Category Archives: Buying a Home

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If you were ever thinking about getting into real estate then this could be the perfect time. The housing market has dropped in recent years and we all know why. If you have money available it could be a shrewd investment to get in now while you can get a good deal. There might not be a lot of people who want to sell their homes, but with some they might not have any choice in the matter. That’s good for you, so let’s go over some things to think about. Have a good think about it and decide if you’d like to get your toes wet.

Decide where you want to buy

In the past, the furthest you might have went is the end of the state line. Because of the power the Internet gives us these days it’s easy to buy a property anywhere in the country. This means you can search high and low to find the place that represents the best deal. Because you’re not going to be living there it doesn’t really matter where it is. If you need to jump on an airplane to see it then the difference between a 1hr and 3hr flight means nothing.

Hook up with someone you trust

Perhaps you would rather not jump in with both feet first. You might have a friend that also wants a piece of the pie and you could hook up and go in on it together. If you’re a first time homebuyer then it’s a great way to do it. You’ll both have each other for support, and the case for a mortgage will be much stronger if there’s two people asking for half the money each. Remember that you need to trust them. Never get into business with someone that can’t be counted on.

Get the go ahead from the bank

Once you find somewhere you like, you don’t want to be running around trying to arrange the mortgage. Someone will swoop along underneath you and steal it from under your nose. You want to find your ideal property and put your offer in subject to appraisal. This means you have your name half-written and you have a much better chance of getting the one you want.

Let the hunting begin

Now it’s time to start looking for your ideal property. Go talk to real estate agents and make sure you get one who specializes in helping people buy property. They should be able to give you some great advice and help locate what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to speak to more than one company as you could find something better all because of one quick phone call.

Get yourself a list

Write down everywhere you are considering and get the agent to send a print-out of each one. Now you can take a little drive around the properties and start looking at each one in closer detail. This will help make your decision much easier and you can whittle them down. When you have some you like you need to make appointments to see each one. Go see them and write down everything you like and what repairs you’ll need to make.

Throw in an offer

Obviously this step should only be started when everything else has been sorted, but sooner or later you’re going to have to start putting some offers in. If you’ve spoken to your bank you should already have the mortgage sorted. Hopefully you can then get the sale done as quickly as possible once you’re sure it’s what you want. Make sure the agent knows you want to act quickly.

Please be careful

Sometimes when investing in property we get caught up in what we love, instead of choosing somewhere that is going to prove the best investment. You really need to take your heart out of it when you’re making decisions. If you did go with a partner you can sometimes help each other see sense. You need to buy the property that has the credentials you want. Not because it’s pretty.

The writer of this article is Alex Hunt. He works as a real estate agent with Abercromby’s Real Estate Company. It is one of the leading real estate agencies that helps you buy, sell or rent luxury homes.

Tips For Using A Home Inspector

April 7, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Home Inspection Tips

The home inspection is a very important step in purchasing a house. It is easy to become blinded by the bright, sunny windows and the open kitchen with the modern appliances; however, there are important structural details that must be inspected and deemed safe in order to ensure that the purchase of this home is truly a good investment. The results of your home inspection may give you the peace of mind to go ahead with the purchase; it may raise a few concerns that must be addressed by the seller before moving forward; or it may give you the heads-up that the best course of action is to walk away. With a decision of this import riding on your home inspection, you should know a few important details when scheduling your inspection.

Include Your Home Inspection In Preliminary Paperwork

It is important to let the seller know upfront that you plan to use a certified home inspector and that the sale is contingent on the inspection being free of any substantial problems with the property. If it is written into the sales contract, there are no surprises and you cannot be held contractually to purchasing the property if there are major issues that must be addressed.

Who Pays?

The home inspection is ordered and paid for by the buyer. Of course, it is a risk because the outcome might be that you do not buy the house, and the cost of that inspection becomes a sunk cost. On the other hand, the risk of purchasing a home without having an inspection done is much higher.

Finding A Home Inspector

Your realtor is a great resource for finding a reliable home inspector. Be sure to get your referrals from your realtor and not the realtor working with the seller. It is nice to think that everyone involved in your home purchase is operating with integrity, but you would be taking a risk using a home inspector who is recommended by a realtor whose primary goal is to sell the house in question. You may also visit ashi.org, the website for the American Society of Home Inspectors for a listing of certified inspectors.

Set Time Line Upfront

When you talk with potential home inspectors, be very clear about the time line you expect to have adhered to. A professional will tell you if he or she cannot meet that time line. One important key is the type of report they will generate. A hand written report may take days to complete, while a digital report can be generated online and viewed quickly, sometimes within 24 hours of the inspection.

Know What You Are Looking For

Even before you hire a home inspector, it is wise to have a checklist of items that will be inspected. You can find a great all inclusive look at closing.com. This will help guide you through your inspection report, and will give you legitimate questions to ask if you cannot find the answers in the report you have received.

Buying a Home

Additional Things To Evaluate When Looking For A New House

April 2, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Evaluate Your New Home’s Efficiency

When you sit down to write out your wish list for your new home, it will probably include things like a big kitchen, three bedrooms, a finished basement, and a deck. It is easy to fall in love with a house with big, open rooms, newly painted walls, and a pristine lawn. However, it is very important that you look past the beautiful facade and keep your eyes open for some less glamorous details. If you allow yourself to choose a house based on the visuals, you could find your decision costing you dearly down the road.

The Furnace

As you are admiring the elegant chair molding and the beautiful door walls, do not forget to find out how old the furnace is and when it was last inspected and serviced. An old or faulty furnace will not stand out when you tour the home, but it is a detail that can cost you a great deal of money within the first few years of home ownership if you do not handle this detail before the sale. If the furnace is old, you can take this into account when you make your offer.

The Windows

The classic look of wood frames around the windows may give the home character, but it could also be a sign that the windows have not been replaced with modern thermal windows. Older windows will cost a fortune in energy bills because they allow far more in air leakage than new vinyl replacement windows. If your dream home still has older windows, you may want to keep looking or consider the cost of replacement windows when making an offer on the house.

The Roof

It can be difficult to assess the condition of the roof from the ground. Even if it leaks, there may be no evidence anywhere besides the attic. It is important to know how hold the roof is and to ensure that there is no damage, leaking, or sagging. Also, you will want to know if there is more than one roof on the house. In other words, you want to find out if the owners have placed a new roof on top of the old one. If there is more than one roof, or the current roof is over five years old, you will want to consider the cost of a new roof in the offer you make on the house, and you will want to have the home inspected for water damage before moving forward.

Be Suspicious

If there is any room in the home with a new floor or newly painted walls, be sure to pay extra attention to that area. Sellers may choose to put down a new floor or put up a fresh coat of paint to mask water damage or structural issues. Of course, this is not always the case, but certainly you will want to call your home inspector’s attention to those areas. Buying a home with mold, a rotting foundation, or damaged walls can cause headaches and a huge financial loss in the long run.

Buying a Home

How To Choose a New Home Builder for Your Next Home

March 31, 2012 Jonathan Clark

What to Consider When Choosing a Home Builder

It is quite likely that if you have made the decision to build a new home, you are about to embark on a brand new experience. Without ever having done anything like this before, it is easy to fall into any number of common pitfalls when looking for the right builder. These mistakes can be costly and can lead to regrets that could last for years to come. However, this can be avoided if you follow a few important tips before choosing a new construction home builder.

Check With The Better Business Bureau

Once you have narrowed your search to a few builders, be sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB website makes this very easy to do, and if there have been major problems reported by consumers in the past about one or more of the builders you are considering, you will find out about it here. The ratings are easy to find and spelled out so they are easily understood.

Read The Online Forums

Another great resource, although not as objective as the Better Business Bureau, is blogs and forums found on line. If you want to know what other consumers think of a given builder, just run a search online, using Google or Bing or another similar search engine. You will find forums, blogs, and chat rooms, where other consumers will share their experiences. It is important to note that often those who are happy with their experiences are less likely to post their thoughts and comments, so this may give you a skewed image of the builder in question.

Ask Around

Word of mouth is sometimes one of the best resources you can tap into. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members about experiences they have had and those their friends have had. Few people will give a dishonest reference to someone they know personally, so if your friend or neighbor recommends a builder, it is usually a solid, reliable reference.

Interview The Builders

Once you have chosen a few builders based on their model homes, their reputations, and other criteria, it is time to learn a little more. Be sure to ask them if they pay their own closing costs; not all builders do, and you may find yourself with bigger bills than you expected. You should also find out exactly how many amenities that you saw in their model home will be included in the home they will build for you. Often model homes are full of extras, and the dream house you think you commissioned only includes some of the details you loved in the model.

Finally, be sure to ask for a home warranty. Reputable builders will offer a one, or sometimes two-year warranty on everything in the house. It is dangerous, however, to assume that the warranty exists, and without it, you could rack up some huge expenses in the first year if the water heater leaks or there is a problem with the wiring. Covering these details upfront will protect you from losing money down the line.

California Apartments Blog

Category Archives: Buying a Home

6 Steps To Getting The Property Investment You’ve Always Wanted In The Current Climate

Decide where you want to buy

Hook up with someone you trust

Get the go ahead from the bank

Let the hunting begin

Get yourself a list

Throw in an offer

Please be careful

Tips For Using A Home Inspector

Home Inspection Tips

Include Your Home Inspection In Preliminary Paperwork

Who Pays?

Finding A Home Inspector

Set Time Line Upfront

Know What You Are Looking For

Additional Things To Evaluate When Looking For A New House

Evaluate Your New Home’s Efficiency

The Furnace

The Windows

The Roof

Be Suspicious

How To Choose a New Home Builder for Your Next Home

What to Consider When Choosing a Home Builder

Check With The Better Business Bureau

Read The Online Forums

Ask Around

Interview The Builders

Information and Reviews of California Apartments