Monday, October 30, 2006

Should You Time the Real Estate Market?

In the case of real estate, these postulations are not as significant in the conclusion to time convinced markets as they may seem. At this time, the real estate market in many areas is deflating after a momentous period of positive reception and requirement. Purely put, this represents a buying occasion for the savvy consumer. So, should you try to remain and find the bottom of the current market? In my attitude, you should consider it.

Are you smart enough to do this? Yes. Most financial markets can be a bit multipart when you get down to the nitty gritty of the circumstances. The stock market is predisposed by a wide assortment of factors that would seem to make it virtually unfeasible to time price arrangements unless you have insider information. That being said, tens of thousands of day traders seem to be able to make solid profits doing it. If they can do it with stocks, you can definitely do it with real estate.

Will you miss the bottom of the market? Maybe, but I doubt it. The beauty of timing the real estate market is, indeed, time. Unlike stocks, real estate prices tend to move over slower periods of time. In a fast moving real estate market, you still will have a pair of weeks to appraise the price movements. Simply put, they do not move over minutes or hours but in easily exclusive trends. Even if you miss the absolute bottom as prices spring back, you should still get a very good deal compared to prices two years ago.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Smart Home-Buying

Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your life span, so you should be sure that the home (house, condo, townhouse) you want to buy is in good situation. A home scrutiny is an appraisal of a home's situation by a skilled authority. During an sovereign home scrutiny, a trained overseer takes an in-depth and independent look at the property you plan to buy.

The home inspector will:

+ Appraise the physical condition: the structure, construction and mechanical systems.

+ Recognize items that should be repaired or replaced.

+ Guesstimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure and finishes.

After the scrutiny is complete, you will receive a written report of the findings from the home inspector, usually within 24 hours.

Finding a Qualified Independent Home Inspector

As the homebuyer, it is your responsibility to carefully select a qualified inspector. I stress that it is "your" responsibility, and not your agent's. After you purchase your new home, your agent will not be responsible for paying the unexpected repair costs that result from non-thorough home inspections. Any unexpected repair costs will be your responsibility.