Home Buying Articles and Advice - Seattle Real Estate

Home Buying Articles & Advice

The articles are set up to be a tutorial, taking you step by step through the home buying process.

Don't Buy a Car - or Did You Already Buy One?

When Income Grows and You Want to Buy "Stuff"

Debt-to-Income Ratios and Car Payments

How Buying a Car Reduces Your Purchase Price

Things Not To Do Before Buying a Home

No Major Purchases of Any Kind

Don't Move Money Around

Should You Change Jobs?

Reasons to Delay Buying a Home

Why Buying a Home is a Good Idea

The Best Investment

Income Tax Savings

Stable Monthly Housing Costs

Forced Savings

Freedom and Individuality

The Business Cycle and Buying a Home

Recession and Expansion

Supply and Demand

Should You Try to "Time the Market"?

What's More important - Buying a House? Or a Home?

Why Search for A Realtor?

Finding an Agent by "Accident"

Listing Agents vs. Selling (Buyer's) Agents

Should You Call the Listing Agent?

Agent's Advertising - Is the Purpose What You Think?

Finding Your Own Realtor

Some Basics About the Search

How to Conduct the Search

Interviewing A Good Realtor

When the Agent Asks You for an Appointment

Looking Ahead - Buyer's Remorse

Buying a Home With Resale Value - Location

Location, Location, Location?

Location - Local Community, Town or City

Location - the Local Neighborhood

Location - the Residential Neighborhood

Buying a Home With Resale Value - the House

A Home With a View?

Lot Choice and Landscaping

House Size

Bedrooms & Bathrooms

Closets, Garage & Laundry

Kitchen

Fireplaces

Swimming Pool?

Comparable Sales and Your Offer Price

Determining Your Offer Price

Comparable Sales in the Public Record

Comparable Sales in the Multiple Listing Service

Comparable Sales - Pending Transactions

Factors Affecting Your Offer Price

How Property Condition Affects Your Offer

How Home Improvements Affect Your Offer

How Market Conditions Affect Your Offer

How Seller Motivation Affects Your Offer

The Final Decision on Your Offer Price

Offering to Purchase Real Estate- the Basics

Introduction and Overview

Contingencies in a Purchase Offer

Earnest Money Deposit

The Closing Date

Transfer of Possession

Writing an Offer - Safeguards Regarding the Property

Disclosures From the Seller

Condition of the Property Upon Transfer

Inspections You May Require

Final Walk-Through Inspection

How Financing Details Affect Your Offer

Down Payment

Interest Rate

Closing Costs and Financing Incentives

Seller Financing

Cash Offers

How FHA and VA Financing Affects Your Offer

Extra Costs for the Seller

More Detailed (and expensive) Appraisals

You and the Seller Must Agree on Some Services

Settlement and Escrow

Title Insurance Companies

Termite and Pest Inspections

Buyer's Remorse- Did You Make a Huge Mistake?