I must say this is a great post from forsalebyowner.com, step #6 would be to hire an agent to represent you. (Seller or Buyer Agent).
1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they can absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Home owners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. As these houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system, and they are being replaced by some very attractive properties.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines, giving appraisers more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market.
5. Plenty of programs. Many programs that encourage middle-class families to buy homes continue to exist, despite market downturns. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates.
Source: ForSaleByOwner.com (07/29/2010)
"Star Treatment for Your Real Estate Needs" It is important for me to understand my client’s needs and wants so I can exceed their expectations. I’m not happy unless they are. It is essential to have a productive positive working relationship and smooth transactions.
Showing posts with label Realtors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Realtors. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Affordable housing and you
Real estate in Texas
The term affordable housing can mean many things. In Austin, for example, it could mean any single-family home that sells for under $200,000. In other areas of Texas, affordable housing might mean a $75,000 home.
Statewide, Texas REALTORS® help countless fellow Texans experience the benefits of homeownership, regardless of where you live or how much money you make. In addition, many Texas REALTORS® participate in specialized training to better equip themselves for helping first-time homebuyers.
Options abound for Texans who want to own their own home, but who might be strapped for cash or have yet to establish their credit. One is the Texas First Time Home Buyer Program, sponsored by the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA). It offers below-market mortgage interest rates for first-time buyers.
The Texas Veterans Land Board has a variety of attractive home-purchase programs for Texas military veterans and their spouses.
Source:TexasRealEstate.com
The term affordable housing can mean many things. In Austin, for example, it could mean any single-family home that sells for under $200,000. In other areas of Texas, affordable housing might mean a $75,000 home.
Statewide, Texas REALTORS® help countless fellow Texans experience the benefits of homeownership, regardless of where you live or how much money you make. In addition, many Texas REALTORS® participate in specialized training to better equip themselves for helping first-time homebuyers.
Options abound for Texans who want to own their own home, but who might be strapped for cash or have yet to establish their credit. One is the Texas First Time Home Buyer Program, sponsored by the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA). It offers below-market mortgage interest rates for first-time buyers.
The Texas Veterans Land Board has a variety of attractive home-purchase programs for Texas military veterans and their spouses.
Source:TexasRealEstate.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Be Ready to Buy
If you find what you’re looking for in a home, you should be prepared to make an offer quickly. Even if homes are staying on the market a little longer in your neck of the woods, it only takes one other interested buyer to snatch the home or create a bidding war.
You can help the offer process by being ready. In addition to being pre-approved for a loan before you begin looking at properties, it’s wise to be honest with yourself. You know exactly what you want in a home and how much you can actually afford. Make sure to take into account utilities and other monthly expenses associated with homeownership.
Be advised, though, that a quick offer doesn’t necessarily mean a quick end to the transaction. There are myriad potential postponements in a real estate transaction. There may be contingencies, repairs, lender delays, or any number of other issues.
Purchasing real estate can be a tricky and detailed business, but a Texas REALTOR® can help prepare you for the process. He knows the value of properties in your local market and how to navigate the entire process to a smooth conclusion. He’ll use this information to help you submit an excellent offer.
When you have the information you need to make a good decision, your chances of making a successful offer on a property improve. Use a REALTOR® to increase your advantage.
Source:Texas Association of Realtors®
www.amsstarrealty.com
You can help the offer process by being ready. In addition to being pre-approved for a loan before you begin looking at properties, it’s wise to be honest with yourself. You know exactly what you want in a home and how much you can actually afford. Make sure to take into account utilities and other monthly expenses associated with homeownership.
Be advised, though, that a quick offer doesn’t necessarily mean a quick end to the transaction. There are myriad potential postponements in a real estate transaction. There may be contingencies, repairs, lender delays, or any number of other issues.
Purchasing real estate can be a tricky and detailed business, but a Texas REALTOR® can help prepare you for the process. He knows the value of properties in your local market and how to navigate the entire process to a smooth conclusion. He’ll use this information to help you submit an excellent offer.
When you have the information you need to make a good decision, your chances of making a successful offer on a property improve. Use a REALTOR® to increase your advantage.
Source:Texas Association of Realtors®
www.amsstarrealty.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Some Cities Unaffected by Recession
Some U.S. cities with stable housing and diversified employment have been virtually untouched by the Great Recession.
Analysts say cities that are most likely to leave the recession in the same or better condition than they started it are those where home prices didn’t fluctuate wildly, which spared them the devastating effects of foreclosure, lost jobs, and lost productivity.
If there is a lesson to be learned, experts say, it is that families looking for long-term economic stability should settle in locales with diverse employment and minimal shifts in housing values.
To identify these cities, Forbes magazine ranked the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas by employment rates, the conventional mortgage home price index, and the average days on the market for properties currently for sale.
The top cities on Forbes list were:
Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
San Antonio, Texas
Austin-Round Rock, Texas
Pittsburgh
Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pa.
Dallas/Fort Worth
Rochester, N.Y.
Houston
Raleigh/Cary, N.C.
Baton Rouge, La.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (11/19/2009)
Analysts say cities that are most likely to leave the recession in the same or better condition than they started it are those where home prices didn’t fluctuate wildly, which spared them the devastating effects of foreclosure, lost jobs, and lost productivity.
If there is a lesson to be learned, experts say, it is that families looking for long-term economic stability should settle in locales with diverse employment and minimal shifts in housing values.
To identify these cities, Forbes magazine ranked the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas by employment rates, the conventional mortgage home price index, and the average days on the market for properties currently for sale.
The top cities on Forbes list were:
Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
San Antonio, Texas
Austin-Round Rock, Texas
Pittsburgh
Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pa.
Dallas/Fort Worth
Rochester, N.Y.
Houston
Raleigh/Cary, N.C.
Baton Rouge, La.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (11/19/2009)
Monday, October 12, 2009
A Historic Time to Buy
Young people just starting to invest and buying their first homes are potentially the winners in this recession.
First-time homebuyers, most between the ages of 25 and 45, accounted for about 45 percent of home sales from January through July 2009, according to the National Association of REALTORS®
"This is a historic time," says George Jaramillo, a 35-year-old business analyst in Atlanta, who recently bought three homes, two of them foreclosures. "It's a great opportunity to make some great gains in the future."
A study by investment company T. Rowe Price points out that investing when prices are low can result in amazing gains. For instance, between 1970 and 1990, the annualized rate of return for the S&P 500 was 11.5 percent.
"We need to be shouting from the rooftops that this is not the time to get out of the market if you're young," says Christine Fahlund, a senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price. "This is the time to be in the market."
Source: The Associated Press, Chip Cutter
First-time homebuyers, most between the ages of 25 and 45, accounted for about 45 percent of home sales from January through July 2009, according to the National Association of REALTORS®
"This is a historic time," says George Jaramillo, a 35-year-old business analyst in Atlanta, who recently bought three homes, two of them foreclosures. "It's a great opportunity to make some great gains in the future."
A study by investment company T. Rowe Price points out that investing when prices are low can result in amazing gains. For instance, between 1970 and 1990, the annualized rate of return for the S&P 500 was 11.5 percent.
"We need to be shouting from the rooftops that this is not the time to get out of the market if you're young," says Christine Fahlund, a senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price. "This is the time to be in the market."
Source: The Associated Press, Chip Cutter
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