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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

Home Mortgages - Advice

Home Mortgages - Advice  You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > Mortgage Advice > Home Mortgages - Advice Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Home Buying / Selling Stay up to date! "All About Mortgages" "How To Get the Best Home Loan," 2nd Edition Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Mortgages - Getting Approved Mortgage Basics Find a Mortgage Mortgage Calculators Related Guide Picks Top Home Buying Books House Hunting-Take Along Workbook Related Blogs Mortgage Fraud Blog The Real Estate Blog The Money Pit Most Popular Modular and Manufactured Homes Finding Your Best Place to ... Home Buying Don'ts First Time Home Buyer Tips Before You Sell Your Home What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Related Topics Home Repair Architecture Credit / Debt Management Housekeeping Landscaping Top 5 Books About Home Mortgages Guide Picks From Janet Wickell , Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Are you having a difficult time deciding which type of home mortgage is the best for your needs? You're not alone. The world of home finance offers so many variables and options that it's often hard to keep them straight. The authors of these books help you do just that as they provide all the information you need to compare home mortgages and find a home loan that's right for you. 1) "All About Mortgages" This text by Julie Garton-Good provides a thorough analysis of home finance and refinance. The queries included in the book's Q&A format offer comparisons and detailed information about specific types of home mortgages, and will answer your questions about home loans. Credit and credit repair are discussed, too. For anyone who wants to learn more about the home mortgage industry. 2) "How To Get the Best Home Loan," 2nd Edition W. Frazier Bell takes the reader on a complete tour of the mortgage industry. His discussion of the secondary loan market helps you understand how lenders earn money and why loan underwriters must follow certain guidelines. An excellent book that even seasoned home buyers will find useful. 3) "The Mortgage Kit" Here's an easy-to-understand home mortgage primer from Thomas C. Steinmetz. The author teaches you how to use simple number-crunching formulas to compare different types of loans. This thorough book will answer just about any question you might have about home mortgages. 4) "How To Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Home Mortgage" Author Randy Johnson leads you through the maze of home loans, explaining the different types of loans available, which lenders specialize in each type, and how those lenders make money in the home mortgage market. He teaches you which questions you must ask to make sure you are getting the best possible deal. Includes information about credit scoring and other credit-related topics. 5) "Steiner's Complete How-To-Talk Mortgage Talk" Shari and Clyde Steiner's book will help you decipher what a lender is actually offering you. Protect your interests by learning how to answer the lender's questions and know instinctively when a lender makes statements that could signal future problems. Learn home mortgage jargon and be more confident as you analyze and compare different types of home loans. Important product disclaimer information about this About site. Important disclaimer information about this About site.        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews

Colorado Real Estate

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

Property Search Estate Agents

Find a Property - Search 171,640 properties for sale and rent from 2,304 Estate Agents in London, Surrey, Middlesex and Berkshire Find a Property - Home Property Search Estate Agents Property News Specialist Properties Browse All Areas Find your ideal house, flat or apartment for sale or rent Find a Property - Moving made easy Search all editions Tick the areas you are interested in. For a more localised search, select your local edition London (north of river) Camden & Kentish Town Central London Docklands Ealing, Chiswick & Acton East London Edgware, Harrow, Stanmore & Wembley Enfield & Southgate Finchley & Barnet Hackney/Clapton Islington & Holloway Hammersmith & Fulham Hampstead & Highgate Kensington & Chelsea Leyton & Walthamstow Maida Vale/St Johns Wood Muswell Hill, Wood Green, Tottenham North West London Outer East London Stratford Tottenham Twickenham, Teddington & the Hamptons Wapping/Bethnal Green/Bow West London Woodford/Chingford London (south of river) Battersea & Clapham Blackheath/Greenwich Brixton & Camberwell Bromley & Bexley Dulwich & Forest Hill Kingston & nearby areas Lewisham/Woolwich Peckham & Rotherhithe Putney & Wandsworth Richmond, Kew & Barnes South East London Southwark & Kennington Sutton & Croydon Sydenham/Crystal Palace Tooting, Balham & Streatham Wimbledon & Merton Surrey & Middx Camberley, Fleet & Farnborough East Surrey Epsom, Leatherhead & Dorking Esher & Cobham Farnham & West Surrey Guildford & South Surrey Staines, Ashford & Sunbury Weybridge & Walton Woking Southern Counties Berkshire Brighton Dartford & Gravesend East & Mid Kent East Sussex Essex Hampshire & IOW Maidstone & Medway Portsmouth Reading & Bracknell Sevenoaks & Tunbridge Southampton West Sussex Windsor & Maidenhead Rest of UK Click here for property in other parts of the UK Rest of Europe Click here for property elsewhere in Europe Rest of World Click here for property outside Europe Enter your options and press the 'Find a Property' button Buying Renting Price from £ Price to £ If renting: Monthly rate (pcm) Weekly rate (pw) Number of bedrooms (minimum): Houses Flats Developments & Land Commercial If renting: Must be furnished Must be unfurnished Top Top Find a Property - Home Property Search Estate Agents Property News Specialist Properties Browse All Areas Find a Property 2004 Advertise (estate agents only) Contact us (estate agents only) Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions

New Homes Utilities/EEPS Service

Builders, Raters, Sponsors, & Lenders of New Homes : ENERGY STAR What is ENERGY STAR? | Newsroom Search Manufacturers Retailers Builders, Lenders, Raters & Sponsors of New Homes Utilities/EEPS Service & Product Providers Businesses Small Businesses Congregations HVAC Contractors PRODUCTS HOME IMPROVEMENT NEW HOMES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PARTNER RESOURCES -- Home > Partner Resources > Builders, Lenders, Raters & Sponsors of New Homes -- -- Builders, Raters, Sponsors, and Lenders of New Homes IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: EPA Releases Final New Guidelines for ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? Homes built to strict energy-efficiency guidelines using tried-and-true technologies and construction practices. Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Increased profits, customer satisfaction, and recognition, all while helping the environment. Builders , Raters , Utilities/Sponsors , Lenders , Other Partnering with ENERGY STAR Step-by-step guidance to help you capitalize on your ENERGY STAR partnership. Builders , Raters , Utilities/Sponsors , Lenders , Other Tools and Resources Logos, marketing examples, fact sheets, training presentations, a locator for finding other partners, incentives, and more. News and Policies Find out what's new, apply for an award, or examine program policies. Quick Links Partner Resources Partnership Agreements 100% Builder Commitment 2005 Outreach Partnership Homes Online Submission Tool Local/Regional Resources Partner Locator Regional Web Sites Marketing Resources Lender Resources Achievement Report ENERGY STAR Logos Advanced Lighting Package Sales Toolkit HomeCalc Brochures Presentations Customer Fact Sheets Technical Resources Indoor Air Package Builder Option Packages Manufactured Housing Guides Systems-built Housing Guides Revised Sampling Policy Do Even More with ENERGY STAR: Lighting Advanced Lighting Package Appliances Heating & Cooling Indoor Air Quality Kitchen Products | Home Improvement | New Homes | Business Improvement | Partner Resources Newsroom | Privacy | Contact Us | Site Index EPA Home EPA Search DOE Home DOE Search