Buying a home is often the biggest single purchase you’ll ever make. But it isn’t just choosing a home to buy that’s complicated. You’ve got to think through neighborhood issues, size issues, and cost issues. Buying a home can also include legal issues, construction or building concerns, and have serious tax implications. Financing your home purchase is another big topic of interest for most home buyers. From this topic page, you’ll be able to find articles and videos that help you understand how to balance what you want in a home with what you can afford to spend. You’ll also be able to refine your search about buying a home by using the topic cloud on the right navigation.
New Owner Receives Summons For Former Owner
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-10-31T00:00:00-06:00 October 31st, 2005|
A new homeowner received a summons for problems the previous owner had with his tenants. You should only have to worry about the summons if you were named in the summons, but this buyer may want to have an attorney look it over. However, false owner scams are increasingly common. The buyer should check with an attorney and make sure they have an owner's title insurance policy.
Seller Didn’t Follow Through On Contingency
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-10-31T00:00:00-06:00 October 31st, 2005|
A home buyer purchased a home with the contingency that the seller pump the septic tank. Two months after moving in, the buyer discovers there are two septic tanks, and one of them has resulted in a $680 bill. Here are a few strategies to help avoid these types of problems and recover some of the expenses.
Backing Out of Timeshare is Difficult
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-10-24T00:00:00-05:00 October 24th, 2005|
Timeshare seminars could be a way to get into an investment property. But they can also turn out to be a scam. In this case, after the buyers changed their mind, the timeshare company won't return the down payment. If you find yourself in a situation that seems like a scam, contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the state attorney general.
Buying A Home: Research Neighborhoods First
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-10-10T00:00:00-05:00 October 10th, 2005|
Before deciding to buy a house, start by researching the neighborhoods and locations where you'd be happy living. Wondering how to research neighborhoods when buying a house? HomePages.com, a new site, makes it easy to learn about neighborhoods before you buy a home.
Next Hot Housing Market
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-10-03T00:00:00-05:00 October 3rd, 2005|
If you're looking for the next hot housing market, you may not have to look past the edge of the current hot neighborhood in your own community. Real estate neighborhoods tend to develop block-by-block, and the hottest opportunity might be around the corner from where you live.
Seller Experiences Trouble With Builder
By GlinkAndTamkin| 2005-09-26T00:00:00-05:00 September 26th, 2005|
A homebuyer is purchasing a home from a seller who bought it from a builder as investment property. The buyer likely doesn't have any recourse against the builder since they aren't buying it directly. The seller would have to go after the builder for any work that wasn't done.
Condominium Buyer Looks For Builder Who Left Unfinished Landscaping
By GlinkAndTamkin| 2005-09-18T00:00:00-05:00 September 18th, 2005|
A condominium buyer looks for the builder who left the landscaping unfinished. The town the condominium buyer lives in is demanding the builder finish the landscaping. Ilyce advises the condominium buyer on what legal options are available to help find the builder and get the landscaping finished.
Buyer Beware: Always Read The Contract
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-09-09T00:00:00-05:00 September 9th, 2005|
Most residential real estate contracts specify that fixtures (items that are "fixed" to the walls or floors of the property) are sold with the property. While in some areas of the country washers, dryers, and even refrigerators are typically not sold with the property, these items are usually listed specifically in the contract. It pays to read the contract -- and to be aware of what the neighborhood traditions are when it comes to buying and selling homes.
Negative Amortization Loans Pros And Cons
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-09-09T00:00:00-05:00 September 9th, 2005|
Should you think about getting a negative amortization loan or interest only loan? Some believe it is a good option for a small number of home buyers because you can access your equity one month at a time without any costs. But others say to be wary of a negative amortization mortgage because many borrowers can't afford the rising payments to pay off the loan.
Ilyce emphasizes the cons, including mortgage lenders who offer negative amortization loans to borrowers who can not afford them.
How Big Is A House? Calculating Square Footage
By Ilyce Glink| 2005-09-02T00:00:00-05:00 September 2nd, 2005|
A buyer has put an offer on a house but now feels that the seller misrepresented the number of square feet listed for the home. You shouldn't make an offer on a home based on the square footage, but how well the home works for you. There are many ways to calculate square footage and suggests that it may be better to think about how the house fits their needs.