Loving your house starts with loving you neighborhood. Having trouble choosing , not sure what you're looking for? Here are a few steps that will help you along the way.

Step 1 - Profile Your Perfect Neighborhood

Think about what you are really looking for. Make a list of "must-haves" at the top and "would-like-to-haves" at the bottom.

Consider the following:

• Do you have children or are you planning to have children anytime soon? Looks for properties close to schools, parks and community centers!
• What type of home do you want? Single-family, apartment, condo, townhouse, multi-family?
• How far are you willing to commute? Proximity to work should be considered!
• What is your current community lacking? Think about what you are missing now or wish you had on a day to day basis.
• Do you want to be able to go places on foot? Do you want to be within walking distance to local restaurants or shopping?
• Don't forget to think about what you don't want in a neighborhood.

Step 2 - Zero In on the Area

Focus your search on a specific area, working off your list of must-haves.

Step 3 - Get the Suspects

Start your research on background info for your ideal area, including:

• School Information
• Crime Statistics
• Parks & Recreation
• Neighborhood Associations
• Tourist Attractions

Step 4 - Find the Clues

Now it is time to visit the neighborhoods, and imagine yourself and your life in the neighborhood. Use your senses in the following ways to paint a picture:

Sights: First impression, visualize yourself in the neighborhood, observe the neighborhood at different times of the day, and look for any warning signs such as a lot of "For Sale" signs or rentals, vandalism etc.

Sounds: listen for any noise coming from nearby highways, airports or nearby clubs/bars, talk to current residents of the area, see what they have to say, they could be your future neighbors!

Smells: Are there any? Unpleasant smells can certainly affect your decision to line in an area.

Taste: ask yourself if the neighborhood matches your taste in a living environment, does it meet your criteria?

Step 5 - Close the Case

Once you've chosen the right neighborhood for you, its time to find a house you love! Which can often be the hardest part. Make sure to:

• Find out how much house you can afford - the amount of money a lender offers you is often more than you can truly afford to pay.
• Compare your loan options - find out what mortgage is right for you, decide between fixed and adjustable rate mortgages.
• Draw up your vision of home - now its time to think about what you want in a home!
• Find the perfect house!

Read more here!

Fall is upon us is your home ready? Here are some maintenance musts when repairing for the cold months ahead.

1. Check for Peeling Paint - protect the siding of your home by making sure existing paint is not peeling or blistering.

2. Clean the Gutters - clogged gutters are one of the major causes of ice dams!

3. Caulk Windows - and door frames. This will help during the winter months as it helps to prevent heat from escaping.

4. Inspect the Roof - check for missing and loose shingles, weather in the months ahead can cause serious damage on your roof.

5. Ready the Fireplace - have your heating system serviced and make sure your wood stove and/or fireplace is in working order!

6. Seal the Driveway - inspect your driveway for cracks, clean out and repair any damage.

7. Reverse Ceiling Fan - changing the direction creates an upward draft that redistributes warm air

8. Cover Air Conditioners - remove units from windows, vacuum internal parts and wrap the outside box (if applicable) with an approved tarp or plastic conditioner cover which will help in prevention of rust on vital parts

9. Clean Yard Equipment - for those that are going into storage; as well as drain fuel from gas-operated equipment. While your at it also check on the status of your snow equipment to make sure they are running.

10. Prepare Deck for Winter - clean your porch as well as furniture before covering and storing in a protected area.

For more fall home maintenance and tips click here!

 

With all the stress of buying a home, navigating mortgages can be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Here are some general overviews of the more common types of mortgages, as well as some vocabulary lessons.

escrow - an account in which a neutral third party holds the documents and money in a real estate transfer until all conditions of a sale are met. Also, an account in which money for property taxes and insurance is held unti paid; money is added to the account every time a mortgage payment is made.

mortgage - the charging of real (or personal) property by a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt ( especially one incurred by the purchase of the property), on the condition that it shall be returned on payment of the debt within a certain period.

prepayment penalty - a fee charged to borrowers who pay a loan off faster than the prescribed payment schedule.

principal - amount of debt, not including interest, that remains on a loan.

adjustable-rate mortgage - also known as a variable-rate mortgage, this is a mortgage whose rate of interest is adjusted periodically to reflect market conditions. Many have capped interest rates.

balloon mortgage - a loan which offers smaller monthly payments over a period of time (typically between 3 and 10 years). Then, the principal balance must be paid off in a lump sum, or balloon payment.

FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan - a mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

fixed rate mortgage - a home loan, typically with a lifespan of 15 or 30 years, whose interest rate does not change.

interest-only mortgage - adjustable-rate mortgage that lets the borrowers pay only the interest for a specified period of time.

reverse mortgage - loan available to homeowners age 62 and older, where the lender makes payments to the borrower by converting some of the equity in the home into cash. The loan does not need to be paid back as long as the borrower lives in the house.

VA loan - a mortgage that is insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Overviews and definitions provided by www.usa.gov and www.bankrate.com