Homes absolutely depreciate. As a physical asset, time takes its toll on any and every home on the market. Perhaps even more importantly, that’s how the IRS sees it, too. … More often than not, homes tend to appreciate — at least that’s what history suggests
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property
You might be able to cancel your mortgage escrow account and pay property taxes and insurance on your own. Mortgage lenders often require borrowers to have an escrow account. … The servicer keeps this extra money in the escrow account until your property tax and homeowners’ insurance bills are due.
The length of the underwriting process depends on your situation. It can generally take between 3 days to several weeks to be completed. It takes about 30 days to get a home loan, for most people. If there are problems with your application, it could take much longer, several months in some cases
Closing costs are expenses incurred by buyers and sellers when the ownership of the property is transferred. These are usually negotiable items as to who will be responsible for their payment. Examples of closing costs include recording fees, documentary fees, real estate commission, taxes prorations, settlement fees, and title insurance.
Contingencies are “what ifs” in a real estate purchase and sale contract. They allow a buyer or seller to void the contract if certain items aren’t met. Examples of real estate contingencies are appraisal, inspection, house sale, and loan approval contingencies.
A loan commitment letter is given by the lender to the borrower stating the terms under which the lender has agreed to the loan. This is often considered “loan approval” which will allow the buyer to proceed with consummation of the real estate purchase.
An appraisal is an estimate of the value of a piece of property by a licensed, trained, and experienced individual called an appraiser. They are usually required by a lender to determine how much the property is worth in ascertaining how much they will loan on the property.
An appraisal is an estimate of the value of a piece of property by a licensed, trained, and experienced individual called an appraiser. They are usually required by a lender to determine how much the property is worth in ascertaining how much they will loan on the property.
You can build equity in three ways. First (and easiest) is from market appreciation. Second, when making your monthly mortgage payment, try to send a little bit more. This will go directly to the principal of the loan, rather than the interest. Be sure your lender knows to put the extra toward principal, and not the next month’s payment. Even an extra $50 per month can quickly build equity, as well as knock years off of your loan. The third way to build equity into your house is to make improvements. There are a variety of ways to remodel and make positive changes to the interior and exterior of your home. One of the best ways is to add square footage/living space.
The best answer is “as many as it takes to find a home that works for you”. Purchasing a home will most likely be the single largest investment you will make, so it is important to make sure you find a home that meets your current and future needs. It’s best not to look at just one home, but also not to look at more than 6 or 7 in one day. It’s common to confuse the features if you view too many in one day. Bring a notepad and pen and take notes on your likes and dislikes of each home.
The length of the underwriting process depends on your situation. It can generally take between 3 days to several weeks to be completed. It takes about 30 days to get a home loan, for most people. If there are problems with your application, it could take much longer, several months in some cases.
An acre of land is an area of land equal to 43,560 square feet. It is often compared to the size of a football field (without the end zones). One square mile is equal to 640 acres, called a “section”.
MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. It’s a network of real estate listings in an area, where buyers can (through a Realtor or the Internet) view what is available in their price range, and with the features they are looking for. It is a system usually run and supported by the local Real Estate Board that has details of almost every home, land, and business listed for sale with a real estate agent.
DOM stands for “Days on Market”. This number allows buyers to see how long the property has been for sale. Some people believe that the longer a property has been on the market, the more motivated a seller might be.
A debt-to-income ratio is important to your lender. To figure out where you stand on the ratio, you must first understand the meaning of the figure. Lenders use various ratios, but the most common is 28/36. The first number, (also known as the front-end-ratio) is the percentage of your gross monthly income that you could comfortably afford to spend on your housing payment. This figure includes escrow for taxes and insurance. The second number, (also known as the back-end-ratio) is the percentage of your gross monthly income that should be spent on all long-term monthly debts combined.
Lenders look into your credit rating, debt/income ratio, and many other documents to determine how much you can borrow. In addition, loan qualifications have been changing over the last year or so. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to determine your gross income (before taxes) for all people that will be on the loan (borrower and co-borrower). Multiply this number by 2 to 2.5 This will give you a general idea of what you might qualify for. If you have a large down payment combined with little to no debt, the lender may believe that you can afford a more expensive home than this rule of thumb.
Earnest money is something of value (called “consideration”) that a buyer puts forth to bind an agreement, such as the sale of real estate. Earnest money is forfeited by the buyer if he or she fails to carry out the terms of the contract. It’s up front money from a buyer to show a seller that the buyer is serious about the purchase. The money is usually deposited into an escrow account and is usually applied toward the buyer’s down payment.
Square footage includes finished, heated space, also known as “livable space”. Garages, unfinished basements and attics, for example, are not included when calculating a home’s square footage. Hallways and closets are included when determining a home’s square footage, however.
Compare listings
Compare