3 Common First Time Home Buyer Mistakes That Can Cost Thousands

Buying real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it's very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely. Many first-time home buyers make rookie mistakes that bring on negative consequences and a lot of frustration. Outlined below are common errors home buyers make, so you can learn from their missteps and avoid them yourself. 1. Buying More Than What You Can Truly Afford Just because the bank says that you qualify a certain amount for a mortgage doesn't mean that…
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5 Great Questions To Ask At An Open House

An open house gives you a great opportunity to look more closely at real estate you might be interested in buying. It also affords you the chance to chat with the owner or real estate agent so you can bring up any issues or hesitations you have with the home. Knowing what to ask can be difficult, so below are examples of questions to ask at the next open house you attend. Why Has The Seller Decided To Sell Now? If you ask why the seller is moving, you could learn valuable information to help determine your offer or possibly…
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Beware Of Zombie Titles

With the economic downturn, anyone dealing in real estate quickly became familiar with previously little-known terms such as foreclosure and short sale. Now that the housing market is picking back up and people are moving on, a new term is coming to light — zombie titles. The Zombie Title This is when a home has been vacated because the owners defaulted on their loan and their bank started the foreclosure process. However, for some reason or another the bank never completed the foreclosure and sold the home. So, when the city starts fining someone for the overgrown grass and dilapidated…
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Nail The Final Walkthrough Before Closing

By the time you get to the final walkthrough on your property, the home buying process is almost complete. However, it is still important to pay close attention to this final step, as it will be crucial in the success of your home purchase. The final walkthrough is your last opportunity to ensure that everything in the home is in working order and that there are no potential problems waiting for you when you take over ownership of the property. While conducting a final walkthrough of the property, give yourself enough time to look carefully at everything and not be…
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City Lights Or Starlit Nights, Which Home Location Will You Choose?

If you are looking to buy a home, you might be wondering whether you should be looking for properties that are right in the center of the city or whether a better option would be to buy a property on the outskirts or in a rural area a short drive away. The rural or urban decision will ultimately be up to you, as there are advantages and disadvantages to either option. The main difference will lie in your priorities – what type of lifestyle is most important to you? Living In The City One of the main perks of buying…
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4 Quick Tips On Becoming A Young Real Estate Investor

Investing in property at a young age seems like a bit of a daunting prospect sometimes. Most young people don't have a lot of disposable income, often have poor credit and perhaps even student loans. When you are in your early 20s, you are not likely thinking about investing in property and are probably focusing on other things. However, investing in property at a young age can bring you a lot of advantages. It requires a different approach and style and you might be the only one of your peers who is doing so, but you will definitely reap the benefits…
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Quick Tips To Beat Out Cash Buyers

You've been searching for the perfect home for quite a while, and finally, you've found it! You get all of your finances in order and place an offer on the house. However, you're not the only one that loves the home, because there are multiple offers — and one of them is cash. Cash buyers are seen as desirable because they're almost always a guaranteed quick close. They don't have to borrow money from a bank therefore won't have any financing hang-ups, which is where a large portion of offers fall through. Don't worry; not all hope is lost. Follow…
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Tips For Buying A Home That Your Pets Will Love

When you are buying a new home, it is important to take into consideration the four-legged residents that will be living there, as well as the two-legged ones. What things should you keep in mind if you are house hunting and you own a pet? Layout Of The House When you are looking at the house layout, think about how it will accommodate your pet. If you have an old dog that can't climb stairs very well, look for a home that is mostly one level. Cats like to have little alcoves and quiet spaces where they can hide away.…
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Don’t Overlook These Important Factors When Buying A New Home

Most of the time when buying a property, there are a few obvious factors that you will consider – such as the location, the number of bedrooms, the accessibility to schools or your workplace, the need for repairs and any interior features. However, there are a few things that might not have crossed your mind during your house hunting but are still quite important. Water Quality Most home buyers don't even think about the water quality at the property until they get to the inspection stage. However, if you find out that the home has hard water this will dull…
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Social Living – How To Buy A Comfortable Home Guests

When people are buying a home, one of the things that they sometimes forget to consider is the need to be able to accommodate guests. You likely have out of state relatives or friends who might come and visit you and you will probably want to be able to give them a place to sleep so that they don't have to pay for a hotel. You will also probably want to have your parents or your relatives stay over on special occasions such as Christmas. You might even need to host guests for long periods of time, such as if…
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