Ali Saatsaz's (astamp36) Blog

Three elements are crucial to the purchase of a home—the down payment, closing costs, and qualifying for a mortgage. Here is a quick rundown of what you should know:   Down payment Typically, conventional lenders will require a 20% down payment, although you may be able to find loans with down p...

A $200,000 home costs more than a $185,000 home, right? Well, yes and no. Assuming the same type of financing for both homes, the $200,000 home does cost more initially. But many factors contribute to the overall long-term cost of a house. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to dete...

Here are seven ways to cut the cost of your home insurance from helpinsure.com, a Texas consumer-friendly Internet site:   1. Shop around – and do it early! Check with several different home insurance companies to get rate quotes. (An independent insurance agent can provide rate quotes from a va...

Credit problems can seem like an insurmountable barrier to getting a home loan. It’s not an easy task, but with patience and some insight you can turn things around. Here are four ways you can get on the road to credit repair—and put yourself in a better position for homeownership.   1. Develop ...

Knowledge is power, particularly if you are striving to afford your first home. The home buying process has many myths, though. For instance, you don’t have to put 20% down, you don’t have to have perfect credit, and you don’t have to accept a high interest rate or junk fees.   Realtors are comm...

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that 2.1 million burglaries were committed in 2004. Not all of these situations involved forced entry; many were the result of unlocked doors and windows. Once you close that loophole, though, how can you determine if one house is more vulnerable than a...

 Most people probably only think of one or two questions to ask a home inspector: “How much is your fee?” and “When can you be there?” But these only scratch the surface.   Here’s a list of suggested questions you might ask:   • What types of licenses do you hold   • What kind of training do you ...