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Saving for a Home - Home
Mortgage Basics
Learn the basics of home
mortgages and saving money
to buy a home.
Information on types of
loans, and how much money
you need to buy a home.
Mortgage Tips for First Time
Home Buyers
Buying
your first property can be
exciting, however, it is
likely a new experience and
therefore may be difficult
to know where to start.
Here are some tips to help
you prepare for your first
home.
The Mortgage Maze for First
Time Home Buyers
Obtaining
a suitable mortgage can be a
complex matter, and new home
purchasers need to look at
the available options before
any decisions are made.
Choosing the Right Home
Mortgage
Information on choosing the
right home mortgage
A Comparison of Popular
Mortgage Products
There
is a wide range of mortgage
products available today.
Here is a comparison of some
of the most popular home
mortgage loans.
How you can Benefit from a
Fixed Rate Mortgage
Fixed rate mortgages have
historically been a popular
loan type. Here is
some information why this
may be the right mortgage
loan for you.
Home buying 101 - Qualifying
for a Home Loan
Educate yourself on what
factors lenders will look at
when evaluating you for a
home loan.
Adjustable versus Fixed Rate
Mortgages
When
buying a home, one of the
biggest decisions you will
make is choosing between an
adjustable versus a fixed
rate mortgage. Here is
some information on both
types of loans.
Tapping into your Home's
Equity
If you
must have debt, then home
equity loans or lines of
credit may be a good choice
for you.
Key Questions to Ask about
Reverse Mortgages
Instead
of a home equity loan, older
homeowners may find that a
reverse mortgage is a good
way to get extra cash each
month, or to handle
unexpected expenses.
The Benefits of using a
Mortgage Broker
If you need a
mortgage, then using the
services of an independent
mortgage broker could save
you time and money.
FHA Home Loan Program
FHA loans are usually easier to qualify for and commonly used by people of less than perfect credit and lower income.
First time home buyers: What
simple rules to know when it
comes to making the bid
Tips for first time
home buyers and making a bid
on a home.
Choosing a Realtor when
Buying your Next Home
For buying a home,
you need to shop as
carefully for a realtor as
you do for your new home.
How to find a Realtor that
will Work for You, not
Against You
How are Realtors
actually paid?
A
response to the above
article. Information
on how Realtors are really
paid.
Check your Credit History
before Deciding to Purchase
a Home
Before looking to purchase a
home, it is important to
first check your credit
report and history.
Investment property or residential property?
Should young adults take the step into flipping real estate, becoming a landlord, or just becoming a homeowner?
How to find a Home Mortgage
Lender you can Trust that
will be Honest Find a home mortgage lender
you can trust.
Which Real Estate
Professional does What
If you are buying or selling
a home, then it is to your
advantage to be familiar
with the team of
professionals involved in
your real estate
transaction.
Home Inspections
A home inspection is an
important step before
purchasing a home.
Hiring a Home Inspector
Finding, choosing, and
hiring a home inspector.
Straight Talk about Mortgage
Loan Points
When shopping for a home
mortgage loan, you will need
to understand both interest
rate and mortgage loan
points.
Basics of the Housing Market
Learn the basics of the
housing market cycle,
including buyers and sellers
markets.
What does the Monthly
Mortgage Payment Include?
The monthly mortgage payment
usually includes taxes,
interest, and principle.
Home Buying -- Location
Matters
One of the most important
decisions related to buying
a home is location.
What's your Credit Score?
Understand your credit score
for applying and qualifying
for a mortgage loan.
Community Living: Is it
right for You?
Is a traditional
single-family home out of
your price range or not your
style? Then consider a
condominium, townhouse, or
cooperative.
Get Pre-Qualified and
Pre-Approved for a Home
Mortgage Loan
Learn about the
benefits of getting
pre-qualified and
pre-approved for a home
mortgage loan.
Buying a Home: Bidding and
Making an Offer in a Sellers
Market
When buying a home in
a sellers market, when there
is a low supply of homes,
there are some points you
should keep in mind.
Appraisals and your Mortgage
Loan
When getting a mortgage to
buy a home, your lender will
require an appraisal.
Real Estate Property
Easements
Learn what is an
easement, and how is may
effect your property.
The Housing Bubble: Will it
Burst?
Low interest rates
have encouraged more to buy
homes. Is this a
housing bubble?
When to Refinance your Home
Tips on refinancing your
home mortgage.
Mortgage Types: A Home Loan
Overview
Information on the different
types of mortgages including
fixed-rate, adjustable rate,
hybrid, interest only, and
more.
Understanding Private
Mortgage Insurance
Learn about PMI, or private
mortgage insurance.
Buying Foreclosed Properties
Learn about buying
foreclosed properties.
Escrow Agreements and Real
Estate Transactions
Escrow is an
important part of your real
estate transactions.
Also, information on title
insurance.
Personal Property: What's
included in you Home
Purchase?
Before buying a home, make
sure you know what items
stay, and what goes with the
seller.
Home Buyers Remorse
The
experience of buying a home
can be an emotional roller
coaster even under the best
of circumstances.
Title Insurance: Protecting
Your Real Estate Investment
What
about losses from claims
made against your ownership?
Title insurance protects
against these risks.
Real Estate Agent:
Relationships in Real Estate
Get smart
about key terms that
describe real estate
professionals and their
working relationships with
buyers and sellers in a
transaction.
Real Estate Purchase
Contract Contingencies
Contingency clauses allow
you to build in an escape
hatch that allows you to
legally walk away from the
deal if the conditions you
specified are not met.
Deeds: Transferring
Ownership of Real Estate
In a real
estate transaction,
ownership transfers through
a deed.
Determining Real Estate Fair
Market Value
Just what
is fair market value anyway?
How is it determined, and
when is it important?
Is Condo Living for You?
Despite
the allure of
maintenance-free,
amenity-rich living,
condominium ownership is not
necessarily for everyone.
Home Warranties: Paying for Peace of Mind
If you
are a home buyer, here
are a few things to add to
your knowledge base as you
decide whether a warranty is
right for you.
Making an Earnest Money
Deposit
When
making an offer to buy real
estate you generally include
an earnest money deposit.
Access Your Home Equity
If you
own a home, you may be able
to borrow money using your
accumulated equity to secure
the loan.
Understanding Adjustable
Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
An
adjustable rate mortgage, or
ARM for short, is one of two
primary types of mortgage
loans.
Choosing the Best Mortgage
Lender for You
Whether
you are buying a new home or
refinancing your present
one, your selection of a
lender is an important
decision.
Typical Closing Costs
You
should also have funds
available to pay expenses
associated with the purchase
of real estate. These
expenses are known as
closing costs.
Reverse Mortgages
A reverse
mortgage, or home equity
conversion mortgage (HECM),
is a type of loan that
allows a senior citizen to
keep their home, while still
taking equity out of it
without having to pay it
back.
Mortgage Lender Types
Your bank
may be the first place that
comes to mind when you are
looking for a home loan. But
did you know that there are
other sources for mortgages?
Basics of a Real Estate
Purchase Offer
At last,
you have found your ideal
home, and you want to buy
it. How do you begin the
process? Start with a
purchase offer.
Mortgage Loan Terms Home
Buyers Should Know
As you
proceed through the home
loan process you will
encounter a variety of
terms, many of which may be
unfamiliar and confusing.
Ways to Hold Title to Your
Home
How you
hold title is important
because the various forms of
ownership have different
rights and obligations.
Take Your Final Walk-Through
Before
you close on your new home,
do a final walk-through.
Mortgage vs. Deed of Trust
Overview
of a mortgage and a deed of
trust.
Bi-weekly Mortgage Payments
You can
reap interest savings and
pay off your home loan
faster by making extra
payments.
Working with a Buyers Agent
As a
homebuyer, you have the
option of hiring a real
estate agent to represent
you. Called a buyers agent,
this professional works in
your best interests
throughout the entire
transaction.
Determining Offer Price for
a Home
You know
which house you want to buy
and the sellers asking
price. What you do not know
is how much you should
offer. Use the following
suggestions to get a
jump-start on coming up with
that figure.
Online Real Estate Resources
for Homebuyers
The
Internet has become an
increasingly popular
resource for consumers
looking to buy a home. But
with so much information
available online, where does
a home seeker begin?
Ask About Restrictive
Covenants Before You Buy
When you
own your home, you can use
it however you wish, right?
Maybe not if restrictive
covenants are in place that
say otherwise.
Debt, Income, and Your Home
Loan
Your
debt-to-income ratio is a
key factor that lenders
consider when qualifying you
for a home loan.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of
Mortgage Refinancing
In
difficult financial times,
many families look to the
possibility of refinancing
the mortgage, either to make
payments more bearable, or
to provide some extra cash.
Bad Credit and Home
Financing
A bad
credit rating is a serious
disadvantage for almost
anyone, as it affects a
persons ability to operate
in the world in so many
different ways.
Professional Designations
for Agents
Some of
the more common professional
real estate designations to
help you make more sense of
this seemingly alphabet
soup.
Home Equity Line of Credit
and Second Mortgages
Families
that have significant equity
in their home have a
powerful source of available
funds, usually just for the
asking. They can apply for a
home-equity loan.
First Time Home Buyer Tips
Buying your first home can be an exciting time. It can also be confusing, frustrating, and even intimidating. You most likely have lots of questions, and you may not know where to begin.
Leasing Real Estate
Leasing property can work well for both buyers and sellers. If you are wondering if a leasing arrangement is right for your situation, here is a brief explanation of two leasing techniques to consider as you decide.
Refinancing Your Home Loan
You might have been thinking about refinancing, but you’re not quite sure. As you decide, you may want to keep the following considerations in mind.
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