Posts tagged buying a home

Decorate Your Patio

Jul09
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

decorating the patioWhat are you still doing inside at this time of year? When the sun goes down and the light of the moon illuminates your backyard patio, that is the time to relax in the cool, fresh breeze instead of the indoor air conditioning. Whether you’re throwing a party or you’re paying bills, you can sit at your outdoor patio table. And whether you’re showing off your backyard to a friend or your showing off your backyard to a potential homebuyer, you want it to look as appealing and impressive as possible. To ensure that you spend as much time outside as your schedule allows, and to make sure your backyard looks as spiffy as it can, treat it like another room in the house. Decorate!

Decorating an outdoor patio (or deck, terrace, porch, etc.) goes beyond taking a hose and washing away tree branches and squished bugs. You want to add features that make the patio comfortable, attractive and homey. Here are some ideas to get your own decorating project going: READ MORE »

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Featured City: Deltona, FL

Jun22
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Deltona

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s City: Deltona, FL

Thinking of buying a home in Deltona? Located in the heart of southwestern Volusia County, Deltona is a principle city in Florida’s Fun Coast. Diverse in its cultural makeup, this dynamic community has about 90,000 residents according to the city’s official website.

Not only does Deltona offer a city website but also a 24-hour government-access T.V. channel (DTV) through Channel 199 on BrightHouse Networks and an Emergency Radio Station at 1610 AM. The WebPage, DTV channel and radio station offer a multitude of opportunities to stay informed about activities and issues throughout Deltona!

Image credit: RealEstate.AOL.com

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

User-Friendly Search Engine

Jun08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

buying with buy owner

Do you ever visit an online search engine and immediately become flustered by all the homes for sale? It can be overwhelming, especially now, with so many homes available and few sales. In order to help your search become calmer and organized, you need a search engine that is easy to browse and quick to give you what you want.

That is what BuyOwner.com strives to provide you with. By clicking “Homes For Sale” from the tabs across the top of the homepage, you can search for specifics that will eliminate any type of house that doesn’t interest you. Your price range is obviously key, so you must type in the minimum and maximum amount you’re willing to pay. If you’re looking for a single-family home or an apartment, you can choose exactly that type of house. If you want a garage or a swimming pool, check the box next to that feature. If you just want a broad search of homes within a 30-mile radius of a certain town, you can do that too!

Once you finish marking your criteria and you click “Submit Search Criteria” at the bottom of the page, you can then sort the results by price, placement, list date and number of bedrooms. If you’re looking for a budget buy, one tip that others might not consider is to search the oldest listing dates first. By doing so, you can view the houses that have been advertised with Buy Owner the longest. These home sellers are most likely exhausted of the home-selling business, and you might be able to score a stellar price from a homeowner eager to sell. On the other hand, if you search the newest listings, you might find sellers who just found out they need to move as soon as possible and are eager as ever to sell. Play around with the listing dates and see what you can find.

You can always go back and alter your search criteria until you find exactly what you’re looking for. If you have any questions, leave us a comment, and we’ll help you out! With the multitude of houses for sale right now, there’s nothing more pleasing than a search engine that provides you with the exact search tools you need.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Featured City: Port Richey, FL

May18
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Nicknamed “Our Gateway to the Gulf,” Port Richey has long been a top destination for fishing and trapping, set right on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Less than an hour from Tampa, this city puts the sights and sounds of not just Tampa but also Saint Petersburg/Clearwater at your fingertips. From major shopping and dining to gorgeous white sandy beaches, you’ll be near it all in this community.

If it were annexed, Port Richey would be the largest city in Pasco County. Within its borders are six community parks, as well as access to the beautiful Pithlachascotee River,  blackwater river often called the Cotee.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale in Pembroke Pines!

Image Credit: City of Port Richey

Posted in Buying Tips, Regional Info - Tagged , , , , ,

Are You Ready to Buy?

Apr06
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

If you’re thinking of buying a home these days, particularly if it’s your first home, you’re probably a little nervous. Becoming a homeowner is a big commitment! So along with all the excitement of owning your own place (and the undeniable benefits of doing so), it’s only natural to feel some anxiety.

How can you know when you’re ready? Ideally, you are ready to buy when you’ve:

  1. Studied the market: The surest way to create peace of mind in a home purchase is to do your homework. Find out what similar homes are selling for and how long they’re usually on the market. What is available in your price range? What would be a reasonable offer? When you know these things, you’ll be more confident to make your decision.
  2. Maintained good credit: Mortgage lenders will use your credit history to determine your eligibility for a loan. Wondering what affects your credit history and how you can find out what your credit score is right now? Check out this Buy Owner Blog article, ”What is a FICO?”
  3. Saved a down payment: Most experts agree it’s best to put down at least 20% of the purchase price when buying a home. If you’ve saved that or close to that amount, you are well on your way to a new home!
  4. Prepared for the financial costs: As significant as the down payment is, it isn’t the only cost to be concerned with, however. You’ll also need to factor in monthly mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, insurance, potential repairs, etc. Crunch the numbers to be sure you’re financially prepared, and if you are, you’ll know you’re going into the purchase with eyes wide open.

Of course, people buy homes all the time without doing these things. They didn’t study the market or have good credit scores or save enough for a 20% down payment. And sometimes, everything still worked out for them.

That’s because this list details not what qualifications there are to be able to buy, but rather qualifications that will give you the peace of mind that comes with making an informed, researched decision. Buying a home is a big commitment; in fact, for most people, it’s the most expensive purchase they’ll ever make.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Should you buy NOW?

Apr01
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

If you’re one of the many Americans who’s been waiting to dip your toes in the real estate waters, a recent article at CNN Money has your name all over it.

In “Is now the time to snag a great real estate deal,” your questions are answered, on topics ranging from the tax credit to what you have to lose by waiting to the odds of being able to sell your current home before buying another.

True, there are a lot of incentives towards buying NOW. But, as reporter Beth Braverman points out, “[B]uying right now is not a no-brainer. In some areas home prices may fall further. If you own a house now, it may take longer than you expect to sell it, and you may walk away with less cash than you thought.”

To consider these and other points, head over to the full article at CNN Money!

Posted in Market News - Tagged , , , , , , ,

5 Reasons to Buy a Home

Mar23
2010 1 Comment Written by Shanna

Long called The American Dream, home ownership is a privilege worth pursuing. There are a lot of reasons to choose to buy a home, especially right now:

  1. OWNERSHIP: Whether you rent or buy, you have to live somewhere, right? Buying your own home gives you pride of ownership, a sense of pride in what you’ve purchased, not to mention the peace of mind of no rent increases.
  2. LONG-TERM INVESTMENT: If you’re planning to settle down and put down roots in your city, buying a home is usually a smarter financial decision than renting. Think about it: At $1,000/month for 10 years, you will have put $10,000 into your housing, and you’ll have absolutely nothing to show for it. If you buy your home, however, you could have $10,000 in equity. Plus, over time, most properties appreciate in value, giving you even more increased equity.
  3. TAX BENEFITS: There are consideration tax benefits for owning a home. If you itemize, your mortgage interest is deductible, up to one million dollars. Also, if you have owned your principle residence for at least two of the last five years, when you sell it, you can keep up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) of the sale price, totally tax free.
  4. BUYERS’ MARKET: Because we are currently in a buyers’ market, there’s never been a better time to shop around. You’ll have plenty of properties to choose from and, most likely, they will be priced affordably.
  5. TAX CREDITS: Plus, one of the great perks of buying a home right now is that the government wants to make it easier for you. The current tax credits still provide significant financial savings, up to $8,000 in tax credits for first-time buyers, in addition to possible credits for existing home buyers.

Think you’re ready to take the plunge? Head over to BuyOwner.com to search through available properties!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Featured City: Peoria, AZ

Feb23
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

peoriaAZ

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s City: Peoria, Arizona!

Stretching over 176 square miles of Sonoran desert, the city of Peoria is a major suburb of Phoenix and also encompasses Lake Pleasant, which is Arizona’s second largest lake. Because of its close proximity to the city and its large amount of nature, in 2008, Money Magazine ranked Peoria as one of the 100 best places to live. Other attributes of Peoria are its 35 miles of nature trails, a multitude of shopping and dining opportunities, well-planned neighborhoods, highly rated schools and spring training for major league baseball teams, the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, inside the Peoria Sports Complex.

Numerous other attractions are also available, such as the Challenger Space Center of Arizona, the Peoria Performing Arts Center, the state’s best golf courses and tennis courts, and renowned shopping and dining along Bell Road Corridor and on 83rd Avenue. On Lake Pleasant, which encompasses 10,000 acres, you can enjoy water sports and activities that are foreign to other dry areas of Arizona. Camping, boating, sailing, jet skiing, swimming and fishing are just some of the options that Lake Pleasant offers.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale in Peoria!

• $455K: 4 BR, 2.5 BA Single-Family Home
• $375K: 3 BR, 2 BA Single-Family Home
• $250K: 3 BR, 2 BA Single-Family Home
• $215K: 3 BR, 2 BA Single-Family Home

Image Credit: Reiner R. Mauer

Posted in Buying Tips, Regional Info - Tagged , , ,

How to Help Preapprove a Buyer

Feb08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

housemoney

One of the scariest parts of selling your home FSBO is not having a hand to hold during the monotonous, yet critical, areas of finances and legal issues. Though common advice states that you should consider every offer you receive, which is true, you should not eagerly accept a bid before you know if that buyer can actually obtain a mortgage loan large enough to pay for the house. If the buyer is not yet preapproved or prequalified, the sale of your home could go on for months without any progress.

The first step is to find out if the buyer is preapproved, meaning he or she has been approved for a loan by a lender, or prequalified, meaning he or she has figured out the amount that is probable for him or her to afford and be approved for. A responsible buyer will obtain preapproval before offering a bid. However, since this is not always the case, there are steps you can take to approximately decipher whether or not your interested buyer has fair credit or not.

Online calculators are available, which allow you to sit down with your potential buyer, plug in critical numbers like their monthly income and expenses, and estimate the maximum loan amount that buyer is likely to obtain. There are also do-it-yourself worksheets that you could print out, which ask for similar information but require more pen-and-paper work on your part.

If you’d rather have a third party help with the preapproval, local mortgage brokers and Internet mortgage services are available to do the dirty work. Once you know what your potential homebuyer is likely to obtain in a mortgage loan, the more at ease you can be while you wait for the process to unfold.

To steer your potential homebuyer in the right direction for obtaining that mortgage loan, send them to GuaranteedRate.com, which is the authorized mortgage company for Buy Owner.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Don’t Wait to Sell or Buy

Jan05
2010 1 Comment Written by Alicia

now-selling

Reevaluating tasks and goals is normal with the start of a new year, especially with real estate, where the future always seems questionable. Should you wait to sell your home, in case the market improves? Is now a good time to buy?

The future of 2010 remains unknown. The market could improve, or according to many economists, it could get worse. But one thing’s for sure: where waiting gives you no control, being proactive gives you all of it. That is why, whether you’re buying or selling, now is the time to do something.

SELL NOW
The truth is, you might obtain more of a profit now than later.

Many people use the excuse that no one buys a house in the winter and that they’d have more success waiting until the weather warms up. However, in the winter, there are numerous perks that could work to your advantage!

  • Less competition.
  • Ready buyers. Homebuyers will always be on the lookout for a new home, such as newlyweds, growing families, new graduates or job transfers.
  • Looking past the weather. Though homebuyers are looking at your home in drab weather conditions, they know that the home’s visual appeal will improve along with the weather!

To use winter to your prime advantage, improve your home’s winter appeal, such as with energy-efficient insulation, a programmable thermostat or a heated garage. Create a cozy winter scene with a crackling fire in the fireplace, a batch of freshly baked cookies or a snowman in the yard. Turn on all the lights to make the home appear bright and cheerful. Display pictures of the house during numerous seasons, so that potential homebuyers can see for themselves just how beautiful the fall color or spring blossoms are!

BUY NOW
No one can predict the future. Still, there’s no time like the present to fulfill your dreams. Right now, the first-time homebuyer tax credit has been extended to at least the spring. A tax credit is also available for current homeowners. Houses are still being offered for exceptionally good deals for homebuyers, and the availability and options are plentiful. So no matter what happens to the real estate industry in the future, why wait?

Whether you’re ready to sell or buy, how do you get started now? Visit www.BuyOwner.com to find out how you can advertise your home with us or to virtually tour properties you may want to buy!

Posted in Buying Tips - Tagged ,
« Older Entries

About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Welcome to the BuyOwner.com Blog, your source for regularly updated market information!

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

You can read more about BuyOwner.com here.

Article Archives

Blog Roll

Real Estate Top Blogs Real Estate Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory Add to Technorati Favorites Find the best blogs at Blogs.com. Blog Directory Home Improvement Blog Directory

Subscribe

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner