4 Things to Consider When Buying a Home

Finding the ideal home can be a fun adventure, but it also has its challenges. Taking the time to find the right home with the right amenities at the right price will pay off in the long run. There are several elements to consider, and they are different for everyone. What is a must-have for one person might be a turn-off for another. Some future homeowners find prioritizing features in groups of most important to least important or must have versus nice to have versus something to avoid will help to make the house hunting process more manageable and enjoyable.

Location
When looking at real estate for sale, most potential homebuyers seek out certain areas or neighborhoods. They may know someone who lives there or have perhaps fallen in love with a town they have driven through many times. If the homebuyers have local employment, they will want an easy commute to the office. For those retired or planning to use the real estate property as a vacation residence, that won't matter. They will probably be looking at neighborhoods in terms of how close real estate properties are to the beach, the store, the airport or the nearest hospital.

Space
A home's size and layout are two more factors that sit high on many priority lists. Consider the number of floors needed. Those with physical limitations may be looking for something on one floor. Wheelchair or walker accessibility may mean the difference between buying a certain property for sale or not. On the other hand, a beautiful view from atop a second- or third-story window could be the deciding factor on buying a home. People with children will probably want some separation between the children's rooms and the master bedroom. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms, type of kitchen and how much living space there is depends on the number of people in the household. This could change, so leaving room to grow is another factor.

Amenities
Part of the adventure in house hunting is finding the right amenities to fit in with all of the other must-have features. A pool, an eat-in kitchen and a garage are popular amenities not found in all real estate properties for sale. Balconies, patios and gated communities are options that some people absolutely cannot live with -- or without -- depending on their lifestyles and personal preference.

Use
How the property will be used by the buyer is a critical piece to the puzzle. Whether it is a vacation home, an investment property for rental or a year-round residence may change the importance of some features and amenities. For rental properties in vacation and resort areas, proximity to the beach is very important. For residences, there is more emphasis on daily convenience and necessity.

When considering the importance of all of these factors, it is best for the future homebuyer to make a list of everything that matters and determine which items rank where on the list. Sharing this information with the real estate agent will make the search for the ideal home shorter and more productive.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about Punta Mita real estate, visit http://www.pacificboutiqueproperties.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_P_Stanfords

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Burlington Vermont Real Estate - If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont Real Estate or Chittenden County, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market, schools and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

Inward Toward Hearth and Home

Deep into November, the only color found exists in the sky at dusk. Sunsets, this time of year, and sunrises for that matter too can be just sensational. But do we notice in our hurried, frenetic holiday modes???

This year we all have a lot on our minds...

An historic election now yields to an upcoming historic inauguration for all of us to rejoice and celebrate. Hopes our nation will discover her unfolding new identity, resolve to tackle our personal and at-large challenges with unrelenting determination. We share all this as we collectively focus inward.

For those of us in Vermont, we turn inward from the cold weather and further inward still toward the warmth of hearth and home and end of year holidays. Inward toward those we love and those for whom we are grateful. Inward toward those that touch our lives in meaningful, special ways. Inward toward grateful appreciation for what we have, for our lot in life.

I want to thank my children and my family for their love, laughter and support and for the continual spirit of renewal within those relationships. I want to thank my loyal friends for our shared laughter and good memories. For your devotion when my chips were down when I was ill last March. I want to thank my clients for their business, loyalty, and for referring me to those they love and trust me to take care of. I want to thank my body for incredibly mending itself when it was put to the test.

Thanks to the stars and the fireflies, the summer outdoor concerts, dancing with my daughter, goofing with my son, thunder and lightning storms from my front porch, the power of healing, the power of love, the power of touch and the beauty of mother nature all around us when we slow down just enough to connect to her.

The stock market is what it is and all the rest. But for now, it is good to try and keep it simple. It is good, no it is great, to be grateful for all I have, for I have much.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving holiday! Travel safely. Love preparing meals with those that make you laugh and you care about. Be grateful. Lend your hands.

Peace!

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Charlotte Vermont Real Estate.

How the Social Goals of Increasing Homeownership Caused the Mortgage Mess

This article is reprinted with the written permission from the author. It was originally printed in the October 2008 edition of the NAPFA ADVISOR.

The Bush Administration, Congress and the U.S. Department of Commerce haven't been bragging about homeownership percentages in the U.S. for the past two years. They would prefer to have voters forget about the social goal of increasing homeownership that was regularly reported in the news for years. The rate was 66% in the second quarter of 1998 and rose to 69.2% in 2004, but it dropped back to 68 % in the second quarter of 2008. (Data comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Report, Second Quarter 1998 and US Census Bureau News Second Quarter 2008 Report, July 24th, 2008.)

What's really interesting about the situation is that it could be argued that the social engineering experiment of putting a larger percentage of people into their own homes didn't even occur. The percentage of homeowners as reported by the Commerce Department is a misleading figure.

Homeownership are reported as the percentage of owners and renters in occupied housing units. This is not the same thing as a calculation that reflects the number of owners as compared to total housing units. The difference between the two measurements is substantial and it highlights the folly of the government-aided housing boom.

As of June 30th, 2008, there were 130 million housing units in the U.S. This number was boosted by rapid development in the last 10 years, as 12.5 million units were added in that period. Many of these units were built to meet surging demand caused by easy credit and low rates.

As of June 30th, 2008, only 111.2 million of those 130 million units were occupied. Breaking it down, 75.7 million were owner-occupied and 35.5 million were renter-occupied. That's roughly 68% or the number reported by the government to reflect homeownership.

However, with 18.6 million units vacant, the homeownership rate that reflects actual use of homes by homeowners is much lower. Only 58% of existing homes were being occupied by the actual owners (75.7 million occupants out of the 130 million homes). That is a more realistic number.

When looking at homeownership from this angle, some stark statistics emerge. For example, the number of units vacant has risen 33.8% over the last two years. In the year ending June 30th, 2008, the U.S. added 2.1 million in total housing units. Unfortunately, only 900,000 of the new units were occupied. This is hardly a model upon which to grow an economy.

The Securities and exchange Commission (SEC) and the investment industry's voluntary regulatory operation known as FINRA have responded to scandals in the mortgage industry. They have issued new, stringent rules requiring finger-printing and background checks. These measures should be lauded but the horse (protecting consumers) left the barn three years ago.

The SEC should have curbed the mortgage industry in 2005. But nobody wanted to stop the party. For the mortgage industry and real estate developers, money was rolling in. For banks, the lending was easy. And for the federal government - which is supposed to be watching out for the public - the goal of higher homeownership rates was apparently being met.

Over the last 10 years, some efforts were made to reign in the housing market before it busted. Fannie Mae and Freddie MAc, two of the biggest proponents of the housing boom, were challenged. But their lobbying efforts overwhelmed the opposition, even as Fannie and Freddie reported billions of dollars of false earnings claims.

Everyone applauds the social goal of putting more of our citizens in their own homes. It is a part of the American dream. But the push to increase homeowneship even a few percentage points helped create the mortgage mess we have now.

At this point, we don't need new regulations to correct the abuses in the mortgage and housing sectors because economic forces are correcting them for us. Mortgages being funded now require stellar credit and a substantial down payment.

In conclusion, millions of people have been harmed by the bubble and the entire U.S. economy has been put at risk. All of the current troubles are in response to a social goal of increasing the rate of homeownership that never really happened. Tens of thousands of people were talked into buying homes they realistcally had no economic business purchasing. Now, whatever wealth they had accumulated has been crushed and their credit and self-esteem have been damaged for many years.

All of us are paying for the excesses of a failed social policy that pushed those folks into temporary homeownership.

by J.Stephen Cowles, CFP is a NAPFA member in LaJolla, CA

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.