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Friday, 17 February 2012

Home Buyers Classes - First Time Home Buyer Grants

When it comes to the real first time home buyer grants, I hate to disappoint you, but they are greatly misunderstood. Why do I say that? Many people are trying sell books and CD's telling you how easy they are to get. It's not that easy.

In this article I want to help you understand first time home buyer grants and how they really work.

HOW FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANTS WORK

Each year the federal government will grant money for housing programs. Without many exceptions it's done through the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD.

Many people have been lead to believe these first time home buyer grants can be obtained on their own. That's why there are so many websites, books and CD's being sold. The masses are told that all you have to do is apply and the FREE money is all yours and you do not have to pay it back.

Well, there is some truth to that but it's not quite so easy. Like everything else in this information age, it's all about the money. The money you put into the pockets of the people selling the information.

Please keep reading to learn how you can get a first time home buyer grant.

HOW TO FIND FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANTS

First of all, save your money. Don't bother buying those books and tapes. First time home buyer grants are found right in your own neighborhoods. First you need to learn how to buy a house.

What happens each year is HUD will allow so many millions of dollars to go to non-profit agencies in your community.

So how do you find these agencies? I'm glad you ask, because I want to tell you. Before I do, allow me to tell you a little story.

I used to be a loan officer for a large national bank. I specialized in first time home buyer loans. I really enjoyed helping people buy their first home and realize their dreams.

I had this couple one time who wanted to buy a home. She asked me about first time home buyer grants. I was not the sharpest knife in the drawer so to avoid looking too stupid I offered to find a grant for them.

After a great deal of homework, I found a non-profit agency that offered grants for people buying their first home right in our own city. They had several hundred thousands of dollars available.

Wow, I thought this was great. So I proceeded to help the couple apply for the grant money. They were going to buy a home with an FHA home loan. I really recommend you do the same thing. Use the FHA mortgage since it works well with the grant programs. In fact, HUD is the government agency behind the grants and the FHA loan program.

Sorry, I got to rambling on. To make a long story short, the couple received a $5,000 grant. We used this for the down payment. As long as they lived in the house for a specific period (5 years I think it was) they would not have to repay the money.

So it was a true grant. FREE government money. The only strings attached was how long they lived in the home.

WHERE TO FIND FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANTS

Ok, this is where the work comes in.

Each and every state has non-profit agencies who get this grant money for first time home buyers. Finding them is the trick.

If you go to the HUD website, search for grants in your state. Then drill down to find the counseling agencies in your city or nearby. Once you find one, give them a call.

You will need to attend Home Buyers Classes on home ownership. It varies in length, could be one day long or two. They want to help you understand the responsibilities of home ownership and help you stay in your home.

These agencies are funded by the US government and are there to help you. They get the grant money each year and when it runs out, you have to wait until next year.

So do your homework and search at the source itself. Go to the HUD website and browse around. It's not that hard. Just be patient.

The programs do change from year to year. So the agency will be better able to tell you what's available. All you need is the phone number to get started.

Know more about Home Buyers Classes and with the information of home buying, home selling, financing and owning real estate http://www.homeownershipu.com/

Friday, 10 February 2012

Real Estate Training TO Become a Realtor

Becoming a licensed real estate broker has been one of the most sought-after occupations yet in order for you to earn the license, you need to go to a real estate training class and equip yourself with all the essentials to be equipped before you take the exams. I have friends working in a real estate. I could say their business is very lucrative. You earn a living while you enjoy discussing with customers, assisting them in choosing the best place to live. Enrolling in a real estate course will give you an edge over others who haven't gone any schooling at all.

Becoming a realtor, real estate agent or real estate broker is a life-long commitment. You need to make sure you are decided. Enrolling in a class will equip you with all the necessities you need and a number of schools offer such to help aspiring realtors along the way. The real estate training class has a number of programs designed to meet the requirements to equip you for the licensure exams. One program is via online. It can shorten the class study time and prepare you to pass the Real Estate Licensure Exam the first time, allowing you to get the license sooner and start earning commissions.

Aside from the online Real Estate Training class, some schools also offer such training without the hassles of having and internet connection. How? You will be provided with software that you install on your computer so you can have an easy, private way of having the class alone, and what's more, you're in control at your own pace any time you want.

There's also a course that offers "pass or don't pay". This is one way of guaranteeing that their program will give you a higher chance of passing. Its called Real Estate School online. None of other real estate training class schools make this claim. Note that the training class is state specific. Different states have different courses on real estate, thus giving out different license exam questions, answers and explanations covering each state or the state you wish to get a license. These schools provide you will all the materials you need to pass the licensure. They offer professional assistance and give you the right real estate education just for you.

Thus if you want to aim at passing the licensure, make sure you enroll a Real Estate Class at school which for you would offer the best education and materials. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge to hone you to become professional realtors.

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Buying and Selling Land in Sammamish

People have never cared for the clock-punching daily grind. It is not shameful to admit that the daily routine can wear thin after a few years. Many people have chosen to invest their earnings in an attempt to minimize the time spent in the daily grind. Due to the current recession, most investments are not as secure as they once were. One investment that is a sure bet if properly done is to own land. Owning land is safe because the value is tangible, and making this investment profitable lies solely in the hands of the owner. So how do we begin? First, we need to find land for sale.

There are many different ways to find land for sale. This is where that mecca of research known as the internet comes in handy. Typing in 'Land for Sale' in your search window will lead to a variety of people trying to unload land. However, like all forms of investing if you do not know what you are doing, you will not succeed. It is best to find cheap land for sale or land with payments for your initial investment.

The truth is that an investment is not worth the effort if it means compromising your finances in order to acquire it. The best method is to buy cheap land for sale preferably not far from a metropolitan area. Everyone knows that cities expand. The key is to hold on to that parcel that you purchased until people start migrating towards your Sammamish Homes. Then developers will 'discover' you and will make you a substantial offer for your land.

Before you realize it that cheap land for sale made you a lot of money. However, the word cheap is subjective. While certain pieces of land may be listed as cheap. They may be too much to purchase right out. In this case it is better to look for land with payments. Payment plans are structured with your budget in mind, so even if it takes 20 years to pay off that land, you will not go broke in the process. If a developer does want to buy your land, that payment can be used to pay off the remaining balance and leave you with some cushion. The next step should be obvious: sell your Lake Sammamish.

In order to successfully sell your land you must advertise your land. There are different ways to do this. Advertising online is perhaps the best way since you will reach the most people. It is best look for websites that specialize in land sales. These sites will give you the tools to sell your land and reap the rewards from that sale. Another way to advertise your land is by using social networking sites. There will not be a service fee and people might be more willing to buy from a friend (even if it's just an online friend).

Ann Arbor Homes For Sale - Real Estate Investing Today

Real estate investing, even in the real estate market of today, is still a way to ensure lasting financial security. It is a fast and safe method of wealth creation and buying foreclosed homes for sale has always been a popular investment method. Homes for sale due to foreclosures are at an all time high that apparently has not been seen in the past thirty years. Foreclosed homes for sale include government homes that have been taken due to failure to meet mortgage payments, or seizure due to unpaid taxes or other federal offences. Bank owned homes are due to default in mortgage repayments.

There are various types of foreclosure homes for sale. REO, which means "Real Estate Owned" by both government agencies and banks, default pre-foreclosures, which is self explanatory and Ann Arbor Homes for Sale at foreclosure property auctions. These three are the vehicles that many be used by investors to secure a property at discounted prices. There is also the short sale but this falls under the auspices of pre-foreclosure so does not really require a category of its own.

It only takes the non-payment of three consecutive mortgage payments for the lender to start the foreclosure process on a home owner. Thereafter the lender is legally entitled to call for full payment of the outstanding principle unpaid balance of the debt.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to buying homes for sale in any one of the three methods available. But the advantages of buying bank or government owned REO's is everything has been taken care of on behalf of the new owner. They are ready to go. The previous owner has been evicted, the mortgage is foreclosed so the title is clear and any back taxes have also been paid. Basically the bank clears any liens on the title before they sell it to anyone. Understandably the bargain factor is less than with pre-foreclosure and auction sales but the risk involved is also less, as well as the headache factor.

If you are going to purchase REO homes for sale, make sure that your negotiation techniques are tight. Be prepared to swap offers and counter offers. Banks are not in the Ann Arbor real estate business, they do not like playing landlord and want to get their money back as quickly as possible. Bank REO's are a burden on the liquidity of the bank and they may speed the process up by making terms more favorable for the investor.

Bear in mind to always inspect government and bank owned REO's they are subject to vandalism, particularly if they have not been occupied for a while and this could mean that major repairs are required. These homes are for sale "as-is" so always ensure that a "subject to inspection" clause is clearly defined in any offer to the bank, if you have not yet managed to inspect the property, this small clause will save you a great deal of trouble in the future.

This article is written by a technical writer Karan Agarwal is working on Ann Arbor Homes for Sale</a> and rental properties. He gives you information about how to deal with property problems.

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Tips For Buying a House

Buying a house is an exciting experience especially for first-time buyers. The idea of finally having your own place and having the liberty of doing anything about it such as renovations makes buying a house a dream come true for most. However, being a homeowner is not that easy. You'll have to consider your responsibility to maintain the house to keep its value for the coming years.

If you have decided that you are indeed ready to buy your own home and become a responsible homeowner, then read these tips for an enjoyable and stress-free house buying.

Find a suitable location

One of the most important things to consider in buying a house is the location. Search for a house that is located strategically. The house should be located in a well-maintained community with nearby schools, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, public libraries, gasoline stations and recreational facilities such as shopping centers and theaters. Ideally, the community should be secure and with peaceful neighbours.
House hunting, indeed, is no walk in the park so be sure that you know your preferences and always consider the concerns of other family members. You can keep track of the houses that you are visiting by taking pictures, writing down descriptions and rating each house.

Determine your budget

Your financial capability is important when Buying a House because it involves a large amount of money. The exact amount which you are willing to spend will determine the kind of house that you should look for.
Assess your credit score and be pre-approved Mortgage, which refers to a loan for the purpose of buying real estate such as a house, is a recommended option for homebuyers. Therefore, it is important to review your credit standing and see if you are qualified to apply for such loan to help finance your dream house.

A good credit score provides plus points for a mortgage application. Search for a lender which will guide you in the pre-approval. Pre-approval for a loan will depend on your current financial status. Getting pre-approved is a positive step to acquiring a mortgage. It also keeps you on track on the price limit of the houses that you should look into. Moreover, a pre-approval record is a good way to convince a house seller that you are sincere in buying that house so you can have a better bargaining power.

Consider a real estate agent

A real estate agent can help you find a home that fits your requirements so make sure that that person is reputable and that he or she meets your standards. Also, make sure that your potential agent understands every detail of your preferences. A real estate agent will also guide you in the negotiation process with a potential house seller.

Negotiate then buy

If you find a house that you like, make an offer to the house seller. Make sure that you are armed with information on the current market value of houses in the area and most importantly know the lowest possible price that the seller is willing to agree on.

Once you have agreed on a price, you will have to go through the process of actually buying the house. This involves getting the expertise of a home inspector, drawing the terms of agreement and having a lawyer review the contract. After all the paperwork is done, a deposit on your part will be placed in escrow until the sale is final.

Know more about Buying a House and with the information of home buying, home selling, financing and owning real estate http://www.homeownershipu.com/

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

foreclosure is a legal event


Here in our area (Longville Lakes area) a foreclosure is a legal event and there are benchmarks that must be met. Once the case is turned over to attorneys, the impending foreclosure must be advertised, usually in both the local papers and in the largest and closest metropolitan daily. The entire process can take a very long time from initial default to the actual public auction of the property.

If you are a member of the military  and you are the owner of the property, there are additional safeguards required by federal and in some cases state laws From the beginning of the process, however, the meter is running. The longer the foreclosure takes, the greater the debt that accrues and the larger the liability the homeowner has, something that will become critical down the road.

Find best real estate company in MN | lakeshore homes for sale

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Find The Right Online Real Estate School

There are plenty of options when it comes to picking out the perfect real estate school online. Nevertheless, if you are unsure about exactly what to do, there are some guidelines that you should follow. Selecting the proper real estate school can mean the difference between money that is wasted, and money that is actually put to good usage. Making a smart investment when you are dealing with the market is about so much more than just getting a book and starting to read. It involves plenty of details in regards to the market in your area, common mistakes and even what you can do to cut your losses on a bad investment.

While many online real estate schools are packed full of information there are also a large number of these schools that are simply full of information that you can find online yourself for free. If you have the ability to find the information for free with a small amount of research there is no reason to pay for it. This means it is critical to look for a program that goes beyond the basics. After all, do you really need to spend money to have someone tell you that real estate is a good investment? Do you really need someone to tell you that the market is constantly changing?

Most investors or want to be investors are aware that the market is always changing. The important details are those that allow you to spot a hidden gem. You know the old house down the block that looks to be in terrible condition. That may end up being one of the smartest investments that you ever purchased. Learning to tell the difference between the type of value that the property represents to you is key. Another important issue that any online Real Estate School should thoroughly cover is how to negotiate successfully, after all the price that is listed for a piece of property is very rarely what it actually sells for.

Knowing how to negotiate successfully is an important process that any successful real estate investor not only needs to know, but should also be a master of. If you have very weak negotiating skills you will find that you are frequently overpaying for property, repairs and even loans. Getting the prices and numbers turned into your favor can often make or break a real estate deal in terms of making a profit. Getting a firm grip on the negotiating process is essential and finding a real estate school that teaches this is not always as easy as it sounds.
One of the premier online real estate schools to consider is Trump University; this will allow you to see how someone such as Donald Trump has consistently made profitable deal after profitable deal. After all, when you are looking to learn from the best, following the advice of someone who has a proven history of excellence is always key.

Donald Trump has personally been in the news several times for incredible real estate deals he has made, and without paying for advertising as well. This means that you are sure he has actually found real success, rather than just paying people to give him good reviews. Take advantage of this knowledge and let it help you find your own success in real estate.