New home planned communities or developments are popping up all across our country. Statistics show that up to 1.6 million new homes are being constructed each year. If you’re a homebuyer searching for a new home, there’s nothing like the anticipation of moving into a brand new home tailored just for you. In spite of the positive features offered by a new home, there are negative features you should be aware of. First let’s go over the positive features:

1) You’ll Be The First Owner - There’s nothing like the feeling of moving into a brand new home designed just for you. You can expect everything to be immaculately clean.

2) The House Was Designed Just For You - With a new home you get the opportunity to customize certain features of the home including the paint color, type of flooring, and grade of fixtures. You also get the option to select the floor plan suited to your particular needs.

3) Modern Conveniences - You’ll find new homes offering features designed just for today’s lifestyle. Convenient features like an attached 3 car garage, open floor plan, and high speed phone and cable lines. New homes also come with built-in energy saving appliances that won’t need replacing for at least a few years.

4) Environmentally Friendly - New homes for sale are constructed with energy efficient materials so you’ll not only save on heating and cooling costs, you’ll use less of mother nature’s resources.

5) Community Planning - New homes tend to be built in master planned communities which feature convenient facilities such as swimming pools and community centers. These developments usually have homeowner rules and regulations you need to abide by.

Now lets study the negative features:

6) More Expensive - As you price the new home market, you’ll find they cost more than older homes. However when it comes to selling your new home, the resale value will be higher. Another benefit to buying a new home is you can find some good financing deals offered by the builder.

7) Less Protection - Instead of having a Realtor represent your interests and advise you during the homebuying process, you’ll have to deal with the developer’s salesperson.
You’re The First To Find Flaws - Buying a new home can be an exciting process, but you’ll be the first to discover any flaws your new home may have. New homes are not without problems and the construction materials used aren’t as durable as older homes.

9) Postponed Finish Date - While a builder has the best intentions of completing a new home by the deadline, it’s not uncommon for the completion date to be pushed farther out. Unfortunately builders seldom pay you for the delay.

10) Homeowner Rules - Most new home planned communities require you to abide by their list of regulations governing use of your home. There isn’t much you can do to get around these rules unless you plan on moving out.

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If you’ve ever given much thought to buying a vintage property, you should be aware of certain advantages and disadvantages before following through with the purchase of one. Let’s explore these in detail:

1) Lower Price - As you search through listings of homes for sale, you’ll find older homes selling for less than newer ones. This feature makes it an attractive option for homebuyers on a tight budget. However, the opposite can be true in certain metropolitan areas where land costs are high.

2) Construction - You’ll find the workmanship and construction materials used in older homes to be higher in quality. Most older homes feature thicker beams, solid fixtures, heavy wood doors, and thicker walls.

3) Established Community - It’s easier to experience the ambiance of the neighborhood by walking down the streets of an established neighborhood. With new homes, you only have architectural drawings and empty dirt lots to look at.

4) Established Landscaping - With older neighborhoods, you can stroll through the community and enjoy full grown trees, bushes, and mature landscaping. Newer homes will take years to fully develop.

5) Charm - Older homes tend to display greater details and character such as built-in cabinetry, artistic crown moldings, and classic wood floors. Newer homes usually lack these charming details unless you’re willing to spend money to upgrade it.

Although there are many benefits to owning an older home, there are also drawbacks:

6) You Need To Invest Money To Upgrade The House - Unless it’s been remodeled, an older home will come with well used appliances and fixtures. Plan on replacing worn faucets, water heaters, and outdated lighting.

7) Higher Energy Costs - While older homes use more durable materials for construction, they aren’t the most energy efficient. Be prepared for higher heating and cooling costs with an older home.
Decor - Older homes tend to have outdated wallpaper, paint colors, and flooring. Be prepared to spend lots of time removing and upgrading the decor to suit your taste.

9) Floor Plan Layout - Older homes were built for a different time period so you’ll find smaller rooms and a less functional layout. Unless you plan on remodeling your home, you’ll have to use your creativity to fit a flat screen plasma TV or home office.

10) Resale Value Is Less - Although older homes are more affordable, they also have lower resale value compared to newer homes of equal size and features.

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If you’re in the market to purchase a fixer upper home, what criteria should you use to select one? While the concept of making a profit by fixing and turning over homes seems attractive, the outcome can be financially devastating if you select the wrong type of fixer-upper.

The ideal property would require very minor fixing up such as removing outdated wallpaper or linoleum. However since there are many other buyers and investors looking for simple fixer-uppers, you’ll have a hard time locating one. But don’t give up hope, there are certain fixer-uppers other buyers will overlook, especially if they’re visibly unappealing from the street.

In contrast to the minor fixer-upper, you’ll find homes in need of major repairs including structural changes, adding rooms, demolishing walls, and much more. Unless you have a relative who’s a contractor, you’re smarter to skip these money draining properties, especially if they contain major health violations (like mold) or are unlivable due to extreme damage. Let’s explore the 3 reasons you should pass up these type of properties:

1) Bank Approval May Be Difficult - A bank may deny your loan until you complete a minimum number of repairs. If your budget can’t afford these repairs, you won’t be approved for a loan.

2) Repair Costs Can Exceed What You’re Willing To Spend - If the reason you purchased a fixer was due to financial limitations, how will you come up with the money for additional repairs? Don’t be fooled into thinking a basic cosmetic fixer won’t need some minor reconstruction work. If you still decide to buy a home needing significant remodeling work, be sure you set aside additional funds for future projects.

3) Are You Prepared For The Daily Disruption? - If you’re a first time homebuyer, you may not be prepared to take time off work to supervise a contractor’s progress and deal with unplanned delays. The daily interruptions can have a negative impact on your family relationship so be sure to discuss this with your family.

The best choice among fixer-uppers would fall somewhere between the two extremes: a cosmetic fixer in need of reasonable repairs you can complete yourself or with the help of a handyman or contractor. Select a house needing minor improvements such as repainting, replacing wood flooring, or replacing a toilet. Avoid major remodeling such as new copper plumbing or a new foundation. Once you locate a home that fits your needs, be sure to:

1) Consult with your local city’s building department to determine if the changes you want to perform are acceptable. Most cities have restrictions and codes regarding wiring and plumbing remodels, setback distance, height limits, and other restrictions.

2) Consults with a professional such as an architect, contractor, or engineer before you start the process of adding a second floor or extra bedroom. This will reduce the chances of investing time and money into a project that may not be feasible.

3) If you plan on purchasing a fixer with a partner, make sure to sit down and discuss how all parties will deal with the inconveniences and headaches associated with remodeling such as time off work and supervising contractors.

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When considering your next home purchase, you’ll want to pay close attention to the property’s location. When you buy a home in a desirable location of town, it will be much easier to sell as more people are willing to purchase it. This will definitely raise your resale value and you benefit from a higher profit margin. However if you buy a home in less searched for locations, the resale value will be lower due to less demand. Let’s examine some of the neighborhood features that can raise the value of your home.

1) Local School District - Higher rated public school districts increase the demand for homes in that community. If you plan on sending your kids to the local public schools, you’ll want to put this at the top of your criteria for the ideal neighborhood. If you’ll be using a private school for your children, this feature may not be so important.

2) City Crime Rate - Living in a community with low crime is a great feature. You’ll find that metropolitan areas have a higher crime rate compared to rural areas. If you decide to live in a rural area because of the low crime rate, be aware that you’ll invest more time on the road traveling to work and other activities.

3) Quality of Shopping and Amenities - You’ll find that communities with a greater variety of shopping and activities attract more homebuyers to that area. This in turn increases the resale value of homes in that community.

4) Home Size - Be sure to buy a home with a square footage similar to those surrounding it. A larger home located among smaller homes will sell for less than if located in a community of similar large size homes. You may be tempted to buy one because of the increase affordability, but be aware the tradeoff is your home will not appreciate as quickly since most home buyers attracted to that area are searching for smaller sized homes. Homes that are uniquely remodeled and out of character for the community will also have a lower resale value as the property clashes with the uniform styling of other homes next to it.

5) Is The Neighborhood Becoming More Popular? - Does the neighborhood look up and coming? If you take a tour of the community and see homeowners remodeling their homes, new landscape, and new stylish boutiques opening up, that’s a good sign the community value will increase in the future. If you get in at the right time, you could end up with a higher profit margin when you sell. A visit to the local city planning department will tell you if a community is undergoing a renovation.

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Purchasing your next home should include detailed research on its location. If you’ve been renting for most of your life, deciding on a location may not have mattered because you could rent another place. However, when it comes to choosing a home to live in for the next several years, a good location goes a long way to helping you live comfortably.

Once you settle into a home, the last thing you want to do is move again soon. Your focus is on getting comfortable with your new neighbors and the surrounding community. Buying a home with an ideal location also raises your resale value for bigger profits.

Every person has their own wish list of the ideal neighborhood to live in. Be sure you pick one that meets your particular needs. Let’s go over the five features you need to be aware of:

1) How Safe is the Community? While we all prefer to live in a city with low crime, there’s always a trade off for this feature. Rural areas tend to have less crime than metropolitan areas. But are you willing to settle for less amenities and the convenience of having resources close by?

2) Amenities and Accessibility - These are important factors that make a big impact on your daily schedule. Daily activities such as work, children’s school, daycare, market, doctors, public transportation and entertainment consume a large portion of your time. Living farther from these resources means longer drive times and less free time for other activities. Think carefully about how much time you want to spend traveling.

3) Appeal of the Community - Some of you will prefer uniform master planned communities while others prefer the historic charm where a variety of home styles are displayed. Neighborhood characteristics such as the landscape, trees, and surrounding restaurants should match your tastes.

4) Schools - The quality of the public schools will be an important feature if you have children. Even if you don’t plan on having children, your home will have a higher resale value when you do sell. If your kids will be attending private schools, this feature may not be as important.

5) Taxes and Hazard Insurance Costs While buying a home, it’s easy to forget about other mandatory costs such as property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Check with the local tax assessor’s office or ask your Realtor how much the property taxes are for that area. You can call an insurance agent to get quotes for homeowner and car insurance premiums for that neighborhood.

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The purpose of a home inspection is to determine the condition of the major systems, and the safety and habitability of the home. It’s not to tell you things that are obvious like cosmetic concerns.
A professional home inspector will examine all your buildings major systems and some will provide Thermal Imaging for free. Some basic inspectors will not open any electrical or attic hatches if they need to use a screwdriver for example. If your home is older and has a small attic access opening it is recommended that you choose a home inspector that can fit through the access or your attic will not be inspected.

Some Real Estate agents have a particular home inspector that they like to use. I have seen agent who will use different home inspectors based on the condition of the home and problems that may be encountered. Not all Real Estate agents are created equal, and the same can be said for home inspectors. There will always be interaction between the two just because of the nature of business. Home Inspections have become common place for the majority of real estate transactions and eventually the cream will rise and the rest will settle to the bottom.

The tactics used to encourage a prospective buyer to use a particular inspector include: “We’ve had good luck with this inspector” or “this inspector has the lowest fee” or “we use this inspector all the time” or “this inspector can schedule an inspection on a day’s notice” or “this inspector only takes an hour and he gives you a report right on the spot.” For instance, in the first stage of discussion about having the home inspected, the real estate agent may recommend to the buyer a “good” home inspector with whom they have worked with for several years. Some agents may have a list of three inspectors who have been carefully screened not to be deal killers.

Contrary to popular belief, it is often not advisable to select the home inspector that your real estate agent is offering you. Why you may ask? Well, it is possible that your real estate agent and their preferred home inspector have a long-standing relationship. You see, real estate agents are in the business of selling homes. Home inspectors are in the business of inspecting homes. If a real estate agent is not able to sell homes, then it is likely the home inspector will not have homes to inspect. So their relationship is one of mutual interests. Some real estate agents even go so far as to expect their home inspector to gloss over some of the more significant findings of a home inspection. In that way, the inspection report is very simplistic and doesn’t alarm the potential buyer to issues that may be apparent in the home. Fortunately in this age of the Internet, it is very simple to do your homework to determine who the best inspectors are in your city. Search engines are a marvelous tool and should get you started off in the right direction in selecting your home inspector.

Most people you ask will tell you to visit a home inspector’s website, check the BBB for complaints, ask local Realtors, and family and friends who have recently purchased a home. But you need to do more than that. What’s at stake here? Keep in mind that you are about to embark on a purchase that could have far-reaching consequences. Buy a good home with minimal problems and it could be a nice little nest egg for retirement. Buy a bad home, one with many problems and this could be a money pit that you simply cannot get away from. Some will say, “I have a family member in construction, I don’t need a home inspector”. Beware of home inspectors who have no Provincial or State qualifications. The Home Inspection business can be lucrative and has attracted many companies that will print out diplomas at the drop of the hat. Many people are advertising online qualifications that can obtained in a simple 30 minute on line quiz.

As a Professional Home Inspector who has performed over 4,000 inspections and is a Certified Building Code Official with the Ontario Building Officials Association, the Barrie Home Inspector is one of the Premier Inspection Companies in Barrie, Ontario. A former home builder register with HUDAC and many years in charge of Project Reviews with the Federal Government are some of the qualifications that separates the Barrie Home Inspector from the competition.

Want to find out more about Barrie’s Premier Home Inspection Company, then visit the Barrie Home Inspectors site on how to choose Barrie’s Best Real Estate Agents for all your Real Estate needs.

Too many people think of home inspections as tools for homebuyers only. An inspection is a critical part of any home purchase - I’d never advise anyone to buy a home without one - but I’m here to tell you that inspections are as useful for sellers as they are for buyers.

Like the doctor who is a general practitioner examining a patient, the home inspector examines the home to assess its condition and health. If a serious problem is discovered, the inspector brings this to the attention of the customer and may recommend a specialist.

A home inspection, also known as a building inspection or a property inspection, is a thorough visual assessment of a home conducted by a certified professional home inspector at a specific point in time. While a home may be inspected for many reasons, most home inspections occur before a home is sold, to reveal any issues that might become problems for the buyer. A home seller may also choose to have a home inspection done prior to listing a property in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises during negotiations. A home inspection will typically include a walk-through tour of the house, in which the condition of the property is closely scrutinized, any defects and deficiencies are noted, and recommendations for repair are made. During the home inspection, the inspector will look for any problems that could have a significant impact from a health and safety perspective or purely from a financial standpoint.

Honesty, justice, and courtesy form a moral philosophy which, associated with mutual interest among people, constitutes the foundation of ethics. This is our companies philosophy which has helped us become one of the Premier inspection companies in Barrie ON.

There is no one background that fully trains an individual for all the different conditions that may exist in a home. And even in areas where licensing exists, many programs fall short. Regardless of their technical background or licensing, all home inspectors should be formally trained/certified to perform a home inspection by an organization such as InterNachi, North Americas biggest home inspection association and training organization.

Whenever possible, you should be present. The inspector can review with you the results of the inspection and point out any problems found. Usually the inspection of the home can be completed in two to three hours (the time can vary depending upon the size and age of the dwelling). The Home Inspector must give you a written report of the home inspection within three business days after the inspection is performed (unless otherwise stated in your contract with the Home Inspector). The home inspection report is your property. The Home Inspector may only give it to you and may not share it with other persons without your permission.

Learn more about Barrie Home Inspection Tips. Stop by Nathan Pile’s site where you can find out all about Barrie Home Inspection Service and how to protect your real estate investment.

You should have more to enjoy during your retirement than just hanging around and doing nothing at all. Retirement is something you’ve waited for your entire life. If it isn’t more fun than that, you might as well still be working.

The active adult communities in Florida can offer you a wide array of things to do and see. They will bring you both fun time, part time employment if you like, as well as various hobbies and clubs that you can join in order to spend time with someone who likes the same things that you do. The things that you won’t have to deal with are very young, very loud people since the Sun City Center is an age controlled area to live.

Made up of primarly single family homes, Sun City Center also offers some other types of dwellings as well.You may avail yourself of a townhouse, a single family condo, or even duplexes when you are living in this active adult community in Florida.

The streets in Sun City Center are lined with gorgeous shade trees, so that anywhere you want to walk or to park, you’re in the shade. Designed to be one of the best communities in Florida for active senior citizens, the Sun City center permits you to drive your golf cart on the streets during the daylight hours. Nearly every shopping center has places that are slated for golf cart parking.

Love to go shopping and take in the area sights? Relax and get out in style without having to back the car out of the garage. Even the shopping centers have smaller slots in order to allow that you can drive your golf cart shopping.

Easily one of the best of the active adult communities in Florida, the Sun City center has everything that you need to live comfortably and securely. The Sun City Center has its own hospital, while there are several different nursing homes also on the property.

For active adults, whether you love the inside or the outside you can find what you’re looking for. Outdoor swimming pools are there for your enjoyment as well as indoor swimming pools for those who like to steer clear of the heat of the day. Hiking, golf courses and other things are also available for those who want to use them.

You can be as busy as you like and as well entertained as you like from every hour from day to night. The online events, the Ham radio clubs, and a wide array of other things. The many different events that you can join into include dancing lessons, dancing clubs, or different activities take place every day of the week.

With so much to see and to do,this is truly an active adult community in Florida. Your retirement sounded good to begin with.. In Sun City Center, the reality is even better than you imagined. It’s going to be an incredible ride.

About: Lance Mohr is a real estate agent in Tampa with over 13 years of experience. If you have any questions or are looking for an honest, hard working Realtor give me a call. For more information on New Tampa homes for sale or Apollo Beach homes for sale please visit our website at Tampa2Enjoy.com.

Purchasing a home can be an exciting experience. But as you explore the homes in the community you want to move into, reality sets in that you won’t be able to afford the ideal home of your dreams. You may have to lower your expectations for a smaller square footage, less bathrooms, or a smaller yard. You may even have to have your kids share a bedroom.

Now just because you have to reduce your expectations doesn’t mean you can’t find opportunities to buy a great starter home. One great strategy is to locate a home in an up and coming neighborhood. These opportunities are easy to spot by driving through a neighborhood and seeing if any remodeling activity is going on. Checking out the habitats of local artists can also lead you to an up and coming community.

While a starter home may not have all the ideal features you want in your dream home, it can get you in the door of the real estate market so you can start building equity. Hopefully with the right market conditions in the future, you can save enough to buy a bigger and better place. This strategy works great if you expect your income to increase in the future. Even without a better paying job, you can still move up into a better home using the equity from your starter home. In spite of the benefits of purchasing a starter home, there a three facts you need to be aware of:

1) Puts A Dent In Your Savings - Buying a home is one of the largest investments you’ll ever make. You’ll have to put a large sum down, plus there will be other expenses such as: moving costs, closing costs, property inspections, property appraisals, and realtor commissions.

If you think buying a smaller home in a nice neighborhood will save you money, you may be in for a surprise. Land costs in nicer areas can be expensive depending on which community you plan to buy into.

2) Apply For A Home Loan With Favorable Terms - As you compare home loans, try to apply for one without a prepayment penalty. This allows you the option to prepay your mortgage faster or sell your house when you want to. When shopping for a mortgage, you can save money by applying for one with minimal or zero points.

3) Be Prepared For A Down Market - With today’s tough real estate market, be prepared for a possible drop in value over the next few years. This means you won’t have much equity and may have to sell your home for a loss. Be prepared for a potential loss or a tough time moving into a larger home.

Even with these disadvantages, a lot of homebuyers continue to get into the real estate market by purchasing a starter home. They know the joys of being a homeowner far outweigh the potential problems.

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Buying a home can be an emotional experience; however, you should not let it keep you from making wise decisions, especially when it comes to having a home inspection performed. If you do have a home inspection done, you need to remember that it should be only one of the factors to determine whether or not you should purchase a home. You must weigh the outcome of the home inspection report against the positive features of a home, the money available from the buyer or seller to take care of the repairs, and the real estate agent’s negotiating power to have the items repaired without shrinking her client’s net bottom line.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a brand new home, you would expect everything to be in perfect working condition, like new. But you wouldn’t expect to discover any dark stains on the flooring, sagging wood frames around doors, cracked foundations, clanging plumbing-just a property in tiptop shape.

However, if you’re thinking about looking at a second hand home in great condition, expect that it won’t be around for sale for very long. Many homebuyers desire to buy a second hand home. Most homebuyers know that purchasing a secondhand home allows you fast relocation, predictability, and the ability to know what the landscaping and schools are for that particular community.

If you’re thinking about moving into a brand new community, you’ll find some of the mature elements of an established community missing. The best thing about living in a brand new home is that the community will be brand new. Of course you would expect to see a different outcome of the inspection report from a newer home compared to an older one. Discovering cracked tile in a new home does not add character to a brand new home. The homebuyer will want to have it taken care of before moving in. However, if a homebuyer is buying an older property, you would expect to see this condition. Most homebuyers expect secondhand homes to possess some defects and wear.

A home inspection will tell you the condition of a home’s heating system, air conditioning system, plumbing, electrical system, the roof, attic, insulation, and condition of the walls, ceiling, floors, windows, and doors. When you purchase a home, you expect many of these systems to be in good running condition. You’ll find that most purchase contracts will have wording that indicates the buyer will accept the property in its existing condition. It is because of this as-is condition paragraph that motivates most homebuyers to include a home inspection contingency clause in their sales contract.

As you review the inspection report, you need to remember that if you change the original contract with a new contract, the new contract will be considered a counteroffer and will become the new contract on the table.

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