People might purchase a home foreclosure that requires some repairs before it is considered suitable for families to live in. They learn quickly about buying home remodeling items such as sinks, bathroom countertops, and toilets that might make the bathroom useable, and for the kitchen, people think about buying home remodeling items such as double-sinks with sprayers, new appliances, and a new light fixture that will light up the stove burners with elegant lighting.

When buying home remodeling items, people focus on two issues, quality and price. There are many appliances that will typically perform the same but it is the individual styles that people look before the continue buying home remodeling items in this type of price range.

The appliances might have a glass top that does not show burner fixtures, and would truly add to the value of the home. These cooking appliances are a large fixture in any kitchen and are considered carefully when people go buying home remodeling items.

The dishwasher is another item that many homeowners prefer to have, even if they do not use it all of the time. There are other people that plan to use it everyday because they feel that the heating elements will kill germs better than washing dishes by hand. All of these concerns are considered when people plan to go buying home remodeling items.

There are a large assortment of home lighting fixtures that need to be placed throughout the kitchen, and others that are perfectly suited for a bathroom. When buying home remodeling items for the kitchen, lighting sources can be found that fit over the stove, under the counter areas, and over the sink area.

When buying home remodeling items, people try to find discount coupons that can be used to save additional home remodeling budget funds. These discount coupons might be from the retailer, or from the manufacturer. People review all available discount coupons to make the right choice when they are buying home remodeling items.

There are home remodeling classes that homeowners can take that will teach them how to apply some of the grouts, wall textures, and wall papers items that they find when buying home remodeling items. The items will make a dramatic difference in any room of the home where they are used, and people want to do the job right on the first attempt. When buying home remodeling items, people want to be sure that they know how to create a professional finish with the items that they buy.

When people are buying home remodeling items for the bathroom, especially countertop and cabinetry, they want to take the time to measure the bathroom area correctly. Otherwise, they might not have enough room to place the bathroom fixtures and furniture items that they found while buying home remodeling items.

All fixtures are considered when setting up a budget to use when buying home remodeling items. From cabinet handles, to shower and curtain rods in a bathroom, to the knobs that will be used on certain cabinets in a kitchen. Some people prefer to use magnet closures on cabinets that are opened and closed everyday. When buying home remodeling items, the little details must be considered at all times.

 Miami FHA Home  Loans -((97% W/530 FICO)) Buying a Miami Home using a FHA Mortgage

Miami Dade County Mortgage

Providing mortgage solutions for real estate buyers and owners throughout the Miami Dade county area.

Like many home buyers and homeowners looking for a mortgage in Miami and Dade county, 1st Continental Mortgage has weathered the storm and come out stronger and wiser. With a keen focus on core principles and products like the FHA home loan, we’re ready and able to make a broad range of real estate loans throughout Miami Dade County.

Mortgage Programs With Minimal Down payment and Closing Cost

• Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price
• 100% Financing options available
• Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards buyers costs.
• No cash or bank reserves are required.
• FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines

• No minimum Credit Score or credit score requirements.
• FHA will allow a home purchase 1 year after a Bankruptcy.
• FHA will allow a home purchase 2 year after a Foreclosure.

Apply now at www.FHAmortgagePrograms.com

A Dade County Mortgage Lender with Years of Experience!
Experience counts when choosing a mortgage lender, especially in the current Dade County real estate market where home values have slipped and lenders are scrutinizing loan applications far more closely.

It is especially important for first-time home buyers in Dade County communities like Miami Beach and Coral Gables to work with a knowledgeable, service-oriented, and experienced residential loan expert like the ones at 1st Continental Mortgage. Call today at 1-800-570-0448.

Dade County’s FHA Home Loan Boom

As experts in Dade County FHA loans, 1st Continental home loan specialists have helped first time home buyers in communities such as Aventura and West Miami, FL secure the funding necessary to buy homes.

With low interest rates and a glut of homes on the market in Dade County, it’s an excellent time for renters to become first time home buyers in Miami-Dade communities from Bal Harbor to Virginia Gardens.

Because FHA home loans are government backed, lenders making loans on property in Dade County can qualify buyers who have less than perfect credit so long as they have a stable employment history, have a modest down payment, and meet the other FHA home loan requirements.

In the last 6 months, we have seen record numbers of applications for FHA financing from Dade County from cities like Opa-Loca, Pinecrest, and Miami Gardens.

To learn more about the FHA home loan program or to apply for an FHA mortgage in Dade County cities such as North Miami or North Miami Beach, call 1st Continental Mortgage at1-800-570-0448.

Working with experienced Dade County FHA lender will help you get the right home loan. You will have a broker with substantial experience in FHA mortgages, government guaranteed VA home loans, and other special mortgage programs for which you may qualify helping you secure the right loan to buy your Dade County home.

Very few things are worse for you as a home buyer than working with a mortgage broker without enough experience in FHA loans to properly prepare and document a loan application. At a minimum, it delays getting your financing approved. At worst, it can result in your missing your closing date, losing out on a home you want, or not getting approved for an FHA loan at all.

Preparing to Buy a Home in Dade County: Mortgage Pre qualification and Mortgage Pre approval

When a home priced below market in Sunny Isles Beach, FL or Miami Springs, FL comes on the market, it doesn’t last. The selling agent is going to accept the best offer from a pre-approved buyer because he or she does not want to tie up the property with a Home Buyer who can’t get the mortgage financing to close the deal.

Many Dade County real estate agents insist on getting a pre-approval letter with any offer. Because some Dade County mortgage brokers were doing pre qualification letters on nothing more than a conversation with a potential buyer – no credit check, no verification of employment or assets – many Dade County Realtors now require more than a pre qualification letter to accompany any offer to buy.

What does that mean to you?

Get a mortgage pre approval before you look at any homes in Bay Harbor Islands, FL or Florida City or anywhere in Dade County. You will know exactly how much home you can afford, and selling agents will be more likely to accept your offer because you have demonstrated your ability to get financing for your Dade County home.

How Having the Right Mortgage Lender Helps You

Many Dade County home buyers focus on finding the perfect home, not on finding the right mortgage lender to help them get the best loan to finance it. As a result, they pay higher-than-necessary interest rates and get home loans with less than ideal terms.

A good mortgage lender will help you by doing these things:

• Doing the preliminary work to give you an accurate picture of the price range of Dade County home that you can afford: Whether you are qualifying for a Jumbo loan to buy a luxury condo in South Miami or a manufactured home loan to buy a lot and home in Homestead, Florida, you need to know how large a loan you can get before you start home shopping in Dade County;

• Identifying the best mortgage program to use to buy your home in Doral or Key Biscayne or any other Dade County community: The team of mortgage brokers from 1st Continental Mortgage will be happy to help you compare Dade County mortgage programs to assure you of getting the best combination of rate and terms on your home purchase or refinance;

• Explaining the documentation required to get your Dade County home loan: Your licensed FL mortgage broker will assemble your loan package and check that you have met your lender’s requirements before he submits your loan package to the lender;

• Giving you an accurate good faith estimate on your Dade County home loan: Some Dade County brokers are notorious for playing games with the numbers on their good faith estimates. They underestimate insurance costs or taxes or omit line items to make the bottom line on their good faith estimates come in lower than those of other Dade County mortgage brokers. These shady mortgage brokers count on the fact that their deception will not become apparent to the home buyer until the HUD arrives right before the closing. Then, the home buyer will pay the difference just to avoid having to start over with another mortgage broker and Florida mortgage lender. It’s unethical, but mortgage brokers in Miami, FL and Miami Shores Village, FL do it all the time. It’s no way to earn a reputation as a competent and customer-focused mortgage broker in Dade County. Expect a properly prepared good faith estimate and white glove service from 1st Continental Mortgage, whether you are buying a home in Hialeah, Miami Springs or any of the other cities in Dade County.

• Keeping you updated on the progress of your lender in approving your financing for your Dade County home: 1st Continental Mortgage will be proactive in keeping you informed of the status of your Dade County home loan and in dealing with any issues that might delay the closing of your Dade County FHA loan in Hialeah Gardens or any other Dade County neighborhood. Whether you are refinancing an ARM in South Bay Village or getting a mobile home loan in Pahokee, we will give you the best combination of interest rates and terms on your Dade County mortgage.

• Coordinating the activities of the many professionals who play a role in getting your Dade County home loan closed: Your 1st Continental Dade County mortgage specialist will be your liaison in dealing with Realtors, appraisers, home inspectors, underwriters, title company representatives, etc. You can relax knowing that your mortgage broker is taking care of the details so that your closing will happen on-time and without any surprises.

1st Continental Mortgage’s mortgage pros will be your single point of contact for your mortgage in Biscayne Park or El Portal or any other Dade County city. Call them today at 800-570-0448.

Dade County Pre foreclosure and Bank Owned Properties Attract Miami Real Estate Investors

Prices that are much lower than a year or two ago and the high rate of foreclosure on sub-prime mortgages has created strong interest in Dade County real estate among real estate investors. Many of our best repeat mortgage customers in Dade County are real estate investors purchasing pre-foreclosure homes in cities like Medley, FL or South Miami or rehabbers buying and flipping REOs in Surfside or Sweetwater.

Seasoned real estate investors recognize that now is an excellent time to be bargain hunting in Dade County’s real estate market. With the long term prospects for continued population growth and with good prospects for the Dade economy, now may be the right time to buy investment property in Dade County.

FHA 203b home loans allow qualified home buyers to borrow 100% of the purchase price of a home and up to $5000 to make repairs on Fannie Mae foreclosures. FHA home loans and specialized home loans such as the FHA 203b loan have been popular home loans for investing in Miami Dade County real estate.

Whether you are buying a first home with an FHA mortgage in North Bay Village, building a custom luxury home in Islandia, or looking to buy a bargain priced pre foreclosure using a conventional mortgage in Indian Creek Village, you should start now by calling 1st Continental Mortgage at 1-800-570-0448. Don’t miss the best opportunity to buy a home in Dade County in decades.

If you are considering purchasing or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate, you will most likely need the services of a real estate appraiser. An appraiser performs an assessment of properties and other types of real estate to help establish its value. While there are several methods appraisers use to establish the value of real estate (e.g. cost method, income method, and comparison method), for residential properties, the comparison method (also known as market value) is the most common approach. The appraiser’s job is to provide an opinion about the value of a property based on its “highest and best use.” If you are financing the purchase of a property, your lender will normally require an appraisal to make sure that the property is really worth the amount loaned.

The real estate appraiser is tasked with carrying out a completely objective assessment of a property and will normally provide a written evaluation report. This is accomplished by a physical inspection of the property, as well as a comparison to other similar properties for which the value is already established. To make a determination about value, the appraiser gathers details such as the size of a property, size of the lot, location, condition, best use of the property, amenities, etc.

After this initial inspection, the appraiser may scout the neighborhood to compare the property with other similar properties in the neighborhood by age, size, price range, etc. The appraiser then gathers additional data from several sources such as the local Multiple Listing Services (MLS), which provides information on current and recent comparable sales. The appraiser also gathers information from his/her own past experience in the local market. All of these sources of information are taken into consideration while writing the appraisal report, which will provide an estimate about the value of a property.

There are many reasons to use the services of a qualified appraiser. When purchasing real estate, an appraisal provides you with a negotiating tool and helps ensure that the price you are paying is appropriate. If you are selling your property, the appraisal will help you determine an appropriate price range. Besides real estate and mortgage transactions, you may need to order an appraisal to lower the tax burden (assuming the value is really lower than the value established by taxing authorities), to establish the replacement cost of insurance, to settle an estate, etc. An appraiser only gives an estimate of the value of the property. A real estate appraiser is not to be confused with a home inspector.

If you are considering buying or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate, you can use the services of a qualified real estate appraiser who will provide an estimate of the fair market value of your property.

Most real estate purchases are bought with loans so getting a good faith estimate and pre-approval letter from your lender helps the process start off on the right foot. The good faith estimate, or GFE for short, is required by law to be provided by lenders when you are seeking a loan. It lists out the estimated closing costs, monthly payments, and interest rates for the loan program you are looking at getting. The pre-approval letter is provided by lenders once they have run your credit and get your income / debt information. By getting the GFE and pre-approval letter, you can be confident that the loan will get processed with no surprises. There are also additional benefits to getting pre-approval and GFE before you even begin the property search. For one, by discussing your debt to income ratio with your lender and obtaining the GFE, you can determine your maximum price. It helps to know the maximum sales price when shopping around so that you do not waste time and energy looking a over-priced properties, and also vice verse, you do not waste time and energy looking at under-priced properties. You can find an area in your price range that fits your needs and narrow down your search. You also will determine your monthly payments with the GFE. The monthly payments should include the property taxes, insurance, principle, and interest plus any private mortgage insurance (PMI). If the monthly payments are higher than you wanted, then you can adjust your sales price to be lower. Another reason to get your pre-approval and GFE before starting your home search is that you may find out some issues with your credit or financial situation that you could clean up before moving forward with a purchase. For example, the first time I bought a house, I found out that I had a $50 charge on my credit report from 3 years ago, which brought my credit score down. And with a lower credit score, I would have gotten a worse interest rate on the loan. I say ‘would have’ because I was able to pay off this collection and clear up the ding on my credit before going into the loan underwriting process. Finally, by getting a pre-approval letter, you have proof for a seller that a lender has confidence in being able to fund the purchase on your behalf. This helps with presenting offers and negotiating. Many sellers will not even accept an offer unless it is accompanied by a lender’s letter. Furthermore, if you do not have a letter, the seller may counter higher given that he feels he is taking on more risk that you may not be qualified for the loan amount. Also, if you happen to get into a multiple offer situation, your offer will be much stronger with a pre-approval letter.

When people call me, typically one of the first requests they make is for a house in a “nice” neighborhood. And this makes sense to want a neighborhood that is safe and enjoyable. But there are some benefits to buying real estate in the rough part of town or on the wrong side of the tracks. This article highlights some of them.

- There is less worry of your neighborhood going downhill because it is already downhill. Good neighborhoods can get bad and bad neighborhoods can get better. Since the price usually reflects the current condition, buying in a neighborhood that has room for improvement might be a good idea.

- If you are buying a rental, you usually get better cash flow in rough neighborhoods. If you are renting your property, there are more renters and they are more long term. It’s difficult to rent in good neighborhoods because fewer people are looking to rent and those who do are generally there short term while they look for a house to buy.

- You can look better in comparison to other landlords. Landlords in rough areas frequently don’t maintain their properties as well as people in nice areas. Therefore, if you maintain your properties, you can blow away your competition, and charge more for it.

- If you are in a rough neighborhood, you can propose that your property change will improve the neighborhood and you have a better chance of getting a different zoning. Conversely, if you are in a good neighborhood, it’s hard to make the same argument.

- You can buy more property. If you want to spend 500k, you can either buy one house in an upscale neighborhood or six or seven houses in a rougher neighborhood.

- They’re more recession proof. When the economy goes south, real estate in rough neighborhoods is less affected.

In summary, I am not saying you have to buy in a bad neighborhood. But simply that if you are looking for long term investments sometimes its a good idea to wander over the tracks and look around a bit.

When you start the process of buying a home or any type of real estate, you’ll no doubt hear the term “earnest money deposit” (EMD). So what exactly is an EMD?

An EMD becomes relevant when you are ready to make an offer on a property. In most states, your Real Estate Agent prepares the offer on your behalf. The offer usually takes the form of a written contract that is submitted to the seller by way of their agent.

In addition to the offer document, sellers typically expect an EMD. An EMD is a monetary deposit submitted via check to demonstrate to the seller that you are a serious buyer. In some regions of the country, only a photocopy of the check is submitted with the offer, and the original check is delivered to the appropriate entity if the offer is accepted. Ask your Real Estate Agent to clarify how deposits are handled in your region of the country.

The check is usually made out to an independent third- party such as a Title Company, Escrow Company, Real Estate Attorney or your Real Estate Broker. Ask your Real Estate Agent to clarify who will hold the EMD.

The amount of the EMD sellers expect varies by region. The EMD amount is based on the customs and practices for a region, but is generally from 1% to 2% of the purchase price. In a competitive market place where demand exceeds the supply of homes, some buyers may offer a higher EMD than expected to impress the seller of their intent. In determining the amount of your EMD, consult your Real Estate Agent and balance the need to demonstrate your serious intent, against the good business practice of minimizing the deposit amount.

The amount of the EMD is usually applied to reduce the purchase price of the property or to cover closing costs, as you dictate. For example, if you are purchasing a $300,000 property and you give an EMD of $3000, then the remaining balance owned at closing is $297,000 (plus closing costs). Alternatively, you may direct that the EMD be applied toward the closing costs.

Once a valid contract for purchase is created, an independent third-party usually holds the EMD until the purchase is either completed or cancelled. At this point, the money belongs jointly to both the seller and the buyer.

In cases where you make an offer that is accepted but later decide to cancel the offer, the terms specified in the contract (or state law) will dictate if, and under what circumstances, the EMD is returned to you. Be aware that you could loose your deposit if you do not not comply with the terms of your contract. Your Real Estate Agent can provide you information about how EMDs are dealt with if a contract is cancelled.

Since state law varies by region and practices can differ even within the same state, be sure to consult your Real Estate agent about the rules that apply to EMDs in your region of the country. You should also be aware that the EMD is not related to any down payment that you make toward your home loan.

The real estate market tends to be cyclical with some periods favoring buyers and other periods favoring sellers. As with other free markets, the pricing and availability of real estate is directly related to the forces of supply and demand. While many real estate markets in the United States are experiencing a substantial slowdown, other markets remain robust, and some even continue to grow. What makes the situation even more complicated is that even within a particular city or county, there may be some areas that are hot and others that are cold.

In regions of the country in which the real estate market is slowing, there are some things homebuyers can do to increase their chance of getting the property that they want on terms that are favorable. Below are some strategies to consider:

1. Clarify What You Want. Be sure to understand what kind of property you want (e.g. bedrooms, bathrooms, size, yard, location, etc.). Identify items that you “must have” and items that you would be willing to forego if your other priorities were met.

2. Consult Experts. You’ve no doubt heard the saying that “all real estate is local,” so arm yourself with the best information available. Consult a local real estate expert who can guide you about what communities are hot and which ones are not. Obviously, you are more likely to find deals in communities that have excess supply and limited demand than vice versa.

3. Understand Market Data. Obtaining and evaluating data can be one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. Identify communities that you find desirable and ask your real estate agent to provide you relevant sales statistics. For example, your agent can provide you:

a. A summary of how many properties are available in communities that you deem desirable.

b. How long properties are taking to sell this month, last month, last quarter, last year, etc.

c. How many properties have sold this month, last month, last quarter, last year, etc.

d. Changes in the median and average price of properties for a community this month, last month, last quarter, last year, etc.

e. Data on the sales price to list price ratio (SP: LP). This ratio provides information about how much, on average, sellers are reducing their price.

f. Detailed data on properties that are similar to the type of property you desire (often known as “comparables” or “comps”).

4. High Inventory Communities. Identify, or ask your agent to identify, communities that appear to be particularly slow, and that have an unusually large inventory of homes. You will have a broader variety of options in these communities, and you may increase the likelihood of finding a better deal.

5. Loan Pre-Approval. Be sure to consult with your bank or mortgage broker and obtain a loan pre-approval document. This not only let’s you know how much you can afford, but it also demonstrates to sellers that you are a serious buyer and that your offer is worthy of serious consideration.

6. Seller’s Motivation. While information about why a seller is selling is usually confidential, there are situations in which the seller will allow their agent to disclose important factors regarding their personal situation. Be sure to ask your agent to inquire about any information that the seller has disclosed to his/her agent that can be conveyed to your agent. This information may help you decide on making an offer on a property and the price you wish to offer.

7. Home Inspection. A home inspection conducted by a qualified inspector can provide you valuable information about the condition of a property. Moreover, if there are items that need repair or replacement, you can use this information to modify your offer price or terms.

8. Expand Search Scope. As mentioned above, even within a particular city or county, there may be some areas that are hot and others that are not. Be sure to provided detailed information about what you want to your agent, so that he/she can provide you a variety of community options.

9. Be Patient. Time is on your side when there is excess supply and insufficient demand. Try not to “fall in love” with a house so much that you cannot be objective. It may be that multiple offers and counter-offers occur before you either get the property you want or decide to walk way from a deal. You may also want to look at more properties than you normally would, so that you are exposed to a variety of options.

While the above is not an exhaustive list of strategies, it is a good starting point of issues to consider when buying real estate, particularly in a market that favors buyers. Obtain the services of a knowledgeable Real Estate agent who can provide you with additional strategies to help you reach your real estate objectives.

In today’s world, garden offices have gained much popularity and are in great demand. People purchase garden rooms from different suppliers and manufactures. However, there are certain essential things that a person needs to consider before purchasing a garden office. A person, prior to purchasing garden offices, should ensure that he is getting the best deal. There are ten essential things that should be considered before buying a garden office or garden studio.

Before purchasing a garden office one must be sure of the purpose that it would serve. This will help the person to ascertain whether the requirements of the building can be met by the design. If the building is being purchased to be used as a garden office, sufficient amount of lighting should be provided. If the room is to be used as a gym, then there should be provision for sufficient ventilation. If it is for the purpose of garden a lodge, then there should be provision for proper heating.

The position of one’s garden office is also of utmost importance. One rarely requires planning permission most of the time as long as the garden office is situated at a distance of 5 metres from the person’s home and occupies less than 50% of the garden’s area. Permission is also not required if the garden office or garden studio is built for private use and is about 20 metres away from any public place.

A person while buying a garden office or garden studio should also be careful about the height of the building. However, the height of the modular garden offices should not exceed 4 metres. If the height of the garden office exceeds 4 metres a person will have to seek permission. Permission also has to be taken if the building consists of two or more floors. Permission also has to be taken if the size of the rooms exceeds 30 Sq metres.

Further, a person prior to buying a garden room should be sure of the type of room he requires. A person buying a room for a garden studio should ensure that the room is in accordance to his requirements. The design of the room should also be taken into account.

A person buying a room for the purpose of running a garden office should also check the materials used for both constructing and designing the office. There are numerous suppliers who can provide the best garden offices. For information regarding garden offices and garden studios visit