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Avoid These Common First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes

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National Home Search Buying a home for the first time can be cumbersome. You’ve never done it before, so it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. Luckily, we’ve pulled together some of the common mistakes first-time homebuyers make. Learn from them, and you may have a smoother home buying process. ·          Forgetting About Costs: Your mortgage will probably not be the only cost when it comes to buying a home. Smaller costs like property insurance, taxes, electric and water bills, and other fees may start to pile up. Before buying a house, you may need to look further into your savings to figure out if you can pay for all of these additional charges. ·          Looking for a Home Before the Loan: Once you find a house and decide to buy it, you don’t want to spend time wondering if you can afford it. Knowing your budget, and that you are a qualified buyer before you begin your search may ma...

HOME BUYING ADVICE

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  Buying a home is a significant and exciting decision. This section provides professional real estate advice and helpful home buying tips. First Steps The Internet and real estate professionals are the top two resources most buyers turn to when searching for a home. 1   When it’s not convenient for you to speak directly with a real estate professional, century21.com can help improve your overall home buying experience and provide guidance to reduce stress, save time, and make you a savvy, successful consumer. A CENTURY 21 ®  Agent is ready to make a full-time commitment to help you capitalize on current market opportunities and assist you in making an informed decision. To ensure you make the right choice for the long term, a CENTURY 21 Agent  offers extensive knowledge in:           Neighborhoods, schools, and market conditions           Mortgage specialists who can assist you with you...

Home Improvement Tips

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Making home improvements not only creates beautiful upgrades to your home but can also increase its overall value. Using a Home Equity Line of Credit can be the smartest way to manage the expense associated with making home improvements. The following tips from industry experts offer some of the most cost-effective and valuable enhancements you can make to your home. Tip #1 Updated homes frequently sell faster. The renovation of dark or dated kitchens is one of the most profitable home improvements you can make. Tip #2 Time to refinance your mortgage? If interest rates are lower now than when you closed on your current mortgage, you may be able to save money by refinancing.   Tip #3 Updating an old bathroom is one of the most profitable home improvements you can make.   Tip #4 Adding casual living areas like a den or family room is smart home improvement.   Tip #5 Thinking of updating your home with one of these home improvements and wondering how...

WHAT IS A HOME INSPECTION?

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A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical checkup. If problems or symptoms are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation. WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?  The standard home inspector's report will review the condition of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors; the foundation, basement, and visible structure. WHY DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION? The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make. You should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before you buy so that you can minimize unpleasant surprises and difficulties afterward. Of course, a home inspection also point...

10 Questions You Should Ask Your Lender.

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  Questions You Should Ask Your Lender . 1. What Types Of Mortgages Does Your Lender Offer? Most mortgage companies offer a wide array of loan options to fit various situations. Tow most common loan types are fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). A fixed-rate mortgage interest rate and principal payment remain constant for the life of the loan. Since the interest never changes during the life of the loan, the borrower can always budget for a mortgage payment. (Keep in mind that Insurance and Taxes are adjustable annually if the borrower is escrow they may see a slight adjustment in their mortgage payments due to these annual adjustments). A fixed-rate mortgage is the best option especially if the borrower is planning to stay in the home for a while (5 years or more). With the ARMs, the interest rate and your payments are adjusted upon down periodically as the market index changes. The rate usually is adjusted between three months and five years. ARMs are usua...