Buyers ... Stay Informed on the Local Market

When you've found a home in you like, one you could see yourself living in for the foreseeable future, the next step is to make an offer on the home. You might be tempted to offer a price lower than the seller's asking price, simply because you've heard that you're supposed to negotiate the price. However, there's more to an offer price than lowballing the asking price. The price that you offer on the home will be influenced by several factors.

Property Condition

After viewing the home, you should have an idea of how it compares to other homes in the area and the neighborhood. You don't have to do much analysis, just determine if it's above, average, or below the other homes in the market. Find out the recent selling price of homes in the neighborhood. If you rated the property you are considering as average, your offer price should be along the same lines as those that have already been sold. As you consider the condition of the home, look at things like bedroom doors and door knobs, fixtures, light switches, and cabinets. These will give a good indication as to the condition of the home and the offer price.

Market Conditions

In a seller's market, there are often multiple offers on a property, many of which will be above the asking price. In a buyer's market, homes remain on the market for a longer period of time. You have more flexibility to negotiate in a buyer's market. Still, there is the steady market when there are no rules. Depending on the condition of the market, you may increase or decrease your offer price. This is why you need to contact me no one on the web has as an extensive and comprehensive understanding of the real estate market.

Home Improvements

Minor cosmetic changes like new paint and carpet don't have a major factor on the home price. On the other hand, if the owner has made significant changes such as the addition of a new bedroom or bathroom, finishing the basement, or screening in a patio, the offer price should increase beyond the average home. You don't have to increase the offer price dollar for dollar on the cost of these additions. Rarely does $10,000 in home improvements add $10,000 to the value or offer price of a home.

Seller Motivation

A motivated seller won't allow you to knock down your offer price by a very large amount of money. That doesn't mean, though, that you won't be able to offer a few thousand dollars below the asking price. Sellers that are relocating are often motivated to sell their homes for less, especially if their new mortgage will be starting soon. Be careful of ads that use phrases that indicate they are motivated to sell, often these are tactics used to generate leads.

Consider each of these four factors as you determine the price you want to offer for the home. Get help on this part of the process, as you consider each of these factors to come up with an offer price, keep in mind any mortgage pre-approval amount that you have been given by the lender.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Dallas Georgia Real Estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com. 

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Craig Summers Discusses the Importance Of a Good Home Inspector When Buying in

When you buy a home you not only buy the structure, but the history of the structure.  Although most people are honest, you still have to do what is necessary to protect yourself.  That is why hiring a home inspector is essential according to Craig Summers from Cobb County Realty's Paulding & Polk Team.

Having a home inspection is a good idea for many reasons.  There may be issues with the house that the seller would rather not disclose for fear of losing the sale.  It also may involve a very pricey repair that they are not willing, or even able to take on.  But there are many times that the current owners just are not aware that problems exist.  There is no intent of deception- they just do not know themselves that a problem exists.  For all of these reasons, it is always a good investment to inspect the home before buying.

When looking for a qualified inspector in , make sure they are certified with the applicable agencies.  GA has their own designations and a good inspector will be a member of these agencies.  These certifications are put into place to help maintain a high level of qualified personnel representing their trade.

A good inspector will also have all the necessary equipment to perform the task.  This may sound simple, but there have been numerous instances where an inspector drove to the property in a car without a ladder.  An inspector cannot surmise the situation without all the appropriate tools.  You are paying this individual to confirm that your purchase will be a good investment.  If they don't show up with the appropriate gear, how can you take their opinion seriously?

Home inspections can take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the size of the home.  A rushed job means something may be missed.  You want someone detail oriented and as picky as possible.  A good person will climb under the house, on the roof, in the attic, and anywhere else he can access.  After it is complete, he should provide you a detailed, written report that you can go over with your agent.

For more information on how to buy a home the right way in , call Craig Summers at 404 374 1620 or send an email at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

During the home buying process, itís important to get advice and expertise from experienced individuals. The three most important advisors youíll find during the home buying process are: An experienced real estate agent, your loan officer and your home inspector. In this article, weíll talk about about what each of these professionals can do for you.

Your Real Estate Agent

Your real estate agent is the single most important real estate professional youíll be working with throughout your home buying process. Your real estate agent is the person whoís responsible for finding properties you might be interested in, educating you on the buying process, and finally helping you negotiate a great deal on a property.

Choosing a good real estate agent is absolutely vital. The best real estate agents to work with are the agents that are experienced and have your best interest at heart.

Your Loan Officer

Your loan officer is the ìgo betweenî person between you and the lender. For example, your lender might be ìWashington Mutual,î and the loan officer is the person from Washington Mutual who deals directly with you about your loan.

Having a good loan officer is absolutely essential to the mortgage process. Your loan officer is the person whoíll make sure that your loan goes through. Your loan officer is also the person who will educate you on the different types of loans available and your mortgage options.

Loan officers are paid on commission. Itís important to have a loan officer who looks out for your best interest rather than a loan officer whoís trying to make the highest commissions.

Real Estate Inspector

Your real estate inspector is another important professional in the home buying process. The inspector is the person who will inspect your property and let you know if anything is wrong before you make your purchase.

Make sure you ask a lot of questions during the inspection process. Remember that youíre paying for a professional service, so make the most out of it. Ask questions, even if they seem stupid.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com.  Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

As a real estate agent in the area, I’ve found that one of the biggest questions my clients have is: “What really happens at closing?” In this article, I’ll take you step by step through what really happens in the closing process. By the end of this article, the closing process should no longer be a mystery to you.
The Closing
The closing is when the seller, the buyer and all other parties involve meet to finalize all the documents in the sale. The seller signs the deed of the house over to the buyer and the buyer pays the price agreed in the contract.
Documentation
The seller also provides any other documentation necessary to the buyer. This can include insurance papers, evidence of title, inspection reports (including any needed repairs) and so on.
Title Insurance
Title insurance is also paid at closing. Title insurance is an insurance that assures your title is clean. You pay to have a public records search conducted and once you get a clean bill of approval, the title is considered clean. If any contradictory records come up later, you are covered by title insurance.
Escrow
Often times closing is done through escrow with a title company. Closing through escrow means that the sale is done through a third party that has no financial interest in the sale.  This helps assure the safety of both parties by having the third party sign off on the sale once both sides have fulfilled their respective responsibilities.
At the End of Closing
Several other things also happen during the closing process:
Commissions for real estate agents are also paid during closing.
The buyer receives the keys to the home
Legal documents are recorded. This is the final step to the closing process.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling a house in the area, talking with a qualified and experienced real estate agent can help you save thousands of dollars and weeks of time. If you’re not already working with an agent you’re satisfied with, feel free to give me a call at 404 374 1620 or send me an email at craig@pauldingandpolk.com for a free consultation.

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Buying a home in  for the first time is an exciting process. At the same time, it is one that is filled with steps and details. Deciding which home to purchase and which mortgage to borrow are decisions that have lasting consequences. As you embark upon your home buying excursion, keep in mind these common mistakes of first time home buyers.

Purchasing a home too fast. Perhaps it's the excitement of purchasing the first time. Or maybe it's a fear that the "perfect" home in will be purchased by another borrower. Whatever the reason, many first time home buyers make the mistake of rushing through the home purchasing process. They tend to spend too little time searching for the right home in . Often first time homebuyers end up dissatisfied with the home they've purchased.

Buying too much home. Another mistake made by first time home buyers is purchasing a home that's right at, or even a little beyond, their limits. Many times this leaves the new homeowner with little or no disposable income. What good is a large home if you are unable to furnish it? None at all. Purchasing a smaller home and leaving yourself some wiggle room is much better than eating up your monthly income with mortgage payment.

Holding out for the dream home. First time home buyers might pass up several houses they like because they believe that there is a better house out there for them - one that is complete with everything they want and need. In the meantime, houses that have most of the items they are looking for are being taken off the market by other buyers. If a significant period of time passes, market prices could go up and the first time home buyer ends up paying more for a home than expected. Even worse, the buyer ends up so worn out from house shopping that he, or she, ends up settling.

Not getting mortgage pre-approval. A pre-approval will do wonders for the first time home buyer's shopping experience. Being pre-approved for a mortgage gives you an idea of what you will be able to pay for a home. Some first time home buyers, not realizing the value, forgo pre-approval to get a head start on home shopping. What's the worst that could happen? You could find a home you absolutely love and fail to obtain financing for it.

Not comparing mortgages. Shopping around for a mortgage is just as important as shopping around for the home. Many first time home buyers do not realize that mortgages from different lenders have different costs and different terms. There are so many cost factors of a mortgage that can vary from one lender to the next. It only makes sense to shop around for the best deal.

Be informed of the steps that you must take and the decisions you must make as a first time home buyer in [Profilr.market]. Information and education are the best tools to equip you in the process of purchasing your first home in [Profile,market].

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in  real estate. For complete information about the  real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Finding the best set of eyes to investigate your potential home requires some homework. Actually, a lot, but let’s start with the basics.

Finding a Home Inspector

If you have a friend who also recently purchased a home, then chances are he’s had his home inspected by a home inspector. You can ask him if there’s anyone he can suggest or if he knows the association or company to which his home inspector belongs. If not, you can also try asking your real estate broker, but be wary when you resort to this because sometimes, when a home inspector works closely with one agent in particular, it could be that your best interest might not always be in his mind. At any rate, you have another option.

One of the perks of the Internet is that you can find all sorts of information about almost anything in there. You can start looking for a home inspector by checking websites operated by CREIA (www.creia.com) and ASHI (www.ashi.com).

These two sites actually include tips for consumers, home inspector standards and practices and lists of members. It might be good if you hire a home inspector, who is a member of a reputable association because their membership often comes with a very rigid set of rules that ensure professionalism in everything that they do. For one, some organizations require their home inspector to pass a test. After that, they would have to meet continuing education requirements. And then, there are the standards of practice and code of ethics that they need to follow. All of this will help ensure that you are getting your money’s worth when you hire a home inspector to examine your house.

What You Need to Know About Home Inspectors

Most inspections take at least three hours for an average-sized house. The cost depends on the size of the potential home. Prepare yourself to spend at least $250 to $350. But if the house you are planning to buy is huge, then you might have to spend a little more than that.

home inspectors are not required to do more than what their job entails, which is to make an objective and independent visual assessment of all its major components. So figuring out how to shut off the electricity, water and gas, and how to service smoke detectors may not be part of their job, but you can ask them questions pertaining to these.

It is always advised that you, the home buyer, are present while the home inspector is making his rounds of the property. He will be looking through every aspect of the house, even going so far as going through crawl spaces, poking the cills and windows, and going up the attic. That much he is allowed. But if he starts disturbing or moving any personal belongings that come with the house, be forewarned: He is not allowed to do that.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Buying a house can be both an exhilarating and stressful experience. In this article, we’ll go over 5 tips to help make buying property in a smoother and more pain free experience for you. By the end of this article, you’ll have a great idea of how to get started with buying your property.
Tip #1 – Educate Yourself
Buying a house is a big deal, especially if it’s your first time. You’re making a major emotional and financial move.
It’s important to educate yourself as much as you possibly can. Some ways you can do that include talking to real estate professionals, reading books and doing your research on the internet.
Tip #2 – Get Professional Help
According to Consumer Reports, buyers who used a real estate agent generally saved at least $5000 when compared to buyers who didn’t use a real estate agent.
Paying 6% of your selling price to a real estate agent can seem like a painful blow. However, research has shown again and again that in the long run, you save money by working with a professional. Given the current market, that’s especially true in the market. They what to look for, what to warn you about, how to negotiate and a whole lot more.
Why risk it with something as important as your home?
Tip #3 – Educate Yourself about the Loans
One area that buyers are often under educated in is loans. What are the different types of loans available? What are the pros, cons, risks and benefits of each type of loan?
Understanding your loan is equivalent to understanding your financial future. Make sure you do your research beforehand so you can make an educated decision on what type of loan you want to get.
Tip #4 – Take Your Time and Look at a Lot of Properties
Although it’s great to “fall in love” with the house of your choice when you first see it, it’s also important to shop around and make sure that the property you’re looking at is really the one you want. There’s a wide variety of options in , so make sure you’ve picked the right one before you move forward with it.
Realize that it’s very hard to go back on an offer or a purchase. The last thing you want is a nagging feeling of doubt about whether or not you made the right choice. Do yourself a favor and do a thorough survey of your area before making your decision.
Tip #5 - Take Notes
Buying a home can be a period of highly accelerated education. It’s important to take notes, both to help you cement your learning in the moment, as well as to ensure you have an easy way to refresh yourself on what you learned in the future.
When you’re looking at properties, it’s also important to take notes. If you see five houses a day for two or three days a week, the houses can quickly blend together. You might have trouble remembering which impression went with which house. Taking detailed notes can help you avoid this pitfall.
Finishing Up
These five tips should put you ahead of most home buyers out there. Continue to educate yourself and learn more about the buying process so you can make an educated purchase. If you’re ready to speak with a professional who can help you get started with your purchase in , just give me a call at 404 374 1620 or drop me an email at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

So you have decided to hire a home inspector to examine your potential home. Smart decision. And you have also gone through the walk-through with him, asking him all the necessary questions, and making your own notes of what should or shouldn’t be replaced or repaired. Now, you’re just waiting for his written report to arrive shortly. And when you get it, now what?

A home inspector’s report is a long document that a summary of every observation that he made. It can be intimidating, if not overwhelming, especially if you’re worried about whatever repair costs you might have to consider after the home inspector lists them down.

But you don’t need to be alarmed. This is just another reason why you must be present during the inspection. You see, it is one thing to hear about various small problems while you are walking around the property with the home inspector. As your home inspector gives you all the run-down of what the problem areas are and other safety issues, the real context might probably be modified with reassurances that “this is just a maintenance issue” or “it would be good to fix when you get around to it.” You feel relieved when you hear these words, and you should be, because they are designed to make you feel exactly that way.

However, the situation can be entirely different once you read a long list of problems that would make your home less like a dream home and more like a dump. How on earth are you ever going to pay for all this?

Relax. Don’t panic. After you read your home inspector’s report for the first time, take a deep breath and drink if you must. Then, sit down and read it again, this time with a pen and paper at hand.

Okay, now take it one step at a time. Look at each “problem” item on the home inspector’s report first, then ask yourself the following questions:

Is this a minor maintenance problem or a major repair?
Is this an issue related to the age of the house? Because if it is, then it might just be part of the “charm” of the home, especially if your house is an old one. You might include floors that slope a bit from settlement or door and windows that are slightly out of plumb on the list of your home’s old charm.
Is this a problem that must be dealt with immediately? Or is it just something that should be done eventually?
Give what you know about house prices in your locality, might this problem have already been taken into consideration in pricing the house?
Does this problem merit further investigation?
Are you wiling to walk away from the house because of any or all of these problems?

If you find any minor items in your home inspector’s report, suck it up and forget about it. You should know by now that no house is perfect. It is enough that you take care of the really bad ones, or walk away when the cost is just too steep.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com.  So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Understanding A Sales Contract

Finding the right GA home is an exciting time so make sure that once you have decided this is the home for you that you protect yourself when writing the sales contract. This is where making the wrong entries can cost you money, or the home.

It may sound silly to say, but when you are writing a contract make sure that it is the current edition of the form. On the bottom is printed the date this form was last changed. Not having an up-to-date form will leave out new changes to the guidelines that you need to be aware of.

These contracts are long, complicated and full of legal talk so take time to read everything. Never let anyone rush you into signing something unless you have thoroughly gone over every word. If there is something that you want to address that isn't listed the counteroffer is the time to address it. Once the contract is accepted, it will be too late to bring it up.

The contract is going to have a lot of specific dates in it. For example, inspection cutoff and contingency cutoff, financing contingency cutoff, loan application, loan approval, etc. Sellers will want these dates to be as soon as possible. But as a buyer you want them to be as long as possible. All of these dates can be negotiated so give yourself plenty of time to get everything taken care of.

When looking over the GA contract make sure everything has been filled out. There should be no blanks anywhere. Some contracts spell out who will be doing certain repairs, the condition of certain components of the home or a clause concerning the inspection contingency. Read these areas carefully.

Once the contract has been accepted, write all of your specified dates down. These are very important! If you miss a cutoff it could be disastrous for you. Make sure you keep within the time limits to protect yourself. If something comes up that may interfere with a deadline contact your agent immediately.

You can do some of the preliminary work ahead of time to start the process. Having essential documentation to your lender means they can get started on your loan package and just wait for an address to plug everything into their system. Also, having already chosen an inspector will have them on standby.

For more information on the contents of the GA real estate contract, contact local real estate expert Craig Summers at 404 374 1620.

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

If you have excellent credit you will have the least amount of hurdles to jump through. When the mortgage companies in are discussing your creditworthiness They are generally referring to your FICO score,looking at your credit. This refers to the combination of the three credit institutions and is typically standard for coming up with whether or not they may lend you money.

When looking at your credit score you will have access to the best loans and more negotiating room with a FICO score above 710.

There are now many different loan solutions available to the investor in . It is still possible but not probable that you could fine financing for 100% of the cost to purchase the piece of investment property.

There are still options available,if your credit is not excellent. A second option is to work with the seller and have him or her carry an additional mortgage on the property in which you are working with in .

In this case let’s say you negotiate a price both you and the seller are happy with. You get 80% through a bank or lender and the owner agree to finance to other 20% for you as a term of the contract.

It is easier to get a loan for 80% of the purchase price. It is definitely the case if you have agreed on a cost that is less than the market value. Perhaps you agreed upon a final price of $100,000 while the actual market value of the property as per an appraisal was $138,900.

In this scenario the money coming from the lender is easier to get. This is not as risky.

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Income. Debt. Down Payment. Closing Costs. Two Years Income Tax Returns. Assets. Liabilities. IRAs. You want WHAT? Just what can I afford?

Buying a home in today’s marketplace is a bit intimidating, and your new home purchase is likely to be one of the most important decisions you’ve ever had to make. Usually it’s one of the single most valuable assets you’ll own.

Where to Start
Before you invest hundreds of hours searching the real estate papers, to avoid any heartbreak, if you find yourself unable to qualify for your dream home, sit down with a lender. Your lender can perform a simple verbal pre-qualification in about twenty minutes and a full-fledged pre-approval in about 5 days.

Pre-qualification not only allows you to focus your search in the correct price range, saving a lot of wasted time and frustration, but it can also give you an edge when competing with other offers on a home that you find. If a seller is deciding between two offers- yours which has been qualified and another unqualified offer- they are much more likely to pick yours.

Pre-qualification will also give you leverage when negotiating with a seller in a non-competitive atmosphere; it essentially makes you a cash buyer.

The amount of home in that you qualify for will be determined by three key factors: Your down payment, your ability to qualify for a mortgage, and closing costs.

The Down Payment
Whereas a current homeowner can rely on equity from their home sale, a first time home-buyer is limited to the money they can save.

The days of having to put 20 percent down on a home in are in the past, although putting a large amount of money down definitely makes it easier to qualify for a mortgage and to get the lowest interest rates available. With the various programs that are available today, you can put as little as 3 percent down on a home in .


Qualifying for the Mortgage
There are two basic guidelines that lenders use to determine what size mortgage you are eligible for:

Your monthly mortgage payment of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) should not exceed 25 to 28% of your monthly gross income.

Your monthly housing cost (PITI) plus other long-term debt should not exceed 33 to 38% of your monthly gross income.

Specifically, most lenders will consider 4 key factors to determine your ability to qualify for a home loan:

Income – This first element can include not only your gross monthly income and secondary income (commissions, bonuses) but also your history of employment, stability of income, education, even potential for future earnings.

Credit History-This encompasses your history of debt repayment, total outstanding debt, highest balance, and your highest monthly debt balance.

Assets–Your assets consist of cash on hand, savings and checking accounts, CDs, stocks, bonds or any other type of liquid asset.

Property–The home in you are planning to purchase will be appraised to determine the market value. The estimated value must be sufficient to secure the loan. Lenders will loan you no more than a certain percentage (usually 95%) of this value.

Closing Costs Keep in mind that in addition to your down payment, you will also be responsible for paying fees for the loan and closing costs. These will be required at the time of closing unless you qualify and choose to have these included in your financing.

Closing Costs generally will range between 2 percent and 6 percent of mortgage loan, depending on the loan and lender. You will be provided with a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs so you can know what to expect.

"Points," which are one time charges equal to one percent of your loan amount, may be required by your lender at closing.
Your closing agent will charge a fee at the close of the sale. We sincerely hope this information will help you gain a better understanding of the mortgage process.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

As someone who's interested in investing in real estate, you're likely someone who sees opportunity where others see a falling market. The reality is that a "bad" means it's the best time to invest. In this article, I'll show you why now is the best time to invest in real estate.

The old adage of any investment is to buy low and wait for it's value to rise, then sell high. The real estate market is different from the stock market where when you buy a stock low you risk losing your money if the company sinks or doesn't
come back up. The reality is that real estate will always be in demand, because we're not getting any more space and more and more people need places to live. Supply and demand dictates that over time, real estate must rise in prices.


Right now is one of the best times in history to buy because housing prices are at a historic low. Not only that, we have more foreclosers today than ever in history. As an investor, this is a huge opportunity for you.

People who can no longer afford their house still need a place to live. That means that the renter's market is very active right now, because people are desperately looking for places to rent. In other words, housing prices are low and rent demand is high, plus the potential for your investments to go up is limitless. As an investor, what more could you hope for?

If it wasn't clear already, the best strategy in this market is likely to be the "buy and hold" strategy. There are very few investors who can make a living by flipping properties right now. One reason is that the market could fall faster than you'd make from your flip anyway. Another reason is that there simply isn't a good buyer's market for you to unload your properties.

These are just some of the reasons why now is the best time to invest in real estate. Remember that windows of opportunity don't often stay open for very long. It's important to act while you've got the chance.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current properties for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com.  Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Once youíve found a home youíre interested in purchasing, the next step is putting an offer on the table. How do you determine that right price for a home in ? In this article, Iíll show you exactly what you should consider when youíre picking a number for your offer.

Tip 1 ñ Understand the Real Estate Conditions

The first step is to consider what the market conditions are. Real estate conditions in have had both upswings and downswings in the last several years. Is it a buyerís market right now, or a sellerís market? Is a house likely to sit on the market for weeks, or is it likely to receive multiple offers?

Look into what other similar houses in the area are selling for, both currently and in the last few months. This will give you a good baseline value to base your offer of.

Tip 2 ñ Understand Your Sellerís Mindset

The goal of making an offer isnít to offer market price. The goal of your offer is to make an offer thatís as low as possible that will be accepted by the seller.

In order to achieve this, itís important to understand the mindset of the seller.

One thing to look into might be how long the house has been listed. If itís been listed for several months already, they may be more likely to want to sell for a lower price.

Another thing to look into is how much the seller paid for the property. Although this doesnít affect its current value, it has an impact on the sellerís mentality. If the seller is already making a profit no matter how much they sell it for, theyíre likely to be more lenient. If theyíre losing big money by selling right now, they may be more likely to pinch pennies.

Tip 3 ñ Itís Not Just the Numbers

Your offer must be considered in its entirety. The clauses and contingencies have a big impact on whether or not your offer will be accepted. Work with your real estate agent to craft the best offer possible.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com.   Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

How do you find the best loan for your home in ?  Where in do you find a good professional to work with?  How do you get the best interest rate?  This report will help to put your mind at ease as you get answers to finding the right financing for your new home.


SPECIAL REPORT:

What is the best financing for Your house in ?


There are many different home loans in available to fit almost any situation.  I am often asked “What is the best financing available for me?

Unfortunately there isn’t a simple answer to this question, but that doesn’t mean  the process has to be difficult either.

You will want to secure financing before you start searching for a home in .  This way when you are ready to make an offer the seller will know you are a serious prospect for purchasing his house.

When you start looking for financing What you do is work with an expert at finding home loans.  The professional you are looking for is a mortgage broker.  A mortgage broker in works for you to help find the best loan to fit your financial situation.

The difference between going directly to a lender and working with a mortgage broker is that  a mortgage broker has access to many different loan programs through many different lenders, so you will have more opportunities for finding the perfect loan for your new home with the lowest interest rates.

You will want to interview at least three different brokers before deciding on one to work with.  Ask them specific questions regarding the loan programs they have for your situation.

You can ask them questions like:

What are the best loans you have for first time buyers in ?
How many points do you charge for the loan in ?
Why should I work with you instead of any other mortgage broker?
What is the best interest rate you can get for me?
What loan program/lender do you think would be best for me?

The broker will start the process by pulling your credit report and collecting a bunch of documentation from you including your last couple of years tax returns, your most recent pay stubs and bank account statements.

The only fee for starting the process is generally $15 to $25 for a credit report so they can view your current credit.

Your mortgage broker will give you a complete list of what is necessary before you come in for an appointment with them.

A good mortgage broker in will thoroughly answer all your questions and find the perfect loan for the house you are looking to buy.

After you meet with them they will be able to get you a pre-qualification letter that shows your debt to income ratio has been analyzed and that the broker is confident that they can get you a loan.

A pre-qualification is the step that comes before an actual approval.  If you get pre-approval for a loan, it means you are ready to buy and the loan has actually gone to an underwriter and they are ready to get you the money for the loan as soon as you get an accepted offer for the home you want to purchase.

It is not necessary to get pre-approved in , but you will want to make sure you get pre-qualified before you start your home search, so that you know how much home you can afford.  This way you will be able to make an offer right away if you find the perfect home for you.

The most important determining factor when choosing your loan is the interest rate and the points you will be paying on the loan.

Each point is simply 1% of the loan you will be getting.  Generally you will be paying one point to the mortgage broker for getting you the loan.  That is generally how the mortgage broker actually gets paid.

You can actually pay additional points to lower your interest rate.  If you have cash on hand and are looking to lower you monthly payments and the overall interest you are paying on the loan you may want to have your mortgage broker run some different numbers for you so you can weigh the pros and cons.

It is important to get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan before you start looking for a house.  It is frustrating when the perfect house comes on the market, but someone else’s offer gets accepted because you didn’t have a pre-qualification letter.

If you are short on cash there are actually some 100% financing loans available so just because you don’t have a down payment doesn’t mean you cannot get into a house in .  These are especially easy to get into if you are a first time buyer.

With today’s low interest rates you may want to get pre-qualified for a fixed-rate.  Some lenders may charge a fee for this service, but others will not.  The advantage of having a fixed-rate is that you will know very closely what your payments will be when making an offer on the property.

The downside is that interest rates may continue to fall and you may not be able to get the better interest rate if you have decided on a fixed rate. 

Getting educated on the process before you jump into buying your home can help you with the loan process and put your mind at ease as you go out to buy your home. 

Make sure you get all your questions answered before making a decision on your loan in and be sure to work with a mortgage broker you feel comfortable with.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.pauldingandpolk.com. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 404 374 1620 or email me at craig@pauldingandpolk.com

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.

Real Estate Expert Craig Summers Tells You About Mold – A Common Health Problem Which Can Affect Homeowners.

When you check out homes you should naturally take a look at the building itself and carefully examine it. However, certain things such as mold, can often be undetectable to the naked eye.

Homeowners in any area can have problems with mold and mildew. A lot of homeowners think that they would not be affected by these problems as they do not have moisture in their homes. In a lot of cases, the problem occurs in an area that is hidden from view. If it is not addressed quickly it can rapidly spread and become a major headache for the homeowner. In order for mold and mildew to grow, there needs to be a constant presence of moisture in the area.

Molds grow by digesting moisture and produce microscopic spores which are undetectable in the air until they land on a damp area and start to grow. While there are no ways that will guarantee that your house is going to be completely free of mold, you can control the moisture levels to prevent an infestation of mold.

The problems posed by mold and mildew are not all about affecting your home's structure. It can also affect the health of the occupants, particularly children and senior citizens. It can also be especially dangerous to people who have breathing related illnesses such as asthma.

It is important to act immediately in the event that you discover a leak in your home. Repairs should be performed within 2 days at the most in order to prevent the growth and spread of mold. Any areas that are infested should go through a thorough cleaning with either a special detergent or simply bleach and water.

Make sure that you dry up all the water used during cleaning once the area was completely scrubbed of any mold. However, if some material was damaged so badly that it cannot be cleaned, it should then be replaced. If you have a serious problem with mold in your home, don't hesitate to call a professional. There are companies which specialize in removing mold and preventing it from reappearing in your home again.

If you want more information on how to better protect yourself when buying a home, contact local real estate expert Craig Summers with Cobb County Realty's Paulding & Polk Team at 404 374 1620 today!

For a FREE List of 3 Plus Bedroom Dallas Georgia Homes under $150,000 with prices, addresses, and descriptions click the link, fill out the form below.