Buying a New Home ? Home Buying Tips

If you in the process of looking for your first home, there are some essential steps that you should be aware of. Many times, people fall in love with a home and rush into the deal-not considering some important issues. Unfortunately, many of those people end up unhappy with their purchase or end up with a deal gone bad.

Avoid this by following the suggestions below and ensuring that you have thought out your purchase thoroughly.

The most important consideration should be the sales price of the home. Just because it's the best home in the neighborhood, that doesn't mean that you should pay a lot more for it. In fact, experts tell us that the "best" house in the neighborhood probably won't sell for much more than the other homes in the area. You should look to pay not more than 10-20 more than the other homes in the area-no matter how much nicer the home is. Anything higher than that is based on emotion-not business-and will probably cost you when you go to sell it.

Next, you should take a serious look at the neighborhood itself. How are the school systems rated? Even if you don't have children this is important because when you go to sell the home, your buyers might. Is the house located in a convenient area, or would you have to drive excess miles to do your grocery shopping? In addition, you should visit the area in the day time, as well as the night. Does the "feel" of the area change when it's dark, or does it still look like a nice place to live?

Finally-and perhaps most importantly-don't get caught up in "house fever" and commit to buying more than you can afford. One way to do this is by being pre-approved by your mortgage company. This will tell you exactly how much you can afford to pay, and that will automatically slim down your options. A good rule of thumb when you're shopping is that your mortgage payment shouldn't exceed more than 36 percent of your income.

To view our recommended home mortgage lenders or to read more articles about bome buying, visit: Recommended Mortgage Lenders Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide. It is an information website with articles and news about various types of loans.

In The News:


The Free Lance-Star

Columbia Bank is an Approved FHA Mortgage Lender
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
Existing homeowners wanting to refinance their current mortgage having only limited home equity. -- Homebuyers who would benefit from allowable seller ...
Once again, the subprime wolves are on the prowl KXXV News Channel 25
FHA sets limits on home mortgages The Free Lance-Star
all 20 news articles

Fitch Downgrades 3 Classes of GMAC 1998-C1; Assigns Stable Outlooks
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
The loan was modified during bankruptcy to allow for the sale or refinance of the properties with the sale proceeds applied to the pay down the loan. ...

When refinancing mortgage makes sense
Chicago Tribune, United States - Nov 14, 2008
But you don't have to be in financial trouble to benefit from mortgage refinance, real estate experts say. "At this point, there are thousands of good ...

Boston Globe (registration)

Center for Responsible Lending and Industry Groups Urge HUD to ...
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
... to help the largest possible numbers of at-risk borrowers. This is not the appropriate time to permit the lapse of a viable mortgage refinance option.
HUD Said to Entice Banks to Enter Foreclosure Program (Update1) Bloomberg
Hope For Homeowners Program National Association of Home Builders (press release)
Major Revamp Of Two HUD Mortgage Relief Programs To Be Pushed AHN
BusinessWeek - North American Press Syndicateall 95 news articles

LendingTree Loans Selects IBM for Loan Fulfillment Services
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
The company, which also works with lenders and servicers to help refinance and modify loans in their portfolios, is a licensed mortgage lender authorized to ...
LendingTree Loans Selects IBM for Loan Fulfillment Services International Business Times
all 18 news articles

The Money Times

US MBA’s Mortgage Applications Index Decreased 6.2% Last Week
Bloomberg - Nov 19, 2008
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index of applications to purchase a home or refinance a loan fell 6.2 percent to 398.6 for the week ended Nov. ...
Mortgage Applications Fall VillageSoup Belfast
HOUSING: Mortgage applications among buyers dip North County Times
Week-to-week mortgage applications off 6.2%: MBA MarketWatch
RTT News - Reutersall 144 news articles

Seeking a jumbo conforming home loan? Act fast
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 50 minutes ago
If someone in LA wants a $700000 mortgage -- either to buy a home or to refinance an existing loan -- it's a jumbo conforming loan if closed in 2008, ...

Should you refinance your mortgage?
Vail Daily News, CO - Nov 20, 2008
Many homeowners are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the mortgage payments on the loans they have taken out in the last several years. ...

COLUMN: A little common sense could go long way
Swampscott Reporter, MA - 6 hours ago
... mortgage at 3 percent to “qualified” purchasers — and I stress the word “qualified” — and to those who wish to refinance their existing mortgage. ...

Congress may have to approve a 'TARP 2,' economist says
BloggingStocks - 5 hours ago
... it is clear we will need more money to purchase toxic assets, improve bank capitalization and allocate funds for home mortgage refinance programs, ...
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