How to avoid buying bad real estate

June 19th, 2009

American Home Guides is full of useful home buying advise and tips. You can learn the tricks o the trade when it comes to buying a new home. Don’t miss out on the valuable advice waiting for you.

Ask any experienced residential real estate attorney about his or her most difficult case. The answer will probably involve a “bad house.” While not exactly a legal term, a bad house is one where the buyer alleges the seller knew about a serious structural defect, but failed to disclose it to the buyer before purchase.

Proving the seller knew of the undisclosed defect, which the buyer usually discovers shortly after the purchase, can be very difficult. Since it’s human nature to look for someone to blame, a home buyer usually looks first to their seller, then to the realty agent, and finally to the professional inspector if one was involved.

But buying a truly bad house can usually be avoided by following the correct steps. Even brand-new houses have their defects. A local building inspector’s approval is no guarantee. However, whether a new or resale house is involved, home buyers can minimize their chances of making a serious mistake.

HOME SELLER DISCLOSURES ARE NOT GUARANTEED ACCURATE. Many states now require home sellers to provide written disclosures of known defects. If the seller lied and failed to disclose a defect, which the buyer can prove the seller knew about, the seller is liable to the buyer for damages.

Incidentally, the easiest way to prove what the seller knew is usually to ask the neighbors. They often know as much about a neighboring house as the seller knew.

For example, shortly after I bought my current home, one of my neighbors came over to get acquainted. After a few pleasantries, he said, “I suppose the sellers told you about………………..

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American Home Guides Makes Finding New Homes in Chicago, IL Easy

June 16th, 2009

Chicago, Illinois may have lost one resident to Washington, D.C., but there are plenty of people still looking to relocate to the “Windy City.” American home Guide has collected the most sought after properties in the Chicago area and complied them into a simple to use search database. Search for a new home in Chicago by selecting the criteria that matters most to you.

Its easy to do. Search by location. Get the right neighborhood. Browse popular Chicago neighborhoods like Aurora, Elgin, Lake Zurich, Oswgo, Woodstock, Zion and numerous other new home constrcuction communities in Chicago, IL.

Want even more choices? With a Rapid Request form American Home Guides, you can search homes for sale not only by their location but the type of home you desire, the price range you are looking in and when your desired move date is. Its so simple and easy that you get all the information sent to you. No need to do all the searching on your own, when everything is all listed right here. Now is the time to have American Home Guide find the home you have been looking for.

Real Estate Market Trends Say “Buy Now!”

June 12th, 2009

American Home Guides has the best real estate listing across the United States. We also have the inside track on what the American Real Estate Market is Doing. AHG’s Mortgage section features an up to date look at today’s trends and why it is time to buy your new home.

The continuous drop in housing prices has kept buyers at bay, waiting for the market to hit the ground before investing. While there are never any guarantees with market trends, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are trends suggesting now is the time to buy.

The American real estate market is finding rising home sales in most sectors of the country. Overall, April, 2009 saw the highest increase in seven months of home sales in the United States, according to Realty Times. This increase is reflected by a 6.7% increase in home sales across the US.

The Northeast up 33%, the Midwest up 10%, the West up 2%, and the one market showing no growth was the South which is down only .2%. Overall these factors indicate that an overall increase has started to register in home sales nationally. This also makes three months of increase.

Another factor indicating now is the time to buy is the fact that…………………………

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Common Myths About Working With Real Estate Agents

June 9th, 2009

Home Buying Myth Number 1

  • I’ll get the best deal on the house if I call the agent listed on the For Sale sign.
  • That agent represents the seller and is contractually bound to get the best deal for the seller. It doesn’t mean the agent can’t work with you in a fair and professional manner, but it does mean you should not disclose confidential information to the agent.

    Bottom Line
    If you tell a seller’s agent the top dollar you will pay for a house, the agent must pass that on to the seller. Take time to learn about agent duties and loyalties before you start home shopping.

    Home Buying Myth Number 2

  • The agent told me I had to sign a Buyer Agency agreement before he would work with me, so I did, and now I’m unhappy with the relationship.
  • You might know you are a good match with an agent on the very first day you meet, but what if you aren’t sure? If an agent asks you to sign an agency agreement before you feel comfortable about it, try one of these alternatives:

    Ask the agent to work under a verbal buyer agency agreement for a short time. Some states allow this, giving you time to become familiar with the agent before you sign a formal agreement.

    Ask the agent to write a buyer agency agreement that covers a very short period, a day or a week.

    Find out if the agent can offer a non-exclusive buyer agency agreement. The agent would be your buyer’s agent, but you would not be tied exclusively to her.

    Let the agent continue to be a seller’s agent–just don’t disclose confidential information.
    Bottom Line
    If the agent will only work with you if you immediately sign a lengthy buyer agency agreement, you might be better off seeking another agent.

    Home Buying Myth Number 3

  • I can find more homes for sale by calling lots of agents.
  • Maybe–but maybe not. If you are home shopping in a specific area, and the agencies belong to Multiple Listing Services, it means they all have access to the same properties.

    Ask agents what areas they cover. Small-town agents might work a multi-county area. Agents in a city might restrict themselves to certain neighborhoods or subdivisions.

    If you sign agreements with more than one buyer’s agent, make sure……………………………..

    To read this complete article, Please visit American Home Guides.

    The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

    June 5th, 2009

    The ripples of a pebble on the water’s surface are evidence of its actions. The ruptured area radiates with proof of the rock’s exploits. Credit works in a similar manner. It radiates as proof of your financial actions entered into for all to see. It leaves a tide of effects on the surface of your financial future that can either help or hinder the home buying process. If your ripples mark the struggle to maintain a positive credit score, there are 10 ways to smooth out your credit in a relatively short amount of time.

    1. Know your score

    Check your credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies and make sure there are no inaccuracies or out-dated information listed. Ensure that all closed accounts are listed as such and the credit limit on your cards is reported correctly. Higher spending limits mean a higher rating for you.

    2. Pay your bills on time

    As obvious as this seems, late payments are the most common piece of negative information on a credit report. Make sure to pay at least the minimum payment each month to your mortgage, car loan or credit card account. Many card companies even offer automatic email reminders.

    3. Keep credit card balances down

    Though a high spending limit looks good on your credit profile, actually using more than 35% of it does not. Regardless of how high you can go and how devoutly you pay, try to keep those balances low.

    4. Don’t close unused accounts

    Credit history counts considerably towards your score and healthy, long-standing accounts are important. If you have credit cards you don’t use, put them out of reach and reap the benefits of a long-term relationship.

    However, it is a good idea to use those cards every six months for a small purchase ($5 is plenty), because the credit card granter will often close your account if you have lengthy periods of inactivity. Mark a “Use all my credit cards to buy a candy bar” day on your calendar, and then be sure to pay the balance off right away. This will keep your accounts current and raise your credit score.

    5. Only apply for needed credit

    Resist the temptation of the 20% discount offer if you open a department store credit card. Unless it’s a big-ticket item that you’ll be paying over time, using existing cards for your purchases is a better idea. Remember that every time you apply for credit of any kind, an inquiry goes to one of the credit-reporting agencies and can stay on your report for as long as two years. Multiple inquiries in a short period can seriously reduce your score.

    To read complete article, please visit AmericanHomeGuide.com