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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.


Japan June housing starts rise 0.6 pct yr/yr -govt
Reuters
TOKYO July 30 (Reuters) - Housing starts in Japan rose 0.6 percent in June from a year earlier, data from the land ministry showed on Friday, ...
Japan June Housing Starts +0.6% Y/Y Vs May -4.6% Y/YIMarketnews.com
Japan: Housing Starts rise 0.6% in June, below expectationsNASDAQ
Japanese Housing Starts Rise In JuneDaily Markets
ecPulse -NIKKEI.com
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LP Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results
MarketWatch (press release)
-- Total sales for the second quarter of $447 million were up 67 percent versus a year ago, led by higher OSB prices while US housing starts increased 12 ...

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DuPont CEO: Housing Starts Could Double
CNBC
Housing starts are unlikely to reach 2 million or more, levels last seen in 2006, but Kullman said starts could rise from less than half a million now to ...

and more »


Housing starts rise 28 percent
San Antonio Express
With bank lending stuck in Scrooge mode and uncertainty lingering in the economy, San Antonio home builders aren't yet ...



msnbc.com

Housing Starts Decline
Wall Street Journal
US builders held back their shovels and cut housing starts again in June, but a sign emerged of a turnaround in ...
Housing Starts Fall, Permits Offer Ray of HopeABC News
Housing Starts Down 5% in JuneTheStreet.com
US housing starts plunge 5.0 percent in JuneAFP
Financial Times -DailyFinance -The Atlantic
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RTT News

Masco's Q2 Cabinet Sales Miss; Sees Lower Housing Starts
Barron's (blog)
The company lowered its outlook for US housing starts to an annualized rate of 575000 to 625000, down from 600000 to 700000, which is consistent with the ...
Masco Q2 profit tops view, sees challenging second halfReuters
Masco Corporation Reports Second Quarter ResultsPR Newswire (press release)
Masco Profits FallZacks.com
RTT News
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Boston Globe

Ahead of the Bell: Housing Starts
BusinessWeek
Homebuilders are expected to have scaled back on construction last month as the economy remained weak and the outlook for the housing market dimmed. ...
Single-family housing starts flat in June. Builder stocks combat lows.AXcess News
NAHB Homebuilders Survey Released at 10:00 AM Monday; Housing Starts at 8:30 ...Subprime Blogger (blog)
The Day Ahead: Multifamily DivergenceTheStreet.com (subscription)
FavStocks (blog) -ABC News -USA Today
all 832 news articles »


Housing Starts in US Slide More Than Forecast as Credit Ends
BusinessWeek
July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Housing starts fell in June to the lowest level in eight months after the expiration of a US government tax incentive caused sales to ...
US Housing Starts Drop to Lowest Level Since OctoberBloomberg

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Benzinga

Treasury, dollar up after housing starts
MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Treasury prices remained higher and the US dollar pared gains on Tuesday after a report showed US housing starts fell 5% in June ...
US Two-Year Yield at Third Record Low in Four Days on OutlookBusinessWeek
TREASURIES-US debt prices rise as stocks sinkReuters
Treasurys gain on weak earnings, housing dataCNNMoney

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Real Estate News: Housing Starts Decline, Morgan Stanley Ponders Property
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Housing Starts Decline: US builders held back their shovels as housing starts fell 5% in June, but a sign emerged of a turnaround in ...

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Google News

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