LEA SAYS

BUYING A NEW HOME... CONSIDER THIS

Buying a new home may be the single most important investment you will make in your entire life or at least for a very long time.

There are many factors to consider, be they related to the country that you live in or to the specific property you wish to purchase, to name but a few. The following may be some of the factors to consider.

• Is it the right time to buy?
• What can I afford?
• How will I finance the purchase?
• Will I make use of a bond originator? ( if available in my country)
• What type of property do I require?
• Will I make use of estate agents?

The first Step- Property Financing

What is important to know, however, is that when you consider purchasing a home, the first step, will always be to determine affordability. This is actually quite easily solved through a visit to your bank or by making use of a local bond originator. These service providers will be able to determine the following upfront:

• What is the amount the bank will be willing to provide in terms a loan which can be utilized to purchase the property.
• What your premium would be.
• What interest rate you would be required to pay.
• What amount, if any will be required as a deposit.

You should actually, if possible, really consider making use of a Bond Originator as they will make a comparison of all the home loan products offered at all the banks and actually shop around for the lowest interest rate for you. This is a service provided free of charge to you as the Bank pays the commission as an incentive for business being referred.

Should you, however, not have access to the free service of a Bond Originator, it is advisable to visit a few banks, consider and explore all the different home loan products that are offered by the respective banks and actually make your own comparison pertaining to interest rates as well as other incentives offered by the respective banks.

Other incentives may include, the waiver of the deposit, free valuation of the property intended for purchase, some banks may also carry the Bond and Transfer fees. It is vital when choosing a bank to finance your home that you take into account all these factors in order to compare apples with apples.

The second Step - Searching for your new Home

The second step, even though it may be exhausting, can be very exciting and may result in great satisfaction. Yes, of course, I mean the search for your dream home.

Here you need to consider -

• What type of property you require.
• Which areas you would consider making your home.
• Whether you would like to make use of the services of estate agents or not.
• Whether the services of a home inspector will be needed or not.

The main factor to consider when making use of Estate Agents is that the commission payable to the agent is normally paid by the seller, but the seller as a rule inflates the selling price of the property to facilitate the agent's commission. A more viable option would be to search for a home on sites where owners advertise their homes without making use of estate agents. It must, however, be noted that most sellers still make use of Estate agents to sell their properties and it may be difficult to avoid buying a house without the involvement of an estate agent.

Last, but not least, I would like to caution you to as far as possible to make use of the service of a Home inspector. The services of a home inspector ensure that you purchase a home free of latent defects, which otherwise may only be discovered after the purchase of your house and may later create a nightmare. The Home Inspector should uncover these upfront and you will be able to adequately address them prior to the conclusion of the sale.

Happy House Hunting!!!

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Using Experienced Professional Movers When Relocating
By Shandra Horbinger

Do you suffer major anxiety when thinking about your next move? Does the thought of again requesting assistance to move from friends and family stress you out? If you find yourself in this situation, it may be wise to hire professional movers. Professional household movers can offer the strength and the experience to make your next move less worrisome and hassle-free.

You should always check out the reputation of the professional movers before you hire them for their services, but also keep in mind that the best movers are not always the ones with the newest trucks or the most polished appearance. Many of the best moving companies do a great job using equipment that is less than new, and with average guys that are rough around the edges, but more qualified than the companies with the newer equipment and fancy appearance.

Quite often these experience household movers are more careful and efficient, as they are truly professional movers who have been in the moving business the longest. It can be quite a let down to watch a team of clean cut fellows, decked out in nice uniforms, drive up in their nice shiny truck, only to find out that they know next to nothing about handling bulky or awkward pieces of furniture, or how to pack items into a truck, and have no idea whatsoever that the word "FRAGILE", written across a box in big red letters, means that they have to handle that item with care.

Ultimately, the outward appearance of the movers is much less important than their experience, diligence, and integrity. You can't know this information from reading ads or looking at their trucks. You've got to talk to people who've used their services before.

The majority of professional movers will include a list of references with the estimate for their services. When reviewing the moving estimates, you should thoroughly analyze all of the fine print. This is where you will find all the extra fees that may be charged as well as the disclaimers regarding lost, stolen, or damaged property. If you understand all of these factors, then you will be able to assess competing offers.

When Shandra Horbinger was relocating her business, she researched Minneapolis commercial movers. She found a Minneapolis mover by the name of Harco Moving. Shandra recommends them to anyone looking for a professional moving company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shandra_Horbinger

A Home Inspection Helps You Avoid Pitfalls

By Gary Monfeli

The Home Inspection Man, Gary Monfeli has over 12 years of experience and is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. The Home Inspection ... ...

A professional home inspector can play a very important role when you are buying your next house. An inspection helps a buyer understand the condition of the residence. It also helps the seller provide accurate information, which helps make the sale. Because a home is such a major purchase, you will need to exercise considerable discernment. Here are a few pointers to help you avoid pitfalls.

First, understand that this review is not an appraisal. An appraisal protects the lender's financial interests and is the bank's way of determining if the property is worth what you have agreed to pay. On the other hand, your inspection protects you, the buyer or seller, by identifying structural or mechanical problems with the house.

Buying real estate can be an attractive proposition in an economy where home prices are down tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Would you believe some people only spend 15 minutes deciding on the residence they want to buy? Keep in mind that no purchase is perfect, and you should never buy a home without having it inspected first.
This is especially true if you want to buy one that has gone through a foreclosure. You absolutely must have it inspected. It is possible the previous owner may have sabotaged it in anger over a desperate situation. As astonishing as it may seem, home inspectors have found such problems as headers cut from steps, rafters cut in attics, electric wiring cut, and in one instance reported motor oil had been poured over flooring and carpeting.
The thorough analysis of a home inspection brings to light areas that need attention so unpleasant surprises can be avoided later. Investing a few hundred dollars in now can save you thousands down the road.

The walk-through should take at least two hours and could take as many as six hours. This varies depending on the size of the residence. Your professional service person will examine the foundation, roof, gutters, all types of siding, doors and windows, electrical wiring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and appliances. He will be on the lookout for fire hazards, mold, and emissions of carbon monoxide and radon gas.

Though it is not necessarily required, he may also check driveways and sidewalks, the porch, patio, balcony, septic tank, and the garage or other buildings that go with the property. Some of these may require an additional fee.

Your inspector should be properly qualified for your state and local area and should have all the necessary equipment to do the job. You can expect his services to cost roughly $400 to $800, depending on the size of the property and the area of the country in which you live.

The report he provides you should be very specific and detailed. It should not be just a quick checklist. It is a good idea for the report to be accompanied by photographs. Your report should include digital pictures to document the findings. Your inspector should take time to answer any questions you have and define terms you are unsure of.

Exercise caution when choosing your home inspector. While getting a recommendation from your real estate agent may sound like a good idea, consider choosing an inspector yourself. Avoid any possible conflicts of interest by getting an independent inspector.

Ask trusted friends and coworkers for referrals. Listen to their concerns and criticisms as well.

Check for recommendations from the American Society of Home Inspectors (http://www.ashi.org).

Verify the inspector's credentials. How long has he been doing business? Does he have a license; what is the license number?

A home inspector can be worth his weight in gold. When he does his job, he will help you gain perspective about the home you are buying.

You need to know the positives and the negatives. That will help avoid pitfalls and keep all parties involved from having unrealistic expectations about the property.

Choose a home inspection company as carefully as you have selected the home you are buying.

Author Gary Monfeli provides professional home inspection in Chicago. Click now to view frequently asked questions about Illinois home inspection.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Monfeli

What First Time Home Buyers Should Know

By Lokesh Nagpal

As a first time buyer of home, one should be aware of certain critical things. The first and foremost thing one should be aware of is the reason as to why one is buying a home. You should be aware whether you are buying for self consumption, an investment option or view your purchase as a source of additional income in the form of monthly rent. One could be buying a home for one or a combination of these three reasons. Figure your objective of owning a home and that will help you decide the size and budget of your home.

The second important thing you should be aware of is related to the financial aspects of your home purchase. Once you have decided the budget for your home, you must prepare yourself for an initial down payment to buy this home. The home mortgage institutions usually ask you to contribute any where around 10% of the value of the home. In all probabilities you are likely to avail of a loan from a housing finance institution under a mortgage arrangement. You should make note of two important things while doing so. Look at the terms and conditions offered by various mortgage institutions. Important ones include; what are processing charges and overheads associated to loan processing, what are prepayment charges associated to the loan and whether a home insurance is in built into the loan. The second important consideration is to choose the tenure of the loan. A higher tenure would reduce your monthly payout to service the loan and vice versa. You must decide the tenure keeping in mind your ability to service the loan after taking care of all monthly household expenditure and allowing for contingency. A rule of thumb is no more than 40% of your monthly salary should go towards payment of your house mortgage.

Thirdly, do an in-depth study of the HOA rules applicable for your development in which you propose to buy your home. A strong and cohesive HOA shall make your stay enjoyable and comfortable. Look at the fee payments and maintenance cost to be paid to the HOA. Especially look at the number of car parks allowed by the HOA and whether it suits you.
Lastly, you must be aware of what you would be included in your purchase. Make sure that the various systems installed in your property such as the plumbing and electrical are done properly and all fittings and fixtures are of reasonable quality. Take a feedback from your neighbors of any problems associated to the development such as leakage during monsoons. Pay attention to the surroundings of the house.

Avail the services of a real estate professional. Your real estate agent is your expert guide. Make sure he knows much more than you about home buying. Choose your real estate agent wisely and through word of mouth. Do your homework well and list down the specific points that you need to cover with the real estate agent. Remember Home buying is once a lifetime experience.
Look for quality homes at Mesa AZ homes or New River AZ homes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lokesh_Nagpal

A Home Inspection Helps You Avoid PitfallsBy Gary Monfeli