http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/mortgage/smart-mortgage-shopping.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/mortgage/smart-mortgage-shopping.html Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Standard mortgages are amortized over a fixed length of time. The most typical is 30 years, but there are shorter-term loans available as well. In looking at loans, the best kind to find is a fixed rate loan. This will keep your monthly payments at the same amount, be mindful of variable rate loans as the variable rate clause means that the lender can increase the payments to match fluctuating interest rates. Knowing what your monthly bills are going to be for the foreseeable future is a critical part of financial planning.

When searching the available loans and lenders, make sure that you do some research into both. Much like any business there are those who conduct their business without regard for the clients that they serve. Many people have run afoul of unscrupulous mortgage lenders and the results of these loans are never pretty. Spend some time researching the history of the lenders that you are considering. Take into account their track record and maybe check with your local COC and BBB. If the lender has any complains against them find out why they were made. It's safe to say that a lender with more than one complaint against them may not have your best interests at heart. If you have questions about the different types of loans that are available try talking to your realtor or even one of the financial planners at one of the larger banks in your area.

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Charlie Pigeon is a real estate agent specializing in Fort Myers Condos . Fort Myers features some of the best waterfront and standard condominiums in the Southwest Florida Real Estate area.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-home.html Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Find Your Price Range - This is one of the most important things to know when buying a home. How much home can you afford? There is little point in looking at homes that are either way too expensive or far below what you want to pay. Identifying your price range will automatically narrow down your home search exponentially and make it easier to formulate a game plan for looking at the available homes.

Location - The location of your home will be another important thing to consider. How close is it to work? To school for the kids if there are any? How close is it to transit if necessary and shopping and recreation? For a home to be truly feasible it should be within reasonable distance of everything you require on a day-to-day basis.

Inspection - You should NEVER purchase a home without an inspection. Even if the home is a new construction home it should be inspected prior to purchase. Be wary of sellers who try to downplay the necessity of a home inspection, they may be hiding something. Home inspections are there to help protect the buyers so take advantage of it!

Timing - Keep a careful eye on the trends of your local real estate market. Maybe now is not the best time to buy as the market could favor the seller. Try to purchase a home at the right time in the market when it is favoring the buyer.



Of course there are more detailed things to look for when actually viewing homes but those will be dependent on your needs and the individual homes. So good luck with the shopping and if you ever need advice, give me a call.

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Charlie Pigeon is a real estate agent specializing in Fort Myers Condos . Fort Myers features some of the best waterfront and standard condominiums in the Southwest Florida Real Estate area.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-buyers-market.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-buyers-market.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
This trend has allowed buyers to become more choosy about what they purchase, and some sellers have had to drop prices to make their homes more competitive. Not to the point where good profits aren't a reality, but simply to a point where the home becomes a more attractive deal. It has become a reality of the home selling market that there needs to be some unique and interesting aspect of a home that can be easily highlighted to help create interest in the home.

One thing that sellers should remember in a buyer's market is that with an atmosphere that is desirable to buyers, it prompts more "fence sitter" buyers into action. This ends up being a boon to both buyers and sellers. While their home may sell for a little bit less than in a seller's market, the home will usually sell faster and will have more interest when the market is leaning towards the buyer. If you can accurately target certain buyers and bring them into a market that they would normally have stayed away from then it's a job well done.

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Charlie Pigeon is a real estate agent specializing in Fort Myers Condos . Fort Myers features some of the best waterfront and standard condominiums in the Southwest Florida Real Estate area. Let Charlie Pigeon help you find the condo of your dreams.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/selling-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/selling-your-home.html Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The number one rule is to think like a buyer: what are you looking for when you look at property? Help the buyer imagine themselves in your home.

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood looking for property for sale? Remember the one that stopped you in your tracks - the one whose number you copied down so you could call the agent as soon as you got home? That home had curb appeal. Take a few moments to walk around your property - what catches your eye? Some basic maintenance, fresh paint and minimal landscaping attention could go a long way to selling your property faster for a better price. Although we're told not to judge a book by its cover, first impressions do count, especially in today's online environment. Take good photos, because often it is the MLS image of your home that will (or won't!) catch the eye of a buyer - make it count.

Once you’ve got the buyer through your front door, keep them there: get rid of the clutter, put away your personal items, and make sure your space appears open and airy. Any mess or disorder will distract the buyer – you want them imagining themselves living in your home, not noticing its defects.

And don’t hang around while the potential buyer is looking at your home. Although you might be eager to point out all of its features, part of the excitement of looking at a home is the discovery – let the seller have the space to do it on their own.

There are countless resources available on the Internet, on television, and at your local library if you want more ideas. Remember that buyers want to find a property – it’s up to you to make yours desirable. Although some buyers are creative enough to see the hidden jewel it’s faster and easier to polish yours first.

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Charlie Pigeon is a professional Buyer's Agent serving the Southwest Florida area. For more information on Southwest Florida homes & properties in or for more information on the Southwest Florida real estate market, contact Charlie today or visit http://www.charliepigeon.com/

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/shaping-up-your-deck.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/shaping-up-your-deck.html Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
If your deck looks perfect then you already know the power and attraction that a great deck holds, on the other hand if it looks like the residence of a herd of zombies then you might want to do something about it. Let's start with the deck's surface. No matter what it is made out of, a pressure washer is your best friend right now. Blast those years of accumulated moss, grime and leaves to reveal the actual deck. Now take a good cleaning solution (make sure to get one that is appropriate for the deck surface) and get to work on making that deck shine! Don't forget to get the right sealant for the deck. After you are finished with the cleaning, apply the sealant to preserve the work you have just done.

Now would be the perfect time for some new patio furniture. With the effort you have put into cleaning the area, treat yourself to some stylish seating! Another great addition to a deck is a trellace. It might take some time to get plants to string along the trellace but wisterias grow like fire and look great on a deck. Add little accessories like planter boxes or statues to create the perfect atmosphere for your new area. It will add great value to your home when it goes on the market.

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Charlie Pigeon is a real estate agent specializing in Fort Myers Condos . Fort Myers features some of the best waterfront and standard condominiums in the Southwest Florida Real Estate area. Let Charlie Pigeon help you find the condo of your dreams.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>