Purchasing a home is a major investment, and the last thing you want to do is have to invest more money than you anticipated. Finding a reputable home inspector to check out the house prior to the sale, is important to save yourself from potential homeowner nightmares. This article will give you some great advice pertaining to buying a home, without going too much in debt with unexpected repairs.
Cash:
Your debt, credit history, the type of mortgage you choose and the current interest rates will all play an important role when you go to apply for a mortgage. These will all determine, along with your income and cash on hand, the amount of money that a lender will give you to purchase a home.
Meet with a lender prior to looking at homes. Ask about the available loan options so you will get an idea of how much cash out of pocket you will need for closing costs, down payments, and any other fees. You may find yourself surprised at the amount of money that you may be able to afford due to the low interest rates.
Buying a home with cash has both positive and negative aspects. If you purchase your home with cash, you circumvent the pre-qualification process and you have no out-of-pocket expenses for loan origination fees, appraisal fees, and closing costs. You also sidestep mortgage interest. If the home is your primary residence, the downside to buying a home with cash is that you lose out on the tax advantages that are available to homeowners which have a conventional loan.
If coming up with a down payment is the only obstacle holding you back from buying a home, make sure you have exhausted all avenues before you write out another rent check to pay somebody else's mortgage. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family for assistance. Turn your unnecessary valuables, such as a boat or diamond earrings, into cash. Borrow from your IRA. Get a second job. Look for loans from non-profit organizations. Cash in your life insurance value. Do whatever you can to turn your dream into a reality.
When deciding on a home to buy, pay attention to the foundation and other structural components of the home. These things cost a lot of money to repair, so unless you are willing to invest time and a considerable amount of cash into the property, move on and look at other homes.
Keep in mind that your home can be leveraged in a second mortgage. This financial option can save your life in tough times, allowing you to bargain against the market value of your home. This may require a new appraisal of your home's value, a refinancing of your mortgage, etc., but it provides the opportunity to get cash in tough times and finance important deals if your funds run low.
Short Sales:
When you are buying a home from things like auctions and short sale places you should "play the field". You should be looking at several homes at once because you never know when someone will bid a bit more than you and take it. Many short sales don't end up working out so if you keep a eye on several homes and one falls through you may be able to swoop in and get it for a even better price.
Looking to purchase a short sale? Hire a realtor who specializes in them. Short sales can be tricky and the buying process can be long. A qualified realtor with specific experience in this area will know how they work. This will give you the best chance of getting your home at the price you want.
Buyers who need to buy a property quickly should stay away from short sales. The word "short" definitely doesn't reflect the time length of the process. In this case the bank agrees to sell the property for an amount which does not satisfy the leans on the property. This process can take months while a "regular" sale can be closed in about a month.
Make sure you understand that purchasing a home is not a quick and easy process. You have to have patience for homeowners to make repairs, and for proper documents to be signed. If time is of the essence for you, try to avoid homes that are foreclosures or short sales.
If you need to find a home to purchase in a short period of time, do not go with a short sale. Although the name may indicate that the sale of the house is quick, this is not the case. Most short sales take double the time of a normal sale.
Even if you and the seller agree on a price, there could be an issue with the price once an appraisal is done. Depending on the market, short sales and foreclosures can drastically bring down the price of a property if no other comparable sales have taken place. A mortgage company will not loan you the money for an amount that is lower then the appraisal, so something will have to be done to make adjustments.
If you are looking for auction and short-sale homes, don't stick to one prospect. Aim at several homes so that you won't be left hanging dry if one deal falls through. There are many parties in these transactions, so much can go wrong. It is estimated that only about a fifth of attempted short sales are completed.
As stated in the beginning of this article, purchasing a home is a major investment, and the last thing you want to do is invest more money than your budget allows. Having your home inspected prior to the sale can save you from unseen costly repairs. Apply the advice from this article to ensure you don't end up investing your money into a money pit.
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