HOW BARGAIN-HUNTING CAN BACKFIRE ON HOME BUYERS

It's natural to want to save money when you're making a purchase as large as a home. You want to buy the best hom

e in the best neighborhood at the best price, and you may think the only way to accomplish your goals is to look for bargains. So instead of hiring a real estate agent, you scour the market for FSBOs, short sales, foreclosures, or homes that have been on the Internet too long.

While you're bargain-hunting, here are five things you should keep in mind:

Low-balling sellers doesn't work.

They don't waste time with low-ball offers that they find insulting. Just as you want the home you buy to appreciate in value, sellers purchased their homes as investments, too. They want to net as much as possible, because they took a financial risk and had the foresight to buy the home they chose.

This sense of entitlement -- that homes should only be sold at a profit - may cause them to overprice their homes or be less willing to negotiate. You'll feel the same way when it comes time for you to sell your home, so make your offer reasonably and respectfully. Show the comparables that led you to make the offer. Be open to compromise.

Other buyers are getting professional help.

Ninety percent of buyers use a real estate agent while you're spinning your wheels driving around neighborhoods and calling FSBO sellers who aren't home to take your call. Soon, you'll notice that the homes you're watching are going under contract with other buyers.

True bargains are rare.

Sometimes a distressed home will impact the prices of the other homes because they typically sell at a discount of 17 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. The other sellers may discount their homes somewhat, but if they're not in distress, don't expect them to negotiate as if they are. A bank foreclosure or bank-approved short sale could take months to close.

If a home has been on the market for a long time without a price reduction, there's usually a good reason. You have an unmotivated, unrealistic, or upside-down seller, any of which could waste your time without resulting in a purchase. Move on to a deal that you can actually make.

The home needs work.

Sometimes a home will be marketed "as is," which suggests that it needs a lot of work. Or, a home may be well maintained, but it's so out of date it looks like a vintage sit-com set. You could be looking at a money pit.

Are you willing to perform the work or pay someone else to do the work? Before you buy, get a home inspection and then get bids from contractors who can help you bring the home up to today's standards. If the purchase price and repairs come to approximately the same price as an updated home in the same area, then go for it.

It's not a bargain if it doesn't suit your needs.

A home is a good buy only if it suits your family's needs for space, features, comfort, and function. If you buy a home without enough bedrooms or baths, you'll pay more in transaction costs to sell the home and buy another that's more suitable. Choose wisely in the first place because it takes time to build equity. Your home should meet your needs for a long time.

Low Home Appraisal Valuation: Now What?

In seller's markets, multiple offer situations often drive up

the purchase price higher than any comparable sales in the area, so sellers worry the appraisals will come in low. In buyer's markets, when prices are soft or falling, sellers are also concerned that the home will bring a low appraisal. Low appraisals can happen in any marketplace: hot, cold or neutral.

Why Do Low Appraisals Happen?

There are a number of reasons why appraisals come in low. Here are a few:

• Artificially inflated prices resulting from multiple offers.

• Declining market values due to fewer buyers shopping among a larger inventory of homes.

• Fallout from an abundance of foreclosure or short sales in the neighborhood, especially when no other comparable sales exist.

• Incorrect evaluation by the underwriter.

• Overpricing by the seller.

• Inexperienced appraiser who doesn't understand influences on value.

• Appraiser overlooked pending sale data, which could reflect higher comparable sales when closed, or the appraiser selected comparable sales from the wrong neighborhoods.

• Buyer receives cash back from the seller, causing lender to believe the price has been inflated.

• One factor that does not come into play is whether the lender wants to make the loan. Lenders want to lend money, and lenders are prohibited from redlining.

Solutions for Low Appraisals

Don't panic if the appraisal comes in low. It's tough to remain calm when it appears the pending sale will fall apart, but both parties have options:

1. Reduce the price of the house to the appraised value

As the seller, you can always sell the house at the appraised value without negotiating with anyone. This is the fastest way to “recover” from a low appraisal, but it could mean leaving money on the table. (And that’s always hard to swallow.)

2. Have the buyer make up the difference

In some cases, the buyer will have enough cash on hand to cover the difference between the appraisal and the selling price at closing. If the buyer feels confident that the value is there for her — despite the appraisal — she can simply add cash to the down payment, and the lender should be satisfied.

3. Meet in the middle

If both parties still want the sale to go through, it could make sense to split the difference, with the seller dropping the price a bit and the buyer adding cash to the down payment.

For example, if the difference between the sales price and the appraised value is $10,000, the seller could lower the price by $5,000 and get the buyer to bring another $5,000 to closing. This solution depends entirely on the relative willingness and financial positions of the two parties.

4. Challenge the appraisal

This option is a bit of a long shot. Only the appraiser’s client — the lender — can demand a review of the appraisal, and only the buyer can request a review or a second appraisal.

As the seller, you can support the buyer in this effort by sharing the competitive market analysis that you received from your agent or by giving her the results of an independent appraisal, if you have one. You also can offer to split the cost of a second appraisal if the lender agrees.

This route has long odds because the decision is ultimately up to the lender, and the lender doesn’t have the same investment in the transaction that the buyer and seller have. If the lender doesn’t have a compelling reason to doubt the appraisal, then that tends to be the end of the line. (In my experience, only a small percentage of these requests are granted.)

5. Put the house back on the market

If the buyer can’t or won’t put more money down, and you’re not interested in reducing the price, you can take your chances by allowing the deal to fall through and putting the house back on the market.

This can be disappointing to everyone involved. But if you’re in this situation because multiple offers brought the offer price above the asking price, then it might not be a bad way to go. You could get lucky and receive a cash offer when your agent relists the home. In that scenario, the appraisal won’t be an issue. Plus, even without the cash offer, another lender’s appraiser could have a more favorable point of view.

When considering scrapping your deal, don’t forget that at this point your house has been off the market for several weeks and you’re putting yourself that much farther from a closed sale.

This is where your agent is especially helpful. Your agent understands what the market is doing and can clarify your options so you can make the best decision for that moment.

Think Twice Before Cleaning A Neighboring Yard - A Good Dead Could Lead To Jail Time

A Bay City, Michigan commissioner who says he was trying to clean up the yard of a blighted home now is facing a

misdemeanor charge.

Reports are that Chad Sibley was arraigned this month on larceny of $200 or less, which is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a fine of $500 or three times the value of the property.

Police reports say Jeana L. Wolcott told officers in April she recently lost ownership of her home due to unpaid property taxes and said she had until July to get out. She told police that a lawn mower and grill were missing from her backyard.

Sibley told police he took the grill and broken mower to the curb. Trash pickers apparently took them away.

"I have been cleaning up the backyard of that house," he said, according to the report. "The house is a blighted property. I haven't seen anyone at that house in months. Once the house was foreclosed, I started to take down the fence and I cut a bunch of the Mulberry trees down. I took a grill and a broken lawn mower to the curb. I know it was broken because it had no connection piece. These things haven't been moved for months.

"I am just trying to clean it up because it looked bad. I am certainly willing to replace anything that they say was taken or damaged. I figured if the new owners wanted the fence back up that I could just pay for a brand new one."

A few simple ways to save thousands on your new home purchase

Mortgage lender Fannie Mae just made a move to make

homeownership more affordable, and it's one of many things that can help you save some cash when buying a home. If you're not taking advantage of every money-saving opportunity out there - and there are a lot of them - you're just leaving money on the table.

1. Take advantage of new programs       

The aforementioned Fannie Mae program "will now pay your closing costs, up to 3% of the price of the home—provided you take the mortgage giant's home-buyer counseling course first," said Realtor.com. called the HomePath Ready Buyer program, it "allows first-time buyers (defined as those who have not owned a home in the past three years) to take an online course, get certified, and become eligible for what could amount to significant savings. For instance, on a $150,000 home, Fannie Mae could contribute up to $4,500 toward your closing costs—which typically range from 2.5% to 3% of a home's price."

2. Ask the seller to pay closing costs

In an appreciating market, you may have a hard time getting the seller to kick in—especially if they have other offers to consider. Make sure you ask your real estate agent for advice (and listen to it). You don't want to offend or amuse the seller into outright rejecting your offer.

3. Negotiate everything

Want the seller's refrigerator or dining room set? Ask for it. Could be that they're trying to get rid of them anyway.

4. That goes for new homes, too

If you're buying a new home, you may not have a ton of negotiating power when it comes to the sales price, but you may when it comes to upgrades. If you love the wood floor or quartz counters in the model, you just may be able to get them thrown in at no extra cost.

5. Use your builder's in-house lender

Another way to potentially save money on a new home is to use the builder's in-house lender, if they have one. A builder can't require you to use their lender, said Bankrate, but they may offer incentives to do so.

6. Fix up your credit

NEA Member Benefits found that poor credit can account for an extra $82,000 in interest on a $250,000 home loan. "The total interest paid for a home with a 630 score—nearly a quarter-million dollars over the lifetime of the loan—is enough money to buy a second house. There is always a cost to credit, and that cost can increase tremendously due to a low credit score."

7. Shop for the best loan

Settling for the first loan that comes your way might not be the best bet. Different lenders offer different rates. Shop around to see what your best options are.

8. Get a co-signer

If you're having trouble qualifying for a home at a low enough interest rate, a cosigner can help. "Part of that person's income can be considered toward your loan amount regardless of whether the person will actually be living with you or helping you pay the bill," said Investopedia.

9. Put 20 percent down

Twenty percent is the magic number when it comes to whether or not you have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). PMI can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly payment, and can't be removed until sufficient equity in your home has been realized. If you can swing 20 percent, it will save you money. If you can't, try asking a family member for a gift or get down payment assistance, said Chase.

10. Buy a fixer-upper

A lesser-known FHA loan may present a great opportunity for those who are having a hard time finding an affordable home in a competitive market and who love a project.

This loan "not only covers the cost of buying the property, but also for remodeling expenses and closing costs allowed by the terms of your FHA home loan," said the FHA. "The best part of these ‘fixer upper' loans? The approved FHA loan amount also includes a percentage of the total remodeling costs (as spelled out in your submitted plan) set aside just in case there is extra work needed."

11. Read the fine print

When you get your good faith estimate from your lender, read everything. There may be some miscellaneous fees that can be negotiated out.

Can You Use Monetary Gifts For Down Payment On A New Home?

In order to get into the housing market, many homebuyers are accepting gifts from family or friends in order to meet down payment requirements by lenders. In fact, as of 2012, one in five Baby Boomers has either gifted, loaned or co-signed a loan to help children or grandchildren buy their first home.

But along with other borrowing restrictions following the housing bust in 2008, lenders cracked down on down payment gifts, too. No longer can a homebuyer "pass the hat" to relatives and friends in order to come up with enough cash to put down on a home, whether it's a 3% minimum required for an FHA government-guaranteed loan or 20% required for a large conventional Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-bound loan.

Because gifts are a gray area, lenders are requiring more documentation for down payment monies. For example, a parent may provide a few thousand dollars to an adult child to use as a down payment -- but is the money a gift or a loan? Lenders may require borrowers and gift-givers to provide a certified downpayment gift letter or to sign a affidavit.

Such affidavits must include:

• The amount of the gift, accompanied by a corresponding cashier's check

• The name and address of the gift-giver and relationship the gift-giver has to the homebuyer

• The purpose of the gift -- to be used only as a down payment on the subject property, complete with the property's address

• A statement confirming that the gift is not a loan, and does not need to be repaid

Signatures of the borrower and the gift-giver

Because lenders require a paper trail, allowing parents to simply transfer money into the borrower's account to mix with the borrower's funds is discouraged. First, a large deposit raises the borrower's income and alters the bank statements, possibly allowing a borrower to qualify for a home that in reality is too expensive.

Banks also limit the size of gifts in relationship to the total down payment. For example, some loan programs require the borrower to contribute at least 3% to 5% of the down payment if the down payment is less than 20%, while other programs allow the entire down payment to be supplied by a gift.

If you're planning to use a gift as part or all of your down payment, ask your lender how to meet the appropriate requirements.

Read Next : Ten Steps To Take When Buying Your New Home

5 Smells That Could Prevent Your Home From Selling

As you live in your home, you get nose-blind to odors that can hit your buyers on the honker harder than a right cross. We're not talking about forgetting to change the cat box. Some smells are so pervasive that they could signal real trouble to a buyer. And that means no sale for you.

Here are five smells that could turn your home into a stinker.

Stuffiness. To make our homes more energy-efficient, we've caulked, blown insulation, weather-stripped and sealed our way to greener utility bills. But for every action, there's a reaction. The result of making your home airtight is that you lock all odors in.

Homes are more comfortable when they breathe. Open a window and reintroduce yourself to the aromatic delights of fresh-mown grass and flowers and the light undulating touch of natural breezes.

Dusty, musty odors linger in rooms that aren't used much or aren't updated like old tile bathrooms. Sniff out culprits like guest bedspreads, long curtains that are rarely opened, and old carpets that could use a good cleaning.

Pets. Poop and pee are part of the deal when you have pets. From goldfish to iguanas, you have to deal with feeding and cleaning up after pets. When you're selling your home, you have to really keep on top of it.

And if you have pets with fur, you have to groom them. Dogs need As you live in your home, you get nose-blind to odors that can hit your buyers on the honker harder than a right cross. We're not talking about forgetting to change the cat box. Some smells are so pervasive that they could signal real trouble to a buyer. And that means no sale for you.

Here are five smells that could turn your home into a stinker.

Stuffiness. To make our homes more energy-efficient, we've caulked, blown insulation, weather-stripped and sealed our way to greener utility bills. But for every action, there's a reaction. The result of making your home airtight is that you lock all odors in.

Homes are more comfortable when they breathe. Open a window and reintroduce yourself to the aromatic delights of fresh-mown grass and flowers and the light undulating touch of natural breezes.

Dusty, musty odors linger in rooms that aren't used much or aren't updated like old tile bathrooms. Sniff out culprits like guest bedspreads, long curtains that are rarely opened, and old carpets that could use a good cleaning.

Pets. Poop and pee are part of the deal when you have pets. From goldfish to iguanas, you have to deal with feeding and cleaning up after pets. When you're selling your home, you have to really keep on top of it.

And if you have pets with fur, you have to groom them. Dogs need baths, and most need brushing. If you let them get on the furniture, they slobber on their toys, scratch themselves, shed piles of fur, and so on. Febreeze is one idea, but you might have to do a thorough steam cleaning of all fabric surfaces in your home.

Food, smoke and grease odors. If you have a preference for stinky foods like cabbage and fish, you may need to go on a different diet while you're marketing your home. And if you cook a lot, it's a good idea to clean your oven, burners, and any other equipment that may have burned on food or spills. baths, and most need brushing. If you let them get on the furniture, they slobber on their toys, scratch themselves, shed piles of fur, and so on. Febreeze is one idea, but you might have to do a thorough steam cleaning of all fabric surfaces in your home.

Food, smoke and grease odors. If you have a preference for stinky foods like cabbage and fish, you may need to go on a different diet while you're marketing your home. And if you cook a lot, it's a good idea to clean your oven, burners, and any other equipment that may have burned on food or spills.

CREDIT SCORES EXPLAINED

Lenders want to give you a mortgage, but they also want to minimize their own risk. The easiest way to reduse risk is by using your credit scores to make lending decisions.

Credit scores are compiled separately by three consumer reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. These credit reporting bureaus calculate scores differently, and base their scores on information that may differ from other bureaus.

Equifax Beacon 5.0 Facta: scores range from 334 to 818.

Experian Fair Isaac V2: scores range from 320 to 844.

Trans Union FICO Risk score Classic 04: scores range from 309 to 839.

Your credit score is a number that reflects the information in your credit report, whether you pay your bills on time, how much you owe creditors, payoffs, and derogatory information such as liens. It also includes inquiries into your accounts from lenders, landlords, and employers.

When you apply for a home loan, your application includes giving your lender permission to "pull your credit" and base the decision to lend to you and the rate of interest on the information contained in your credit scores. The higher the score, the better terms you'll receive from the lender.

Burney Ashley of Guaranteed Rate
Teaching About Credit At A Seminar

Once your credit scores are reviewed by your mortgage lender, you'll receive a computer-generated report of the findings in the mail, but it won't have a copy of your entire credit report. It may include key factors that adversely affected your scores. Some examples might include:

• Too many inquiries in the last 12 months
• Time since most recent account opening is too short
• Proportion of loan balances to loan amounts is too high
• Too many accounts with balances
• Amount owed on revolving accounts is too high
• What if you're declined for the loan, or your lender wants to charge higher interest than you were expecting? Is there anything you can do?

Yes, talk to your lender and ask for help repairing or correcting your scores. For example, you may have innocently done something that resulted in a negative score, such as closing a line of credit. Or, you may not have realized that a late payment would bring your score down as much as it has. The lender will tell you exactly what you need to do.

Under federal law, you have the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the national consumer credit reporting agencies once a year. There are several sites where you can go to get your free reports includingAnnualCreditReport.com or FreeCreditReport.com.

If you find an error such as derogatory data that doesn't belong to you, or an account that shows the wrong balance, simply show the lender your canceled check, release of lien or other proof that the credit report is wrong.

You'll also have to correct the information yourself separately with each agency, and it may take a few weeks for the agencies to record the updated information.

In the meantime, work with your lender and do what he/she tells you to do to get the best rate, including paying more than the minimums, paying on time, and making sure that your debt to income is well within your ability to repay all your loans.