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Property investment UK - property market for home and business - Interactive Investor Skip navigation Site Shares Thursday 29 December 2005 Home / Property Register | My Account | About Us | Site Map | Glossary | Help | T&Cs | Logout Home Investing News Markets Portfolio Share Dealing Level 2 / Tools CFD Trading Spread Betting ISAs Funds Property Community Personal Finance Planning Mortgages 1st Time Buyers Remortgaging Buy to Let Buying Abroad Calculators Credit Cards Loans Savings Banking Pensions Insurance Life Insurance Tax Cut Your Bills UK property investment information UK property investment information. Find property in the UK or abroad or value your home. Investment property news and property market guides. Search for residential or business property in UK or abroad. Mortgages, conveyancing, plot search and more. Property investment UK - search for and buy property Property UK Property How £1,000 can transform your home With fewer active buyers in the market, if you want to sell your home you need to make it stand out from the rest. Here are our tips for sprucing up your property without breaking the bank more Property Investment Courses UK and overseas property investment education from Inside Track Seminars. Book your free 2 hour workshop Date / Location 02/01/2006 , Kettering 02/01/2006 , Southampton 03/01/2006 , Heathrow 03/01/2006 , Hinckley 04/01/2006 , Nottingham 04/01/2006 , Watford 07/01/2006 , Gatwick 08/01/2006 , Gatwick 09/01/2006 , Newcastle 09/01/2006 , Worcester 10/01/2006 , Newcastle Upon Tyne 10/01/2006 , Shrewsbury 11/01/2006 , Sunderland 11/01/2006 , Walsall 12/01/2006 , Guisborough 14/01/2006 , Manchester 15/01/2006 , Manchester 16/01/2006 , Basildon 16/01/2006 , Bournemouth 16/01/2006 , Middlesbrough 17/01/2006 , Durham 17/01/2006 , St. Albans 17/01/2006 , Winchester 18/01/2006 , Ascot 18/01/2006 , Gosforth Park 18/01/2006 , Milton Keynes 19/01/2006 , Oxford 21/01/2006 , Birmingham 22/01/2006 , Birmingham 23/01/2006 , London Course Time Seats Required 1 2 3 4 Find a UK Property Maximum price No maximum £10,000 £20,000 £40,000 £30,000 £50,000 £60,000 £70,000 £80,000 £90,000 £100,000 £125,000 £150,000 £175,000 £200,000 £225,000 £250,000 £300,000 £350,000 £400,000 £450,000 £500,000 £600,000 £700,000 £800,000 £900,000 £1,000,000 £1,250,000 £1,500,000 £1,750,000 £2,000,000 £2,250,000 £2,500,000 £2,750,000 £3,000,000 No maximum Minimum bedrooms No minimum (incl. studio) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Area or postcode (e.g. York, Yorkshire or YO1) Business Property Finder Find a Business Property Property type: All Commercial Property Catering Empty/Vacant Premises Industrial Site/Unit Investment Properties Land/Development Sites Large Corporate Companies Leisure,Pubs and Hotels Motor Related Office Space Retail Showrooms Warehouses Other Property location: Spain Rest of Europe USA Rest of the World Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland Channel Islands Scotland UK - Nationwide All Locations Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cornwall County Down Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Dorset Durham East Sussex East Yorkshire Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Humberside Isle of Man Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London Merseyside Norfolk North Wales North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Pembrokeshire Shropshire Somerset South Wales South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Tayside Tyne and Wear Warwickshire West Midlands West Sussex West Yorkshire Wiltshire Worcestershire Tenure (Freehold, Leasehold): All Leasehold Freehold Property as Your Pension Should you bet your future on a house? Acres have been written on the benefits of SIPPs, but in practice there are complications. more Buying Property Abroad Find a Property Abroad Daltons property search worldwide Findyourproperty.com French-property.com French-property.eu.com Lighthouse - Properties in Spain Overseashomesearch.co.uk The safe way to buy in Spain Guiding you to your Spanish home: 10,000 properties, strict Code of Ethics, accredited agents more Buy to Let Housing associations Letting your investment property through a housing association saves landlords hassle and provides a guaranteed income. more Best Mortgage Rate 4.84% Go Value Your Home Enter Postcode: Free area report Detailed report Promotion Request FREE brochures on investing in properties abroad. More... Property Investment Newsletter Sign up here: Go Manage? | Register? Promotion A new auction website to help you find Spanish property bargains. More... 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MSN Money - How to find good investment property MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Investing Home Portfolio Markets Stocks Funds ETFs Commentary Brokers CNBC TV MSN Money Insight Jubak's Journal SuperModels Start Investing Strategy Lab Company Focus Mutual Funds Street Patrol Other Views Contrarian Chronicles TheStreet.com Resources Commentary Index Decision Centers Start Investing Mutual Funds Find Hot Stocks Simple Strategies Power Tools Investing For Income Real Estate Related Links Expert Picks Market Dispatches CNBC Stock Picks Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Research any REIT Find top-performing mutual funds Sortable database of SEC filings Find stock winners with our screener Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Recent articles by Liz Pulliam Weston: • Streamline your finances in 8 steps , 1/12/2003 • Ditch all fees for online banking services , 1/12/2003 • In clash of debit-card titans, consumers lose , 1/12/2003 More... Related Sites American Association of Small Property Owners Rental Property Reporter National Real Estate Investors Association The Basics How to find good investment property advertisement If you're cut out for it, life as a landlord can be quite profitable. But success isn't assured. Here's what you need to know before diving in. By Liz Pulliam Weston The idea of owning rental real estate seems to be gaining popularity as investors tire of the swoops and swoons of the stock market. As I pointed out in a separate column , not everyone has what it takes to be a landlord. But those who do may find rentals to be a good way to build wealth. Once youve made the decision to buy rental property, your real work begins. Finding a profitable rental property usually takes time, connections and plenty of research. Heres what you need to know to get started: Start investing with $100. Explore our new ETF center. Know your time horizon As with any other investment, you should have a good idea how long you plan to own a rental property before you buy it, says Robert Cain, publisher of the Rental Property Reporter newsletter. The longer you plan to own the property, the more youll probably need to invest in maintenance, repairs and improvements, Cain said. If youre keeping it for 20 years, at some point youre going to be putting a new roof on that property. Youre going to be putting in new appliances and doing some major repairs, Cain said. If youre only planning to own a property for five years, by contrast, youll probably want to avoid making any major improvements unless youre sure you can recoup the cost with a higher sale price. You also may face more investment risk with a shorter time horizon. Although your rental will almost certainly appreciate over 20 years, it could easily lose value in the next five, particularly if youre buying in an overheated market. Youll need a bigger potential annual return to make up for that risk. For many small investors, long-term ownership makes the most sense, said Pat Callahan, an attorney, landlord and founder of the American Association of Small Property Owners. Youll have plenty of time to ride out any swings in the market, and rental income can make a nice supplement to your day job. Find enough rental properties, and being a landlord may become your day job. Develop a network Experienced landlords find their properties in a variety of ways. Some hunt for foreclosures, making friends with city hall clerks or bank employees who know which properties are about to be sold. Some run ads in local newspapers. Others work with real estate agents who keep their eyes peeled for possible buys. Several landlords recommended joining a local landlord or property owner's association to make contacts. Callahans Web site offers links to local groups, as does the National Real Estate Investors Association. (See the links at left under "Related Sites.") When you begin to own rentals, all the other investors start coming out of the woodwork, said Sean Hoppe, a landlord in Pottsville, Pa., who owns 11 properties. Through investor meetings, networking, etc., I can find out what is for sale. (Hoppe, by the way, is 25 and hopes to retire from his job as a computer consultant in three years.) You also can try approaching landlords directly to see if theyre willing to sell, by calling the numbers listed on rental ads in the classifieds, by cruising neighborhoods looking for for rent signs or by talking to any landlords you know personally. Thats how Bob, who asked that his last name not be used, bought his rental property near Albany, N.Y. The landlord of the three-unit building where Bob had rented for 15 years was tired of the hassles and ready to sell. We love (the area) and jumped at the chance to buy it, Bob said. So far, Bob and his wife have been pleased with their purchase. They raised rents and required security deposits, which caused the propertys less desirable tenants to leave. He also has a backup plan for the building in case he starts to feel like the prior owner. If being a landlord got to be too big a hassle, Bob said, we would just get rid of the tenants and make it our own place. Get your finances in shape The better your credit, and the less credit card and other consumer debt you have, the better your prospects for getting a decent loan, Callahan said. Lenders usually require bigger down payments, higher interest rates and generally stronger finances when youre buying rental property. Thats because they know people are more likely to default on investment property than they are on their own homes. Landlords say it also pays to have a substantial cash reserve left over after buying a property. This can help pay for unexpected repairs and vacancies. Although there are few rules of thumb, setting aside at least one months rent for each unit is a good start. CPA Paul Berning suggests having a line of credit, secured either by the property or your own home, to cover larger costs. You also should make sure you can save enough for retirement and other goals before investing in rental real estate. While rental income can supplement your retirement kitty, most people shouldnt count on it to replace other investments or allow themselves to be entirely exposed to the whims of the local real estate market. Rents and property values can fall as well as rise, and those who are adequately diversified with investments in stocks, bonds and cash will be better able to endure the bad times as well as the good. Avoid overpaying As one experienced landlord put it: You make your profit when you buy a property, not when you sell it. Pay too much, and youll never recoup as much as you could have had you driven a better bargain. The rental real estate market is generally tougher on investors who overpay than on homeowners who do the same thing, several landlords said. While a home is often an emotional purchase, which can lead to I must have it! offers and bidding wars, most landlords look strictly at the numbers to see if their investments will pay off. If you pay too much for a rental, you cant count on a greater fool coming along later to bail you out. Not overpaying can be tough in a hot market, however. Apartments in New York, for example, currently sell at a 60% premium over their inherent value. In other words, theyre selling for much more than the income streams the apartments generate, according to Reis, a national real estate research firm. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, the premium is 10%. Some landlords use formulas, such as not paying more than six to eight times the rents they expect to make the first year. Others try to estimate what the property could be worth after needed repairs and upgrades are made, and they dont pay more than 70% of that price, less the cost of those repairs, CPA Berning said. Every real estate market is different, however, and these formulas may not work in your area. Whats key is to make sure your rental income will cover your out-of-pocket costs, Berning said. That includes the mortgage payment on the property, as well as taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs and a vacancy rate of around 5%. (If you have five units, for example, you should expect at least one unit to be empty three months each year. Heres the math: 5 units times 12 months equals 60; 60 times .05 is 3.) If you can at least break even, youll be able to profit from any price appreciation as well as from tax breaks available to rental property. Cains Web site sells $55 software to help you make these calculations (see link at left). When crunching the numbers, you should know that theres a big difference in how repairs and improvements are treated for tax purposes. You can typically deduct the cost of a repair, such as patching a roof or fixing a leaking pipe, on your tax return for the year in which the repair is made, Berning said. Replace that roof or those pipes, however, and its typically considered an improvement, which means the cost cant be deducted. Instead, its added to the amount you paid for the property to determine your tax basis when you sell. The higher the basis, the lower your taxable profit. But if you have to wait 20 years after making a major improvement to recoup any of the cost for tax purposes, you may think twice about buying a property that needs a lot of upfront work, Berning said. To better estimate your costs, get a thorough inspection before you buy a property. Some landlords have favorite electricians, plumbers and contractors that they send to any prospective property, promising them that they can do any repair work they find. Others use professional inspectors they trust. Longtime landlords say all this work pays off in profitable properties that build their net worth while providing a steady income stream. Callahan, whose family started investing in rental real estate in the 1940s, says its a way of life she recommends. It doesnt matter if youre a professional or a laborer, Callahan said. Its the equal-opportunity wealth builder. Editors' choice Don't get scammed by your mover Safeguard your Social Security number 5 ways to tap into the onshore drilling boom Your checkbook just became obsolete Turn $1 a day into $67,815 Readers' choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.29 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.24 Keep thieves out of your bank account 9.22 Credit reports now free for entire U.S. 9.20 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.17 The tricks and traps of debt consolidation View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement Sponsored Links Fund data provided by Morningstar, Inc. © 2005. All rights reserved. Quotes supplied by ComStock , an Interactive Data company. MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. 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Colorado Real Estate

Breckenridge and Summit County Colorado Real Estate Brian Donovan 970-390-9775 "Your Professional Breckenridge and Summit County Area Real Estate Guide" The primary goal of this web site is to make your search for Breckenridge and Summit County real estate as easy as possible. You have the freedom on this site to search the entire Breckenridge and Summit County real estate database of available properties for sale on your own. If your not sure where to start or would like some input from me, you can contact me by email or telephone at anytime and I'll be happy to help you as much as you'd like. Summit County encompasses Breckenridge, Blue River, Keystone, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Copper Mountain. One stop shopping for real estate in Breckenridge and all Summit County real estate! Brian Donovan Colorado West Real Estate Keeping it Simple! PO Box 3595 Breckenridge, CO 80424 Office: 970-547-1800 ext. 305 Toll Free 866-221-9506 ext. 305 Cell 970-390-9775 Fax 970-547-1801 Email: bdonovan4@cs.com GET OUT AND PLAY! SELLERS! If you currently own property (residential or land) somewhere in Summit County and plan on selling sometime in the next few months, this FREE service is designed to help establish your property's current market value. Simply choose Market Analysis and fill out the requested information. I will use comparable sold listings to help you calculate the fair market value of your property. BUYERS! There are all kinds of great local links over on the left side of this home page. You could spend hours there, (you might want to book mark this home page!) , but if you want to dive in and start looking at what's for sale around Summit County then simply choose Search All Property and search the entire Summit County database of property for sale. If you are not sure what you are looking for or want me to search for you, please contact me. You can also automatically receive personalized MLS listings by e-mail. Early each morning, (after a coffee or two from Clint's Bakery) I will search the local MLS and find the homes that match your criteria and notify you immediately with the latest listing information!! Simply choose Dream Home Finder and fill in the requested information. So please, enjoy your visit to this web site, and contact me with any questions. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you! KEEPING IT SIMPLE! Contact Brian | Search ALL Property Website design and hosting by iHOUSE ®

Florida Real Estate

Licensing Portal - Homepage Quick Topics Right Here. Right Now! DBPR Home Page Using This Site Activate My Account FAQs Technical Info Privacy & Security Term Glossary Site Map Contact Us Email Telephone Mail More information for... - Select - AB&T Boxing Commission Certified Public Accounting Hotels and Restaurants Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes Pari-Mutuel Wagering Professions Real Estate Service Operations Unlicensed Activity Renew a License Change License Status Maintain Account Change My Address Make a Payment -- View Messages My Continuing Education Search for a License, Permit, or Registration Search for Inspections File a Complaint Search Unlicensed Construction Complaints Search All Other Unlicensed Complaints AB&T Delinquent Invoice and Activity List View License Requirements -- Apply for a License View Application Status Apply to Retake Exam Find Exam Information Find a Continuing Education Course Request Public Information View CE Requirements File a Complaint [Coming Soon] -- Hot Topics DBPR Extends License Renewal for Hurricane-Impacted Cosmetologists Access to State of Florida Procurement Opportunities and Information If you are interested in learning about conducting business with the State of Florida, you may visit: www.myflorida.com/portal/Business Businesses interested in learning about vendor diversity programs and opportunities may contact the Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services, at 850.487.0915, or may visit: http://www.osd.dms.state.fl.us/ Architecture & Interior Design Continuing Education Information The 2005 Architecture and Interior Design renewal cycle ended February 28. View more information about continuing education requirements, provider course reporting and online CE history. Professional Engineers Renewal 2005-2007 / Online Payment Renewal notices for professional engineers and certificate of authorizations were mailed in early December 2004. View instructions and license renewal requirements for professional engineers. CAMs Continuing Education Rule Change Continuing Education Deficiency Letters DBPR's Online Services provide online access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the public and to nearly one million licensees. For the first time in the history of state government, users can apply for and maintain their licenses, search license records, find exam information and file complaints in just one site. Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush, DBPR is changing the way you interact with state government. As we work towards revolutionizing state government, we welcome your input on any features that would be of value to you at communications@dbpr.state.fl.us. Para asistencia en Español, por favor llame a nuestro Centro Para Servicio Al Publico al 850-487-1395.

Buy Home

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