Real estate The First 3 Steps to Home Buying

How to determine which home is right for you, find that home, hire a real estate agent, find a lender, get a credit report, choose a loan, write an offer, etc. There are so many step that is included in the home-buying process, and if you’re a newbie in this field, you would probably commit a lot of mistakes that would most likely lead to foreclosures in the future. So, take your time to read and digest the initial steps in buying your new house.


1. Research and Education. Read through the various steps listed in the article to get an idea of how the purchasing process works. Spend some time learning the terminology associated with the home buying process especially the mortgage terms, since that is where first-time buyers often get confused. Be knowledgeable with the various types of mortgages available to you. Instead of just learning the names of the various mortgages, you should find out how they work.


2. Establish Your Budget. Establish a home-buying budget for yourself. This should happen before you start talking to lenders. This is one of the steps to purchasing a home that many first-time buyers skip altogether. The primary cause of mortgage foreclosure is when people spend too much money on their home purchase, and it usually happens because they’ve skipped this all-important step to purchasing a house.


3. Be Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Loan. Pre-approval is a process where the lender reviews your finances and tells you how much you can borrow. Never get a mortgage that is too big for you. Start with your own budget first, and then get pre-approved by a lender. This is another key step to purchasing a home; some real estate agents won’t even work with buyers until they’ve been pre-approved

Real estate Building Tips For New Homebuyers

The life-changing event of purchasing a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming. With homebuyer horror stories of houses plagued with mold, leaky roofs or worse, it's no wonder some homebuyers get cold feet. Prospective homebuyers can save themselves from headaches by working with their builder on these useful construction do's and don'ts:

• Help prevent mold before it starts. Ask your builder to use vapor retarders in addition to insulation in your home's walls. Smart vapor retarders like CertainTeed's MemBrain allow wall cavities to "breathe" so excess moisture within the wall can escape. This helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Other vapor retarders can trap moisture in your walls, creating an environment that supports mold growth.

• Work with your builder to ensure that no mechanical equipment, ductwork or plumbing is built into exterior walls, vented attics or vented crawlspaces.

• Take control of your home's temperature and acoustics by ensuring your contractor insulates with the correct R-value for your region. Regional R-values can be found online at www.certain teed.com.

• Windows are often the largest single source of heat loss and heat gain in a home. Select vinyl windows with low-E glass and a high-performance glazing system that reduces heat transmission through the glass.

• Know what's under your roof. For instance, waterproofing shingle underlayments go under asphalt roof shingles to further protect your home's interior from winter leaks caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain.