Utah County Homes for Sale - Choosing a Buyer Representative When it's time to buy a home, it's also time to select a buyer agent to represent your interests in this all-important transaction.  But how do you choose one?  Here are some of the most significant issues to consider and questions to ask when interviewing your Accredited Buyer Representative. Questions to ask: Experience and Credentials How long have you been a buyer's agent?  How long have you been an Accredited Buyer Representative?  What other real estate designations or credentials do you hold? References Can you share the names and contact details for three past buyer-clients who can provide references? Knowledge What are your areas of specialized knowledge?  Which types of housing or neighborhoods do you know best? Repr... 10/14/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - MLS Listings, IDX and the Virtual World Technology has reached new levels for the Realtor in today's Virtual World.  The home buyer can actually sit in the comfort of their present home and view all future homes just as if they were actually there.  I am just amazed where technology has taken us. Internet Data Exchange (IDX) The Internet Data Exchange is a service available to real estate agents today to display their listings through internet feeds that bring the home search process to new levels.  Services are available to all real estate agents at a very reasonable price.  Realtors are able to actually bring their MLS listings to life. Virtual Earth Virtual Earth is a software program available through Microsoft, which provides Maps and Pictures of MLS li... 09/19/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Home Buyer Beware - Yield Spread Premium (YSP) As a Loan Officer and Realtor I have noticed an area of Home Loans and Mortgages that goes unnoticed by the consumer,  that of Yield Spread Premium.  Most borrowers believe that their Loan Officer makes his profit with the Loan Origination Fee.  But most don't understand that the Loan Officer can make up to 4 percent more, on most loans, with the Yield Spread Premium. What is Yield Spread Premium? Yield Spread Premium, or YSP, is the fee paid by the Lender to the broker in exchange for a higher interest rate, or an above wholesale rate.  The borrower may qualify for a certain rate, but the broker can charge this fee and give the borrower a slightly higher rate to make more commission.  YSP was originally intende... 09/05/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Understanding Mortgages, Getting the best Rate. As a home buyer, it only makes sense to try and get the lowest rate possible when obtaining a Home Loan.  After all, the rate is the primary factor in determining your house payment.  But how do you get a low rate when applying for a home loan?  This is the primary question that most home buyers want to know.  I would like to explain some important ideas that you need to keep in mind. Credit Score One of the primary factors in helping to determine your interest rate is your credit score and financial history.  In other words the best interest rates are usually reserved for those with the highest credit score.  So if you credit score is not very high the chance of getting a lower interest rate is not very good. ... 09/03/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Mortgage Rates, Short Sales and Bank Owned Property Mortgage rates are fast approaching all-time low status as well.  I believe we will continue to see this trend throughout the New Year.  With 30 year rates hovering around 5%, many first time home buyers and investors are considering coming out of the closest.  Should home buyer take action now, or should they wait for further lowering of Mortgage rates?  My belief is that rates will go lower but not much, so what advantage would the home buyer have of waiting for the quarter or half percent that might come.  Now is the time to take action. With an abundance of short sale and bank owned properties on the market, the combination of lower rates and surplus of homes for sale, there could not be a better time t... 08/25/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Vacating Property After Closing When is the proper time for the Seller to vacate their property after closing?  This question comes up quite often during the process of the Real Estate transaction.  Just when the proper time is, depends solely on the wording within the Real Estate Purchase Contract.  Unless the property is vacant, generally speaking the seller has until after recording with the county.  Most important is how much was indicated within the REPC.  Usually it takes about a month to close a smooth transaction on a purchase.  If the transaction turns out to be a nightmare, then the closing could go on for an extended period of time.  Another method that can be used is an occupancy agreement between the parties.  If the seller needs more time to move,... 08/20/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Picking your Realtor Well the time has come for you to sell your home; it could be for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps you need more space for an expanding family maybe your current home just doesn't fit your needs anymore.  Maybe the reason is much more stressful such as a divorce or any unexpected job relocation.  The last thing you need during this time is someone helping you sell your home that is unprofessional or doesn't understand the current real estate market. When you are selecting a Realtor, make sure you find someone whose personality is not in line with yours.  Even if the agent has terrific credentials and has sold a lot of homes over the years, they may not make you feel comfortable.  You will be dealing very closely with your Realtor every day... 08/17/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Inspection a Must Well, you just made an offer on a beautiful new home.  You are excited about the possibilities that this new home is going to bring to you and your family.  Don't let this dream turn into a nightmare because you decided not to spend a little extra money on a Home Inspection. A study conducted by the American Society of Home Inspectors and the NAR in 2001 found that 77% of all homebuyers insisted on a Home Inspection prior to purchasing their property, and 97% of that group believes the service was a good value for the price. Next to the financial contingency in the Real Estate Purchase Contract, the Home Inspection is the most reason you need to consider before purchasing the home.  This is where you have the right to back out of the contract,... 07/24/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Home Buyer Top 3 Mistakes Well you have finally decided that it is time to stop renting and that you need to purchase a new home.  Be aware that is important to stay calm and think your way through the process; don't get so excited that you overlook a few very important steps. Failure to get pre-qualified before making an offer on a home: •·         The very first step you need to take when considering the purchase a new home is that of interviewing and hiring a Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer.  Understanding how much you are qualified to purchase up front can save you a lot of time and frustration later on.  The pre-qualification letter is very important to the seller when it comes time to make offer on their home.  Taking the time to get pre-qualified give... 07/23/2010

We need Positive Price Action to confirm market bottom.  One month of price improve isn't sufficient to confirm the market bottom.  We need to see appreciation month over month for three months. PRICE ACTION      Other good signs in addition to positive price action is lower DOM (days of the market), lower new listingsand higher percent of new listings being SOLD.   SUMMARY Has the Utah Real Estate Market bottomed? Currently we are not seeing the needed positive price action (along with other indicators) to confirm a market bottom.  We are seeing more signs of a bottom coming into play. Investors with a long term buy and hold strategic.  Opportunities are making sense.  Contact your property resource specialist for information to make an informed buying decision. Owner/occupied homeowne... 07/18/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Choosing a Buyer's Representative When it's time to buy a Utah County home, it's also time to select a buyer's agent to represent your interests in this all-important transaction.  But how do you choose one?  Here are some of the most significant issues to consider and questions to ask when interviewing your Accredited Buyer Representative. Questions to ask: Experience and Credentials How long have you been a buyer's agent?  How long have you been an Accredited Buyer's Representative?  What other real estate designations or credentials do you hold? References Can you share the names and contact details for three past buyer-clients who can provide references? Knowledge What are your areas of specialized knowledge?  Which types of housing or neighborhoods do y... 07/16/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Dressing Your Home for Success The overall appearance of your home is one of the major factors to consider when placing in on the market to sell.  The problem is, either you don't have or are not willing to spend the money to remodel.  There are some inexpensive things that you can do to give the appearance of success without spending the money to make it happen. Enhancements or redesigning of the kitchen usually is one of the first areas considered when thinking about what to do to improve the appearance of your home.  But is it the most cost productive means.  Many buyers would like and appreciate saving money on the purchase of the home, so that they can do the redesign themselves, this should always be considered when pricing your home for sale. The frug... 07/01/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Finding the Right Home There are a number of things to consider when choosing the right home and everyone's priority is different.  Where should it be located; neighborhood preference; single or multi-level, number of bedrooms and baths; square footage: yard size; features: quality of school; age of home; interior or exterior appeal; and most of all, price, because if it's out of your budget, it can't be considered. Make a List Make a priority list of things important to you.  Start with the most important, things you have to have.  Then work down the list, putting them in order of most important.  After you are done, go up to the top and move down until you get to a place where you can draw a line.  Above the line should be all of the items you have to have, a... 06/28/2010

Utah County Homes for Sale - Mortgage and the Down Payment How do you know which type of mortgage product is best for you?  There is no simple answer to this question?  The right type of mortgage for you depends on many different factors: •·         Your current financial situation •·         How much you expect your finances to change •·         How long you intend to stay in your house •·         Your tolerance for having your mortgage payment changing from time to time. Most important is to consult a mortgage loan professional when it is time to decide what is right for you. The down payment required with your loan quite probably will be less than you think.  Many first-time buyers are surprised to learn there is no fixed answer to this question.  Usually the down payment will range ... 06/23/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Benefits of Buying a Home Buying a home is a very good investment. As a general rule, homes appreciate about five percent a year.  Some years will be more, some less.  The figure will vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and region to region.  Five percent may not seem like that much at first.  Stocks, at times, appreciate much more, and you could earn over six percent with the safest investment of all, treasury bonds. Presumably, if you bought a $200,000 house, you did not pay cash for the home.  You got a mortgage, too.  Suppose you put as much as twenty percent down - that would be an investment of $40,000.  At an appreciation rate of 5% annually, a $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 during the first year.  That means you earned $10,000 with an... 06/21/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Earnest Money and the REPC The Real Estate Purchase Contract involves more than just price.  You will have to discuss personal property possession, rent, tests, inspections, closing dates and more.  The one term that throws most buyers, especially first time buyers is Earnest Money Deposit.  What is it?  Why do I need to pay it?  Why do I have to pay so much? Not the Down Payment Many buyers show up to write their offer and announce to their agent that they do not have to put an earnest money deposit because they are getting down payment assistance or 100 percent financing.  Communication is very important, it is not difficult to see where an inexperienced buyer would confuse one deposit for another, so do not feel bad if you, too, just learned something new. R... 06/10/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Homeowners Insurance Do I really need Homeowners Insurance? Yes.  Proof of a paid homeowner's insurance policy is required at closing, so arrangements will have to be made before then.  It is important to get an insurance agent involved early in the home buying process he can help you save money.  Insurance agents are a great resource for tips on how to keep insurance premiums low and on information about home safety. Search Utah MLS Listings Utah County Real Estate  Utah County Homes  Utah Homes For Sale  Provo Real Estate WS  Orem Real Estate WS  Utah Homes 4 Sale  Alpine Real Estate  Alpine Real Estate  Cedar Hills Real Estate   Highland Real Estate  Eagle Mountain Real Estate   Springville Real Estate   Utah County Real Estate  Utah County Homes 4 Sale  Uta... 06/06/2010

Utah County Real Estate for Sale - Homeownership While some people choose the flexibility of renting and being free of maintenance, many others choose ownership for other reasons.  The pride of being a homeowner is a very important reason for purchasing a home, but more people are interested in homeownership for purely economic reasons. Building Equity One of the main economic reasons is that of building equity.  Especially in today's market, with home values being deflated as they are, many buyers can pick up a home at a very reasonable price.  With interest rates being at all-time lows, you can make a healthy payment and have most go to the principal of the home loan, thus creating more equity. Tax Deduction Another good reason for purchasing a home is the ability to deduct your mortg... 06/01/2010

Since 2001, Highland Utah Real Estate has sold over 100 homes.  The range within that has differed over the years and peaked out in 2006 at 204.  2009 shows the second highest number of Highland homes sold at 180.  Sold price has stayed close to or above the appreciation line set in the year 2000.  Prices of Highland Real Estate has been on the decline since 2008 and stopped last year just above the appreciation line. 05/26/2010

Utah County Real Estate - Closing Costs Who pays for Closing Costs? There have been times in the past that I have had clients come to closing not understanding what kind of money they would be required to pay. There are various fees associated with buying and selling a home.  These fees are called closing costs.  Some of these fees are automatically assigned to either the buyer or the seller, other costs are either negotiable or are dictated by local area custom. Buyer Closing Costs When the buyer applies for a home loan, loan officers are required to provide the borrower with a good faith estimate of their closing costs.  These fees will vary depending on the type of loan and the terms of the purchase agreement.  Some of the closing costs, especially those dealing with the loan applica... 04/16/2010