siteeditor

DEAL YOURSELF A WINNING HAND Congratulations!  After a careful search, you and your REALTOR® have found the right property for you and your family.  But don't uncork the champagne yet.  There is still some negotiating to do before you close the deal. YOU want the best possible terms and the SELLERS wants to get the

MAKE A SHOPPING LIST Deciding on a price range is a good start for any home search, but evaluating your wants and needs in advance is the key to a shorter and more productive search.  A realistic idea of which features you absolutely must have and the ones you can live without will help you

FINANCING - DOWN PAYMENT, MORTGAGE & CLOSING COSTS Calculate a Workable Home-Buying Budget If you are thinking of buying a home, don't start shopping until you know exactly how much you can afford.  You can find your price range by calculating three amounts:     the amount of cash you can put toward the purchase -

BUYING VS. RENTING With today's interest rates, mortgage payments are often less than monthly rent payments, making home ownership more attractive than ever.  Instead of using your hard-earned money to pay the landlord's mortgage, you can use the money to buy a home of your own. Buying a home make sound financial sense and the

IS RECREATIONAL PROPERTY RIGHT FOR YOU? More and more people - especially "Baby Boomers" - are looking at recreation property ownership as a perfect way of finding peace and tranquility. Studies show that boomers are the fastest-growing group of recreation property owners.  The need to find that special spot away from it all - plus today's

FIRST TIME BUYING - WHAT CAN YOU AFFORD? Here are some ways to help you determine how much you can afford. Set a Maximum Price Range - To determine your "afford-ability" price range, you must calculate two amounts: the amount of cash you can afford to put toward the purchase (the down payment) and the maximum

FIRST TIME BUYING- WHAT KIND OF HOME DO YOU NEED? To keep mortgage payments within their means, most first-time buyers purchase what is commonly called a "starter home".  It is just what it says - a way of getting started in long-term real estate investment. To match the home you buy to your pocketbook you

FIRST TIME BUYING? So you've decided to take the big leap and purchase your first home.  Congratulations! Buying a home is never based on one specific factor; instead, it is a balance of many requirements - things like family size, location, income and lifestyle. The first thing you need to do is decide exactly what