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Buying Home Purchasing Dream House

buying home purchasing Buying Home Purchasing Dream House

1. HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M READY TO BUY A HOME

You can find out by asking yourself some questions:

Do I have a steady source of income (usually a job) Have I been employed on a regular basis for the last 2-3 years Is my current income reliable
Do I have a good record of paying my bills
Do I have few outstanding long-term debts, like car payments
Do I have money saved for a down payment
Do I have the ability to pay a mortgage every month, plus additional costs
If you can answer "yes" to these questions, you are probably ready to buy your own home.

2. HOW DO I BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BUYING A HOME

Start by thinking about your situation. Are you ready to buy a home How much can you afford in a monthly mortgage payment (see Question 4 for help) How much space do you need What areas of town do you like After you answer these questions, make a "To Do" list and start doing casual research. Talk to friends and family, drive through neighborhoods, and look in the "Homes" section of the newspaper.

3. HOW DOES PURCHASING A HOME COMPARE WITH RENTING

The two don't really compare at all. The one advantage of renting is being generally free of most maintenance responsibilities. But by renting, you lose the chance to build equity, take advantage of tax benefits, and protect yourself against rent increases. Also, you may not be free to decorate without permission and may be at the mercy of the landlord for housing.

Owning a home has many benefits. When you make a mortgage payment, you are building equity. And that's an investment. Owning a home also qualifies you for tax breaks that assist you in dealing with your new financial responsibilities- like insurance, real estate taxes, and upkeep- which can be substantial. But given the freedom, stability, and security of owning your own home, they are worth it.

4. HOW DOES THE LENDER DECIDE THE MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT THAT CAN AFFORD

The lender considers your debt-to-income ratio, which is a comparison of your gross (pre-tax) income to housing and non-housing expenses. Non-housing expenses include such long-term debts as car or student loan payments, alimony, or child support. According to the FHA,monthly mortgage payments should be no more than 29% of gross income, while the mortgage payment, combined with non-housing expenses, 4 should total no more than 41% of income. The lender also considers cash available for down payment and closing costs, credit history, etc. when determining your maximum loan amount.

5. HOW DO I SELECT THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT

Start by asking family and friends if they can recommend an agent. Compile a list of several agents and talk to each before choosing one. Look for an agent who listens well and understands your needs, and whose judgment you trust. The ideal agent knows the local area well and has resources and contacts to help you in your search. Overall, you want to choose an agent that makes you feel comfortable and can provide all the knowledge and services you need.


AFP

DJ DATA SNAP: US Jul Housing Starts Plunge As Expected
Onet.pl, Poland - 5 hours ago
Housing starts decreased 11.0% last month to a seasonally adjusted 965000 annual rate, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. ...
Housing starts dip to lowest level since March '91 Forbes
US Housing Starts Fall to 17-Year Low, Permits Drop (Update1) Bloomberg
Single Family Housing Starts Hit 17-Year Low Housing Wire
MarketWatch - AXcess News
all 355 news articles


US July housing starts fall 11% to a 965000 unit rate, lowest ...
Forbes, NY - 4 hours ago
The Commerce Department said US July housing starts fell 11% to a 965000 annual rate, the lowest level since March 1991. Economists polled by Thomson's IFR ...
European government bonds rise as markets fail to see credit ... Forbes
all 8 news articles


Sabah

Housing Starts in US Probably Dropped to 17-Year Low in July
Bloomberg - 13 hours ago
Housing starts plunged 9.9 percent to an annual rate of 960000 after a 1.066 million pace the prior month, according to the median forecast of 77 economists ...
Home building at 17-year low CNNMoney.com
The Week Ahead TheStreet.com
Markets May Look to Sustain Buying Momentum on Strength Among ... Trading Markets (press release)
MarketWatch - Bloomberg
all 127 news articles


The Associated Press

Midday News Recap: US Housing Starts Fall, US Core PPI Soars
CEP News, Canada - 2 hours ago
(CEP News) - The release of US housing starts for July showed a continued downward trend, while producer prices rose more than expected in both the headline ...
PPI Surges 1.2%, Housing Starts Plummet 11% HULIQ (press release)
Stocks on the decline...PPI spike...Housing starts slide ... KXMC
Producers Price Increase 1.2 Percent In July; New Housing Starts ... Gant Daily
RTT News - CEP News
all 688 news articles


Housing starts seen lower in July
Reuters - 7 hours ago
By Ellen Freilich NEW YORK (Reuters) - Housing starts are estimated to have slipped in July as builders try to cut inventory to counter weak demand. ...


Housing starts dip to lowest level since March '91
The Associated Press - 5 hours ago
Wall Street economists forecast that housing starts would drop to a pace of 950000. Still, the latest housing figures continue to show a badly battered ...


CEP News

US Housing Starts Fall Less than Expected in July
CEP News, Canada - 5 hours ago
(CEP News) - US housing starts fell in July, but came in above expectations at 965k, representing a month-over-month decrease of 11.0%, according to data ...
You are here: Home ยป Drop in US Housing Starts Due to Inflated ... CEP News
all 3 news articles


Wholesale prices up...Housing starts down...Obama hits back ...
KXMC, ND - 3 hours ago
AP WASHINGTON (AP) The Labor Department reports wholesale inflation shot up 1.2 percent in July, more than twice what economists had expected. ...


Housing Starts at All-Time Low
WCTV, FL - 39 minutes ago
Reporter: AP Mobile ~ Now local news, weather, sports, movies, stocks and other cities throughout the country on your cell phone or PDA. ...


US Fixed Income Markets Mixed Following PPI, Housing Starts
ForexTV.com, NY - 4 hours ago
(CEP News) - Higher-than-expected US PPI and housing starts prints are helping to push bond prices down on Tuesday morning.Producer price inflation in the ...

.housing-starts. - Google News

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