Key Factors To Consider When Buying A New Home

Where are we going to find that lot, so we can build the new home? I do not like to drive forty miles through heavy traffic to get to work every morning and back again at night.

After you are satisfied that getting to and from work will not be too difficult, there are other con­siderations. How will the children get to school? Be sure there is a proper school not too far away, or that a school bus picks up the children in the neighborhood. Then there is the simple matter of shopping for the daily groceries. Are suitable mar­kets not too far away? If you have a preference as to the church you attend, can one be reached within a reasonable distance?

Utilities

Although many people think that such things as electricity, gas, water, and telephone lines come au­tomatically, there are places where one or more of these services is not available, and it is well to make a thorough check to see that all of these are satis­factory and that their cost is reasonable.

If sewers are not available, you can usually get along with a septic tank, but this will cost more than connecting to a sewer. If, however, there is a monthly charge for the sewer, perhaps in time this would make things come out about even.

A good water supply is, of course, the first neces­sity. You wouldn't want a house where you could not get good water and plenty of it. It is well to in­quire about the water supply. Is the pressure adequate during the dry season? Is the water safe to drink, and does it taste good?

A dependable source of electricity is also a must. What about the rates? To get so far out that you try to generate your own electricity is only for those few hardy souls who do not mind poor or indifferent service at considerable expense and trouble.

Good telephone service is a necessity in our modern civilization. Be sure it is available without your having to build or pay for building a mile or two of line.

Natural gas is now piped to many localities; and it is very useful, but where it is not available, bot­tled gas can usually be secured. If not, oil can be used for heating and for heating water. Or you can use coal, or even wood in some rural forested areas.

Or you can use electricity for heating purposes, if you insulate the house properly. Many electric com­panies give very low rates for electricity used to heat water, and often for heating the whole house. Gas is not an absolute necessity, but it is well to give con­sideration to what will take its place.

Public transportation passing near your new home is a great convenience. Everybody has cars now­adays, but some families have only one car, and when a man drives it to work, what does his wife do for transportation? But if a man can take the bus to work, he will save money, and his wife can have the car at home.

Or if both husband and wife are employed, the problem is greatly simplified if a good dependable bus line runs near the place. There is usually less nervous tension generated in riding in a bus than there is in fighting your own way through the rush hour traffic.

The View

The view is not an absolute necessity in selecting a site for your new home, but it can well be a very important con­sideration. It must be admitted that there are not nearly enough sites with magnificent views (such that everyone can have one).

Do try to get a lot that is large enough so that you can do something with it. Perhaps you can buy what was originally planned as two lots and make it into a very attractive place. Then again,suppose you can get only one lot 60' x 120' in size. You can still do a great deal with it by careful planning.

Select your lot with care and you will be well satisfied with your home.
Whether Or Not You Build From A Plan, You May Like To Consider Interior Design Styles.
There Are Loads Of Great Idea And Expert Advice For You To Consider About Your Home.
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New Home Buying Guide

Buying a new home in Los Angeles is an attractive option because this is a vibrant and growing city. There are plenty of home types to choose from such as family homes, condominium units, town houses, luxury home, custom homes and much more.

If you are going to buy a new home, you need to check out many factors such as pricing, features, spacing, facilities, and neighborhood quality and so on, before you set your mind on a particular property.

Now, after you have completed checking out property features and are fully satisfied with the property you have chosen, you will be asked to go through a final walk-through before closing the deal on a purchase. Final walk-through should not be ignored as you can find signs of home conditions that are incorrect even at this time. Here are some New Home Buying tips on what to look for in your final walk-through:

• Look into all the paperwork that needs to be completed for the purchase. Is everything correct and in place?

• Look into every water tap in the home for water pressure and temperature. Flush every toilet to find out, if they are all working well.

• Check out every home appliance to find out if it is in proper working condition.

• Make a note on the home's exterior and the interior. Is there any change to it from the last time you saw it earlier? If so, point this out and ask questions.

It's important to schedule the final walk-through as close to the time of closing as possible. This will ensure that any improper condition comes to light before the purchase gets through completely. If you do find conditions that need notifications, inform the seller about it and ask them about what can be done to rectify it. If you hired a Realtor to find the house, the Realtor will do all this work for you and ensure that you have a home that's just right before you move in.

Paul is a principal of NewHomesSection.com. Search new homes in San Bernardino County, new homes in California and Chino hills homes today!

Why You Shouldn't Buy Directly From A Builder

There's something appealing about a brand new house -- you get to pick out the carpet, drapes, and appliances, and have everything designed just the way you want it. New houses often come with more space and better appliances, require less immediate fix-up work, and are more energy-efficient. New houses are also sometimes priced more reasonably than comparable old ones.

But, there's a downside. Too often, the advantages of new houses are overshadowed by problems such as shoddy construction and lengthy construction delays. Here are some suggestions on how to avoid problems.

Choose the Developer, Then the House

The most important factor in buying a new house is not what you buy (that is, the particular model), but rather who you buy it from. A responsible builder understands that he or she has a reputation to protect, constructs homes that live up to their promises, and remains available should issues arise. More than a few builders, however, take your money, throw together a house that starts falling apart on day one, and then stop returning phone calls. The message is, don't buy a house -- buy its builder.

To check out a builder, contact:

Owners who live in the development you're considering, if possible. If the development is run by a homeowners' association, talk to the association members and the board of directors. If nothing has been built yet, talk to owners in a recently completed development by the same builder.

County planning or building department staff who deal with local developers. For the best results, ask your questions positively. "Do ABC Homes finish their projects on time, with few complaints?" will probably be answered candidly, but "Is it true ABC Homes is a shady outfit?" might not be.

Real estate agents who've worked in the area. Agents usually deal directly with new house sales, they may have handled the sale of houses built by developers and may know their reputations.

The state or local licensing or consumer protection agency that oversees contractors, and the local Better Business Bureau. Ask whether any complaints have been filed against the developer.

Have the House Inspected

Hire an experienced contractor or home inspector to evaluate the house you're considering for the quality of construction. When a house is being worked on, it's easy to see whether construction standards are high or not. If your house isn't built yet or is already finished, have the inspector or contractor look at other houses the developer is in the process of building. Don't count on the city inspector to catch all the mistakes. You have to realize that they look at dozens of homes every day. Builders count on city inspectors missing things to save them time and money.

Even if the home is finished when you buy it, hire a home inspector to give it a thorough examination. Also, you should visit your home site periodically during construction and take the final walk-through to catch last minute cosmetic defects.

Keeping Track of Construction

Ask the builder to allow your inspector or contractor to give the home a once-over at least three times during construction:

when the foundation is poured, when the framing is completed, and when the home is finished. Have the inspector examine various systems as they are completed, including the walls, roof, plumbing, electrical, and insulation systems.

For information on hiring an inspector, ask your buyers agent to recommend one .

Be Wary of Optional Add-Ons

Many developers advertise houses at comparatively low prices to get you to come out and have a look. Once there, commissioned salespeople show you models loaded with expensive extras such as a spa, fireplace, granite countertops, and giant bathrooms. If you become seriously interested, the advertised price will rise as you decide that certain extras are essential or irresistible.

Buying extras lets you semi-custom design your home. But ask yourself what you really need and how much it will cost. Upgrades often add 10% to 25% to the cost of a new home. To get the most for your money, follow these steps:

1. Take care of essentials first. Be practical, both for your own sake and for the sake of your home's resale value. A fenced yard (especially if you have children or pets), more electrical outlets, wiring for high-speed Internet access, and, in many areas, air conditioning, are day-to-day necessities. A hot tub and wine cellar are not.

2. Make sure prices are fair. Some developers are less ethical in pricing extras than others. Steer clear of those who deliberately use poor-quality materials in highly visible spots in their models, almost forcing you to upgrade to over-priced substitutes.

3. Negotiate. Ask for one free extra for every two you buy. For example, if you pay top dollar for good carpets and kitchen cabinets, ask the developer to throw in a better stove at no charge. And don't be afraid to ask for the right to buy and install extras on your own instead of paying high prices for the developer's. A lot of the times builders will advertise specials on the internet, radio, or newspaper.

4. Sweat Equity. Builder might allow you to do things yourself. Such as paint, tile and, carpet. This way you can bring your price down and get a more custom look. You might be in the heating and air conditioning business and want to do your own house. Ask you builder if they allow any work to be completed yourself.

5. Read the fine print. Many new house contracts contain a clause saying that the model's features, such as carpets and appliances, are not necessarily the same brands you'll receive. You are guaranteed only the functional equivalent of what you see, which is typically different and costs the builder far less. Make a list of the precise features you're concerned about (with brands or makes and models) and include it in your contract. If one developer won't accommodate you, shop elsewhere.

6. Upgrade after escrow. Most of the upgrades can be completed after you have moved in for a fraction of the price that the builder will charge you.

7. Get it in writing.When dealing with a developer's sales representative, get all promises as to what will be done, and when, in writing. Before you sign the purchase contract, make sure it includes every one of the agreed-on changes. If you've already signed the contract when you negotiate changes, write them down in a separate document and have the developer or the sales representative sign it. Don't rely on oral commitments, which are notoriously unreliable and almost impossible to enforce.

8. Have a firm idea of what you want. Builders like to charge outrageous fees if you want to change anything. Have a firm decision of what you want before you let your builder know. Change orders cost you about $500 per item you change. So if you decide to change carpet and tile colors it could cost you at least $ 1000 more.

Can I get a better deal if I work directly with the builder?

The answer is no. All builders have the commission worked in the price. The sales people will retain that money if you don't bring in a buyer's agent. It could end up costing you more money and more frustration when working directly with the builder

Get a New Home Warranty

You've probably heard horror stories about new houses that begin to disintegrate soon after the buyer moves in -- the roof leaks, the basement floods after the first big rain, or the doors won't close. This shouldn't be a problem if you buy from a reputable developer -- but not all developers are reputable, and you may not be sure about yours.

Your best bet is to buy a house with a new house warranty from an independent insurance company. Typically, they cover workmanship and materials for one year; plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning systems for two years; and major structural defects for ten years.

You can also buy a new home warranty on your own, but you'll have to shop carefully to find one that covers major structural defects. Most builders offer a one year home warranty. Be aware of what it cover before you decide not to get a home warranty from an independent insurance company.

Protect Yourself Against Delays

It's best not to close escrow on a new home until the work is completed. You don't want to leave the builder an opening to delay construction into the indefinite future.

Unfortunately, however, in a hot market you may be forced to close on a home that isn't finished (or even started). If so, you'll be asked to sign a very one-sided contract. You will be given numerous deadlines (to make deposits, agree to design changes, get loan approval, sell your present house, and close escrow), but the developer will have great leeway -- sometimes up to a year from the target date -- to deliver the house.

Do what you can to negotiate a fairer deal. Most important, you want to establish a reasonable date at which you can cancel the contract and get all of your money back if the builder doesn't do what they said they would.

If you must close escrow because you need to move in, but significant and costly work remains, insist that the necessary funds be taken out of what you're paying the developer and placed in a trust account after escrow closes. Then ask for a written agreement stating that if the work is performed on time, the money will be released to the developer; but if it isn't, the funds go to you to hire someone else to do the work. If the developer refuses, at least make a list of what needs to be done, assign a completion date to each, and have it signed by the developer. This is not recommended because it is much harder to get builders to complete work after it has closed.

Your best interest it to work with a buyer's agent to help you through the buying and building process. The people in the model home, work for the builder with the builders' interest in mind not yours.

Bronson Barber an Utah Real Estate Professional and Entrepreneur

I have created a team of professionals that can handle the most difficult problems that people have with real estate. Whether it is getting out of an old house or getting into a new home we can do it.

http://www.bronsonbarber.com

Buying A Home

My husband and I recently bought a home. It took us a whole year to do it. We had the perfect agent who stuck with us through thick and thin. Even when we took a six month break (in order to get our credit strategies together) she was right there for us.

First of all, you should know your own credit scores. Do not let multiple credit folks keep pulling your scores. This will be a disaster in the long run!

Then I found out that it is best to get a pre-approval letter so that once you get it, all you have to do is to go and find your house.

You will search , and search, and then your husband will find his dream home. But guess what; you hate it, or you hate the location.So either you have to compromise or you have to keep looking.

Then it comes time to close. The seller don't want to help you with the closing costs, but they want to sell the house because it has been on the market for eight months.

In summary, I just want to say buying a home can be easy or it can be hard; depending on what the market is like at the time. You have to also beware of unsavory lenders who will tell you anything to get you to buy the house because they are working on commission. It is alot to read but you must read the contract thoroughly.

Good luck!

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

First Time Homebuyers

Buying a home is one of the toughest decisions that people have to make during their lifetime. The lookout for a house can be very tiresome. After all, a home is considered as a place where one seeks comfort, safety and shelter. When a person buys a home, he is buying a place where he is supposed to spend many years of his life. Hence, nobody can deny the importance of buying the right house and it becomes even more important when it is their first time. There are many factors that should be considered by the first time buyers and most of these factors help in the search as it refines and shortens one's list, of potential targets, to a certain degree.

Firstly, a person should make up his mind that why should he be buying a house? A house is considered as an asset. When one buys a house, he can decorate it in anyway he likes. The market price of house will vary and it can end up being a very profitable deal for him. The benefit of buying a house instead of renting it is that when a person is paying the rent, his rent money will be gone forever. However, in case of owning a house, that money will be safe and it will be his permanent investment.

Secondly, a person should determine that what are his requirements: does he want a nice and peaceful neighborhood or will he prefer to own a place that is in a noisier and exciting neighborhood? Does he want to live in an urban area or country side? Will he prefer to single family or town-homes? How much wood work is sufficient? Answers to these self-imposed questions will only help to shorten the list of potential houses.

Real estate agents can always be helpful for first time buyers. One should take help of a good real estate agent as they can readily trace the right house for him. They will show quite a few houses, all being close to the basic requirements of the buyer, and help to make deals in proper and effective manner. If the perfect home comes then the buyer should buy it as soon as possible, even if that house is the first house he looked at.

Keeping in mind that a person will not be seeing just one house during a day while he is searching for it, it is wise to keep an account of the important detail of every house. It will only help if a person takes snap shots of surroundings, different construction work done in the house, its layout and other important things. In the end, it's important to take another tour of the houses that he liked so he can pay further and closer attention to them. It will make the final decision easier.

Easy access and availability of utilities such as gas, electricity, water etc should also be taken into consideration. The buyer should already have an idea about the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other things like garage, park etc that he would want in his future house.

The above factors will help the first time homebuyers to make the right decision as buying a house, for many people, is once in a lifetime matter so it's better not to mess it up.

Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida and also in2Va Team in Northern Virginia