Is Your Internet Home Search Frustrating?

Have you ever been frustrated searching for homes on the Internet, where you don't know if you're getting all of the listings that are available for sale?

You go to numerous real estate sites hoping that you're seeing all of the homes for sale.

You're just not sure if you're accessing all of the homes.

Well, check this out.

I can send you, without obligation, all Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listings from the neighborhoods and price range of your choice. You'll get the street address, room and lot sizes, photographs (if posted), and property descriptions.

If you're interested, just send me an e-mail with the areas, price range and a few amenities that you're looking for in a home. Then I'll send you a list of properties that are currently available to for sale (of all real estate companies that participate in the Cincinnati MLS).

After receiving the initial list of homes currently for sale, you'll continue to receive new listings by e-mail that are fresh on the market.

You can review them at your convenience on your computer.

If you'd like to take the next step and see any of them, just contact me and I'll be happy to show them to you. Acting as your buyer's agent, I'd be able to represent you should you decide to move ahead with making an offer. Don't make the mistake of working with the seller's agent, who's only loyalty and responsibility is to the seller.

Dan
dan@DanWeis.com
www.HomeBuyingClass.com
http://www.cincinnatirealestatehelp.com/

You May Be Entitled To Cash Refund from FHA!

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is looking for tens of thousands of home buyers, who are owed millions of dollars in refunds.

These refunds generally are owed to people who paid up-front mortgage insurance fees on mortgages insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Did you ever have an FHA-insured mortgage?

People who sell their FHA-insured homes in less than seven years after purchase are often owed the refunds. (They are supposed to get back a portion of the advance mortgage insurance premiums they paid at the time of the closing.) These up-front fees have been charged since 1983.

Also, some people who received FHA-insured mortgages before 1983 may be due refunds from earnings by FHA's mortgage insurance fund.

To find out if you're owed a refund, you can access HUD's web site at: www.hud.gov and click on 'FHA Refunds' on the left hand side. Then type in your name and see if you are owed a refund.

I typed in my name, because I had an FHA loan back in the 80s, but I must have already received my refund, because my name wasn't on the list. Well, at least it was worth checking out to see if I had any money coming to me.

If you do find your name on the list and are due a refund, just remember who told you about the web site. :)

Dan
dan@DanWeis.com
www.HomeBuyingClass.com
www.CincinnatiRealEstateHelp.com

Thinking Of Building A NEW Home?

Most buyers are under the impression that they can save money by not using a buyer's agent when they purchase a new home from a builder. Think again! You will be surprised.

Think you're going to be able to buy a new home for less if you use the builder's agent? Wrong! Practically all builders have the buyer agent's fee structured into their building costs.

They won't discount the price of the new home, if you don't have your own agent. They will just pocket the extra money. They don't discount it, because a large majority of their new home sales come from Realtors and they don't want to alienate Realtors. Also, only working with the builder's agent, do you think you'd be fairly represented? Think again!

Another area of concern that I have is many people think just because the home is new, they don't think they need a home inspection. They think that the county building inspector has enough time to make sure that the home is problem-free. That's dangerous thinking! If you're going to build a new home from scratch, I would recommend a minimum of a 3 or a 4 stage home inspection: at foundation stage, at framing stage, at drywall stage and a final punch-out stage. The ball-park range of $500 - $800 (based on a 3 or 4 stage inspection) will be worth the peace of mind and lack of aggravation later, because you took the step of having another set of eyes during the building process. I've recommended Finegan Inspection Services for over 10 years now. Terry Finegan has completed more than 10,000 inspections himself and previously has been a custom-home builder. For details on about his service, you can reach Terry & Susan Finegan at (513) 683-0733 or at www.fineganinspectionservices.com.

I would NEVER build a new home without having at least a 4 - stage independent inspection done on the home.

Finally, be leery of builder-paid closing costs on your mortgage only if you use the builder's mortgage company. Many times the builder owns the mortgage company and they subsidize the extra costs that they're supposedly saving you by putting it into the price of the home. The builder won't pay your closing costs of $2,000 - $4,000 if you want to use another mortgage company, only their own. Does that sound right to you? Also the mortgage that you would get may also not be the best mortgage for you, but it is for the builder's mortgage company. So keep your eyes open.

Remember, you need someone in your corner looking out for your best interests. I can help you!

Dan
dan@DanWeis.com
http://www.HomeBuyingClass.com
http://www.CincinnatiRealEstateHelp.com

Protect Your Wallet - Knowledge Is Power!

If you are planning to buy a home or condo in 2006, learn how to keep your hard-earned money in your wallet by attending one of our FREE Home & Condo Buyer Classes. Now is the time to start your education process.

Don't go out looking at homes or condos without arming yourself with the information you'll learn from this free 2.5 hour, no-obligation class.

There are too many HORROR stories in the marketplace today from people, who didn't know any better - they ended up with a "Money Pit" home or got swindled into a "Bait & Switch" home loan that ended up costing them thousands of extra dollars.

Go to http://www.homebuyingclass.com for upcoming class dates, location and other details.

Dan Weis
Class Instructor since 1987
cell: 513-615-1890