Got Questions? We have Answers!: December 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Do I Really Need a Home Inspection? YES!!!

Do I Really Need a Home Inspection? YES!!!

Lake County First Time Home Buyers are often confused about the need for a Home Inspection. Many Lake County First Time Home Buyers think that the Appraisal and the Pest Report are enough inspections and they don’t really need another inspection. The benefit is that the Home Inspection goes beyond the Appraisal and the Pest Report. The Appraisal is for the lender and the focus of that report is a determination of the home’s value. The Pest Report has a very narrow focus and the inspector’s focus is upon wood destroying pests and organisms.

The Home Inspection is for the homeowner! The Lake County First Time Home Buyer is making a huge investment in the purchase of their new home and the cost of a Home Inspection is perhaps the best investment they can make. The Home Inspector will be checking the heating and air conditioning system, the electrical panel, the hot water heater, the kitchen appliances and so much more!

When you are a Lake County First Time Home Buyer you don’t want any surprises. The worst surprises for the First Time Home Buyer are those unexpected system failures after you move into your new home. A water heater that dies on a Friday evening…a heater that stops heating on the first day of winter…and the oven that quits on Thanksgiving morning are the kinds of surprises no one wants. But, for the Lake County First Time Home Buyer these surprises can be particularly painful and traumatic.

While no Home Inspector can guarantee that you will have no surprises as a new homeowner…they can alert the prospective homeowner to issues, conditions and concerns about the home being considered. This knowledge can be used for negotiating with the seller or evaluating the wisdom of the purchase. The cost of the inspection is typically starts at $350.00 and is dependent upon factors such as square footage and the other features of the home. This is a great investment and every Lake County First Time Home Buyer should seriously consider this investment. Everyone who attends our FREE Lake County First Time Homebuyer Workshops will receive a discount coupon to use towards a Home Inspection performed by Sylvan Stenge.

Free First Time Homebuyer Workshop…Lake County - Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. Title and Escrow -Home inspections – How much to offer – Getting a mortgage…and so much more! Century 21 NorthBay Alliance is sponsoring a series of FREE First Time Homebuyer Workshops designed to assist any potential homebuyer.

The class is presented in an informal setting where you can ask questions and get answers…Join us for an information packed evening-January 10^th at the Century 21 office in Lower Lake (9960 Hwy 53) and January 17^th at the Century 21 office in Hidden Valley(18983 Hartman Rd., Suite 5) between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm.

This information packed evening promises to have information for everyone thinking about buying a home in the future… you will learn tips and strategies for getting the best buy and the best mortgage! Mortgage professionals will be on hand to talk about your loan options.

At the class, you'll learn:

How much home can I afford?
Foreclosures…REOs…Short Sales…what’s right for me?
What government programs do I qualify for?
Are there any zero down home loan programs?
What are closing costs? How much are closing costs?
I am a Veteran…how do I use my VA benefit?
Are there any programs that will pay my closing costs?
Home inspections - do I need one?
What’s the difference between a Home Inspection and a Termite Inspection?
Who pays for the appraisal?
Can I see my credit report? Is my credit good enough?
What's the best way to find the right home?
How do home loans work?
How can I make sure that I am not paying too much for my home?
Can I get a list of Foreclosures?

Got Questions?

We Have Answers!

This and lots of other information is yours free with absolutely no obligation of any kind.

Can’t wait? Call us at 707-987-3800 or 707-994-7100 for additional information

Monday, December 5, 2011

FREE Credit Report for Lake County First Time Home Buyers

FREE Credit Report for Lake County First Time Home Buyers…Really Free! Many Lake County First Time Home Buyers are unaware of their credit score (aka Fico score). Many more are simply afraid to find out…they know that they had a collection in the past or some other life event that they fear has negatively affected their credit score. Your credit score will affect your ability to obtain a home mortgage and can determine what interest you will be paying on that home mortgage.

There are several ways to obtain your credit score and look at your credit report. You can pay for your report or you can obtain your FREE Credit Report. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only way to obtain your truly FREE Credit Report. Everyone in the U.S. is entitled to a FREE copy of their credit report once per year from the three national credit reporting companies. You can also pay for a copy of your credit report on a one time basis or a subscription basis. If you want your FREE Credit Report you can go to: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp . If you would like more information about your FREE Credit Report you can go to: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/freereports/index.shtml

Your FREE Credit Report will not meet the needs of your lender but knowing your score and what’s contained in your report will prepare you for the home buying process. This information will let you know if there is any inaccurate information contained in your report. You can positively influence your report and score…but only if you know what is in them.

Your credit score and your credit report are among the many topics that will be covered in our FREE Lake County First Time Homebuyer Workshops.