Selling Home

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

Texas Land Title Association

Advanced Solutions International | Texas Land Title Association Advanced Solutions International | Texas Land Title Association Contact Us Locations Events Business Opportunities Press Room Overview Press Releases Success Stories By Industry By Business Need New Clients Fact Sheet History Leadership Careers Investor Relations Notices Home > About ASI > Press Room > Success Stories > By Industry Ten Years Later, the Texas Land Title Association Continues to Benefit and Grow With Its iMIS System “ iMIS has continued to be a useful software tool for us over the last 10 years because ASI has focused on understanding the specific needs of associations,” stated Leslie Midgley, Executive Vice President at the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA), ASI’s first iMIS customer. TLTA feels that the needs of associations have changed and as technology has advanced, ASI has responded to those changes and advancements with enhancements and new products. “They (ASI) have made it their business to respond to user feedback by updating the software to better serve the needs of their users,” added Midgely. In fact, TLTA has received more than 12 upgrades of iMIS and have upgraded from iMIS LAN to the Microsoft SQL version in the last decade. The TLTA is a non-profit state trade association that represents over 600 Texas title insurance companies, abstract companies and title insurance agents that are engaged in the transference of title to real property. “With iMIS , they have been able to capture an overwhelming majority of the market share for Title companies in Texas through education, advocacy, and other valued services,” stated Mark Jones, President of enSYNC Corporation, the TLTA authorized iMIS Solution Provider. The Flexibility to Handle Growing and Changing Needs iMIS has been particularly useful to the TLTA in managing their meetings and educational programs. “ iMIS allows us to plan a meeting from start to finish without using a lot of different software programs,” stated Midgley. In the area of membership, iMIS has allowed them to keep better track of information about their members. “Over the years, we have determined that we need to store more and more data, and iMIS has allowed us the flexibility to expand and change.” Authorized iMIS Solution Provider, enSYNC Corporation, provides support to TLTA for their iMIS system. They have been an integral part of TLTA’s satisfaction and success with the product. “Both Mark Jones and Clark Jones are great to work with and are always there to help us solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Currently, they are working with us to increase our skills with report writing using Access and Crystal and to help us utilize more of the features that iMIS offers,” commented Midgley. “ iMIS is still meeting the business needs of the organization after 10 years, that really says something about the greatness of the product,” summed up Jones. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy © 2005 ASI, Inc. Site designed and developed by ASI Web Services Group , managed by iMIS Content Manager.

Buy Home

HP Digital Entertainment – Browse & Buy Home Theater Products summary of site-wide JavaScript functionality Sign-out | » Edit your profile -- United States-English » Contact HP Search: More options -- Home & Home Office All of HP US HP Home Theater » Home & Home Office » Digital Entertainment » Home theater » TVs » Inside HP's TVs » Choose your new TV » HP Pavilion MD6580n 65" Microdisplay TV » HP 50" HD plasma Television » HP 37" High-Definition LCD Television » Plasma vs. LCD vs. MDTV » HP explains the HDTV explosion » Technology » Tutorials » Selecting products » Digital music » Technology » Tutorials » iTunes » Download iTunes » Manage your music » Build your collection » Organize your music » Customize with playlists » Create your own CDs » Share music » Listen to the radio » iTunes music store » Search and sample » Buy and download » Get published » Listen to audiobooks » Additional features » Sync with iPod » HP printable tattoos » Tattoo gallery » Create your own » Selecting products » Resources & info » Resource links » Tutorials » Digital Photography » Everyday Printing » Everyday Computing » Activity Center Browse & Buy » Online Store » Rebate Center Product Support » Support & troubleshooting » Software & Drivers » Warranties & services » Register your product Now playing in your living room. Watch what you want, when you want. Personalize, manage, share, and enjoy entertainment throughout your home. » Set up the ultimate home theater » Transfer VHS to DVD » Choose your new TV Buy Digital Entertainment products Plasma Television LCD Television HP Digital Entertainment Center HP Media Center Photosmart PC Personal Media Drive » Browse all digital entertainment products Tutorials » Throw the perfect movie party » Download digital movies » Host your own film festival » Free HP online classes Selecting Products » HP TV in-home installation » HP Pavilion 50" plasma TV » HP Digital Entertainment Center » HP TV buying guides Technology » HP and the movie industry » The high-definition explosion » Home theater glossary Printable version Privacy statement Using this site means you accept its terms Feedback to Home & Home Office © 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

real estate brokers throughout

Commercial Real Estate Brokers Commercial Real Estate Listings & News Home Search Advertise News Customer Service CityfeetSpaces -- Thursday, December 29, 2005 Commercial Broker Directory For information about posting a Featured Ad, please email us or call us toll free at 1-866-527-0540. Cityfeet.com offers the most extensive free to search commercial broker directory in local markets across the United States. Find a broker in your area today. Free to search. No registration required. Detailed information including broker bio, photos and more... Contact brokers via phone or send an email inquiry. LOCATION -- Select a Region -- 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 Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Outside the U.S. SPECIALTY Lease Sale Office Medical Office Retail Industrial Lofts/Showrooms Flex/R&D Other Terms of Service Cityfeet.com is the leading website for finding commercial real estate brokers throughout the United States. Cityfeet.com can help you find the broker that is right for you. Search our free comprehensive database of for sale, for lease and tenant rep brokers by location as well as specialty. Please click here to promote your Brokerage Services. ©2004 Cityfeet.com - All Rights Reserved Home | Search | Advertise | Customer Service | About Us | Privacy Statement | Site Map Find Commercial Real Estate Listings - Cityfeet.com Company Overview : Cityfeet is the leading online commercial real estate network, connecting commercial real estate property owners and brokers to tenants, brokers and investors. Cityfeet offers commercial real estate products and services catering to the national and local needs of the commercial real estate industry . Cityfeet specializes in all commercial real estate property categories including office space, executive suites, commercial land, industrial property, retail space and businesses for sale. Cityfeet is the #1 source of free commercial real estate information for commercial real estate professionals and powers the commercial real estate area of many of the countries most popular websites including Yahoo! Realestate.com and The New York Times. ( See all partners ) Commercial Real Estate for Lease | Commercial Real Estate for Sale | Executive Suites | Businesses for Sale | Commercial Real Estate Broker Directory | Cityfeet Local

Investment Property Calculator Our

Investment Property Friday, 30.12.2005 Calculate Everyday Banking Ways to Bank E-Commerce Solutions Borrow International Trade Property Finance Plant, Equipment and Vehicle Finance Information Debtor Finance Apply For... Search this site Go | BNZ Home | Site Map | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us | Rates & Fees | Careers | Investment Property Calculator Our investment property finance calculator is a unique tool developed to help you as an investor test the affordability of property investments you might be considering. It can help you to find out what level of surplus or deficit your "financed" property investment may generate. To move between fields use your mouse, or the Tab button on your keyboard. For further help on using the calculator, just read our instructions . Enter the property's annual rental income: $ Enter the yield you wish to obtain: % Purchase Price: $ ~ result Enter either: loan amount as % of purchase price: Or amount of cash or equity you wish to contribute: 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65% 70% 75% $ Loan Amount: $ ~ result Loan Repayments: Interest Only Principal & Interest Interest Rate: 6.00% 6.25% 6.50% 6.75% 7.00% 7.25% 7.50% 7.75% 8.00% 8.25% 8.50% 8.75% 9.00% 9.25% 9.50% 9.75% 10.00% 10.25% 10.50% 10.75% 11.00% 11.25% 11.50% 11.75% 12.00% Repayment based on year term Annual Repayment: $ ~ result Surplus: $ ~ result Surplus return on cash contribution: % ~ result How much will be owing on my loan after years? Amount Remaining: $ ~ result How to use the calculator: Rent is the source of income from any investment property that you may be considering. Key in the rental income that your proposed investment will generate. Yield is the rate of return you expect to achieve from any property investment you may wish to make. Key in the yield that you believe is an appropriate return on your investment. The combination of the rental income together with the yield you expect will determine the amount you will need to pay for the property to satisfy your return expectations. Enter the cash (equity) you would like to contribute to the investment; or Select the loan amount as a percentage of the purchase property you are considering, to test the tolerance of your investment compared to debt levels. Which loan repayment option would you prefer? Interest only or principal and interest? Select an option. Interest rate? Select an interest rate option , or call a property finance lending manager for a quote. Term? The term of your loan will also affect the level of debt servicing that your financed investment property can sustain. Select a term over which you wish to repay your debt. What the calculator will tell you: The price you are prepared to pay for the property you are considering, based on the rental income from the property and the return (yield) you expect on your investment. The total of the annual payments to service the debt on this proposition, based on the percentage you have considered borrowing against the purchase price, the repayment option you have selected and the term you have chosen. The cashflow surplus before any overheads, depreciation, miscellaneous costs and taxation. What it won't tell you: The quality of the rent. Before you make any investment, you must independently check that the tenant(s) in the property you are considering purchasing have a sound track record, and can be relied upon (in your opinion) to pay the rent. The quality of the property. Check with a registered valuer about the quality of the investment you are about to make. Ask a property finance lending manager for some guidance on how to choose a registered valuer to help you in making a prudent decision. The quality of your investment decision. Once again, we recommend you seek guidance from a registered valuer, a solicitor and an accountant in helping you make a sound decision. Ask a property finance lending manager for some guidance on how to choose your professional advisors. DISCLAIMER The calculator is provided for general information purposes only and does not form advice given by Bank of New Zealand. Bank of New Zealand accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any use of the calculator which shall not constitute an offer of finance. back to top © Bank of New Zealand 2001. Use of the information contained on this page is subject to our Terms and Conditions