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Avoid these common slipups to sell your home fast and for top dollar

By Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com

Don’t think spring is the only time you’ll be able to make a sale — people buy homes during every season.

Mistake #10: Waiting until spring to sell

Sure, spring is traditionally the busiest time for real estate sales, but people buy homes 365 days a year. Plus, off-peak season buyers tend to be more serious, and fewer homes on the market means less competition for sellers.

Don’t be daunted by the thought of selling during the summer, winter or fall. Instead, draw in buyers by playing up your home’s seasonal amenities.

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Avoid these blunders that homebuyers commonly make

By Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com

Pre-approval lets you know how much you can afford before you start shopping for a home.

Mistake #10: Not getting pre-approved before house hunting

Why get your hopes up looking at $500,000 homes, when you can really only afford a $300,000 home? Before you start house hunting, narrow down your price range by getting pre-approved. Shop for a lender or mortgage broker you can trust. The mortgage pro will review your credit, income, assets and debts, and recommend a mortgage with monthly payments that fit your budget. The result is a good faith estimate, a document that spells out the likely terms of your loan, including the interest rate and closing costs. Not only does this let you know how much house you can afford, it also lets sellers know that you’re serious about buying.

via Top 10 Home Buying Mistakes That Can Cost You : HGTV FrontDoor Real Estate.

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Prices bottom, mortgage rates increase, and foreclosures move upstream

By LUKE MULLINS

Posted: December 21, 2009

Is 2010 the year to buy a house? It certainly looks that way: After a steep run-up in prices during the first half of the decade, home values have plummeted back to 2003 levels. Fixed mortgage rates are sitting near record lows. And the foreclosure epidemic

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Ilyce has compiled a checklist to be used by home buyers, and in particular, first time home buyers when looking for a new home. While her best selling book 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask outlines many of the items in this checklist. It’s good to have a handy list when shopping for a home. You can buy Ilyce’s book at most bookstores and at most online bookstores including BarnesAndNoble.com, Borders.com and Amazon.com.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a home buying checklist? Something you could stick in your pocket that would remind you to ask all the right questions and make a smart home buying move?

As we count down the final few weeks to take advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and $6,500 long-term homeowner tax credit, it’s helpful to have a checklist all home buyers can turn to.

via Real Estate Advice: Home Buyer Checklist For 2010 | ThinkGlink.

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