Don’t Buy a Car – or Did You Already Buy One?
- When Income Grows and You Want to Buy “Stuff”
- Debt-to-Income Ratios and Car Payments
- How Buying a Car Reduces Your Purchase Price
Things Not To Do Before Buying a Home
Reasons to Delay Buying a Home
Why Buying a Home is a Good Idea
- The Best Investment
- Income Tax Savings
- Stable Monthly Housing Costs
- Forced Savings
- Freedom and Individuality
The Business Cycle and Buying a Home
- Recession and Expansion
- Supply and Demand
- Should You Try to “Time the Market”?
- Why You Should Not Wait
What’s More important – Buying a House? Or a Home?
Why Search for A Realtor?
- Finding an Agent by “Accident”
- Listing Agents vs. Selling (Buyer’s) Agents
- Should You Call the Listing Agent?
- Agent’s Advertising – Is the Purpose What You Think?
- Finding Your Own Realtor
- Some Basics About the Search
- How to Conduct the Search
- Interviewing A Good Realtor
- When the Agent Asks You for an Appointment
Looking Ahead – Buyer’s Remorse Buying a Home With Resale Value – Location
- Location, Location, Location?
- Location – Local Community, Town or City
- Location – the Local Neighborhood
- Location – the Residential Neighborhood
Buying a Home With Resale Value – the House
- A Home With a View?
- Lot Choice and Landscaping
- House Size
- Bedrooms & Bathrooms
- Closets, Garage & Laundry
- Kitchen
- Fireplaces
- Swimming Pool?
Comparable Sales and Your Offer Price
- Determining Your Offer Price
- Comparable Sales in the Public Record
- Comparable Sales in the Multiple Listing Service
- Comparable Sales – Pending Transactions
Factors Affecting Your Offer Price
- How Property Condition Affects Your Offer
- How Home Improvements Affect Your Offer
- How Market Conditions Affect Your Offer
- How Seller Motivation Affects Your Offer
- The Final Decision on Your Offer Price
Offering to Purchase Real Estate- the Basics
- Introduction and Overview
- Contingencies in a Purchase Offer
- Earnest Money Deposit
- The Closing Date
- Transfer of Possession
Writing an Offer – Safeguards Regarding the Property
- Disclosures From the Seller
- Condition of the Property Upon Transfer
- Inspections You May Require
- Final Walk-Through Inspection
How Financing Details Affect Your Offer
How FHA and VA Financing Affects Your Offer
You and the Seller Must Agree on Some Services
