Resources
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Developers offer 'test drive' of condos
In today's credit market, rent-to-own can be attractive to both parties in a housing deal. Results can be mixed, but backers say the tactic fills units and rebuilds buyers' credit.
(By Robert Preer, Boston Globe) Buyers: Keep an eye out for add-on fees
A little-known provision in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, recently signed into law by President Bush, is supposed to help homebuyers understand how much debt they are taking on to purchase their home. (By Michelle Singletary, Boston Globe) More
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How much can you afford to spend?
The first step to ownership is to determine your budget and how much you can spend.
Know your credit
It’s important to know what the state of your credit is before you apply for a mortgage since the report and score plays an important role in how much money you’ll be able to borrow.
Getting a mortgage
Monthly gross income, credit, credit history, and the down payment amount are all factors in how much you will qualify for from a lender.
More resources
Links to help you figure out your price range.
Compare rates
Check out local mortgage rates.
Mortgage calculator
Calculate your monthly payments.
MyFico.com
Check out your credit score.
Researching communities
First you want to rank your priorities and what you're looking for in a town. Then see what town fits your needs and price range.
Picking a real estate agent
Choosing the right agent can save you time, effort and aggravation in finding the perfect home at a price you can afford.
Starting the search
You have some ideas about where you want to look, now is the time to see what is on the market.
More resources
More links to help you choose where to buy.
Rating homes (pdf)
Print this checklist and rate the homes you see.
- Also Rating towns (pdf)
2007 MCAS results
See how schools stack up in Bay State towns.
Town websites
Links to community information and town websites.
Making the offer
Whether it's a buyers or sellers market, it's sometimes difficult to know just how much a house is worth and how much to offer on a home.
Getting the home inspected
A home inspector evaluates the structure of the house, and gives feedback on other systems such as the roof, electrical system, and plumbing.
Closing the deal
Negotiating the right price may be the hard part, but the deal is not entirely done even when the sellers sign on the dotted line.
More resources
Additional useful links for a homebuyer.
Government center
More research links and town info.
Property assessments
Links to assessor databases for Massachusetts towns.
The sales contract
A look at what the document includes
Understanding taxes
Tax considerations for first-time home buyers.
Homeowners insurance
Insurance provides coverage in the event of damage to the property, as well as liability for injuries and damage that might have been caused to other people. Research communities
Want to learn more about where you're moving? Check out our communities page. |
Your complete moving guide
It's time to pack up your things and move. Here are all the things you'll need to remember during the moving process.
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The future of public education
Since schools are such a hot topic this week, here is another problem on the horizon for public schools: foreclosures. Foreclosures are causing a loss...
More stories on buying
- 8 tips for happy home buying (6/2/08)
- Do's and don'ts of buying a home (5/4/08)
- Homes still too high for 'average' family (Bankrate.com)
- Housing prices keep falling (Boston Globe, 4/29/08)
- Map Search foreclosures in Massachusetts
More stories on selling
- Caretaker's a lifesaver: How do I sell her my house?
- Rent or hold out for sale?
- Oversight of appraisers lacking
- Study: Haggling with agent often works
- Video Open House Crashers
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Smart choices for living
If you're retired and looking for a relaxed community, look no further than these all-inclusive developments.
Real Estate chats
- April 15, 2008Home-selling chat transcriptLinda O'Connor, a Realtor since 1983 and theowner of REALPRO Associates in Beverly, answered your questions on selling in today's market.
- April 14, 2007Mortgage chat transcriptJohn O'Hara, who manages operations in the residential lending market at Sherwood Mortgage Group, chatted about navigating the mortgage maze.
- April 11, 2008Home-buying chat transcriptWilliam Mullen III, general counsel for the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, took questions on the home-buying process.
- Jan. 24, 2008Holden Lewis chat transcriptBankrate.com's Holden Lewis chatted about the current mortgage market, and whether now is a good time to refinance.
- March 17, 2008Buying on the Cape chat transcriptEdward McKenna and Maria Lamb, agents with Buyer Brokers of Cape Cod-Berard Associates in Barnstable, chatted about finding the best deals on Cape Cod.
- Sept. 19, 2007Real estate chat transcriptKimberly Blanton, residential real estate reporter for The Boston Globe, took questions on the Massachusetts real estate market.
- Sept. 17. 2007Mortgage chat transcriptPeter Milewski, director of mortgage insurance for MassHousing, was took your mortgage questions.