Buy House Plans -
Before You Buy House Plans - What you need to know You are here: About > Home & Garden > Architecture > Find Products & Services > Building Plans > How To Select House Plans > Before You Buy House Plans - What you need to know Home & Garden Architecture Essentials Architecture Basics About Your House School & Career FAQ Research Guide ASK US Articles & Resources Design & Build Remodel & Restore Find Products & Services Research Your Home Great Buildings Famous Architects Construction Facts Periods & Styles Theories & Approaches Health & Environment Cities & Landscapes Travel & Museums School & Career Lessons & Activities Reference Tools Buyer's Guide Great Architecture Gifts Fun Gifts For Guys Frank Lloyd Wright Gifts House Plans Home Design Software Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Architecture newsletter! See Online Courses Search Architecture Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Find Plans For Your Dream Home House Plans Library What is a "Floor Plan"? What are "Stock Plans"? Related Guide Picks Before You Build Before You Remodel Most Popular Home Design Software Programs House Styles and Home Architecture Picking House Colors Craftsman Bungalow House Style Tools to Help You Choose Ho... What's Hot Do Buildings Have Sex 4 Ways of Perceiving Building Contract Home Design Trends Bungalow Floor Plans - Sears - Modern Home No. c250, The Ash... Architecture - Articles Related Topics Art History Construction Industry Interior Decorating Home Repair Archaeology Before You Buy House Plans From Jackie Craven , Your Guide to Architecture . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Every new home begins with a plan. Some homebuyers hire an architect to create a custom design. Others purchase stock plans from a building plans publisher. Which option is right for you? Begin your search by exploring these five options. Browse Through Catalogs You will find thousands of stock building plans in hefty catalogs which include floor plans and elevation drawings. If you see a house you like, you can order complete construction drawings. • Top House Plan Collections Surf The Web Many house plan publishers have Web sites with powerful search engines to help you find plans for the size and style you seek. Listed here are our favorites. • House Plan Publishers on the Web Go Back In Time Do you favor the old, traditional styles? Why not look at the original building plans used in days gone by? These plans won't have the detailed specifications you need to construct your home, but they are a good starting place for recreating historic designs.
• Victorian House Plans • Bungalow Floor Plans Draw Your Own Even if you can't draw a straight line, you can use these computer programs to create floor plans and 3-D views for your dream house. • Easy Home Design Computer Software Programs Get Help From Pros Most homeowners who purchase stock plans find that they need to make a few alterations. Sometimes, the stock plan is merely a starting point for creating an original design. Who do you hire? • Do you need an architect? • What is a Professional Building Designer? • What is a Custom Home Builder? 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 Do Buildings Have Sex 4 Ways of Perceiving Building Contract Home Design Trends Bungalow Floor Plans - Sears - Modern Home No. c250, The Ash... Architecture - Articles
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Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Houses for Sale | RealEstate | REALTORs ® | Real Estate Agent BUY A HOME SELL A HOME HOME LOANS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION ABOUT US MY ACCOUNT FREE HOME PRICE CHECK ® Learn the Market Value of Your Home! NEW CONSTRUCTION Search for a New Home and get 1% Cash Back EXISTING HOMES Receive a Gift Card Worth up to $1,000 or more.** HOUSEWATCH SM Get notified by email as new home listings come on the market. PRE-QUALIFICATION Get up to 4 Mortgage Offers in Minutes HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER Find Pre-Screened Home Contractors in Your Area. REALESTATE.COM IN THE NEWS SEARCH OVER 1 MILLION HOMES GET YOUR CREDIT SCORE REAL ESTATE AGENTS View and Save homes easily. Please Choose Alberta, AB Alaska, AK Alabama, AL Arkansas, AR Arizona, AZ British Columbia, BC California, CA Colorado, CO Connecticut, CT District of Columbia, DC Delaware, DE Florida, FL Georgia, GA Hawaii, HI Iowa, IA Idaho, ID Illinois, IL Indiana, IN Kansas, KS Kentucky, KY Louisiana, LA Massachusetts, MA Manitoba, MB Maryland, MD Maine, ME Michigan, MI Minnesota, MN Missouri, MO Mississippi, MS Montana, MT New Brunswick, NB North Carolina, NC North Dakota, ND Nebraska, NE New Hampshire, NH New Jersey, NJ New Mexico, NM Nova Scotia, NS Nevada, NV New York, NY Ohio, OH Oklahoma, OK Ontario, ON Oregon, OR Pennsylvania, PA Rhode Island, RI South Carolina, SC South Dakota, SD Tennessee, TN Texas, TX Utah, UT Virginia, VA Vermont, VT Washington, WA Wisconsin, WI West Virginia, WV Wyoming, WY Lenders will look at your credit score. And so should you. Partner with a fast-growing online network today. CLICK HERE Buying a Home | Selling a Home | Homes for Sale | Credit Report & Score | House Prices at Domania New Home Construction | Find a Mover | Find a REALTOR ® | Home Financing | Real Estate Learning Center Customer Service | Publications | For the Media | News Releases | Join Our Real Estate Network | Post Home Listings Privacy | Security | Terms of Use | Jobs | Disclosures and Licenses | Sitemap | Loans | Commercial Real Estate Houses for Sale in: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles Miami | Minneapolis | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle Washington, DC | Real Estate in More Cities LendingTree technology and processes are patented under US Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. © 1998 - Real Estate.com, a service of LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved.This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Conversion to LendingTree, LLC We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTOR ® -- A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all of the real estate professionals participating in the "Agent's Competing" program are REALTORS ® , which are members of the National Association of REALTORS ® . The Home Depot ® is not affiliated with LendingTree, LLC. The Home Depot ® is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. RealEstate.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with the parent franchisor companies of any of the participating members of its network. * Represents amount of consumer incentives and rebates (in the form of gift cards or other incentives) paid to consumers since August, 2000. ** Full Terms and Conditions Partner Sites: Citysearch | Expedia | Hotels.com | Ticketmaster.com | Hotwire.com | Entertainment.com | Match.com Home Shopping Network | ReserveAmerica | LendingTree.com | iNest | ServiceMagic | Ask Jeeves | Gift Ideas Mortgage Calculator | Refinance at GetSmart | LendingTree Mortgage | Free Online Credit Report | Home Equity Loans
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Mortgage Rates, Home Loans, Home Equity Loans, Debt Consolidation and Bad Credit Loans - HomeLoanCenter.com Mortgage Refinance Home Equity Loans Home Purchase Credit Concerns Debt Consolidation Check Loan Status Loan Calculators Rate Quote Rate Watch FAQs Find the Right Loan 5 Reasons to Refinance Home Buying Tips Mortgage Terms Glossary Get Loan Approval in Minutes. Qualifying is Quick & Easy. -- Choose Your Loan Type -- Refinance Purchase Home Equity Loan -- Choose Your State -- AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY Our Mortgage Calculators will help you find the right loan. How Much Can You Afford? How Much Equity is in Your Home? How Much Could You Save? What Will Your Monthly Payment Be? Hsieh Joins Expert Panel on CNBC Anthony Hsieh appears on a special edition of CNBC Primetime with a panel of residential real estate industry experts. Anthony Hsieh, on CNN's Open House Hsieh appeared as a guest speaker on CNN's Open House to discuss good housing debt versus bad housing debt. Click below for a Personalized Payment and Rate. Option ARM 1.000% 1.106% 1 Month ARM 2.000% 2.116% 3/1 Libor ARM 5.000% 5.149% 15 Year Fixed 5.125% 5.384% 30 Year Fixed 5.625% 5.782% 30 Yr Fixed Jumbo 6.125% 6.289% Assumptions Site Map | About Us | Contact Us | Business Hours | Careers | Privacy Policy | Our Guarantees | Licensing | Legal Information Loan Payment Calculator | Mortgage Refinance | Home Equity Loan | Home Purchase | Adjustable Rate Mortgages | Second Mortgage Tools & Resources | Mortgage Interest Rates | Home Loan | Equity Loan | Debt Consolidation © 2005 Home Loan Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Loan programs are offered by Home Loan Center, Inc.
Sell House
How To Sell a House and Other Real Estate - Home Selling Advice You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > How To Sell a House 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 > How To Sell a House How To Sell a House and Other Real Estate Tips and tutorials to help you sell a home or other real estate. Home selling advice that helps you sell your house faster and for the best price. This information is for home sellers who choose to employ a real estate agency as well as for sellers who prefer to sell by owner. Subtopics Choose a Listing Agent (4) Market Value (4) Escrow and Closing @ Offers and Contracts @ Facts About Surveys and Deeds @ Property Disclosure (6) Getting it Ready to Sell (5) Real Estate Forms (5) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent 10 Steps You Should Take Before You Sell Your Home Are you planning to sell your house? Be sure to take these important steps before you list the home with an agent or market it yourself. You can make your real estate transaction go more smoothly if you pay attention to these home selling essentials. 10 Ways to Make Home Buyers Hate Your House There's a common thread that runs among nearly everyone who is buying a home--most home buyers will quickly turn around and walk out your door if they detect one of these problems. Make sure your house is free and clear of these hot spots before you put it on the market. Home Selling Advice for For Sale By Owner Sellers Home sellers, are you going the for sale by owner route? You'll have lots to contend with during the real estate transaction, but these tips help you take actions to protect your interests and have a trouble free closing. Passing Your Home Inspection Nearly all home buyers will hire a professional home inspector to inspect your home before they go to closing. Is your home ready? Here are several hot-spots that worry buyers the most. Showing Your House to Potential Home Buyers You've completed all of your home selling tasks and now it's time for buyers to come and take a look. Do you know how to handle showings? Many of the basic showing how tos are the same, no matter whether you are selling the home by owner or using a real estate agent. What if Your House Needs Repairs? Do you really understand every clause within the contract you just signed? I've found that repair issues are one of the least understood parts of a home sales contract. It's a misunderstanding that can cause you lots of headaches--and money. Get the facts before you sign. How To Measure Residential Square Footage Each year, lawsuits are filed by home buyers who discover that their new home's square footage is not the figure stated in advertising. Real estate agents and for sale by owner sellers can reduce their risks of lawsuit by knowing how to accurately calculate residential square footage. Top Reasons Why Good Houses Don't Sell Don't let your house sit on the market because it falls into one of these categories. eCourse - How To Sell a House This eCourse takes you step-by-step through the process of selling a house. Sign up and you'll receive a newsletter once each week until all materials are covered, giving you plenty of time between lessons to make decisions and sort out your home selling options. Should You Allow the Buyer to Move in Before Closing? During the home selling process sellers are sometimes asked to agree to give the buyers possession of the home before closing. Learn the pros and cons of a buyer possession before closing agreement. 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. 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Investment Property Consumer Focus:
FCIC - Consumer Focus -- SITE SEARCH: Books Resources 1-888-8 PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256) Home Consumer Focus Archive Owning a Second Home or Investment Property Consumer Focus: Owning a Second Home or Investment Property Owning a Second Home or Investment Property For various reasons, the idea of owning a second home or investing in property is on many people's minds nowadays. Some dream of having a second home in a more moderate climate. Others, wishing to diversify their investments, are considering real estate because of continued record low mortgage interest rates. If you're interested in the idea, but not sure how to get started, we've assembled some helpful information. Second Home or Investment Property? Criteria Looking Around The Transaction Additional Responsibilities Financing Other Resources E-mail this Information to A Friend Other Topics in the Consumer Focus Archive Top Second Home or Investment Property? The process will be simpler and smoother if you can make some decisions about your lifestyle, needs, and plans for the property at the beginning. Generally, if you're looking for a place to spend the winters for several months at a time or to take frequent weekend getaways, then you're most likely considering the purchase of a second home. However, if you're looking to generate income or diversify your investments, then you're looking to purchase investment property. Check our web site later this month for more information regarding investment property and how to be a landlord. The information below pertains primarily to buying a second home. In either case, you're entitled to different types of tax deductions depending on how you treat the property. Criteria The criteria defining a second home are fairly loose. A second home doesn't necessarily mean a "house." It could be a condominium, a recreational vehicle , or even a boat. Basically, for your second property to be considered a second home by the IRS, it needs to have sleeping accommodations and cooking and toilet facilities. A second home qualifies for the home mortgage interest deduction, just like your primary residence, because you're using the home for personal purposes during the year. Many folks have second homes that are part rental. The catch is that your personal use needs to exceed 14 days or 10 percent of the time it was rented, whichever time length is greater. In addition, if you rent your home for fewer than 15 days a year, and personally use it for more than 15 days a year, you do not need to declare any rental income. Everyone's circumstances are unique. Consult a tax professional regarding deductibility. Top Looking Around Do you want to buy a second home in your favorite vacation area , or a weekend spot not more than a few hours' drive away, but don't know what the market's like? You might want to do some research on the web using Realtor.com or visiting the web sites of the individual real estate companies in the area where you wish to purchase a property. Some real estate-related web sites allow you to tailor your search you select such as price, number of bedrooms/baths, type of home, or location sorted by zip code. If you're considering this home to be your future retirement home, then you also should consider additional factors such as the annual climate. Weather.com allows you to view monthly climatic averages for cities around the country. You also might look for information and articles discussing cost of living or " best places to live for retirees" from groups such as the AARP. The Transaction You'll probably want to work with a local realtor to help with the transaction, especially if you're considering an out-of-state purchase. A knowledgeable realtor should be aware of important factors that could affect your decision. For instance, if the locale you're considering has development restrictions, like those involved with historic districts where strict design, remodeling, or building codes may be enforced. In addition, the agent will do much of the legwork for you and ensure that all the bases are covered during the transaction. Just as you did when you purchased your primary residence, you should still have the property inspected. Take the effort to know your rights . Top Additional Responsibilities Remember, owning a second home is just that-with all the associated responsibilities and expenses that it brings. Check individual state web sites for property taxes. How much maintenance are you willing to take on? If you're not willing to take on a lot of extra maintenance and yard work, consider buying a condo and hiring a property management company. Of course you'll need insurance. In some areas, you may be surprised by the rates you'll need to pay for homeowners insurance . Coastal areas usually have higher premiums due to hurricane risk, and you may need to buy a separate flood insurance policy as well. Financing Just as you did when you bought your primary residence, be sure to have your financial affairs in order before you even begin looking. Get a copy of your credit report and be sure there are no errors, which could delay or hurt your financing options. Also, be prepared to meet some stricter criteria to get the loan. This is because your finances will be stretched more thinly once you take on that second mortgage. Top Other Resources This is just a brief overview. For more information check out these resources: Read these publications online or order them from FCIC: FairCredit Reporting How toBuy a Home With a Low Down Payment How toBuy a Manufactured (Mobile) Home HUDHome Buying Guide Looking for the Best Mortgage-Shop, Compare, Negotiate Twelve Waysto Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs Publications available for orderingfrom the Housing Page Publications available for orderingfrom the Money Page Websites*: Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment Federal Trade Commission Federal Reserve Board FirstGov.gov Public Broadcasting Service AARP Bankrate.com Insurance Information Institute Money.CNN.com NewRVer.com Prudential Realtor.com SmartMoney.com Tax Foundation Weather.com * Names of resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Federal Citizen Information Center or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory. *If you click on these links, you are leaving FCIC's website. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible for the content of these websites. Top Enjoy this month's Focus? Share this information with a friendand spread the word! Enterrecipient's e-mail address: We will not retain or use this information for any other purpose. For more information on other popular consumer issues check out FCIC's Consumer Focus Archive . Top Import Notices - Site Map - Text Version This service isprovided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration . If youhave a comment or question, e-mail us .