11.17.09 Aim for 80%
Did you know...
If you are looking
for the perfect home you will never find it. No home is perfect in
every way. What to do? Try to find a home that offers most of what
you want. List all your preferences. If a home meets 80% of them,
you will probably be happy with it.
Contact Joel, if you need more information on this, or any other Tip of the Week.
Previous Tips:
11.10.09
Start at the bottom
Did you know...
When shopping for a
foreclosure home for sale in the Hixson and Soddy Daisy area, always
check out the basement first. It is where most problems, such
as low ceilings, water problems, etc, will be found. If the basement
is okay, feel free to check out the rest of the home. But, if it is
worse shape than than you would care to tackle, save your time, move
on to a other homes for sale.
11.03.09
What time is it?
Did you know...
To really get to know the neighborhood
of a prospective home, visit at different times. Try driving through
in the morning, afternoons, evenings and weekends. That way you will
get an idea of what the neighborhood is like when there are
commuters, school kids, gardeners, and so on, are present.
10.27.09
Phone check
Did you know...
It is important to test your cell phone
at your prospective home. Why? The Chattanooga area is hilly and
wooded in many places. Different phone services have “dead spots”
in different locations. One service make get excellent coverage,
whereas another may not even get a signal. You should be aware of
this up front. Moving can be stressful. Having to change cell phone
service on top of moving can add to the stress. Find out early on.
10.20.09 “Vintage” wiring
Did you know...
You can sometimes tell if the a home
has an updated electrical system before you even go in. How? Look
at the service drop. (Where the electrical wires attach to the
house) If there are three wires, there is a good chance the home has
been updated. If there are only two, the home may have outdated
wiring.
10.13.09
When you need some headroom
Did you know...
Most buyers don't want a home with low
ceilings. They can make the interior feel stuffy and cramped. You
can spot low ceilings in most interior photos, though. How? Just
look above the interior doors on the main level. There should a span
about equal to the distance from your elbow to your wrist. Any
smaller, and the ceilings could be less than eight feet.
10.06.09 Rain or shine
Did you know...
The best time to view a home is when it is
raining. Why? You are seeing the home at its worst. If home and the
neighborhood appeal to you on a dreary day, bright sunny days will be
no problem. So grab the umbrella. It's time to go home shopping.
09.29.09 Time to go urban?
Did you know...
The Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise
(CNE) offers down payment assistance grants to buyers. Depending on
income, the down payment assistance can be as high as 30% of the
purchase price, with a portion forgiven after a few years. The grant
is combined with an FHA loan, or even some conventional loans. The
catch? Buyers need to purchase a home in the city limits. (A home
with both city and county taxes should qualify. But check with your
lender first.)
09.22.09
It takes two
Did you know...
Rural development loans are good
options for buyers needing 100% financing (with no mortgage
insurance). But they require two underwrites. One is done by a
private sector lender, and the other is done by the government (the
USDA). So, allow at least two extra weeks to close a purchase
involving a rural development loan.
09.15.09
Toilet tank investigations
Did you know...You
can usually tell the age of some houses by looking under the toilet
tank lid. Why? Toilets are fragile and cannot be make up
too far in advance. Often a toilet was shipped within three months
or so of the date stamped on the underside of the tank lid. It
likely was bought soon thereafter and installed in the house. Obviously, though, if the house had had a bathroom remodel in the
past, this would not hold true.
