Thursday 6 March 2014

Why You Need Real Estate Advice For Buyers

By Charmaine Foreman


Many people want to own their own home. Owning a place of their own is attractive to some people because they want the security of knowing they will always have a place to stay. In addition, many financial experts believe that owning a home is a good investment, since the value of the property is likely to appreciate over time. However, it is wise to choose your home carefully and find the best real estate advice for buyers.

The first thing to remember is that you should not buy a home if you cannot stay in the place for at least a few years. There are many transaction costs involved with buying a home and you do not want to lose money by selling the home too soon. Give the house a chance to appreciate in value, at least five to ten years. If you and your spouse are not yet settled, or if you think your job may require you to relocate, then you should probably wait before purchasing a home.

Some mortgages also give you the option of paying additional points in exchange for a low interest rate. These additional points are basically a part of the interest that you have to pay at the time of closing. If you plan to stay in the home for several years, it is normally a good idea to take the additional points, since the lower interest rate could save you money in the long term.

To research insurance companies and get an idea of what the insurance premiums will be, look at properties in the area where you plan to buy. Call a local insurance agent and ask them for an estimate. This estimate should be given to you free of charge with no obligations. To find out about the property taxes, look for websites that publish property tax information. Remember that there are exemptions and tax law varies from state to state.

You will also need to make a down payment when buying a home. Sometimes lenders will allow you to make a small down payment if you do not have the full twenty percent payment which they typically require. You will need to be careful, however, since normally customers are charged higher interest rates for not making a large enough down payment.

Before you place a bid on a home, try to get a sense of what the sales trends are for similar houses in the neighborhood. You realtor should have this information. This will prevent you from paying more for the house than you should.

Make sure that you speak with a reputable agent in your town that knows the industry very well and can give you good guidance throughout the process. Ask them if they think that property prices will continue to fall or if the market in your area has hit the bottom yet.

Choose your agent carefully. Do not choose an agent who does not have the proper licensing requirements. Speak to relatives and friends who own homes and ask them for their recommendations of who the best realtors are.




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