There are many improvements that a person can make to a home, many offering more of a return than others. There are some home improvements that can actually hurt a home’s investment potential. Some improvements limit the number of future potential home buyers due to the uniqueness of the improvement, for example not everyone wants a home spa, sauna, full workout room, etc. In essence it is important to make sure that home improvements and additions be well-planned and then well-executed.

Historically, the best improvements are kitchens, bathrooms, and decks. These renovations and/or additions offer the best return for the dollars spent, being that they are completed reasonably and not over-the-top. The simpler the project, the better.

Most people want to get their money back when they sell a home, but many will not. One key element to remember is to keep your home in line with the neighborhood. If every home on your block is similar and you add a huge garage, fancy finishes and ornate touches that do not exist in your neighborhood you probably won’t get your money back. Of course, if you don’t care about the return that you will get on your home then you can feel free to throw caution to the wind.

Click here to read a recent article from Main Street about potential remodel pitfalls.

If you are buying a home there are some important things to think about. While there are people out there who do not believe that a person’s primary residence should be looked at as an investment, the reality is that a home is probably one of the most expensive purchases in a person’s lifetime and, as such, is a very important investment. That being said, buying real estate is a big deal and should be approached with thought and caution.

There are two main factors when buying a home, one being financial, the other being physical. Financially it is of the utmost importance to buy within your means. Know your budget, what you can afford now, and do not go beyond it. Before even looking for a home go through the pre-qualification process of acquiring a mortgage. Lastly, remember that you are your own best advocate, do your research and know what expenses will be coming at you upon closing so that you are not caught off guard and forking over extra, unexpected money that you cannot afford.

When it comes to the physical attributes of your house hunting, it is a good idea to look at everything available in your price range in the area that you want to move to. Realize that there is a good chance that you will be attracted to real estate that is above your price range but remember to be realistic, you need to stay within your budget.

When it comes to real estate it is a great time to be a buyer. Contact a local Realtor with a solid reputation and see what you can find.

Click here to read a recent article from Investopedia titled “10 Worst First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes 2010”.

When it comes to real estate it is easy to wonder what’s going on. One report is gloomy while another is bright. The reality is that real estate is improving, how much so being localized to any given area.

Before the recession hit real estate markets nationwide were gaining at unrealistic paces, hence the housing boom and subsequent bust. It is important to remember that the modest improvements being seen are more realistic and if huge jumps were being made we might return to the same boat.

Overall home prices have started a modest recovery, with slight increases across the board, but the areas hardest hit by foreclosures are where values have yet to show much of a rebound. The historically low mortgage rates are increasing mortgage applications as well, adding to the real estate sales volume.

While overall, unemployment levels will continue to affect the economy as a whole, it is impossible not to look at real estate data and see an improvement. Small steps are definitely being made in the right direction.

Click here to read a recent article from Realty Times regarding the current state of real estate.

The home buyer tax credit may be gone but assistance is still out there. Potential first time home buyers have options to explore when considering jumping into real estate. One of the first hurdles when buying a home for the first time is often coming up with a down payment. Even a good saver may have a hard time saving the thousands that can be necessary for a down payment. Luckily there are options for help.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has many assistance and reference programs. HUD’s website has links to Habitat for Humanity, rural housing, and a number of home buyer programs in your area. The HUD website can be a great resource, offering a wealth of information on what is involved in purchasing a home.

The Federal Housing Agency (FHA) is another agency offering information and assistance. The FHA helps buyers buy homes with both low interest rates and a small down payment. Where a standard down payment can be anywhere from 10 to 20%, an FHA loan can require as little as 3.5% down. Standard loan fees can be wrapped into the loan through FHA as well.

If home ownership seems like a pipe dream, it doesn’t have to. If you have a steady source of income then you have mastered one of your biggest hurdles. Contact a real estate professional today to learn more about purchasing real estate in your area.

Click here to visit the HUD website.
Click here to learn more about FHA.

When it comes to real estate price matters. Most real estate professionals will aim to price your home at fair market value at the onset and some sellers are on board, others are not. It has been a rough realization for many to acknowledge that it is a buyers market out there. It has been an unknown in recent months as to whether home values will continue to drop, stabilize or improve and every market is different. Regardless of what is going on, if your home isn’t selling then you may want to reduce its price.

Whether your home is seeing a lot of potential home buyers or very few, if you haven’t had an offer there could be a few factors. What is your home lacking? Can you fix what your home is lacking? Chances are that if your home is on the market for sale, you are ready to sell it and you are not going to make any large changes to it. The one change you can make is lowering the price. Money matters, more today than ever. If someone sees a home for sale at what they see as a bargain price then they are much more likely to make an offer.

Can you afford to hold on to your home until prices start appreciating again? If so keep your price where it is. If you need to sell then lowering the price could be the key to selling it now.

Click here to read an article from House Logic on reasons to lower the price of your home.

It is possible to save money at closing. Whether you are buying a new home or refinancing one you already own, closing costs can often make the process more expensive than expected. When refinancing closing costs can actually get in the way of making a change a poor financial decision. What many borrowers may not realize is that cutting some of the fees out at closing can happen.

When researching a new loan check with your current lender first. Chances are, if you are in good standing, they do not want to lose your business and will work with you to keep it. Working with your current lender may avoid a new appraisal, application fees and other charges that come along with the loan process.

Find out what a lender’s fees are well ahead of closing so that you know what to expect. By seeing the fees in writing you may also have an opportunity to do a bit of bargaining. The better your credit rating, the more a lender will want to work with you and secure your business.

Finally, look into wrapping your closing costs, or at least a portion of them into your loan. If it make financial sense it can save you money up front. With mortgage rates currently hanging out below 5% wrapping a couple of thousand dollars into a mortgage does not make too big of an increase on the monthly payment. Shop around and speak with a number of lenders before making your decision.

Click here to read an article from CNN Money regarding cutting costs at closing.

If you are self-employed and are considering purchasing a home it is important to be aware of the changes that have occurred in order to obtain a loan. As everyone is well aware, getting a loan is not nearly as easy as it used to be. Those who are self-employed are having a more difficult time borrowing money and must provide documentation that shows their income. The IRS is being contacted for verification by many lenders and any fraudulent income claims are being dealt with.

In a nutshell, if you are self-employed and applying for a mortgage loan, be prepared.

• Line up all of your documents showing your income before going to apply for a loan.
• Check your credit and do what you can to improve your credit score.
• Pay your bills on time.
• Most importantly, tell the truth, misrepresentation can cost you.

Many lenders, Chase being one, are hiring more loan officers, convinced that the low rates are going to bring many more new loans and refinance loans in the next 18 months or so. Mortgage rates have been decreasing since April, closely tied to the unsteady economy, where wary investors are putting their money in safe investments like Treasury Bonds. As these yields go down interest rate goes down as well. In other words, the unsteady global economy equal good news for home buyers acquiring a mortgage and home owners who are refinancing their home loans. If you are self-employed and can provide decent and accurate documentation there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to secure a home loan.

While it is true that the home buyer tax credits spurred real estate sales during the past 12 months or so, it is also true that that is exactly what the tax credits were designed to do. There is an old saying, “all good things must come to an end”, the tax credits could not last forever but just because they are gone does not mean that recovery is not occurring.

What does the real estate market have going for it now? Two very important things: low mortgage rates and low home prices. While a tax credit may be helpful up front, low mortgage rates can save much more than a tax credit over the length of a loan, diminishing the overall cost of a home by thousands of dollars.

Real estate is recovering at a steady pace. While impatience may create a doubt about the reality of recovery it is important to remember that it is a boom that created the bust in the first place, and a slow approach is more likely to be a secure step in the right direction.

Click here to read a recent article from Realty Times regarding the current state of real estate.

The upheaval of the global financial market has produced one positive side effect: historically low mortgage interest rates. For the past year or so we have been hearing about historically low interest rates, repeatedly being told that the rates are the lowest that they have been in 30 years, since the tracking of interest rates began. This week the headlines have been blaring the same news again, with interest rates even lower than they were the last time that they were at 30 year lows just a few months ago.

Currently a 30 year fixed rate mortgage can be locked in for a 4.87% interest rate. Even jumbo loans have fallen, with an interest rate of 4.5%. While there is much hype about the tightening of the financial market and the hoops a borrower has to jump through to secure a loan, there couldn’t be a better time to refinance or purchase a new home.

It’s a great time to either own a home or buy a home. Low interest rates can shave a great deal of money off of the cost of a home over the lifetime of a loan. If you have good credit, a steady source of income and have been thinking about purchasing real estate then you owe it to yourself to get out there and start looking, unless of course you can afford to wait another 30 years or so.

When selling a home one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for both the seller and the buyer is price, and let’s face it, price matters. The seller without a doubt has a value in mind when he decides to sell his home. A Realtor will conduct a Current Market Analysis (CMA), comparing homes that have sold in the area, both what similar homes have sold for and what has sold recently. Conducting a CMA should reveal what is a fair price to list a home at, however certain features can tweak the price per square foot value of a home, such as a home’s finishes, upgrades, and assets.

When a home goes under contract a professional appraiser will appraise it. The appraised value is similar to a CMA, it is based on the local real estate market, sales of comparable homes, the condition of the home and a few other criteria.

While the value of a home is first determined by the seller it ultimately is the buyer who sets the price, this is known as Market Value in real estate. Market Value is what a home actually sells for and can be higher or lower than asking price. A Realtor is a valuable tool in the selling of a home because pricing it right can designate how long it takes to sell.