have access to resources for assisting you in your home search not available elsewhere. A real estate agent can also provide you objective information about each property, and give you advice based on years of experience. A real estate agent will help you negotiate and also steer you through the closing process to make sure everything goes smoothly. We understand how difficult it can be to buy a home for your family or to sell your home on today's real estate market. We aim to build the bridges between people like you and your local real estate agent professional to ensure that you receive the help you need on a one on one basis. Down payment on a home will be 3% or more, depending on the type of financing you get. 5 Most Popular Questions How big is an acre? Why should I use a real estate agent? What is equity? What is a REALTOR? What is comprehensive homeowners insurance? Mortgage Calculator Real Estate Investment Software Moving Supplies Advertise Link Exchange About Us Testimonials Contact Us Links RealEstateAgent.com 2003 - 2005 Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Client Login Developed by Volico Web Consulting RealEstateAgent.com is a method of advertising for Real Estate Agents and Agencies. In no way is RealEstateAgent.com responsible for the services provided by the advertisers on this site, nor can it be held liable for any damages resulting from the services, contracts, or deals resulting from agents found within this site. Please view our Disclaimer for more details.

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Costa Rica Real Estate for rent: apartments, houses and vacation rentals in Costa Rica Quick Finder Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Ocean View Properties ------------- Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals ------------- Hotels for Sale Land Development Bars & Restaurants Other Investments ------------- Conversion Table Contact Us Call us 1-888-607-6772 Costa Rica Apartment & House Rentals Contact Us Christmas and new year rental in Costa Rica available call now 1-888-607-6772 or in Costa Rica 844-54-31 click here! Below you will find a small selection of our Costa Rica rental homes, condominiums for rent and our special selection of Costa Rica vacation rentals. Each of our real estate rental listings of Costa Rica includes a brief description and a picture. You will also find in this section a variety of Costa Rica beach vacation rentals! Costa Rica's Central Valley is still the most popular place to live, for both Ticos and foreign residents in Costa Rica. Our rentals of residential real estate listings include Costa Rica homes for rent and condominiums for rent in the Central Valley. We combine desirable locations in West and East San Jose such as Escazu, Santa Ana, Rohrmoser, Sabana, San Antonio de Belen, Sabanilla, Montes de Oca and Moravia among others. You will also find attractive house and condominium rentals in the provinces of Heredia and Alajuela, where locations such as la Garita and la Guacima are very appealing because of their wonderful weather, nearby facilities, very nice neighborhoods and homes. If you are looking for relaxation and a good vacation in Costa Rica, we have beautiful beach houses and beach condominiums for short term rentals in Costa Rica. Our listing of vacation rentals in Costa Rica include desirable locations such as Guanacaste in amazing beaches like Famingo, Tamarindo, Playa Grande¸ El Coco, Ocotal, Playa Hermosa, Papagayo and others. Along the Pacific or West Coast of Costa Rica¸ we offer beach homes and beach condos for rent in places like Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Jaco and more? If you prefer the exotic Caribbean or East Coast of Costa Rica, ask for our vacation houses and bungalows rentals in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Punta Uva, Cocles and others. Don't wait until the last moment to make your reservations... Contact us Price: US$450/Day US$1900/Week US$5000/month Enjoy your stay in San Jose in style: Deluxe House in Escazu Comfortable house with easy access to Escazu's finest shopping centers and restaurants More Information... Contact Us Outstanding 3 bedroom 2 baths in Los Suenos Golf Resort and Marina A perfect place under the sun! Impeccable 3 bedroom 2 baths unit (200m2 or 2,100sq feet) in the most outstanding vacation place of Costa Rica: Los Suenos Golf Resort and Marina.... Luxury home in a natural resort setting overlooking Los Suenos Golf Course and surrounding mountains in Herradura Bay area. Enjoy the privacy and peacefulness of beautifully landscaped grounds, swimming pool, gym and entertainment area just outside the door... More Information... Contact Us Weekly Rate $3,800 US per week or $600 US nightly (3 night minimum). Semana Santa (Holy Week) $6,500. Flamingo Beach House Rental This magnificent, five-bedroom home, that sleeps up to 10 people, has all the luxuries. Excellent, breathtaking, Pacific Ocean views and views of Flamingo Beach, a private swimming pool, jacuzzi, close to beach access, modern kitchen, and much more. There are granite countertops throughout kitchen and baths. More Information... Contact Us Size: 1400 m2 lot with 400m2 construction area Rent: US$2,500 per month Beautiful Escazu house for rent only 2 minutes from Multiplaza Mall Situated on the trendy side of Guachipelin, with nearby coffee shops and bistros and only 2 minutes from Multiplaza Mall, this spacious house has 3 bedrooms, with masterroom with Jacuzzi and walking closet, 2.5 bathrooms and maid's quarters with full bathroom. The living area and kitchen are very elegant, and a terrace with great view of the nearby Escazu mountains. The swimming pool and the ranch make it perfect for a nice Sunday Barbecue. The garage has space for at least 6 cars. More Information... Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Size: 325 m2 or 3,500 sq feet. Rent: US$3,500 fully furnished and equipped / US$3,000 unfurnished. Maintenance fee included. Luxury Condo for rent in heart of Escazu Tastefully decorated condominium in the heart of Escazu, walking distance to everything, fully furnished and equipped. 3 bedrooms, 3,5 baths, maids room, 2 terraces, 2 car covered parking spaces More Information... Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Costa Rica's Premier Destination Colina 2 bedroom condo, Los Suenos Luxury Rentals Colina 2 bedrooms luxury golf view condo in Colina, Los Suenos. Short walking distance to the beach, full access to beach club in Los Suenos, Marriott Hotel, Marina, Shops, Bars & restaurants. Maids service. Arrival and departure gifts. Unlimited concierge services. More information... Contact Us Los Sueños Luxury Rental Ocean View House Enjoy a private paradise while vacationing in this exotic luxury villa. Located on a mountainside within the beautiful Los Suenos Resort and overlooking Herradura Bay, you will enjoy absolute privacy while having the benefit of all resort amenities and security. More information... Contact Us Mansion for rent Los Sueños Luxury Mansion Rental Luxury beach mansion for rent at Los Sueños Resort Community near Playa Jaco. Luxury and sophistication define this beautiful house, a real tropical palace Spanish Mediterranean style, located in Los Suenos, just 1 mile from the world class sport fishing marina and casino. More information... More Information... Beach house rental Manuel Antonio Beach house rental This beautiful and unique house sits on a cliff overlooking Punta Quepos, the sea, and Manuel Antonio National Park. It was designed to provide stunning views from every window and terrace. The house is small and cozy (approx. 100 sq. meters or 1,000 square feet) and thus is suitable for no more than four adults. More Information... Contact Us Price: US$346,500 Area: 4,500 sq. feet const (418 m2) 10,205 sq. feet of land (948 m2) Chalé Style House in Rohrmoser Leased! Looking for similar properties? Contact Us Beautiful and spacious 3 level Swiss Chalé located in an exclusive peaceful residential area of West San Jose. Ample gardens make this home an absolutely private haven. This gorgeous home for sale or rent consists of tall coffered ceilings, large windows and two balconies. A beautiful park is located just crossing the street. This house for rent in Costa Rica: US$2,250/month (a minimum one year contract)7 More Info... Luxury Golf Condo Valle del Sol 3Bdrm 3.5 Bathroom Located in San Jose's most exclusive gated community with a world class golf course. Valle del Sol is close to shopping, downtown, dining and 5 minutes from Forum Business Center. Ideal for corporate managers, families and couples that want privacy, security and beautiful surroundings. More Information... Contact Us San Jose Mountain City Long Term Rental Villas / Vacation Rental Located in one of the most beautiful small cities, Heredia (known as the City of Flowers). Exclusive neighborhoods with amazing views of the Central Valley below and the mountains above, natural forest, country clubs and close to shopping and the airport. Villas Roma are perfect for your stay in Costa Rica whether for business or for travel, alone or with your family. More Information... Contact Us Condominium to rent in lovely San Antonio de Belen This condominium has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, nice living area with a spacious backyard. Garage for two cars and security 24 hours. More Information... Contact Us Find: Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Top Exclusive Properties - - - - - - - - - Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals - - - - - - - - - Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Home for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Conversion Table Contact Us Beach Properties | Farms and Mountain | Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities | Condos for Sale | Vacation Rentals | Rentals Top Exclusive Properties | Gated Communities | Luxury Rentals | Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties | Golf Residences | Costa Rica Office Space Our Company | Listings | Info Request | Articles | San Jose Attractions | Faqs | Photo Gallery | Contact Us List your properties with us | Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Rica Vacation Rentals CONTACT: Properties in Costa Rica www.propertiesincostarica.com info@propertiesincostarica.com Toll free USA and CANADA: 1-888-607-6772 USA: 1 (516) 869-4565 Costa Rica: + (506) 844-5431 * Fax: + (506) 289-0969 * * from the US & Canada dial 011 first Escazu, Centro Comercial El Cruce, 2nd floor, Suite 25 Across the street from ScotiaBank and next to Pops Postal Address: #SJO 72013, 1601 NW 97th Ave. Doral, Fl 33172-2853 Member of Costa Rica Real Estate Brokers Board Member of Fiabci Member of Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism Member of National Association of Realtors All photographs and texts in this site property of PCR Propiedades de Costa Rica SA (PCR) unless otherwise noted. Copying, reproduction or sending to third parties is allowed only with written consent of PCR Request travel information about Costa Rica Design, marketing and hosting by Amerisol Top Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Residential Lots Escazu and West Valley Real Estate Buying property in Costa Rica

Real Estate Prices

DQNews - DataQuick Real Estate Headlines and Statistics -- December 29, 2005 DQNews Home | DataQuick | Forums | -- Release | Custom Reports Search -- i Updated: December 27, 2005 -- -- -- Real Estate News -- . -- DQNEWS HOME -- RECENT RELEASES Monthly for SoCal Monthly for Bay Area New! -- CA Monthly City Chart ZIP CODE CHARTS Updated Monthly: LA Times Zip Chart SD Union Tribune Chart OC Register Chart SF Chronicle Chart Sacramento Bee Chart Annual Charts: CA 2004 City Chart LA Times 2004 Chart OC Register 2004 Chart SD Tribune 2004 Chart SF Chronicle 2004 Chart Sac Bee 2004 Chart Updated Weekly: SJ Mercury News Chart California SoCal Area Bay Area -- REGIONAL CHARTS Phoenix 3Q05 Honolulu 3Q05 Las Vegas 3Q05 Portland 3Q05 Seattle 3Q05 Nashville 3Q05 Miami/Palm Bch 3Q05 Jacksonville, FL 3Q05 Denver 3Q05 Chicago 3Q05 CURRENT HEADLINES Home Sale Trends Mortgage Trends -- Foreclosures Million Dollar Homes Building Activity Other Feature Articles NATIONAL NEWS -- WEB SITE EXTRAS ARCHIVED ARTICLES -- Customized News Services -- -- Custom Reports Archived Zip Code Charts Archived Articles -- Enter your email address to receive DQNews Headlines by email: -- Who We Are -- -- -- Find Out More About DQNews -- -- California November Home Sales Report A total of 51,250 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That's down 4.6 percent from 53,700 for October and down 3.8 percent from 53,250 for November 2004. A decline from October to November is normal for the season. full story Slower Bay Area home sales, steady price increase -- Bay Area home sales continued to slow on a year-over-year basis while prices continued to climb. . . full story -- -- Southland home sales strong, prices hit new peak -- Southern California home sales remained at near-record levels last month as prices continued their climb to new heights, the result of continued demand and the expectation that mortgage interest rates will continue to increase... full story California Foreclosures Edge Up Foreclosure activity in California showed a year-over-year increase during the last quarter for the first time in more than three years, the result of lower appreciation rates and riskier loans. . . full story Million-Dollar Home Sales Rise in Golden State -- More million-dollar homes were sold in California last year than in the two previous years combined . . . full story California's home buyers increasingly choose ARMs A rising portion of California's home buyers are financing with adjustable-rate mortgages as rising prices and rate increases earlier this year make it harder to buy. . . full story -- California Home Buyer Surnames for 2002 TOP TEN Most Common Last Names of California Home Buyers Name Rank Median Price Garcia 1 $197,000 Smith 2 $250,000 Nguyen 3 $300,000 Lopez 4 $195,000 Lee 5 $325,000 Hernandez 6 $189,000 Rodriguez 7 $189,000 Martinez 8 $197,000 Gonzalez 9 $192,000 Johnson 10 $242,000 **2002** Metropolitan Area Home Sale Charts Look up the median home price in your zip code Record sales to Hispanic home buyers Hispanic home buyers accounted for a record portion of California's home purchase activity during the third quarter, the result of socio-demographic gains and available mortgage financing. . . full story Homebuyers CA YTD2001 Rank Last Names 1 Garcia 2 Smith 3 Lee 4 Martinez 5 Hernandez -- DQNews Quick Data: $280 billion was added to the value of California's housing stock in annual appreciation last year. The median homeowner is 'making' $2,384 monthly just by owning a home. -- CALIFORNIA'S TOP HOMEBUYER LAST NAMES 2000 Rank Last Name Median price paid 2000 1990 Rank 1 Garcia $145,500 (4) 2 Smith $189,000 (2) 3 Lee $262,000 (1) 4 Johnson $182,000 (3) 5 Lopez $144,500 (7) 6 Martinez $146,000 (8) 7 Hernandez $141,750 (14) 8 Rodriguez $145,000 (6) 9 Nguyen $246,000 (13) 10 Gonzalez $140,750 (10) 11 Williams $175,000 (12) 12 Brown $183,000 (9) 13 Sanchez $145,000 (18) 14 Miller $205,750 (11) 15 Jones $179,750 (15) 16 Ramirez $138,000 (22) 17 Kim $265,000 (5) 18 Perez $148,500 (20) 19 Davis $178,000 (19) 20 Anderson $197,500 (17) 21 Martin $176,000 (23) 22 Flores $146,000 (30) 23 Gomez $147,000 (31) 24 Wilson $190,500 (25) 25 Tran $252,000 (43) CC Coming Up: Coming Up: Equity lending in Florida Washington state's $million home market Crunch for entry-level buyers - or not? Fannie, Freddie and the conforming limit (yawn...) Most boring neighborhoods: the list Texas home buyer names -- Foreclosure Sales: The number of home foreclosure sales in California was a low 709 in the third quarter of 2005. Last year there were 1,007 home foreclosure sales in the same time period. Top Lender Update: Wells Fargo Bank was California`s most active home mortgage lender in the third quarter of 2005, followed by Washington Mutual and Countrywide Home Loans - (ranked by residential loan $). Least Expensive Communities: In the 3rd quarter of 2005, the three CA cities with the lowest median price (and over 50 sales) were: Taft at $120,000, Twentynine Palms at $140,000 and Barstow at $142,000. Most Expensive Communities: In the 3rd quarter of 2005, the three CA cities with the highest median price (and over 50 sales) were: Rancho Santa Fe at $2,372,500, Newport Coast at $1,914,750, and Belevedere Tiburon at $1,765,000. Million Dollar Home Sales: 30 communities in CA had a median home price of over $1 million in the 3rd quarter of 2005 (with 50+ sales). There were eighteen cities in that category in 3Q04. Refi Trend: California residential refinancing activity in the third quarter of 2005 was up 9.8% from the third quarter of 2004 and up 8.0% from the second quarter of 2005. " -- . DATAQUICK IN THE NEWS -- Sacramento Bee Homes sales fall 21 percent Orange County Register O.C. housing prices back near peak The median sales price was $616,000 last month, $1,000 shy of August's record, and more gains will come next month, according to market tracker DataQuick. Los Angeles Times Southland Housing Sustains Solid Gains San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area boom easing Home sales slow a bit but price growth is still strong San Jose Mercury News Home price spiral eases MEDIAN PRICE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY JUMPS ONLY $750 FROM MONTH AGO AS SALES DROP 5.8% San Diego Union Tribune Home sales have seen better days Prices up, but seasonal activity down for 17th straight month San Francisco Chronicle Foreclosures in Bay Area down 13% to a 14-year low Rapid increase in prices has helped reduce rate of default Los Angeles Times Loan Default Notices Rise for First Time in 3 Years New York Times Do Try This at Home: Assess Your Area's Real Estate Bubble Forbes Real Estate Strong Despite Higher Interest Money Magazine Cuckoo for Condos! USA Today Got $75M? Here's the house for you USA Today 'New urbanism' embraces Latinos Can't Find Sunday's Newspaper? Find your zip code here! 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