How many houses does the average 1st time buyer look at before making a purchase?
466049
When I work with first time buyers I go through a buyer consultation with them to determine the five most important features of their next home while determining other important features.\n\nI'll typically preview between 10-20 homes depending on inventory and report back.\n\nFrom that set of homes, we will see somewhere between 6-10 properties in person.\n\nMore than 10 homes creates a certain amount of confusion as homes seem to run together. \n\nTry not to see more than 3-4 homes consecutively, or 6-8 homes in a day.
1156784
Not at all....I bought my first house when I was 19....it was really easy....the mortgage company takes care of most of the paper work....
428438
Let me assure you that NOT all REALTORS state they are number 1- Ask the various agents you interview, for a print out (probably from the local multiple listing service) of their sales and their agencies sales of the last several months - year, within your price range.  Ask for a marketing plan, where your home will be advertised, etc. - and if someone from their company will actually be there to show your home, rather than accessing via a lock box, with a sign-up sheet and stack of brochures.
856189
have you checked on prior sales and similar homes currently on the market in your area?  That would be the first place to start....
1031163
In order to be successful, you have to get them prior to them being put on the MLS.  Once they are on the MLS they are at a price that doesn't make a good investment.  The prices are usually too high considering the amount of work that needs to be done.  The other reason to get them before they hit the market is that there are tons of people trying their hand at the very same thing, not really knowing what they are doing and thus, driving up the prices.\n\nSo, the question becomes how do we find these homes tyo flip before they hit the market?\n\nThe foreclosure market and doing short sales with the owners lenders.  I could go on and on about this topic.  My best recommendation is to buy a book on foreclosures and short sales.  This is by far the best way.  It takes a lot of hard work and determination to succeed in this arena, but well worth the efforts.
747202
First time buyers sometimes qualify for no or low downpayments, but the interest rate depends on the lender.\n\nBeing single and female doesn't make as much difference as how much you can afford to pay every month, your credit record, the selling price of the property and the value of the property.\n\nThe best deals on financing occur when the value of the property is 80% of the amount financed.  This is usually done with a 20% down payment, but if you can't afford that now, you can always refinance later after you build equity and credit.\n\nBottom Line:  Find a realestate agent or loan agent you can trust (referrals are the best way) and get their help.  They are professionals and you don't have to pay them directly out of pocket.  They earn their money as a percent of the value of the deal.  No deal, no charge.\n\nGood luck!
160491
I am actually a mortgage consultant. You can goto my site if you would like, and enter your info, and I can email you with any info. But for now, to make a mortgage affordable, put down as much as you can. The more down, the less the payments will be. Most people cannot put down 20% these days, which is fine. It is very common to do two mortgages, one for 80% of the sale price, and then another for the rest minus down payment, using two over one that is more than 80% removes PMI, which is Private mortgage insurance, which is almost always required for a loan above 80% of the value of the home. Also, with an adjustable rate mortgage, like a 3/1, which means the rate is fixed for 3 years at a low rate and then can fluxuate once a year after that, that is good for first time buyers. Or even a 5/1 , working the same way. That way, you get a lower rate, and if you move within 5 years great, whihc is the average for first time home buyers, and if you decide to stay, you can always refinance, when the rates are low again. If you want some more information, just goto my site, and I will email you back. In the box down the bottom, make sure you let me know that you got the link from here. I cannot help in all states, but I can def. help you out informationally.
244188
to own several houses in various shapes and sizes
1173499
It's a question everyone would like to have answered :)\n\nUnderstand that in any real estate market there is a wide range of prices. The questions that you should be asking yourself is, what is the most important feature you need in a house? For example, if you have a family, is it a school? neighborhood? If you don't have a family, would your commute to work be a huge factor? Prices will be lower in "less desireable" locations. Case in point, houses by the beach will sell far more than comparable houses further inland. Size of the house of course matters as well, do you want a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom house? or a smaller 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house?\n\nI agree that a foreclosure purchase is a good idea. As interest rates rise, previous buyers who are on Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) or Interest Only Mortgages will be dropping like flies. And with the increasing supply of housing, it would be a good time to shop foreclosures as market prices fall and lower foreclosure prices even more. However, keep in mind, purchasing a foreclosure house does have it's restrictions. If I recall correctly, you must live in it for a number of years and it can't be used as income property. You need to be pre-APPROVED not pre-qualified for a loan in order to participate in the bidding proccess.\n\nI hope this helps. I recommend getting a book or two on buying real estate or talk to a licensed real estate agent before making your move.
1072822
Check your Note for the 2nd mortgage you're trying to refinance carefully.  Many 2nds have prepayment penalties!!!!  That would make any changes probably not worth it, as they're usually somewhere around 6 months worth of interest in the first year.\n\nI would say, if you qualified for the first and 2nd to begin with you could probably qualify again, but I'm assuming your financial information has changed in the month since you purchased and this may not be the case.\n\nDid you purchase the house for under appraised value?  It would be extremely rare for a house to appreciate in the first month, although some areas of the country are moving up quite fast.\n\nI don't know if there is any good answer.  The best thing you can do is go back to  your original loan agent and ask.  It can never hurt and they're always willing to try to make things work and make their commissions!
785081
It kind of depends what  your goal is. If you're trying to get a one-time list for a specific location, the first answerer is right - the deed registrar is your best best. \n\nIf you're trying to get a list of new buyers (usually called New Mover's List) for areas in order to market or contact that group of people via mail, then there are several companies from whom you can purchase these lists. Here are some links:http://www.newmovernames.com/, http://www.brandnewmovers.com/, and http://www.melissadata.com/lists.html. Best of luck!
77751
There is so much to do.  We just went through it for the 3rd time.  buying a house isn't a fun thing.  it is stressful but rewarding in the long run if you do your homework.  \n\nYou don't need to have a realestate agent.  We bought all three homes without using our own personal agent and we also sold both of our homes without any agent.  What you DO need to have, is a good lawyer to handle all the paperwork and contracts.  ( ours cost about $800) small investment but very worth it!!\n\nI would start looking for a home AT LEAST 3 to 4 months in advance of when you actually want to be moved in.  The hunting part can take 2 to 3 months even longer if your picky/ or there isn't much to choose from.  Then comes the closing process.  This is the time you get the mortgage loan, the title, the home inspection, and all other legal stuff out of the way.  Finally you will be ready to close on the home.  This is the day that was set by the bank, you and the seller for the ownership to change hands.  \n\nYou will need to have enough money in your bank to cover the down payment you will be putting - along with closing costs.  the average closing costs are about $5,000 to $8,000.  So you need to be ready for that.  \n\nI would suggest not to get in too deep. don't go for interest only loans, they are a bad idea.  If you can't afford a house with a regular fixed rate mortgage you should probably hold off until you are finacially ready.  \n\nThere is just so much more than what I posted above.  If you are serious about buying a home - you should start researching it many months in advance so that you will not be in over your head and get taken advantage of. \n\nGood luck
1168787
Depends on what type of properties your looking into. If you want to shoot me an Email on whether your looking into a mixed-use property, hotel, multi-family, apt. complex, auto repair shop, etc... I will be happy to give you an idea.
33208
I would start now.  It is a good idea to keep an eye on the market before you ACTUALLY are going to go for it. \n\nWe just did this - We sold our old house.  (We started looking at homes in end of May beginning June.  We saw a few we like and ALOT that weren't exactly what we were looking for.  they needed too much tweeking so we kept looking.   \n\nIn July we put in an offer - they didn't take it.  So we moved on.  Then in August we put in another offer and they wanted to go too high so we moved on.  Then we finally found the house we are in and it was September that we put the offer in.  We closed on the house and moved in - in Oct  (three months ago)  We had time to really look and not feel rushed and also to know that we were getting a good deal.  If you aren't activly looking  ( I mean every single weekend) and watching your local market where you want to buy into - every single day - you won't be as prepared to buy.  So I say now is the perfect time to start looking.  Just don't jump on the first thing that comes along - be patient - Sometimes you have to let a few deals go to see what is really ment to be.  \n\nGreat site to watch the MLS  (multiple listings service)  is Zip realty.  they are free - you just have to sign up, they give you a few info emails - but the rest of the time you can hang out on that site and just watch all the houses in your area of search.   You can save specific searches in your "My zip" area and go to them each day to see what new houses are on the market and if any have lowered their asking prices.  It is invaluable!! \n\nI litterally logged onto my "Myzip" every single day for July, August & September - It was probably the most useful tool.\n\nBTW - We didn't use a realestate agent either.  We watched the listings ourself and called to make our own appointments.  We never used the zip realty guy that was in our area.  You don't have to if you don't want to.
694953
I'm not an expert,but the buyers had the option to have an expert appraisal done on the home before the final sale, I'd say they are out of luck, don't go spending your hard earned money on a lawyer, ask your R.E. agent, he/she should be able to answer that question, or better still ask your Bank Mtg Mgr they see all kinds of stuff.
202717
it depends on where you are looking to buy but when you do a search do it for mls listings for that area , mls are multiple listing service  listings so it will show for more then one sales companys homes like in alabama you can go to www.alamls.com and it shows you listings for more then one sales agent or company
1083069
More sellers than buyers?