Langhorne, PA

A licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home. Realtors are expert negotiators with others agents, seasoned financial advisers with customers, and superb navigators around the local neighborhood. They are members of the National Association of Realtors and must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice enforced by NAR. A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying or selling a home.

Let a Realtor Guide br Your Guide:

• A knowledgeable Realtor can save you endless amounts of money, time, and frustration.
• A knowledgeable Realtor knows the housing market inside and out and can help you avoid the "wild goose chase."
• A knowledgeable Realtor can help you with any home, even if it is listed elsewhere or if it is being sold directly by the owner.
• A knowledgeable Realtor knows the best lenders in the area and can help you understand the importance of being preapproved for a mortgage. He or she can also discuss down payments, closing costs, monthly payment options that suit you.
• A knowledgeable Realtor is an excellent source for both general and specific information about the community such as schools, churches, shopping, and transportation-plus tips on home inspections and pricing.
• A knowledgeable Realtor is experienced at presenting your offer to the seller and can help you through the process of negotiating the best price. By bringing objectivity to the buying transaction, he or she can point out the advantages and the disadvantages of a particular property.

And the best thing about your Realtor is that all this help normally won't cost you a cent. Generally speaking, the seller pays the commission to the Realtor.

To learn more about what I can do for you visit me, Carol Swain at www.swainsells.com . Also check out current homes for sale in Bucks County, Pa and surrounding areas.

The Cost of Overpricing in a Shifted Market:

1 - Fair market value declines during market shift.

2- Seller hopes a higher intial price will draw a higher offer.

3 - Market Interest is fragile(with high inventory) and wanes quickly.

4 - Salable Price is impacted by declining market values, "staleness," and competition.

5- Small price reductions only "chase down the market."

6- Properties sell when buyers see very attractive prices.

7- The Cost of Overpricing is amplified after;

To learn more about what I can do for you visit me, Carol Swain at www.swainsells.com . Also check out current homes for sale in Bucks County, Pa and surrounding areas.

Moving into a new home can be one of the most stressful situations that a person can endure, so it is vital that you find ways to make the transition as easy as possible. There are two distinct types of stress that one faces when changing homes. First, there is the financial aspect of the move. Finding the right home at the right price, negotiating the purchase with a seller, filling out the lengthy paperwork involved, and handling the escrow can all take its toll. Then there is the emotional aspect of the move, and this is often where the greatest amount of stress is felt. A competent and professional real estate agent can make the financial steps of the process easy, but if your emotional needs are unfulfilled, you may find yourself tired and frustrated and not acting in your own best interest.

It's important to begin with the end of the process in mind. When you know the exact result you want to end up with, the process of getting there becomes much easier. Take the time to analyze how your life will be once you have moved into your new home and how it will be better than your current situation. Take the time to write out the improvements to your life and keep this with you at all times during the transaction. Having a physical copy of your goal will energize you to achieve it, regardless of any setbacks. This will be an emotional anchor that can keep you mentally in place.

Be flexible throughout the process. Allow yourself financial peace of mind by overestimating the costs. Many things can happen between the time you begin looking for a home and closing the sale. Hidden costs, problems with the inspection, or fluctuating interest rates can all pop up at any time during the transaction. By allowing yourself flexibility, you can compensate for sudden changes that otherwise might bring a halt to the process. If you anticipate and prepare for these problems, you can avoid getting angry or frustrated when things don't go exactly as planned.

A good REALTOR can review the step-by-step procedure in purchasing a home. Trust the process and stay focused on your ultimate goal of home ownership and you will find the process will go smoothly. Trust that your agent and the team they have assembled are working in your best interests.

Work with people who are willing to educate you on every step of the process. The more knowledge you acquire when buying a new home, the more at ease you will feel. Understanding that things don't always go exactly according to the original plan is key, so take the time to learn about the step-by-step procedures. Have confidence in your REALTOR and yourself. Ask every question on your mind, no matter how seemingly insignificant it is. When buying a new home and moving, there are no stupid questions.

Sometimes, the best way to remedy a situation is to remove it from your mind completely for a little while. Seek out a form of entertainment that you know relaxes you and embrace it. Maybe you like to play a sport or watch movies. Use your hobbies and enjoyable pastimes to relieve your stress.

Moving can be especially hard if you have children. For adults, living in a home for a few years represents just a small portion of their lives, but children who have lived in a home for most or all of their lives will face a much more difficult time when changing homes. Even just those few years represent a much larger portion of a child's life.

To learn more about what I can do for you visit me, Carol Swain at www.swainsells.com . Also check out current homes for sale in Bucks County, Pa and surrounding areas.

Use the chart below to determine your monthly principal and interest payments at various interest rates for either a 15 or 30 year term.

1. Find the appropriate interest rate from the chart above.

2. Look across the column to the appropriate term to determine your interest rate factor.

3. Multiply the interest rate factor by your loan amount in $1000s.

Remember: Be sure to add your monthly insurance premuim and your property tax to your principal and interest to determine your total monthly payment.

Note: These figures represent mere estimates. We strongly recommend that you talk with a reputable mortgage specialist to determine the actual amount you will pay each month in principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Think about the location in terms of commute time to work, distance from leisure-time activities, and proximity to shopping, schools, or any other places you frequent. You may think of other factors that are important to you. Please take some time to write them on your Home Search Criteria Form.

Scout out the Neighborhood!

It is important that you scout the neighborhood in person.

• Talk to people who live in there.
• Drive through the entire area at different times of the day, during the week, and on weekends.
• Look carefully at how well other homes in the are are being maintained-are they painted; are the yards well cared for; are parked cars in good condition?

Neighborhood Factors to Consider

• Look for things such as access to major thoroughfares, highways, and shopping.
• Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, railways, public areas, schools, etc.
• Smell the air for nearby industry or agriculture.
• Check with local civic, police, fire, and school officials to find information about the area.
• Research environmental topics such as soil and water quality, as well as floodplain implications.
• Study traffic patterns around the area at different times of the day and measure drive time from the area to work.
• Is the neighborhood near parks, places of religious worship, recreation centers, shopping, theaters, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.?
• Does the neighborhood have a Homeowner's Association?

To learn more about what I can do for you visit me, Carol Swain at www.swainsells.com . Also check out current homes for sale in Bucks County, Pa and surrounding areas.