Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I am considering buying a foreclosed home. Does anyone have any advice from experience that they can give?

Currently, I live in an expensive market area and feel as though it would be a little bit cheaper to buy my first home from the foreclosed market. I want to know how should I get started on the procedure. Would I need to get a realtor immediately or should I just check the listings on my own? Has anyone ever been in this situation? Please share your experience.I am considering buying a foreclosed home. Does anyone have any advice from experience that they can give?
be sure to have a professional 3rd party inspection done before signing on the dotted line or you may end up with a headache you can't handleI am considering buying a foreclosed home. Does anyone have any advice from experience that they can give?
If you are a future buyer then start by learning about buying your first home (foreclosure or not). This is an excellent time buy because if you are qualified then you can call the shots. Start by sitting down with a lender, the larger company the better, and see what you are qualified for. Then interview a couple realtors (they should be frothing at the mouth to serve) and then look. Look alot before you make any offers so you know what the values truly are.





If you want a shortcut consider taking a first time homebuyer class offerred by a non-profit in your area. They are set up to education and not sell you anything and are offerred in most big cities. Check with city hall to find out what is available.
I caution you and your thinking. Most of these homes while may appear inexpensive, may have some unforeseen and costly repairs needed. Do you really think when people are forced to leave their homes, that they leave them in good condition? I had a question on here earlier, asking if they could take the appliances and garage door opener! OMG What are these people thinking? I know of two in my area that were foreclosed, one left the water running downstairs in the basement - in winter! The other a unique home - round, left all the windows open - in winter. Can you imagine what they found? Huge MOLD problems! While you think you may be able to get a deal, I wouldn't count on it.





My best advise find a Realtor that knows both markets and know how to deal with the lenders. Because you have no idea what to expect and they do. Oh and by the way once you find that bargain, hope you like waiting for answer from the lender. I still don't understand that one, but for some reason they sure take their time in answering an offer. Make it a good offer or forget. They aren't interested in what you think the place needs, the price they are asking is to recoup their costs and cover the balance of the defaulted mortgage.
A realtor has better access to foreclosures, HUD homes and short sales than you could ever have on your own.


You have to be VERY careful, they're not all good deals. Many of these homes are in terrible condition because the previous owner destroyed it before leaving.


Be VERY careful, make sure you have a thorough inspection before agreeing to buy anything.


A lot of them sell by auction so that means you shouldn't get too terribly attached to anything, you may have to bid on several before your bid is the highest. Auctions can also bring in more than the market value for a house, so do a LOT of research!

What is the best advice you would give to a single mother of a five year old son,turning six in November.?

Non-specific,I know,but I like to have as much knowledge in ANY aspect of life that I can.Thanks.What is the best advice you would give to a single mother of a five year old son,turning six in November.?
Ensure he feels a sense of togetherness with you. Do fun things together that you know he enjoys doing. Try kite flying. Look for opportunities to make him laugh.





Repetition. My son needs to be told repeatedly to do something. I go through something with him step by step instead of just telling him to do something and hope he does it. ie: putting stuff into his backpack.





Watch your son and make positive comments about what he's doing when he doesn't think you're watching.





Let him help you with the housework/cooking and then tell him he's the best kid in the world for wanting to help, as you hug him.





Try not to judge him according to what you see other 5/6 year olds doing, if you think he's coming up short. He's already got the added stress of not having a constant, positive male influence in his life (I'm guessing), and the stress may be manifesting itself in a way that hinders learning. (speaking from my own experience).





If you give him love and positive guidance, strive for consistancy, and give him as many experiences as you can, he should turn out all right. Even presidents have been known to be raised by single moms. What is the best advice you would give to a single mother of a five year old son,turning six in November.?
he turning six look like u 2 r happy. also u seen doing well so i could just say





do what right


do your best


never give up
  • shiseido
  • oily skin
  • What was the worst advice you got while pregnant/after birth?

    I think the worst I got was to retract my son's intact penis and wash it! I almost fell over.What was the worst advice you got while pregnant/after birth?
    Worst -


    ';Let him cry....he needs to exercise his lungs.';


    ';Get him circumcised so he'll look like his favorite sports heros.'; (HELLO!? How does my Grandmother have knowledge of what Peyton Manning's penis looks like and where do I get my free peak?)


    ';You won't stick with breastfeeding. It's too hard and too time consuming.'; (Gee...way to be supportive. And isn't having a BABY hard and time consuming anyway?)





    Best -


    YOU are the expert on YOUR baby. Not your MIL, your mom, the doctor, some book or some person on the internet.


    Hire a doula for your birth.


    Sleep when the baby sleeps.





    EDITED TO ADD:


    Jessiels1 - The foreskin is attached to the glans until around school aged. Retracting it prior to then would be like ripping off your fingernail. Any reputable medical information you read on this will say that you DO NOT retract a newborn's foreskin and that retracting it can cause damage.What was the worst advice you got while pregnant/after birth?
    I think...it would be to let my son do what he wants, he'll turn out okay.
    yes you have to push the for-skin back and clean it when a baby pees it goes in to every little crevice..how else are you going to prevent infections....did you know that yeast infections come from guys who dont clean properly...the sooner you introduce your child top proper hygiene the better...or avoid that whole process and circumcise him...it is better for the boy/man in the long run ask any guy
    Don't raise your arms above your head, it'll make the cord wrap around the baby's neck (yeah, there's an invisible string from my elbow to the cord...) LOL!
    when i was pregnant a friend said ';you can't take a bath or you'll drown the baby';!
    That I should not nurse it takes too much time.





    Nursing was easyier than formula feeding. I suplimented once a day with my daughter, and now she has intestinal issues. They say it was due to the one bottle I gave her day. I wished I had only nursed her. She can't have any sugar or sugar substitues.





    I only nursed my son, and he is as healthy as a horse.
    That my baby was not going to live , she lived and she was healthy
    I think the Worse I got was Just let him Scream it out and don't Hold him to much you'll spoil him! WHAT? he was like 5 days old, can you really Spoil him at 5 days old?


    That and I was told to go and get him Circumcised, what the hell? people are crazy!
    that I cannot wash my hair for a month after birth.. it'd cause me excruciating headaches.. lol

    Going to be a freshman. Any advice?

    I'm nervous.


    Plain and simple.


    Basically, I just would like some advice on how to get through freshman year and the first day and weeks of my being a freshman.


    Like...


    How should I be around the other grades?


    Is freshman year the worst?


    I just need advice!





    =]Going to be a freshman. Any advice?
    Be yourself and don't give in to peer pressure.Going to be a freshman. Any advice?
    forget about what everyones going to think about you..and just act confident..it took me forever to figure out thats all you need to do.


    i doubt its the worst...just hard getting used to. its new, exciting, ect.


    be yourself. if they dont like it you wouldnt want them as your friends right? they would find out eventually anyways and you might as well not waste time.
    its new its scary and its natural to feel that way--have fun but study-dont give yourself too many hard classes the first year.if you are like most people this is your first real time away from the parents-it`s nice but don`t lose your head.





    loubelle
    Don't worry, freshmen years are a blast!


    Your worst will be your junior year because of all the work.


    But one step at a time..


    Other grades are usually friendly with freshmen...just be nice


    and be careful with your drinks...!
    Freshman year is like the hardest year and your just getting in highschool.Your going to be mad nervous on the first day.Basically your going to be nervous like half of the year.Think about it your going to be in the lunch room with the SENIORS!The cool kids,football players,and cheerleaders.But it's real cool once you hit highschool.You'll get more comfortable once you get there.But for a bit of advice.DO NOT BECOME AN OUTKAST.That's the worst mistake.By that I mean don't become a loner or be afraid to talk to anyone.That's the mistake I made my 9th and 10th grade year.I was a complete loner those 2 years basically because I made the mistake of not talking and being too shy.But once I started to talk to people my 11th and 12th grade year was a blast!And I just graudated from highschool so that's how I know.I had to go through all 4 years of highschool!
    just find a group of people u have things in common with and make friends but work hard because if you fail any classes youll regret it
    well, im going to be a freshman too, and im not really nervous...i just think you should act like yourself around everyone, and freshman year probably isnt the worst (sophomore and junior probably are, because thats when you really work for college)...good luck
    im going to be a freshmen too! we'll find out together! lol =]
    awesome im going to be a freshman too GL
    i'm going to be a junior this year so ive been there. i was new and nervous. just try to relax and be yourself. so cliche but so true.


    the other grades dont matter. dont bug them and be friends if they act like they want to be.


    no. freshman year is NOT the worst. it was FABULOUS!!! everyone felt the same way and everyone was very nice to eachother. i always got compliments on my hair and clothes. actually sophomore year kinda sucked. everyone is bored, annoyed, self-absorbed, unhappy etc. enjoy freshman year! you will end up loving it.


    just be polite, and dress in clothes you feel confident and beautiful in.


    i know you will be fine!
    Watch out for the older college guys. They will try to make you drunk and take advantage of you. Join clubs and have a good balance between studying and partying. Make the dean's list and still have a good time with friends at the same time. The winning way.

    What is your best advice about what to wear?

    What is your best advice about what to wear, or what is your favorite outfit? Where's your favorite place to shop? What's your favorite/least favorite fashion rule?What is your best advice about what to wear?
    I think that it's incredibly important to start with undergarments that are properly fitted and also make you feel sexy and confident while being comfortable. It's amazing how a cheap lousy bra looks so terrible under what could be a cute top. I make the mistake of buying things without trying them on - it's burned me many times. I think it's great if you know your body type and what's works with it - there are


    so many makeover shows now that you can get valuable info if you watch the good ones. I think women need to make sure they check themselves from the back angle before leaving the house. Sometimes it's a scary view!What is your best advice about what to wear?
    My best advice is to wear what fits your body well and the trends that suit you. Not every person will look good in every style; the key is to work in what you like to how you are shaped. My least favorite fashion rule is that you have to be uncomfortable to be stylish. I think you can be stylish yet still comfy and be able to walk places and stay warm.





    My favorite outfits are either a printed cotton skirt with a plain colored tee, or jeans and a printed buttondown shirt, both with flats.





    I love to shop department stores (I can get designer clothes at supercheap prices) and discount stores:


    -Macys


    -Kohls


    -JC Pennys


    -GAP


    -H%26amp;M


    -WalMart/Target/KMart


    -Banana Republic


    -J Crew


    -Delia's


    -Charlotte Russe


    -Thrift stores


    -Burlington Coat Factory/TJ Maxx/Ross





    I shop pretty much everywhere except Hottopic, Hollister, and Abercrombie, mainly because they are overpriced and have clothes that fall apart fast, and the fact that they only sell clothes with logos.
    My Fav Outfit:


    I absolutely love the way it looks when I put together my adorable red and white striped Abercrombie %26amp; Fitch knit top, my dark wash Seven jeans, my cute and classy red flats, and my red headband from Forever 21 [which, by the way, only costed me $4].





    My Fav Place to Shop:


    I don't have A favorite place to shop, but I do have favorite placeS to shop. And those places are Hollister, Abercrombie %26amp; Fitch, abercrombie kids, American Eagle, Aeropostale, and PacSun.





    My Fav/Least Fav Fashion Rule:


    Wow, I have no idea! Haha, that's a hard one. Well, I guess my favorite one would have to be the one that CLEARLY states NO mixing of leather and pleather. And my least favorite fashion rule would have to be...the one that goes, 'You HAVE to wear at least 2 tanks, because it looks freakin retarded with just wearing one tank, especially if you've got little to no boobs'. The reason I think that one kinda sux is because sometimes it's just like SO hot and you're dying to pull of one of your tanks! Blechhh...
    Its all about your shape..dress your body to its potential. Always look out for trends but do them in your own way. My motto is...';look your best, but dont give a $H!T if anyone likes your best'; As long as you have the confidence to pull of an outfit..your golden!





    Body Type...





    http://www.howtolookgood.com/advice_home鈥?/a>








    My fav. Stores...





    American Eagle


    Express


    GAP


    Old Navy


    Forever 21


    Anthropologie


    Urban Outfitters


    H%26amp;M


    Heritage1981


    and


    Department stores are always good. ie macys, nordstroms, lord and talyor





    Ew Stores...





    Hot topic


    AERO


    DEB















    wear what looks good on you


    but most importantly the clothes have to be comfortable


    dont shop in a place because of its popularity


    make sure the clothing is made of good material
    I like comfortable clothes. I am completely content in board shorts (pacsun $35) and a t shirt. I get all my shirts from shows and www.merchnow.com

    Can anyone give me advice on being a landlord?

    I want to be a landlord of multiple properties one day. I'm currently in college and just bought my first investment property. How can I build on that and be successful doing it?Can anyone give me advice on being a landlord?
    Everything in writing - nothing verbal. Two months security deposit if possible. No cats, extra deposit if they have a dog. You can't get rid of cat stink, but dog can usually be cleaned.





    Clearly state what is your responsibility - who changes light bulbs (seriously), who's responsible for clogged drains (kids flush everything, especially small toys) - anything you can think of.





    Keep the property up. I had two three unit buildings, and the clogged drains were the most common problem.





    The lease must state how many tenants are allowed. If you rent to a couple, it's a couple. If they have kids, that's to be expected and can be added on renewal. If they move in friends, they have to pay more (you have more wear and tear, Higher water bills, etc.) - and you can require permission to have anyone move in. Typically a lease allows guests to stay no more than two weeks.


    Can anyone give me advice on being a landlord?
    Manage the finances well and you'll create wealth over time and be able to grow your investment portfolio.





    Also, do the math with a financial advisor, so you understand your ongoing financial commitment (cashflow) over time.





    Best tip? Manage your investment with http://streetfolio.com
    Charge a fair price for the rent and actually listen to your tenants when they have an issue. Do that and you will have contented tenants who will help you retain your property's value.
    Find a local real estate investment group. Join and attend meetings and network. Other investors will be happy to help you.
    Check and recheck your prospective tenants. Once they get in it is very dificult to get them out. Don't rent to lawyers or paralegalss

    Ranto I need your advice what college is best for me?

    My high school gpa is a 4.0, I have been offered a football scholarship by lsu, michigan, and usc. I want to go to a school that will allow me to get a good biology program and an opportunity to play football at a good school to get a chance to play in the nfl?Ranto I need your advice what college is best for me?
    go to lsuRanto I need your advice what college is best for me?
    Michigan and USC both have highly ranked academic programs and are similar in quality. If you are interested in getting a great education, then either of those schools is superior to LSU.





    I don't follow football -- but know enough to realize that all three schools have highly regarded football programs. I would only choose LSU if you believe that it gives you a much better chance to play in the NFL. You would have to talk with people who know these programs and your skills to get a better answer.





    For me the deciding factor would be that if you went to USC or LSU you would have to wear maroon and purple (which are bad colors for me) while at Michigan, you would get to wear blue. No matter which of these schools you choose -- you should change your screen name.