A Checklist For Selling a Home

A Checklist For Selling a Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_R_Richards]Jonathan R Richards

Selling a home can be a very labor intensive undertaking. It definitely will be loaded down with stress filled problems. This automatically means that it could be very easy for the homeowner to overlook a few very important tasks that should have been taken care of. Therefore, it is vitally important that the first thing he or she does is to create a "to do" checklist. This will ensure that all the proper steps in this home selling adventure will be completed in the right time frame.

For example, the all important decision has to be made; "who is going to sell the home?'. There are two options; selling it by him/herself or using an agent. This decision is left to the sole discretion of the homeowner.

The second hurdle is this; what should the asking price be? This is probably is the most important thing to be considered. Usually it is beneficial to hire a professional appraiser to provide this information. It involves evaluating the present home market condition, the location of the property, its condition and age and quality of the nearby schools. Even the location of shopping malls and public transit facilities can have a huge bearing on the salability of the home.

Properly staging the home is next on the list. The homeowner must give the home an enticing facelift; applying fresh paint and making all necessary repairs. Once the property is dressed up, advertising and marketing techniques need to be resolved. Right behind that, the owner should make absolutely sure that he is familiar with all the financial needs and legal requirements.

Finally, they should determine how to choose an offer and also how to close the deal.

The checklist should be closely followed until everything is complete; the homeowner should be as informed as possible. It may be advisable for them to hire a real estate attorney for their own protection during these legal proceedings.

Jonathan is the owner of [http://www.bloomingtonflatfeemlslisting.com]Flat Fee MLS Bloomington, a Flat Fee MLS company that specializes in placing For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties on the Realtors® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a low one time flat fee. Please visit [http://www.bloomingtonflatfeemlslisting.com]Bloomington Flat Fee MLS to learn more about their services and the Flat Fee MLS packages they offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_R_Richards http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Checklist-For-Selling-a-Home&id=3168816

UK Home Owners Turn To Cash Sale To Stop Repossession In Credit Crunch

UK Home Owners Turn To Cash Sale To Stop Repossession In Credit Crunch
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Bradley_Homes]David Bradley Homes

People faced with financial difficulties may be overlooking a quick and stress free way to alleviate money worries.

Property is the most valuable asset to home owners across the nation but turning bricks and mortar into cash can be a challenge in the current climate. Even with the assistance of large well known property companies the times involved and bureaucracy can compound mounting stress levels.

Searching the internet for quick sale property companies can also be overwhelming. Many new companies are jumping on the 'cash offer guaranteed' bandwagon. It is essential that you research these companies thoroughly. How long have they been established, is it a family business or a fly by night organisation. Who responds to your enquiries? Is it a call center, a junior sales executive or is it someone senior who you can put your trust in?

After all your property can make you money, your property can help you out of difficult financial circumstances. Be sure that accepting assistance will mean ALL your costs are covered, that there are no hidden charges, no small print.

Proceeding with caution contact an established family business with a proven track record. Rest assured as you ensure your property is turned into cash, get a quote. This is a positive step in the right direction but remember a reputable company will not pursue you if you are not 100% happy, and if the cash offer is not to your liking you are not obliged to continue negotiations.

When you are happy with your cash offer and confident in a quick sale be aware that although the end to your financial worries may be near you must still be assured that an experienced property professional is guiding you comfortably through the process.

Using a quick sale specialist doesn't mean that corners a cut it means that the weight is taken off your shoulders.

End your money worries, turn your property into hard cash, swiftly, professionally and without the stress of volatile property chains. Stop repossession today pay off your debts and let David Bradley Homes show you that selling your home can be easy. http://www.davidbradleyhomes.gbr.cc

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Bradley_Homes http://EzineArticles.com/?UK-Home-Owners-Turn-To-Cash-Sale-To-Stop-Repossession-In-Credit-Crunch&id=3150071

How to Sell a Home by Your First Open House

How to Sell a Home by Your First Open House
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dolon]Michelle Dolon

1. Make a Good First Impression
Little things can make a huge difference. First and foremost, make sure everything is clean and tidy. No one is impressed by a messy exterior. Rake the leaves. Sweep the porch. Dust for cob-webs. These are the basics and the musts. But why not take it a little further? Infuse a little color. How about adding some colorful, potted flowers or flower baskets to the windows? Paint the front door an eye-catching color. Design a flower bed in the front of your home. Studies have shown that people are drawn to color so take a little time to add a little color.

2. Clean it Up
The most important thing you can do to the interior of your home is make sure it's clean. Wax the floors. Clean the carpet. Scrub the baseboards. Clean the fireplace. Touch up the trim, or better yet, repaint the walls if the paint is fading. Remember that the majority of home buyers will respond to neutral shades inside. So stay away from the deep, jewel tones no matter how much you may like them.

3. De-Clutter
Unless you already maintain minimalist approach, gather up half of your home accessories and put them out of sight. I'm talking about family photos, souvenirs from your vacations, dog toys, children's toys, books, magazines, doll collections, etc. This will accomplish two things - 1) your home will appear larger, and 2) the prospective buyer will be able to imagine their belongings in the home. This is imperative because the better someone can visualize making it their home, the better the chances that you'll get an offer.

4. Re-Arrange the Furniture
In a smaller home, make sure that your furniture is arranged in a way that creates the perception of open space. This will make the rooms appear larger. Don't block entry ways or place too much furniture in the center of the room. Create attractive living areas that best express the room the way it was intended. If your home has nooks and crannies, get creative and show prospective buyers inventive ways to use the space that maybe they wouldn't think of. If your home has large, expansive rooms, focus on creating multiple gathering areas with your furniture arrangements, as opposed to one large sitting area.

5. Check Bulbs and Faucets
Remember, light and bright sells homes. Help add to the natural light by ensuring all the bulbs are replaced and are working. And when the property is being shown, turn them all on. Fix any leaky faucets. The dripping sound will be a nuisance, and a prospective buyer may wonder what larger problems may exist if you couldn't even fix the minor ones.

6. Closet and Cabinet Doors
All closets should have doors. If you've hung curtains in the bedroom closet where the doors should go - put them back. It looks tidier and "finished." And make sure that all of your doors and cabinets open and close smoothly. As far as door handles and pulls, if yours are seriously outdated consider updating them. Kitchen handles and pulls are generally pretty easy and inexpensive to replace and new ones will instantly create a more modern look.

7. Hide the Cords
Keep unsightly cords hidden from view. Run them along the wall, bundle them together with fabric covers from your local home store. Or buy pieces of fabric that match your wall color and wrap them yourself. And hide the extension cords. Or better yet, remove them altogether.

8. Storage Space
If your home has an attic, basement and/or garage, make sure they are tidy and de-cluttered. If it's short on storage space, utilize a closet to create an effective storage area.

9. Consider Your Closets
Organize the closets. Get the shoes off the floor. Fold the sweaters on the shelves. If possible, pack half of your belongings and get them out of the closet. Remember, the idea is to create the impression of space and organization.

10. Make Your Bathrooms Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Make sure the grout is clean and the countertops sparkle. Clean the cabinets and door handles. Remove supplies from the counter. Add a pretty soap dispenser and a fragrant candle. Invest in quality, fluffy towels to coordinate with the bathroom's color scheme.

11. Create Dream Bedrooms
Make your bedrooms fresh and inviting. Arrange the furniture in a way that compliments the design of the room. Eliminate excess furniture to make the room appear larger. If the bedroom has hardwood or tile floors, add a rug for coziness. If possible, create a sitting area. It could be as simple as a comfy chair and ottoman, an afghan and a reading lamp. Pay attention to your bedding - it should be clean and fresh looking. Add a few decorative pillows to finish the look.

12. Pets are Family, too
We love our pets and it's certainly their home, too. Take the time to insure their areas are clean and tidy as well. When you're showing your home, make sure they're contained somewhere out of the way for the comfort of your guests, as well as for their own protection.

13. Outdoor Spaces
Pay attention to your patios and decks. Remember, these are an extension of your home and should be viewed as another room to enjoy. Create comfortable sitting areas where the prospective buyer could imagine relaxing. Utilize flowers, pillows, outdoor lighting, and candles. Add a water feature to create a tranquil environment, especially if your home is in a noisy area.

14. Finishing Touches
Create a warm, inviting environment to showcase your home. Light some fragrant candles and play soft classical music. Bake chocolate chip cookies. Provide water infused with lemons, oranges or cucumbers. In the winter, offer hot chocolate or apple cider. Treat prospective buyers as your guests and create the type of ambiance that will appeal to their senses. Remember, buying a home is most often an emotional decision.

14. Keep a Low Profile
It's better to let your Realtor handle showing your home, once you have it prepared. After all, this is their specialty and one of the things they're being compensated to do. If you must be home, keep a low profile and allow prospective buyers to view your home with a minimum of distraction.

15. Discussing Price
If you do happen to be showing your home - when prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, always refer them to your Realtor.

Remember, your Realtor is a trusted resource not only for selling your home, but also for helping you get your home staged and ready to sell. Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to getting your home sold by your first open house!

My personal mission is to provide you with an exceptional experience in real estate by offering unique solutions that are customized to your individual needs and situation. I believe in the power of commitment, communication and integrity, and continually strive to offer incomparable service - not just to my clients and partners, but also to my community.

As your Los Angeles area Realtor®, my foremost goal is to understand your real estate needs, desires and dreams. I will listen to you, and empower you through knowledge, education, and support to conceptualize your real estate goals. Together, we will formulate a plan for your success.

I adhere to a strong code of ethics, and I believe in representing my clients honestly, conscientiously, and authentically. My commitment to you is that I will work tirelessly and professionally on your behalf, keeping your goals and success in mind at all times. Ours will be a partnership, and I will be by your side throughout the whole process - from start to finish.

If you are currently interested in buying or selling a home, or would just like to get information for the future, please email me at [mailto:realestate@LosAngelesCAHomeSource.com]realestate@LosAngelesCAHomeSource.com. I will be happy to help in any way that I can.

Be sure to ask about my guarantee to sell your home in 30 days or less. For more information, please visit http://www.LosAngelesCAHomeSource.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dolon http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Sell-a-Home-by-Your-First-Open-House&id=3152525

Luxury Real Estate Offers Luxurious Lifestyle

Luxury Real Estate Offers Luxurious Lifestyle
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eliza_Maledevic]Eliza Maledevic

Miami is one of the best cities when it comes to real estate and particularly the Miami luxury real estate. It has flourishing real estate industry. Sales statistic shows that the prices of the condo units increase in value and this indicates that if you are interested to buy a luxury property in Miami, you will not find any bargain prices.

But you have to keep in mind that it does not mean that the properties in luxury real estate are not suitable with the budget of most consumers. You just have to learn on how to search the right neighborhood in the region of Miami and where those second hand or rental properties are can be found. And most of these properties are affordable and available at reasonable price.

Buyers usually ask where and what to expect with those Miami luxury real estate properties. These luxury properties are usually found in every neighborhood and it offers several options and amenities.

One of the neighborhoods in the Miami luxury real estate is the Downtown Miami. This neighborhood is full of retail business offerings. This is considered as one of the booming neighborhood in Miami. So if you are looking for the right home or investment property you can check out the different neighborhoods in Miami.

Brickell is one of the neighborhoods in Miami luxury real estate that consist of financial, legal, and government buildings and institutions. There are also fine dining, retail stores and shopping malls. This can be a good place for your relocation project for single professional, families and retirees. There are also different home structures that you can find in Miami. Most of the time homes are designed by those well known designer. This state has a lot of stores, restaurants and businesses and because of this there are lots of people who are getting interested in buying a condo unit.

When buying a Miami luxury homes property, it is important to know first the neighborhood that you want. It is important to make some investigations in the neighborhood.

Miami does not only offer luxurious properties but it also offers view, comprehensive services, quality materials and construction, superb facilities and numerous floor plans to choose from. Having all of these in the neighborhood, you will surely enjoy staying in the city and makes your investment worth. So if you are going to search for the right property is sure to make some advance listing of your preferences. [http://miamiluxuryhomes.org]Miami Luxury Homes

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com -- [http://www.jump2top.com]SEO Company
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Why Your House is NOT Selling

Why Your House is NOT Selling
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yanni_A_Raz]Yanni A Raz

Has your home or your client's home been on the market far too long and you can't seem to figure out why? Here is a list of my top 7 reasons why it's probably not selling.

1. Is it priced too high? A house that is priced higher than other homes in the area, most likely will not sell unless the price is reduced to meet the market value in the neighborhood. Talk with your Realtor about what the homes are selling for.

2. Clutter? Do you or your kid's have toys laying all over the house? If so, clean them up immediately, along with anything else that will take the buyers eyes off the home itself. If you have large furniture, you may want to remove that too. You want the buyer to envision their life in the home, so removing as much clutter as possible is a big thing that should be on your "to do" list. Keep in mind that throwing all the clutter into the garage, can shy a buyer away. Put it into storage if you have to.

3. Are your walls bright orange? You want to make sure that your home has neutral colors that will not scare the potential buyer. Not everyone like neon colored walls. And if your walls are dirty, wipe them down.

4. Is your yard a mess? Making sure the yard is kept is very important. This will also distract the prospective buyer, and take most of their attention off of the home. You don't want them to think there are wild animals living out there.

5. All Pets should be locked up and put away anytime you are not home. Agents can show buyers the home when you are not there, and the last thing you want is your pet scaring the buyers away. Also making sure you clean up after your pet, can help with the sale.

6. Have the house tidy at all times. And this does not mean cramming everything in the closet, because most of the time a buyer WILL look in the closet. You don't want your pile of stuff to collapse on them. Make sure all counters in the kitchen and bathrooms are wiped down. Dishes must be put away too.

7. Make obvious repairs to your home. You don't want the wires to be coming out of the wall. You can make necessary repairs to the home for little money, so don't let finances stop you. Most of the repairs you can do yourself, saving a lot of money on labor.

The way your home shows, can make or break a sale. Remember that you want the buyers to buy the home, not turn away from it. Just following these simple, cost effective steps, you can increase the chances of your home selling in an effective amount of time. Don't be a pack rat, because once the house sells, youre going to have to get rid of all the clutter, and big furniture anyway. And once you move into your new home, you can go back to neon colored walls if that is what you like.

Yanni Raz is a mentor for many homeowners and real estate investors in the real estate industry. Studio city California is where you can find his classes and other great events he is planning. These days Yanni Raz helps homeowners to save their homes from foreclosure, so short sale homes and reo's are his daily practise.

If you need help and/or advice about your home, you should contact Yanni Raz to help you. The main website he own: [http://www.homesinsale.com]http://www.homesinsale.com. You can read his articles and learn more about the market.

Good Luck.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yanni_A_Raz http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Your-House-is-NOT-Selling&id=3145588

Ownership of Foreclosed Home Not Transferred After Auction

Ownership of Foreclosed Home Not Transferred After Auction
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nick_Adama]Nick Adama

At the end of the foreclosure process, once all of the notices have been sent and published and the lawsuit has ended, a public auction is held to dispose of the property. This typically called a sheriff sale or trustee sale, and is the event during foreclosure where borrowers' ownership interest is transferred to the buyer at auction. But sheriff sales do not always go smoothly, and homeowners may need to find out if their home was sold or not.

For instance, if the lender called off the scheduled sale for any reason, homeowners may believe that their property was sold out from under them when they are, in fact, still the owners. Banks cancel auctions for any number of reasons, from not having an inspection done, to waiting for an appraisal, to a response by a request for more time from the borrowers themselves.

Another factor that may cause a sheriff sale to be scheduled but not confirmed is if a third party bids on the home, wins the auction, but can not pay the purchase price. If this is the case, the property may have to be put up for auction again, in the hope of finding a more willing and able buyer. If this happens, though, homeowners may not even know the first auction did not count, as they assume the house was sold and paid for.

This is why, after a sheriff sale, it is important for homeowners to make sure that their home was actually sold and properly confirmed by the county. If the property was not sold, the borrowers may be able to keep living in their home until a valid auction is conducted. This may take an additional two or three months to schedule, conduct, and confirm, and all of this time can be used by the homeowners to save up more money.

There are a number of ways to find out if a property has been sold or if an auction has been confirmed. Possibly the easiest way is for homeowners to call the county recorder's office or the clerk's office and ask them to provide the information as to who currently owns the property, as well as any liens on the property right now. If the bank purchased it, there will most likely be no liens, but if a third party took out a loan to buy it, there may be a new mortgage affecting the deed.

This would be the easiest way to determine the status of the sheriff sale, since the county in which the property is located keeps all of the records affecting the property. If the foreclosure went through but there was a problem with the sale, they will be able to give the homeowners that information, while the court will be able to inform them if a new auction has been scheduled yet.

But if no documents have been recorded to show a transfer of ownership, then the house may have to be auctioned again at a later date. Especially if it is a few months after the scheduled auction and no documents to show a transfer of title have been filed, it may indicate that the sheriff sale was not valid. This may be due to any of the reasons listed above, but especially if the high bidder could not pay, the house may just be auctioned again.

In the meantime, the original owners might still have possession and legal ownership rights of the property, just as they had during the foreclosure process. According to many state foreclosure laws, it is the confirmation of the sale that finally transfer ownership to the high bidder at the auction -- if that has not been done in a particular case, the borrowers may still own the property for now.

Nick publishes articles on the ForeclosureFish website, which attempts to teach homeowners how they can prevent on their properties while they still have time. The site describes various methods to save a house, including foreclosure refinancing, cash for keys, [http://www.foreclosurefish.com/modification.htm]mortgage modification, filing bankruptcy, and others. Visit the site today to read more and find out what solutions you can use to prevent losing your home: [http://www.foreclosurefish.com/]http://www.foreclosurefish.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Adama http://EzineArticles.com/?Ownership-of-Foreclosed-Home-Not-Transferred-After-Auction&id=3138759

Stop Foreclosure and Save Your Home - Important Tips That Can Help You Save Your Home

Stop Foreclosure and Save Your Home - Important Tips That Can Help You Save Your Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Craig_W_Jacobs]Craig W Jacobs

Whatever sympathies you had for yourself may not help when it comes to preventing foreclosure. So, you want to let them out of the window for now. The bets are off. Now the law of the jungle applies - it's to kill or be killed. And you had better hope you do the killing, otherwise the foreclosure will be killing you.

Stop foreclosure if you can, otherwise get out of the way for someone else to help you with it. For some it might seem a game, but the legal battles involved are by no means a walkover. If you are going to have a life of your own, you have to be able to make a stand and defy the circumstances.

Foreclosure can better be described as a battle and one can't win a battle while sitting down. The best way to succeed when it comes to preventing foreclosure is to be involved in the fight even if you hire a professional lawyer to help out.

The truth about fighting foreclosure is that you will require a great deal of patience to have it done with. Hence, stopping a foreclosure might require you to spend a lot of hours doing some serious researching. It is all worth it if you win, but you should also be aware that things will likely get worse before they get better. If you settle in for the long haul you just might stand a chance.

Most importantly, don't ever give up. If you fight, you just might win, instead of just giving up and doing nothing.

To [http://stopforeclosuredigest.com/home/stop-foreclosure-on-home-the-power-of-positive-thinking/]Stop Foreclosure on Home and secrets of [http://stopforeclosuredigest.com/home/home-buyers-texas-stop-forclosure-action-is-what-you-require/]Home Buyers Texas Stop Foreclosure, click any of these links now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_W_Jacobs http://EzineArticles.com/?Stop-Foreclosure-and-Save-Your-Home---Important-Tips-That-Can-Help-You-Save-Your-Home&id=3098477

Foreclosures - Bad For Sellers

Foreclosures - Bad For Sellers
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yanni_A_Raz]Yanni A Raz

Foreclosures have been a hot item on the market for buyers and investors. They allow the purchaser to save a ton of money on a home purchase, since the homes are being sold well under market value. However, they are not so hot for someone who is considering selling or even refinancing.

Foreclosures are actually bringing down the market value for surrounding homes that are not under stress. How you ask? Anytime you purchase a home you have to have the value of the home appraised, to make sure it is worth what you are selling it for. During the appraisal process the home will be compared to other homes in the area and what they are priced at. Well the bad thing about that now, is that the majority of houses in a given neighborhood are being foreclosed or sold through a short sale at tremendously discounted prices.

An appraiser is aware of the swarm of foreclosures on the market, and will often try to go futher back in the archives to see what homes were selling for before the market was flooded with foreclosures. This still doesn't insure the seller will get top dollar for their home.

If you are in the position to refinance, you may be in a hard spot with that as well. In a normal market you would be able to refinance and be able to get top dollar, but now it's a bit more work than that. It's the same process as if you were trying to obtain a loan.

Sellers, who simply "want" to sell, are finding it to be more difficult to get what they think the house is worth. In some cases, the homes are falling out of escrow because they are not appraising. This causes the seller to have to reconsider the listing price, being forced to drop it even more, to meet market value.

Experts will agree that foreclosures are really no good for the economy in general. Especially for the neighborhoods who have extremely HIGH foreclosure rates. They don't really allow much room for a "normal" sale to take place. Foreclosures have definitely become bad news for these sellers. Other experts believe that a large amount of foreclosures brings down the overall face value of the neighborhood. In some cases people will just leave the home before they even go into default, and many believe that this can raise the crime rates in the said neighborhoods. This also causes for neighborhoods to look more run down, since there is no longer anyone living in the home to maintain the property. Yards become a mess and the home begins to look like a shack. This has happened in the best of neighborhoods, and the worst of neighborhoods.

My only advice to the sellers who feel like they are surrounded by foreclosures and low priced homes, would be to sit tight (unless you have to suddenly relocate) and don't sell until the market turns around in your favor. This will help you to get the highest price on your home. After all, equity doesn't stop building, just some food for thought. http://www.homesinsale.com

Yanni Raz is a mentor for many homeowners and real estate investors in the real estate industry. Studio city California is where you can find his classes and other great events he is planning. These days Yanni Raz helps homeowners to save their homes from foreclosure, so short sale homes and reo's are his daily practise.

If you need help and/or advice about your home, you should contact Yanni Raz to help you. The main website he own: http://www.homesinsale.com. You can read his articles and learn more about the market.

Good Luck.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yanni_A_Raz http://EzineArticles.com/?Foreclosures---Bad-For-Sellers&id=3145569

The Getting is Still Good - Comparing Canadian Mortgage Rates Between 2008 and 2009

The Getting is Still Good - Comparing Canadian Mortgage Rates Between 2008 and 2009
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_B_King]Brian B King

Mortgage rates in Canada on average still seem to be sitting at a good low-point compared to their all-time highs. Although Canadian mortgage rates have seen some small jumps in the last month through decisions made by the financial institution decision makers, these jumps are small enough to not really be felt by many and they still have kept Canadian mortgage rates low.

When comparing the 2008 mortgage rates to the 2009 mortgage rates for most mortgage lending organizations such as banks and independent mortgagers in Canada it makes it evident how amazing it is regards to changes within one year. Or in other words it is amazing what a difference a simple year can make.

Although the global economy has found itself in a state of "financial crisis" in many aspects and facets, the Canadian economy has fared better if not the best amongst many of the nations affected by this slumping financial time (you can refer to it as a "recession" if you will). One of the benefits of this down time in the world's economy for Canadians has been the low mortgage rates they have been enjoying for over a year now.

These lows are not quite the sub-prime lending rates that helped to lead to the real estate crashed market and which helped to jump start if not catapult the "financial crisis".

However, when comparing the rates of 2008 which seemed to be hiked up in comparison to the couple years prior, 2009 rates seem to be quite favourable to anyone interested in buying a home, renewing a mortgage, mortgaging off a business, or for anyone looking to get this kind of support from Canadian financial institutions in 2009.

Looking back at 2008 and comparing the fixed-rate (closed-rate) mortgages to those present in the 2009 Canadian mortgage market would put a smile on any home-buyers face. It seems that waiting a year was a great decision on anyone's part. And those who could not wait and just had to buy in 2008 better have hoped they jumped into a variable-rate mortgage at the time; and now is a not a bad time to switch that into a closed-rate, if that is an option your lending company offers.

The rates mentioned below are based on average found rates throughout the country.

In January of 2008 3-year fixed-rate mortgages were at around 7.40%, while in 2009 in January these same mortgages had a rate of 5.75%, meaning a difference of 1.65 percentage points and saving a lot of dollars. The 5-year fixed rate, in January of both years was a comparable difference, sitting at 7.39% in 2008 and dropping to 5.79% in 2009. When comparing April 2008 and April 2009 the 3-year fixed-rates began at 7% and dropped to 4.15%, while the 5-year rates dropped from 6.99% to 5.25%.

Also rates in October 2008 went from 7.05% for a 3-year fixed-rate and 7.20% for a 5-year fixed-rate to their current values in October 2009 at around 4.35% for a 3-year fixed rate and 5.49% for a 5-year fixed rate.

When looking at most home buyers it seems that there is a large trend to select a 5-year fixed-rate mortgage. Playing it safe with numbers people feel comfortable with at the time. It seems like the best choice. Often it is a good choice. However, many mortgage experts suggest that the 3-year term is worth looking into as well because it offers a low rate plus it covers several years of a secure interest rate for home buyers. With options beyond that point to compare what the market is doing and so you don't get locked into that rate for "too long".

For more information on acquiring a [http://www.canadianmortgagesinc.ca/]Canadian mortgage, contact a [http://www.canadianmortgagesinc.ca/mortgage_brokers/toronto_mortgage_brokers.html]mortgage broker at Canadian Mortgages Inc.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_B_King http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Getting-is-Still-Good---Comparing-Canadian-Mortgage-Rates-Between-2008-and-2009&id=3142858

How to Get a Co-Borrower Off of Your Mortgage Loan

How to Get a Co-Borrower Off of Your Mortgage Loan
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Myloer_Jamery]Myloer Jamery

There are many reasons why someone would want to have the other borrower of the mortgage removed. Sometimes, a friend or a family member may become a co-borrower, using their good credit to help secure the loan. The deal is often that once the borrower that is being helped improves their credit score or income, they take the other person's name off of the loan.

There are also cases where the two borrowers are married and later divorce. In a divorce settlement where one person is awarded the house and as such is now responsible for the mortgage payments, the other spouse may request to have his or her name removed from the mortgage loan. No matter what has transpired, the other borrower wants to make sure that his or her name and credit is not ruined in the event that the other person defaults on the mortgage.

In order to get one borrower off of a mortgage loan, you have to refinance. Even if you have a quit claim deed signed, which is where the other party's name is removed from the deed, it does not remove that person from the loan. It would simply mean that the person has no legal rights to the property but they still owe on the loan. There is no other way around it.

Those home owners who had to have a co-signer just to get approved for a mortgage initially may find this to be a little challenging, but it is not impossible.

Even though removing a person's name may be a bit trickier than you may have expected, it is not something that is beyond your ability to achieve.

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