How does the HUD Bidding Process work? For all HUD homes, there is an automated bidding process to purchase a HUD home. Buyers who want to purchase a HUD home for a primary residence usually have a lead over real estate investors. A HUD certified real estate agent can help you purchase a HUD home through the HUD bidding process.
While we all have seen shows on dream homes, we may not be able to afford those homes and may not want to actually live in those dream homes. You need to know how much you can afford when buying a house. When you know the amount, you still need to feel comfortable spending that amount on a monthly basis. A big mistake home buyers make is thinking they can afford a home and then realizing that they are spending too much of their money trying to keep their home. It's a common home buying mistake to buy more than you can comfortably afford. Make sure you are comfortable with your monthly home budget.
It's that time of year again when Ilyce give you her home buying tips for the new year along with her personal financial resolutions for 2010.
If you are making the largest investment of your life, wouldn't you want to make sure you are protected by obtaining and buying title insurance? When you buy title insurance on a house, a title company gives you certain guarantees that you are the rightful owner of the home and certain other title protections. Title insurance does not protect you against future title problems that might develop nor does it protect you from fire or other casualties. But if you are paying cash to a seller are you certain the seller will give you good title to the home?
Quit claim deeds are a popular tool used by many, but in some cases a warranty deed is a better option. When a relative owns a home, should you quit claim that home to a child? Usually, you shouldn't use a quit claim deed to avoid estate planning issues. The better option is to work with an estate planner to determine whether you should keep the property, set up a trust or another mechanism to transfer property from a parent to a child. But usually it's not going to be a quit claim deed.
Seller and buyer closing costs are usually a mystery, and we frequently receive emails asking us to give sellers more information on who generally gets to pay for survey and title insurance expenses. So, we prepared a list of two of the most popular closing costs paid by sellers and buyers on a state by state basis: title insurance for the owner's title insurance policy and survey costs. There are so many closing costs to deal with, but these two costs are usually not thought about by a home buyer or a home seller.
What is the purpose of a title company? To avoid title insurance problems and issues. A title company's responsibility is to search the public records and inform the prospective homeowner about any issues and problems that affect the title of a property they intend on buying.
Now more than ever, buyers need to be aware of buyer closing costs on the purchase of a home. Here's an updated detailed look at many of the closing costs you might have to pay as a buyer when you buy a home. If you are charged a closing cost that isn't on this list, please add it in the comments section.
Transferring home ownership between family members can be problematic. Often, family members help each other out with a signature or by putting their name on the mortgage. However, you need to consider more than just a quit claim deed to transfer a title. Who is responsible for mortgage payments? Whose credit score will be affected by thy home loan? What happens if someone passes away? Who will inherit the property?
If you are moving to another state, and looking for a new job, wait until you have found that new job before applying for a mortgage and buying a new home. In the current economic crisis, lenders are more cautious about approving mortgage loans. Lenders will require extensive documentation and will require confirmation from your employer of your status of employment. Make sure you talk to a mortgage lender or mortgage broker about your move and job prospects before buying a new home or applying for a mortgage. Or you may find you're unable to get to the closing table.
