Powered by Max Banner Ads 

House hunting can be a brutal affair, particularly if you don’t know what you can afford before hand. No your price range in advance and you can avoid looking at really nice homes you’ll never get. .

Mortgage – Monthly Payments

The biggest costs associated with owning a home is the mortgage. Unless you are filthy rich, you are committing to apportioning a significant amount of your monthly income to that dream home. In evaluating whether you can afford the mortgage, you need to consider the difference between the mortgage payment and what you are currently paying.

If it is a significant step up, will you be able to pay it now and in a few years? Under no condition should you assume you will be making more money in the future. Base everything on what you are making now.

When considering monthly mortgage payments, you also need to factor in the type of mortgage. Interest rates have been at historical lows for some time, but are starting to creep up. If you are taking the plunge on an adjustable mortgage, will you be able to make the payments if the interest rates increase over the next few years? In coming to a conclusion on this, you should assume the rates going up to the caps indicated in the mortgage for the relevant period of time. Again, you don’t want to get stuck in a financial bind because you let your eyes overrule you brains when selecting a home.

Other Expenses

The pride of home ownership comes with a few extra costs. In gauging affordability, many home buyers fail to take into account the twin evils of property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. The expenses associated with each of these necessary items can be surprisingly high. In some states, property taxes can be an ugly surprise the first year of home ownership. Much like taxes, they are collected in a lump sum and can be thousands of dollars. If you fail to plan for them, your finances can become unbelievably strained.

Buying a home is absolutely the best move you can make if you’re renting. Just make sure you can meet those payments without losing sleep.

_{»crosslinked«}

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Situated in Atlanta, home to the famous Coca Cola Company is where Candler Park is. It is spread across 55acres of lush greenery and has beautifully landscaped garden making it one of the central attractions of this township. Candler Park Real estate owes its name to Asa Candler, the man who donated the land to this city. This park offers tennis court, basketball court, and even an outdoor pool for people to spend their leisure time and rejoice in. And the one other unique feature in the park is its 9hole golf course, which winds its scenic way through the East side’s pleasant residential neighborhoods. Even though this park is not the quietest place, it is still the most preferred, for the entire family can spend time and do something they like.

A place that will make you realize the true value of bonding and family values is what makes Candler Park Real estate so special. People here live in complete harmony and are close knit, the community society meets often and makes sure the lives of the residents in the town are protected and the surroundings preserved.

Candler Park Real Estate is the name adopted by the area surrounding the park and it is filled with houses that have small and large sized families. It is an ideal location to put down ones roots for it is just 5minutes from Downtown Atlanta, and is home to many talented artists, some of the most popular shops, bars and everything eclectic. It is a family friendly neighborhood that focuses entirely on livability and maintaining the community togetherness. Infact the Candler Park Real Estate has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places including portions of Lake Claire, which borders the town.

The homes in this neighborhood are filled with the right mix of historical significance and modernity. Built based on individual specifications, these homes are a haven fitted with all the latest amenities and comforts. Some of the other houses in Candler Park Real Estate have tailor made front porches that look out onto the quiet streets or maybe to the lake giving it a serene feel. A perfect location to relax and enjoy your morning cup of coffee over the newspaper, or maybe go for a walk along the quaint tree lined streets. The Candler park community celebrates The Candler park Fall Festival every year around October where one finds all the action happening. There are over hundred vendors, some of the local musicians, road race for the residents, some games and entertainment for the children. This festival also includes a tour of the beautiful homes in this area, a great way to celebrate life and get together as one big family.

While in this town, one would find life much easier as the MARTA station is just a short walk away and all the stores and restaurants are easily accessible. A perfect home for newly wed couples and families with children is what Candler Park Real estate is.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Over 50% of homes listed for sale do not sell during their listing period, in some markets its’ as high as 65%. The dirty secret in the real estate business is that most homes don’t sell on the first go around. Blame the agent blame the home owner both are at fault. 7 steps below will give you the best chance of your home selling first time out.

1)Price it Right – Far and away above any other consideration is the price. The worst home in the worst area at the right price will sell. Get your head out of the clouds, as a seller it’s just another house.

2)Hire the Right Agent – Interview 2 to 3 agents, hire the one who uses the most tools to market your home. The I’m No 1 and pat their self on the back real estate designations are not going to get your home sold.

3)Team Approach to Selling – Agents who use a team approach to their business have the right attitude towards real estate. Today’s single agent actually does 14 different jobs in the home selling and buying process. A team can spread the work load, specialize, and has less chance of dropping the ball (you and your house).

4)Advertising Systems – Where, when and how often will your home be advertised in newspapers and home magazines. We know that about 90 to 95% of calls on ads reject the house after receiving all the information. But it is a fact that advertising especially using a 800# call capture systems with a compelling ad will draw buyer prospects for your agents’ team to work with.

5)Signs and Sign Riders – signs with 800# call capture number. Show your agents web page address. Web page must have free reports and other areas for buyers to register. Sign riders offer compelling reasons for buyers to call the 800#, zero down, special financing, low down payment, Buy this house and I’ll buy yours for cash are some that work well.

6)Open Houses – One of the least effective ways to market a home. Saturday or Sunday afternoon for 3-4 hours you go to the mall and your agent hangs out watching TV. How about an open house tour 5 to 6 homes open the same day for 15 to 20 minutes each, the group goes from house to house creating an auction like affect and get to you stay home and see the show.

7)Visual Tours & Photos By using visual tours and multiple photos your agent will get your home placed higher on websites like Realtor.com. Almost 80% of home buyers start their search on the internet it is best for you to be at the top of the list. You can also email your home to friends, neighbors, co-workers, hand-out C/D’s at open house tours. Your agent will also send these out to the top agents in your area.

Agents with multiple approaches to the marketing of your home will work best for you. They are internet savvy have a team and support staff that can handle the various tasks involved with finding the right buyer for your home.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

With so many potential buyers viewing property on the Internet, first impressions are essential. If your house doesn’t stand out the next listing is only a click away. A great exterior will not only stop a surfer, it will get a drive-by buyer through your front door. Don’t underestimate the power of curb appeal! The front of your house is its calling card, and it’s up to you to make sure it’s giving the right number.

First take care of the obvious: Poor exterior maintenance will have potential buyers wondering what else you didn’t keep up. Clean moss off the roof and plants out of gutters; wash the windows and pressure wash dirty decks or siding. Clear weeds growing from the front walk. Take care of the details. If your driveway has faded, it’s time to re-seal it. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter – the property should look well taken care of.

Spruce up your front entrance. You may want to change your front door for something more eye-catching, perhaps engraved wood or one with decorative glass work. Changing the door’s hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Placing planters near the front door can add a pleasing visual as well as contributing fragrance to further the sensory experience. A front doormat can also be welcoming touch.

Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. If you can afford to paint the house, look for examples of eye-catching color combinations in design magazines, online and in your city. If you can’t afford to paint the whole building, just do the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.

Landscaping is another opportunity to increase the value of your property. You could hire a professional, but just adding a few shrubs and flowering bushes should do the trick. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.

You can ensure potential buyers notice your home just by giving the exterior a little extra attention. Remember, your traffic and often your selling price will increase with your home’s curb appeal.

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

People work tirelessly to generate interest in a home they are trying to sell. Once they get an offer, however, they often are not sure how to evaluate it.

Evaluating the Offer for Your Home

You have read every book under the sun. You have read more internet articles than you can imagine. You have cleaned up your home, made repairs and put out your marketing. At this point, you feel like you are an expert in the process. Suddenly, you get an offer on the property. Now what?

The first thing to do is relax. Do not make the mistake of rushing to evaluate it. An offer is just that – an offer. It has contingencies and all kinds of little quarks in it. Although you have lived in the home for a lengthy period of time, you need to realize you are now in a business transaction. Once you have caught your breath, it is time to consider the offer.

The first issue is always the offered purchase price. The price will never be what you are asking for in the listing. It will be below the number, perhaps shockingly lower. At this point, you may feel the urge to pick up the phone and give the buyer a piece of your mind. Don’t! This is a business transaction. The buyer is merely throwing out a bit of bait to see if you are going to bite. If you do, they get a great deal. If you do not, they will evaluate any counter offer you make. If you do not counter, they can always submit a higher offer. Remember, this is a business transaction, not an affront to your pride!

A second issue concerns items in the home the buyer may want included in the sell. I have seen brawls break out over a lamp that would make a biker blush. Maybe that lamp is an heirloom that you can’t part with, but it probably is not. Only you can decide how valuable it is and whether it is worth losing the sale, but try to be objective and coherent when making the decision. Yes, it has been a loyal lamp, but really now…

After this, you need to evaluate any additional costs associated with the offer. The buyer may want allowances for painting and so on. It is usually fairly easy to bypass your emotions on this one, but you need to make some basic financial calculations. Take the offered price and subtract all costs for the transactions. One you have the net revenue figure, compare it to the bottom line number you decided on when you first decided to sell. This will tell you if it is an offer you should accept.

Homeowners often get so focused on the selling process, that they are caught off guard when an offer actually rolls in. Stick to your guns on your bottom line and you should be fine.