How to Spot A Good Buy ?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another.

However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new condition two blocks away. That’s why knowing what to look for before you buy can save you time, energy and money down the line.

The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need. A good buy is only a good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements. Before shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require. How many bedrooms, bathrooms? Is a family room necessary? Do you need a layout that will accommodate a lot of entertaining? Do you prefer a spacious or compact work space in the kitchen? If you have small children, can the house easily be childproofed?

Evaluate the front and back yards. Is there enough space to accommodate your children? Do you want a park-like or garden setting? Do you enjoy yard work and gardening, or do you want a low-maintenance yard? Take into consideration the cost of extensive landscaping and upkeep.

Next, determine how much work is required to make the house you are considering livable. Make an honest assessment of your fix-it abilities. How much work are you willing to do or pay someone else to do? Do you have basic decorating, carpentry and plumbing skills? If you plan to learn as you go, make sure you have accurately determined what you are getting into. Ask an experienced friend, family member or your real estate agent for their opinion, and be sure to consider how much remodeling inconvenience the rest of the family can handle.

Unless you are ready and able to tackle a major remodel, look for a house or condominium that needs only cosmetic improvements. These include painting, wallpapering and replacing items like flooring, window treatments, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, light fixtures, cabinet and interior door hardware and appliances. Remember that even these simple changes can be costly if you have to make many of them.

Beware of improvements that seem easy enough at first glance buy may turn into major headaches and require a lot of money once you’ve moved in. Remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the floor plan, room additions and redesigned landscaping are examples of seemingly minor changes that can easily eat away the money you thought you saved by selecting a so-called “bargain priced” home. Of course, you may be perfectly willing to spend whatever money is needed to customize the house to match your tastes and needs.

Make sure major systems in the house are in good working condition. The furnace, air-conditioning and plumbing should be up to date, since repairs can be costly. Your agent can arrange to have a professional inspector determine whether the electrical wiring and any room additions are to code. Local utilities often offer free or low-cost inspections to tell you if the house is energy-efficient.

Look for a house with universally popular selling points. If you’re impressed, the next buyer down the line is bound to be, too. For example, a roomy, modern east-to-clean kitchen is the best selling point a home can have. A house with only one bathroom is less desirable than a house with two or more. Many buyers expect at least three bedrooms, with a master bedroom that offers a feeling of privacy. Lots of storage space and closets, especially walk-in closets, will be a real selling point. Family rooms or “great rooms” also are desirable. On closer examination, a house that looks like a bargain may lack some of these key features.

Don’t forget the old adage: location, location, location. Unless you’re looking for a fixer-upper, the house should be in a condition that is comparable to other homes in the neighborhood. Avoid buying the biggest or fanciest home on the block. Consider the amount of traffic or noise. Homes located in a quiet area away from a busy street will command a higher price. Make sure the schools in your district have a reputation for quality education and safety. Nearby supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and theaters also will make a location more desirable.

Good community facilities also add appeal; pools, athletic fields, community centers, libraries and hospitals all add to a neighborhood’s value and desirability. Transportation needs also should be considered. Is local public transit available? How long are typical commutes to places of current and potential employment? Are there several alternate route? How close is a major airport? All of these can affect a home’s pricing.

Consider the cost of living in a home. It’s important to consider not only purchase price but the monthly cost of living in a home. Estimate your utility and maintenance costs. For example, will the house need to be painted on a regular basis and will you need to spend money maintaining a swimming pool? Ask your agent about the property tax rate and whether increases are anticipated. Will you have to pay special assessments for a homeowner’s association? Consider the point in the life cycle of major household systems, such as the furnace, air conditioning, roof and kitchen appliances.

You can find a bargain! Your first step should be to seek out a knowledgeable real estate agent with experience in the market areas where you wish to purchase a home. Your agent can help you locate those properties that truly are “bargains” and help find the home that most closely matches your desires and needs.

Flipper Homes - Financing Flipper Homes - Getting Financing to Buy a Flipper Home

Lori Samuels (not her real name) found the perfect home to buy among many foreclosures in the Natomas suburb of Sacramento. There were already three offers on the property, but all three purchase offers were from buyers obtaining FHA loans. The sellers did not want to accept an FHA offer.

Reasons Sellers May Reject Buyers With FHA Financing

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California Home Sales Jump 100%

California Home Sales Jump 100%

How to Determine the Price of Your New Home ?

Why is it that some homes sit on the market for a year while others sell like hot cakes? Frustrated sellers will blame a bad market, while a good real estate professional will tell you that many times, a slow sale is often attributed to the listing price.
If a home is overpriced, buyers will stay away. But, if the price is competitive with similar homes in the area and “shows” better than the competition, it will have a better chance of being sold quickly and at times over asking price.
The secret is perfecting a technique that’s as American as apple pie: comparative shopping.
Although comparing houses with different styles, square-footages and locations is challenging, real estate professionals still feel it’s one of the best methods to use when
determining a home’s market value.
A responsible real estate agent will effectively evaluate a home’s worth through a process known as Comparative Marketing Analysis (CMA). Taking a look at assets, such as a swimming pool, bigger than normal living spaces, a fantastic view, adjacent city parks and other attractions, the agent will begin to compare your home with similar properties, called “comparables,” that have sold in the area within the last six months. Typically, the agent is able to recommend a
realistic price range that will ensure you top dollar and a reasonably.
However, factors such as the amount of time needed to sell your home can alter the agent’s price recommendation dramatically. Typically, people should check with real estate agent to see what the average days on market before a property is sold. Sales associates will explain that the marketing “norms” vary with prices and properties. Based on this criteria, the agent feels confident that he or she will be able to sell it for a price that both you and the buyer will be happy with. However, if you’re under time constraints because of unexpected job changes or moving agreements you’ve made on another property, this will narrow your chances of selling the home for top dollar in the market.
Assuming you have sufficient time to market the home, here are a few small steps you and your agent can take to finding the right price for your property.
The best comparisons can be made with similar homes that have been sold within the last 45 days as opposed to the standard six months. Any longer and other factors, such as the economy, could cloud your view of how much your home is really worth.
Another good benchmark is to review the selling prices of homes that have just been sold and are pending closes. Most MLS services provide information on deals pending that most real estate agents should be able to shore with you.
A good rule of thumb before setting a price is to make 15 comparisons of comparable properties within a one-mile radius of your house. Once completed you can feel comfortable that the price you’ve picked is a good gauge of the home’s worth and won’t discourage qualified buyers.
Being open and honest about what you see as the home’s greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses will also help an agent get a better feel for how to best evaluate (or assess) and market your home. Think of your home as if you were the buyer. If your home is listed at the right price, you’re well on your way to a speedy and fruitful sale.

Moving with pets

With people moving worldwide for work, Boxers are going bicoastal and cats are clearing through customs on a daily basis. Moving isn’t just stressful for people, it’s equally stressful for pets. So when it comes to moving pets, pre-planning is very important as animals can be very sensitive to changes in their surroundings. So we went to the expert Rachel Farris, Relocation Specialist at PetRelocation.com. Farris offered three top things to keep in mind as a pet owner moving with pets.

1. Make Friends with the Travel Crate-Whether you travel by car or by air, the crate your pet travels in will be his “home” during the trip and it’s crucial that your pet feels comfortable in it ahead of time. According to Farris, “As soon as you know you’re moving, it’s a good idea to get the crate,” Farris said. “That way, you can start getting your pet used to it well in advance. This will help your pet’s stress levels on your move date.” She also pointed out that many pet stores offer crate training classes. Additionally you can try feeding your pet in the crate on a daily basis to help ease the transition.

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Home Improvement Q&A - Questions to Ask When Interviewing Contractors

Q: We’re ready to go to bid on potential contractors-the plans are done, all the options that we can foresee have been selected, and we have a list of recommended contractors we’re going to ask for proposals. One of our biggest concerns is that we’ll “miss something” when we interview them. What are the questions we should ask? We don’t wish to leave anything out.

A: Something I always emphasize is that no matter how many contractors you interview, you should ask each one the same questions. That applies as much to contractors as to architects, real estate professionals and anyone else to whom you will be entrusting great gobs of money.

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2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

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What are the Stimulus Plan and TARP II going to mean for the housing and mortgage markets?

While I could write for a LONG time about it, I’m going to limit it to what I feel are the top 6 things that I think could very well happen.   Keep in mind, this is being written after watching President Obama’s press conference but before anything gets passed.

1. The market is expecting that both the Stimulus Plan and TARP II will provide “the answer” to the problems that are currently plaguing our economy.   With that being said, I believe the markets will be disappointed because the problems facing the economy are way more complex and urgent than what one or two bills can solve.   The disappointment will put downward pressure on stocks and upward pressure on rates.

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Desirable Home in Cupertino Area

Easy To Love This Well Kept Four Bedrooms And Two Bathrooms Home, Located In Desirable West San Jose/Cupertino Area, Walk To Awarding Winning Cupertino Schools – Lynbrook High School, Miller Middle Schools, and John Muir Elementary, Easy Accessible To Park, Shopping, Restaurant, Transportation, And Entertainment, Home Featured: Central Forced Air, Composition Roof, Separate Family Room, Fireplace, Bright And Airy Floor Plan, And Two Car Garage. Asking $1,039,900

Is it Safe to Buy a Home in a Down Market?

It's scary for home buyers and sellers when markets change. Just when you think you know what's going on in real estate -- POOF -- it changes! It might help, though, to know that markets move in cycles.

Sometimes they go up, sometimes down; sometimes they are moving around in circles, but the real estate market is never so squirrelly that economists can't point to past performance as some kind of indicator of future direction. Yet, change is enough to stop some would-be buyers stone cold and cause them to fret about the consequences of buying in a down market. Is it safe? Is it smart? The answers will astonish you . . . read more about Home Buying in a Down Market.

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Cupertino vs Cupertino Area

“Is this house in Cupertino or not ?” It is very confusing in Santa Clara County California agreeing on “Cupertino” vs Cupertino Area. The local Multiple Listing Service defines Cupertino area to be most of the Cupertino city and some of San Jose City with the zip code of 95129, also known as West San Jose. For example, as a general rule, properties locate at the east of De Anza Blvd and South of Bollinger Road and North of Prospect Road has the zip code of 95129. Yet, they are in the Cupertino Area or West San Jose. Nevertheless, Schools in Cupertino and Cupertino area is known to have better test score than other schools. The school districts are Cupertino Union Elementary School District, Moreland Elementary School District, Montebello Elementary School District, and Fremont Union High School District. It appears some buyers prefer to buy houses belong to Monta Vista High school or Lynbrook High school. A potential buyer should always confirm schools with the proper authority not through their real estate agent, listing agent, or the seller. After all, it is possible school boundary change throughout the year. Therefore, “I live in Cupertino area” can mean this person has Cupertino address. It can also mean this person’s zip code is 95129.

What are Buyer and Seller Markets?

When most people set out to buy or sell, they're not wondering about whether it's a seller's or a buyer's market.

Home buyers and sellers are thinking about their own needs, about buying or selling. Moreover, sometimes agents, in their rush to grab a listing or sign up that buyer on a buyer’s broker agreement, don’t talk about the marketplace or educate their clients.

One of the first steps any serious seller or buyer should make is to determine the temperature in the marketplace. Is it hot, cold or neutral? It can mean a world of difference regarding your bottom line because your negotiation tactics will be polar opposites in opposing markets. The way you make money in a seller’s market would lose you money in a buyer’s market. Being uninformed about markets could cost you big time . . . read more about Buyers' and Sellers' Real Estate Markets.

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