Do this first before you Buy a Home

You found your dream home and are ready to make an offer.  Do these four investigative measures before you sign on the dotted line.

1.  Talk to would-be neighbors.  Ask how they like the area, how are the schools or if there are any problem activity nearby.


2.  Check your commute.  Drive from your possible new home to work during rush hour to see how long it will really take.  If you use the bus, then take the daily bus you would use to commute.


3.  Check crime data and sex offender databases.  For crime statistics go to faxnet1.org or search the internet for your local crime statistics link.  For sex offenders go to azsexoffender.org or search the internet for your local sex offender database line.


 4.  Read up.  Investigate the location of nearby dairy farms, jails or proposed freeway developments or alignments.  Call local Planning and Zoning for additional proposed developments.

5.  Make multiple offers on multiple properties.  You can make sellers compete for your business.  Just make sure the Realtor provides the correct verbiage so that you don't end up buying several properties. This won't always work but in the current Seller's market it's worth a shot.





Linda Shank is a local real estate broker in the Southeast Phoenix Valley.  She can be reached on her website www.ISellAZSunshine.com or on this blog.   

Designing Your Home Office

First step is to draw the line between work and play with the computer.  A dedicated business-only computer will help you keep your office a business atmosphere only.  You might also have professionals install additional electrical, phone or cable outlets to accommodate your various office equipment.

Next divide your new office into three sections:  the work center, the reference center and the supply center.  The work center includes your desk, computer and things that you use on a regular basis.  The reference center includes dictionaries, books, binders, etc.  Consider placing  a small filing cabinet or installing shelves behind your desk for easy access.  Lastly, the supply center of your workspace holds all your office supplies.  Consider using shoe boxes for holding note cards and other small items and/or jars for keeping pens and pencils to save money on storage solutions.

Gender and Home-Buying Decisions

When it comes to making home-buying decisions, men and women often have different priorities.  A National real estate company's survey finds that most women are able to select a home much more
quickly than men.  Almost 70% of women need only one visit to a new home to decide that it is right for them, compared with 62% of men.  About 1/3 of men (32%) need two or more visits.  More than half of women (55%) believe it is more important to live closer to their extended family than to their job, compared with only 37% of men.  Women are also more likely than men (65% compared with 51%) to lose interest in the home of their dreams if there are concerns about the home's security.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO CLIMB

Price declines and low interest rates continue to motivate buyers to enter the most affordable housing market in 28 years.  But, at the same time, only 1 in 10 of today's homeowners say they have delayed selling due to those same market conditions.  In the past year, the National Association of Realtor's Housing Affordability Index has increased 29% overall and 19% for first-time home buyers---the highest levels during the Index's 28 year history.

The survey also found that most Americans aren't aware of how affordable homes are becoming in today's fast-changing housing market.  More than 3/4's of consumers think a median-income family can afford less than half of the homes for sale in their area.  In reality, however, a family earning a median income of $53,182 can afford to buy nearly 75% of the current homes for sale.  For 14.6 percent of first-time home buyers, the government's $8,000 tax credit provides the impetus to shop for a home this year.

Courtesy of Sherri Buttler, Sun American Mortgage Company   sherri.buttler@SunAmerican.com 

DON'T BUY ON THE REBOUND

It happens to thousands of homeowners each year.  They find their dream home but are outbid by another buyer.  Out of frustration they buy the next house they see.  BAD IDEA!!! 

Sure, it's disappointing to lose the "perfect" house.  But rushing to find a replacement can bring an even greater regret.  The fact is that most home buyers face some kind of a setback during their home search...albeit it pricing or financing or timing.  The key is to approach each step in the home buying process as part of a valuable learning experience.  

Finally, buying a home is not the ultimate goal.  Buying the right home is the goal.  Compromising with an inadequate choice is a sure path to Buyer's remorse.  I found out a long time ago that there will be another house coming on the market soon very often better than the first one you thought was the "perfect" house.


 Courtesy of Sherri Buttler, Sun American Morgage Company  sherri.buttler@SunAmerican.com  

       






   

MORTGAGE IS DENIED? HERE'S WHAT TO DO

Talk about raining on your parade!  You find your home, make an offer & then learn that your loan application as been turned down.  What to do now?

You may be able to turn a "NO" into a "YES" by taking the right steps:

Low appraisal-Try negotiating with the Seller or consider making a larger down payment should you have the money.

Not enough up front Cash-Lender determines that you don't have enough money to cover the downpayment + closing costs.  Ask the Seller to assume some of the closing costs or consider a non-repayable gift of funds from a relative.  Your lender will instruct you how to document this gift.

Insufficient Income-Due to governments "Making Homes Affordable" program, lenders are using a 31/38 rule when calculating allowable loan limits. Monthly PITI (principal, interest, taxes & insurance) should not be more than 31% of your gross monthly income. Your total debt (car loans, credit cards etc.) plus the PITI should not exceed 38% of your gross monthly income.  If your credit record is good & you've been carrying an equivalent housing payment, try to convince the lender to ease this guideline. If you or your spouse are expecting a salary increase, tell the lender who can then verify the forthcoming income increase.

Unsatisfactory credit (FICO) score--Lenders are looking for defaults, bankruptcies as well as late or missed monthly payments.  The lender needs to know the full picture if these issues are due to an illness, job layoff, marital problems or other short-term situations.  If you've regained financial stability for at least a year, the lender may reconsider.  If you have an up-and-down credit history, the only solution is to reestablish prompt payment practices.  There are also a few good lenders that will assist you in "cleaning up" your credit report and therefore increasing your FICO score.  Please contact me and I can refer you to these lenders which do not charge for this service...they just want to handle your loan when it comes time to buy.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER CREDIT ENDS DECEMBER 1, 2009

To qualify for this credit, the closing date for the home must take place after December 31, 2008 and before December 1, 2009.  If a taxpayer is building a home they must occupy the home between those dates.  The credit amoung is the lesser of 10% of the purchase price of the home or $8000.  The home must be occupied by the taxpayer for 36 months.  In addition, the taxpayer must not have owned a home in the United States for three years prior to taking the credit.  Selling or converting a home to rental property before the 36-month perior may subject the taxpayer to repayment of the credit.  The credit is not available for vacation homes or rental property.  In addition, this credit also has a phase-out range based on income.  You can find details on the IRS website  http://www.irs.gov/