Buying a House Archives

100 Years Of Housing

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-06-02T00:00:00-05:00 June 2nd, 2003|

By the 1950s, homes were being built with bathrooms and kitchens, closets and a huge unfinished second floor for "someday" expansion. By the year 2000, newly-constructed homes had three or four bedrooms, two and a half baths, built-in washing machines and dryers, master suites, attached two or three car garages, built-in fireplaces, and central air. But perhaps the biggest changes in housing in the last 100 years center around the rate of homeownership and the actual price of homes.

A Time To Rent, A Time To Buy

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-05-26T00:00:00-05:00 May 26th, 2003|

One of the biggest mistakes renters make is beginning the search for a home to purchase right after signing a new lease. In fact, some renters start looking for a home, and when they don't find one right away, sign a new lease and continue the search. Unless your lease gives you the ability to cancel it on written notice, you could be stuck making all of the rent payments due under your rental lease - even if you've already closed on your new home.

High Home Values And Low Interest Rates

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-05-19T00:00:00-05:00 May 19th, 2003|

With the Federal Reserve holding interest rates low, mortgage loan rates are also low. As a result more home buyers are buying homes and demand for homes is increasing. Home values are rising but by how much depends on what region of the country you're in. Economists expect interest rates to stay low for the next year or so.

Knowing You’re In The Right “Hood”

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-04-21T00:00:00-05:00 April 21st, 2003|

How do you find a neighborhood? Most people choose neighborhoods because they're close to family, friends, schools, a particular house of worship, or their job. Once you've narrowed down your search to a specific town, it's time to figure out which neighborhood within that city or town is going to be right for you.

Ten Steps To Homeownership (Part 2)

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-04-11T00:00:00-05:00 April 11th, 2003|

For those with poor credit, or renters just out of college, homeownership can seem like a far-off dream. And while it's good to be focused, it's helpful to have a few simple steps get you on the path to achieving that dream. Do your research to decide what neighborhood you want to be in. Location is everything. Choose the right financing for your mortgage, and set up your closing to make sure you'll have enough cash in the bank.

Ten Steps To Homeownership

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-04-03T00:00:00-06:00 April 3rd, 2003|

For those with poor credit, or renters just out of college, homeownership can seem like a far-off dream. And while it's good to be focused, it's helpful to have a few simple steps get you on the path to achieving that dream. Get your financing in order before you look for a home. Make sure your credit is clean, and you have the necessary down payment or co-signer.

Should I Buy A New Or Existing Home?

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-03-03T00:00:00-06:00 March 3rd, 2003|

If you ask home buyers what kind of house they'd like to own, they invariably say "new." If the house isn't newly constructed, then most buyers would like to own a house that feels just like new. But buying a new home usually means trading off other things, like location. If you're on the fence, wondering whether you should buy a new or existing home, here are a few things to mull over.

First Time Home Buyers Getting Younger

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-02-13T00:00:00-06:00 February 13th, 2003|

First time home buyers are getting younger and younger. The largest group of first time home buyers are members of Generation Y. 20 and 30somethings are making smarter investments and using the internet and other resources to make smart decisions about becoming first time home buyers.

Using A Wish List And Reality Check To Figure Out What You Want And Need

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-02-10T00:00:00-06:00 February 10th, 2003|

How do you figure out what you want and need when buying a home? Consider constructing a wish list and reality check of what you must have and what could be compromised in a new home. A wish list is everything you've ever dreamed of having in a home, and a reality check is what you need to survive in a home.

Buying Or Building A New Home This Year? Shop Around

By Ilyce Glink| 2003-01-27T00:00:00-06:00 January 27th, 2003|

Model homes are also the place to see the latest building trends, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Developers will often include complicated or fancy decorating ideas in their model homes to entice new construction buyers to upgrade carpet, tile, granite, paint and other materials.

Buying a House

Archives

Recent Tweets