| Buying
Your Home - Whom to Contact (How to Buy)
Where do I get information about closing costs?
For more on closing costs, ask for the "Consumers Guide to
Mortgage Settlement Costs," Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco,
Public Information Department, P.O. Box 7702, San Francisco, CA
94120 or call (415) 974-2163.
How do I find a home inspector?
Your realty agent is one source. But keeping them independent
from the agent may be a good idea. Inspectors are listed in the
yellow pages. You can ask for referrals from friends. Ask for
their credentials, such as contractor's license or engineering
certificate. Also, check out their references.
How do I reach the IRS?
To reach the Internal Revenue Service, call (800) TAX-1040.
Where can I get information
on buyer agents?
For information on buyer agents, contact the your area's Realtor
association or National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents:
320 West Sabal Palm Place, Suite 150, Longwood, FL 32779. Phone:
407-767-7700, Toll-Free: 800-986-2322, FAX: 407-834-4747, WEBSITE:
www.naeba.org.
Where do I get information
on home market stats and trends?
A real estate agent is a good source for finding out the status
of the local housing market. So is your statewide association
of Realtors, most of which are continuously compiling such statistics
from local real estate boards. For overall housing statistics,
U.S. Housing Markets regularly publishes quarterly reports on
home building and home buying. Your local builders association
probably gets this report. If not, the housing research firm is
located in 4200 Koppernick Rd #40, Canton,Mich.48187; call (800)
755-6269 for information; the firm also maintains an Internet
site. Finally, check with the U.S. Bureau of the Census in Washington,
D.C.; (301) 763-2422. The census bureau also maintains a site
on the Internet. The Chicago Title company also has published
a pamphlet, "Who's Buying Homes in America." Write Chicago
Title and Trust Family of Title Insurers, 171 North Clark St.,
Chicago, IL 60601-3294.
Where do I get information
on lease options?
Contact your real estate agent (some even specialize in such transactions)
or read up on lease options at the public library. If you have
a real estate attorney, ask if he or she has any prepared information
you can review. Most bookstores have a fairly hefty real estate
book section these days. Many current real estate books have at
least a section on lease options. If you are considering a lease
option, be sure you do your homework first. And have an attorney
or financial advisor on hand to review any paperwork before you
sign.
What standards do appraisers
use to estimate value?
Appraisers use several factors when estimating a home's value,
including the home's size and square footage, the condition of
the home and neighborhood, comparable local sales, any pertinent
historical information, sales performance and indices that forecast
future value. For detailed information on appraisal standards,
contact the Appraisal Institute at 875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite
2400, Chicago, IL 60611-1980; (312) 335-4458.
Where do I get information
about housing discrimination?
For information about housing discrimination, call the U.S. Department
of Justice at (202) 514-2000, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW DC 20530
or your local U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
office. For detailed information, the booklet, "Your Loan
is Denied, Defending Yourself Against Mortgage Lending Discrimination,"
is available from the Center for Investigative Reporting, 500
Howard Street, Suite 206, San Francisco, CA 94105-3008 or call
(415) 543-1200.
Where do I get information
on housing market stats?
A real estate agent is a good source for finding out the status
of the local housing market. So is your statewide association
of Realtors, most of which are continuously compiling such statistics
from local real estate boards. For overall housing statistics,
U.S. Housing Markets regularly publishes quarterly reports on
home building and home buying. Your local builders association
probably gets this report. If not, the housing research firm is
located in Canton, Mich.; call (800) 755-6269 for information;
the firm also maintains an Internet site. Finally, check with
the U.S. Bureau of the Census in Washington, D.C.; (301) 763-2422.
The census bureau also maintains a site on the Internet. The Chicago
Title company also has published a pamphlet, "Who's Buying
Homes in America." Write Chicago Title and Trust Family of
Title Insurers, 171 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60601-3294.
Where do I get information
about finding a real estate attorney?
To find a real estate attorney, contact your local bar association,
which may offer local referral services. You may also ask friends
or your real estate agent for their recommendations. When you
have several names, call each to find out about fees and their
level of experience.
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