Buying a house is one of the most important things you will ever do. You’re investing in your future and securing a safe place for you, your family, and your life to flourish. Although it can be very expensive, it’s worth it.

One way to lessen the financial expenses of buying a home is to buy a foreclosed home. The process of buying a foreclosed home might be simpler than you think, and you’ll always get more bang for your buck.

The Process Of Buying A Foreclosed Home:

1. Just like when you buy a regular home, you want to find a knowledgeable real estate agent. When you buy from the listing agent, you’re just buying from the bank. They don’t necessarily look at the home and ensure that it’s free of issues that you need to consider. You may even be able to find an agent with special training or certification in buying and selling foreclosed homes, although that isn’t completely necessary.

2. Inspect the house, preferably with an expert, to help you find anything you may need to fix. The process of foreclosing a home is lengthy, and throughout that process, the owner does not remain in the home. This means the house probably isn’t going to be maintained. As with any other home, you want to make sure you’re prepared for what this house has to offer you. Don’t sign a contract until you know what you will or will not need to fix.

3. When you want to pay for the home, make sure you check your credit first. Don’t do anything different with your credit at this point; don’t open new cards and don’t cancel old ones. Consult your real estate agent to make sure your credit score is sufficient. If not, follow their advice to improve it.

Local Professionals Are Available To Work With You

Having the aid of a certified real estate agent will really help you in the long run. Buying a foreclosed home usually saves you about 15% of your money. TalkLocal can help connect you with the professionals in your area who can help you find the foreclosed home you’re looking for and start investing in your future.

The decision of buying vs building a house yourself is a personal one.  You need to decide what you value, your current commitments, and the resources you can dedicate to such a grand project.  Your house will be the place you return to day after day, so you should seriously deliberate whether building a house is worth it.  Deciding to move into a new house is a big step, so consider the following points before deciding whether to buy or build your dream home.

Pros Of Building A Home

– Control: you can decide the exact layout and size of your house.

– Knowledge: you can choose building features that best suit how much maintenance you can commit to for your home.

– Expert Advice: the builder can help you create a house catered to your interests and preferences.

– Personal Choice: you can choose to build with environmentally-friendly materials.

Cons Of Building A Home

– Time Pressure: you will be working on a deadline, depending on the weather and when you need the house completed.

– Budgeting: building supplies and labor can run over your budget (you should also account for unexpected expenses, such as necessary changes in design plans).

– Stressful: you will need to manage this project on top of your job and other commitments.

Pros Of Buying A Home

– Options: you have the opportunity to shop around for the most affordable home in different neighborhoods and styles.

– Negotiation: you have some leeway to haggle the price with the seller.

– No Rush: you can take your time, looking at as many houses as you like, on your schedule.

Cons Of Buying A Home

– Not Always A Perfect Fit: you may need to compromise some wants or have extras you don’t need in a home that you buy, as it may depend more on the price than the layout of the home.

– Potentially More Costly: buying an older home is a risky investment, as you may need to perform renovations on it that would not be required with a freshly-built home.

Continuing Problems

If you have more questions about buying vs building a house, ask a professional for more advice.  The easiest and fastest way to get in contact with reliable, local real estate or construction companies is to use TalkLocal. Just tell us your problem and availability and let us do all the work.  Within minutes you will be connected to someone who can help.

Whether you are looking to build your dream house or find one on the market already, you will want to know a little bit about your architectural options. Most common home architectural styles are designed to be pleasing to the eye, and your individual taste will help you decide which one to go with. Of course, other factors, like the exterior paint or lawn will also likely play into your decision.

Some of the most common home architectural styles include:

Ranch: No, this isn’t based on the delicious salad dressing. This type of home is known for being a one-level home with a partial basement, and a garage attached to the side instead of free-standing.

Colonial: Just like its name suggests, this style of home has been around for centuries. It’s a two-story, spacious style that focuses on elegance over commonality. Most colonial homes were individualized when they were built, which means that window types and floor plans may vary dramatically.

Split level: After World War II, these homes became popular because they are so spacious. They include two levels that are not stacked one on top of the other or side-by-side; they are split into two, partially-connected sections instead.

Bi-level: This two-level home is also called a “peeking level” home because the bottom level is semi exposed from the ground instead of being completely submerged or completely exposed. There is rarely a basement under the second level.

Victorian: These homes are centered on elegance and beauty. They feature many types of windows and additions that offer a unique flair such as bay windows, large porches, balconies, and more.

Townhouse: Famous for easy living in big cities, these multi-level homes include smaller levels stacked on top of one another to give more space for the residents without taking up as much space outside.

Find The Right Home For You

These common home architectural styles are very popular, but there are even more styles out there. If you are interested in building, renovating or shopping for a home, TalkLocal can connect you to the professionals in your area who can answer all of your questions, and help you achieve your home-owning goals.