Reports For Buyers

James and Michelle Rigdon purchased a new $427,000 Gilroy, CA home with a conventional $282,500 first mortgage, a $25,000 deferred payment California Housing Finance Agency second, an $85,000 third from South (Santa Clara) County Housing, a $6,500 fourth from the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and a $6,000 grant from a non-profit agency. That's what it's come to in Silicon Valley, CA an area where single family home prices have fallen nearly $40,000 in recent months but the median price of homes remain higher than a half million dollars. Instead of the traditional first and second mortgage to finance a home and cover the down payment, buyers are piling on more mortgages to acquire the American Dream…

Since Sept. 11, more and more Americans have pushed safety and security high on their list of requirements for the community where they might buy a home. Some are reconsidering the allure of big city urban living, especially when a greater use of technology can permit them to live virtually anywhere and telecommute to the city for work. Based on largely anecdotal evidence obtained from real estate agent interviews Forbes.com recently produced "The Best Houses in the Safest Places," a survey for luxury homes off the beaten path. The magazine found 16 cities in 11 states it deemed as "conceivably" safer than big cities…

Who needs seller financing? Most people think that it's for those who have damaged credit, or could not otherwise obtain conventional financing. That may be the case, and if indeed you have some credit issues that require seller financing, be prepared for the following terms…

There is no guarantee that real estate will continue to escalate in value as it has been doing over these past few years. Just ask anyone who purchased at the peak of the real estate market in the late l980's. Many owners found that their mortgage was greater than the depreciated value of their house, and it was not until the mid l990's that they were back in the black. How would you feel if you purchased a condominium unit today for $275,000, obtained a mortgage for $247,500 (i.e. 90 percent loan to value), and suddenly your unit was only worth $245,000? Make no mistake: while I unconditionally encourage everyone to be a homeowner, it may not be your greatest investment. Having dampened your enthusiasm, let's now turn to the other part of your question…

Your boyfriend will be paying half of the mortgage and half of the utilities. Does he have any interest in obtaining half of the property in the future - whether or not you stay together as a couple? Does he believe that he will be obtaining any ownership rights because he is making these payments? What about furniture? Will you be furnishing the entire house, or will your friend share in these expenses? What happens should you decide to split? Will you be able to afford to carry the house on your own, or will you need to get a roommate to assist you financially? If both of you were to go on title, the law is universal in the United States…

If you're close to buying a home in the coming year, then you'll want to keep a close eye on your holiday spending. You don't want to hamper your chances of getting a loan, and you'll want to be sure you have plenty of cash on hand in your first year of homeownership. The International Mass Retail Association in a late October survey estimated that holiday shoppers will spend an average of $863 on gifts this year. However, they ultimately end up spending some 15 to 30 percent more, the association says. Because your credit history is so important in obtaining a loan, you'll want to refrain from opening any credit accounts for major appliance or electronic purchases. You'll also want to avoid running your existing credit cards to their limits. Why? When you apply for a mortgage, the lender may request a credit score as well as a credit report…

If you're in the process of searching for or buying a home, you've probably been advised to have a home inspection. But there's another test that you'll want to make sure your potential home -- or, if you don't have plans to move, your current home -- passes - the radon test. Radon, a colorless and odorless decay product of uranium that occurs naturally in soil and rock, has been identified as a leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It causes 15,000 to 22,000 deaths a year. Radon can enter your home from the ground through cracks in walls, basement floors and foundations, and the risk of exposure increases during colder months when we keep our windows and doors closed and spend more time indoors…

Periodically you may hear from individuals who want to make $1 million in real estate -- quickly and with no money down. Usually they want to know more about real estate foreclosures -- how to buy them and how to profit from such homes. Foreclosure properties can be a good place to invest for exponential growth (or loss). There are some deals out there for little or no money down, but potential investors should take precautions because foreclosed properties can involve significant risks…

Most of the time, people have good intentions, but as a buyer, you need to protect yourself from mistakes the seller may make in giving you proper disclosures. This is especially important when it comes to environmental issues such as water damage that can lead to mold. While Realtor organizations are attempting to make it more difficult for sellers to conceal defects from buyers, state-mandated disclosures are often still a matter of interpretation. Some sellers may intend to provide proper disclosure, but may leave off material facts because they don't realize the significance…

The largest numbers of second homes are in states with large populations. The greatest percentage of second homes is in smaller and less populous states. The most popular locations for second homes are near bodies of water and mountains and second home buyers prefer rural settings to those more urban, but in most cases, second homes are within less than a day's drive from the primary residence. Second homes are everywhere. Among the 359,000 second homes sold last year, second homes were found in every state and in every region, according to the National Association of Realtors' "2002 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers"…