Manchester, NH

Manchester New Hampshire Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Affordable Homes

Time is running out for first-time home buyers looking to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit. To take advantage of this opportunity and meet the deadline, you must take three critical steps.

1. Credit approval - obtain a written credit pre-approval from a reputable lender so that you know the price range of homes you qualify for.
2. Evaluate the market - take advantage of working with a Buyer's agent who will represent your interests in the transaction.
3. Negotiate aggressively - you are competing with a number of other buyers so you must make aggressive offers to insure you get the property you want. Be careful in negotiating the closing date as November 20 is the real deadline for the $8000 tax credit.

Visit Manchester NH real estatefor community, school and demographic information. Take advantage of a map based search of all NH MLS listings at Manchester NH MLS listings. This tool provides you with direct access to all MLS listings and you can view specific properties meeting your criteria. The following MLS map highlights affordable 3 bedroom homes between $190,000-200,000. The total monthly payment (which includes principal, taxes and insurance) will be approximately $1500/month with a 3.5% down payment (FHA mortgage).

If you would like to receive information on Manchester bank owned homes for sale, go to Manchester NH Foreclosures.

Virtual Homes real estate agents will provide buyer agency services. Virtual Homes provides services in four New England states. Call 1-800-856-2479 for assistance with all your real estate needs.

Long-term fixed mortgage rates rose slightly over the past week while rates on adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were little changed. Last week's release of July’s employment report showed a slight improvement in the declining labor market. The unemployment rate ticked down to 9.4 percent in July, representing the first monthly decline since April 2008. Approximately 247,000 jobs were lost, fewer than the market consensus and the smallest loss since August 2008. Declines in some local housing markets may be nearing an end as well. Median existing home prices rose among 17 of the major metropolitan areas in the second quarter from the same period last year, up from gains in only 12 of the areas during the first quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors®. This represents the greatest number of areas experiencing annual growth since the third quarter of 2008. Moreover, 81 percent of major cities had house prices rise between the first quarter and second quarter of this year. With this nice weather ahead of us, we should see good Real Estate traffic over the weekend. Never hesitate to call on me for assistance, I’m always available and happy to take your call.

Webb Dickson provides more than just good service; he educates his customers on proper dryer vent and exhaust maintenance to prevent fires and save money on utility bills

Manchester, NH--Clothes dryers are a wonderful convenience, but they do require maintenance to assure safety in homes. The National Fire Prevention Administration reports over 15,000 fires annually, costing millions of dollars, many injuries and loss of lives. Consumers in New Hampshire appreciate Webb Dickson, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard serving Hampshire and Massachusetts.

In addition to dryer vent cleaning and dryer exhaust service, Dryer Vent Wizard technicians explain proper maintenance and installation to their customers. They recommend dryer vents to be as short as possible and contain few bends and turn which can inhibit venting and cause lint to build up and clog the vent. Dryer Vent Wizard does not use sheet metal screws to join sections of dryer exhaust ducts together. They use foil tape instead to eliminate protuberances that catch and trap lint.

According to Dryer Vent Wizard, in addition to being a fire hazard, clogged dryer vents cost consumers and additional $18 - $24 per month in energy bills. It is not normal for a dryer to take several cycles to properly dry clothes. When drying time is longer than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked. Webb Dickson provides tips and information for consumers at http://dryerventcleaningnashuanh.blogspot.com/

Dryer Vent Wizard professionally inspects and cleans clothing dryers for homeowners and in commercially-owned buildings. Poorly maintained dryer vents are fire hazards and cause clothes dryers to cost substantially more to operate. Webb Dickson serves all of New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts. Visit http://www.nhdryervent.com for more information or to schedule service.

First -Time Home Buyer Guide for Manchester, New Hampshire Real Estate

Buying a home may be the most important investment an individual or family makes in their lifetime. It is important to understand the process and to be aware of the industry professionals who can assist you. The two primary advisers will be Realtors and mortgage lenders. You must understand how much you can afford and what your budget will allow. If you are a first-time home buyer, you may qualify for a tax credit ($8000 in 2009) and could be eligible for special financing programs.

Mortgage Financing

Most home buyers borrow the money to purchase property by obtaining a mortgage through a lender. The lender may be a bank, mortgage banker, credit union or a private investor. The most common types of loans are conventional and government insured (FHA and VA). In commmunities surrounding Manchester with populations under 20,000 the USDA offers 100% financing through the Rural Farm loan program. It is advisable to obtain a "credit approval" from a lender prior to actively looking at property so that you understand the price range you can afford.

The Real Estate Agent's Role in the Process

As a consumer in the New Hampshire home buying process, you have options for representation. As a New Hampshire home buyer, you may hire a buyer's agent or work through a facilitator. A buyer agent is a licensee who acts on behalf of a buyer or tenant in the purchase, exchange, rental, or lease of real estate. A facilitator is an individual licensee who assists one or more parties during all or a portion of a real estate transaction without being an agent or advocate for the interests of any party to such transaction.

Finding Your First Home

There are a variety of on-line tools and services that will assist you in finding the perfect home. Visit Manchester Homes for Sale for direct access to the NH MLS map search. The Virtual Homes real estate services include listings of Manchester foreclosures. The New Hampshire home search is easy with "quick search" options to search for NH homes for sale and real estate. Let us assist you in finding the property that meets your needs. RE/MAX Country Properties real estate agents can assist you in your search for the perfect home.

New Hampshire Multiple Listing Service- Search the MLS for all NH property listings. Go to NH MLS.

New Hampshire Foreclosures and Bank Owned Homes - Register to receive New Hampshire foreclosure (bank-owned) listings and short sale opportunities. Go To NH Bank Owned

Home Search Service - Home search is a web-based real estate software tool (MLSpulse) that keeps you continually informed of your local real estate market.

Visit Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Real Estate Market Report for the latest housing statistics.

Home Inspection - In-depth View of the Property

A home inspection gives the buyer more detailed information about the overall condition of the home prior to purchase. In a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an in-depth, unbiased look at your potential new home to advise you on the condition and necessary repairs.

Legal - Obtaining Title and Possession

As a buyer obtaining a mortgage, the lender will utilize a title attorney for the closing process. They will research the title, prepare the settlement statement, schedule the closing, record the documents and distribute the funds. Once the paperwork is signed and the seller receives his funds, they will give you the keys to your new home.

With the FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER CREDIT OF UP TO $8,000 and interest rates at some of the lowest rates in ra history of 20years, I am amazed why we as Realtors aren't promoting this great gift to all potential buyers? But is it that we are not promoting it or---are buyers not listening---or too panic stricken to even consider taking a chance? After all, isn't life itself a chance?

I have read very recently that there has never been a better time to buy homes since Dwight D. Eisenhower was President.

I have posted this report on my website at

www.ManchesterBedfordHooksettHomes.com

with permission from the author of the "New $8,000 -First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Report, Julie Garton-Good for all to review. If buyers want to take advantage of this credit, they will need to act quickly as it ends December 1st and it can take 45 to 60 days to close on a property in this real estate environment. It's the Perfect Storm. This article is very clearly written and answers your most basic questions on this tax credit. As always if you have additional questions, your CPA is your best source of how this will apply to your situation.

It's PERFECT STORM; A Storm because with the decline of property values. seller foreclosures, short sales and bank owned properties. PERFECT because it a heavenly opportunity for first time buyers who can afford a home that was not within their means a mere two or so years ago; that coupled with some of the lowest interest rates in twenty years, puts first time buyers in a real position to purchase, to own their first home before the economy we are now experiencing recovers and they miss the opportunity.

Some of the reasons I heard are "well what if we loose our jobs?" Then what do we do?

My response was and is, and if you loose your job, won't the rent still be due? Now I am not advocating that if you know your company is going to lay you off that you act irresponsibly. In home ownership you have avenues to help you through the tough times better than in a rent. As the home owner you don't need permission from the landlord to rent out a room for additional help with the new rent payment known as the mortgage which could be the price of the former rent. It's yours and you do as you please other than you of course are not allowed to destroy the property. all I am suggesting is see a lender and act responsibly. Do your homework and see if this works for you. If it does, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND DECEMBER 1ST IS THE DEADLINE, SO PLAY SAFE, CLOSE BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST!

So let me strongly urge all renters and potential buyers to check out this gift. Go to my website and read the article for clarification---then call a lender and get pre-approved or--call me I can help. and out of my territory, not a problem I have a network of Qualified Buyers Agents (ABR) that I can refer you to.