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The Real Estate Network

Open House Cafe

Blog by Remy Chausse
Tustin, California

You can search for homes for sale anytime at www.GoFindRealEstate.com I'm a southern California real estate agent, working with buyers and sellers who often say ... I've never done this before ... I have no idea what I'm doing! ... and we get through it together, as we both look forward to a successful transaction! I created the Open House Cafe to provide a warm and cozy format with tips for buying a new home (or selling the existing home). Every day is open house day for you to ask your real estate questions!

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For Buyers

Negotiate to Get What You Want

Nov. 3, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
What happens if the home you really want is now in multiple offers? When you're ready to buy a home, here are 5 tips to improve your chances of winning in a multiple offer situation.

How long before you can move into your new home?

Oct. 22, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
When can you actually take possession and move into your home? That depends on the terms of your contract. “Close of Escrow plus 3 days” is typical. Can you move in the same day escrow closes? Yes, if the sellers have already moved out. Usually, thoug

Ever wonder what mello roos tax is?

Oct. 14, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Tagged with: mello roos
Ever wonder what mello roos tax is? Or maybe you've said, "I don't want to buy a house with mello roos." Here's how it works, the benefits of having it, and what happens if you don't pay it.

You want to buy a house … but NOW WHAT?

Oct. 7, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Do you find yourself saying, “I want to buy a house, but I have no idea what I’m doing or what comes next?” Here’s a step-by-step checklist of how to get started:

Make sure that mortgage rate really locks

Sep. 30, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
When you're ready to buy a home, are you sure your mortgage rate is really locked? When you lock in an interest rate, a spoken commitment isn’t binding. Get your rate lock in writing, in the form of a loan commitment from the lender. Here's why . . .

Buy a home then do it again - Start small and work up in real estate

Sep. 16, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Here’s a simple & easy system for financial success through home ownership, one step at a time. You buy your first home, live there for awhile, then buy your next home while keeping the first as a rental property. You do this over and over. Here's how .

Home Warranties

Sep. 10, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
The most important thing you can ask your home warranty representative is, “What ISN’T covered?” A good rule of thumb is this: if the part or service required does not affect the functioning of the working unit, it is not covered.

Should you offer low on a house?

Sep. 2, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Should you offer low when you want to buy a home? Here's what works and what doesn't ... and why. Know this before looking at homes for sale, because when you want to buy a house, the right strategy counts!

What it really costs to buy a home

Aug. 26, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
If you've wondered how to buy a house, and what it really costs, understanding the 5 basic elements are pretty simple. Here’s what it costs to buy a home, what it costs to maintain it, how your tax deductions work, and how it compares to renting.

Foreclosure Listing and Report Services - What You Should Know

Aug. 20, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
The following is our Top Ten List of the most absurd claims, promises and/or sales pitches we've ever heard from foreclosure services.

How to Write a Good Offer

Aug. 13, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
All good offers have 3 things in common ... these tips guide you in a realistic offer price, realistic financing terms, and how to ask for repairs from the seller.

How Much Home Can You Afford?

Aug. 5, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Here's a guideline that may change the way you view home ownership. Do you think it's cheaper to rent? Well, let's see how much home you can afford and have the same monthly cost as your current rent with this simple formula.

Foreclosure Auctions

Jul. 30, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
With mortgage foreclosures rising to historic levels, many home buyers see foreclosure auctions as a smart way to enter overpriced markets. Here’s how to prepare for an auction …

How to shop for a loan

Jul. 22, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
How do you shop for a loan? Here are some easy tips from someone who's NOT a loan broker about what you're REALLY shopping for . . . and also what NOT to do when looking for the right loan and the right loan broker.

Finding a Fixer-Upper

Jul. 15, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Fixers aren’t very popular in the mainstream market. Most people don’t want the hassle or financial uncertainties associated with doing a major rehab. Here’s how to separate a Diamond in the rough from a Dump

Do you want a 15-year or a 30-year mortgage?

Jul. 9, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
The main advantage to a 30-year mortgage (over a 15-year) is the lower monthly payments that free up more of your income for other purposes, such as saving for retirement.

Can you buy a house? (Facts vs. Myths)

Jun. 24, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Are you short that 20 percent down payment? Have you been in a job less than five years? Is that out-of-control college credit card frenzy years ago keeping you from even thinking about applying for a home loan? Find out if these are fact or fiction ...

Should you pay off debt before buying a home?

Jun. 10, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Paying off debt before buying a home may not be as important as having cash on-hand. If you're looking to buy a home, but you're concerned about your credit card debt, what do you do? People often ask whether they should pay off debt before buying a home.

Home Buying Tip: Improve Your Credit

Jun. 3, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
Home Buying Tip: Improve Your Credit. 35% of your score is based on your payment history. But what about the rest of your score?

What's a buy-down?

May. 27, 2009
Categorized in: For Buyers
On a $100,000 loan, one point equals $1,000. This cost is paid to buy a lower interest rate. If you keep a property 5 years or less, you might not recover this cost . If keep the home a long time, discount points are an excellent upfront investment.