Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Luxury Real Estate Information


Rancho Palos Verdes, California Homes
Palos Verdes, California Homes
South Bay, California Homes
Luxury Mexican Beachfront Homes

Featured Properties


Oceanfront Estate Near Trump National

Related Information


Loan Information
Real Estate Information
Mortgage Refinance Information

Home Loans - Would You Buy a Home Without an Inspection?


The housing market has exploded, with home prices rising beyond all reason in some markets. Home prices have doubled or tripled during the last five years, and in some cities, the asking prices for homes are considered only to be suggested opening bids. Homes often sell in a few days or even hours, and would-be buyers are tiring of losing out to higher bidders. In order to achieve an advantage over other bidders, some people are offering to buy homes without a professional inspection. What do they gain from such an offer? Is declining an inspection an OK thing for a buyer to do?

Traditionally, a professional home inspection is a valued component of the home buying process. While inspections are rarely required by law, most buyers would prefer to have any home they might purchase inspected before committing to purchase. The inspectors look for problems with foundations, plumbing, wiring, and termite infestation. In addition, they often check to make sure the home meets building, zoning, and easement codes. The fee of several hundred dollars, paid by the buyer, can turn out to be a bargain if the inspection determines that the home needs thousands of dollars in repairs. At that point, the buyer can walk away from the home or negotiate a financial compromise with the seller in hopes of having the problem repaired prior to sale.

The current housing market has brought about a lot of changes in traditional real estate rules. Buyers who want an "edge" over other bidders in markets where sales are brisk might offer to buy the home without an inspection. This might motivate the owner to sell to them, rather than another buyer who might insist upon the inspection. In short, these buyers are offering to take the home on an as-is basis. Is there any benefit to this?

Most real estate experts agree that it is foolish to purchase a home without a prior inspection. While some problems can easily be seen by even the most casual of browsers, others, such as termite infestation or a cracked foundation, might only be noticed by a professional inspector. These problems can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair, and in some cases, might even render the home legally uninhabitable. Anyone who offers to buy a home without an inspection is taking a serious risk, as they could find themselves the owner of a home that he or she cannot afford to repair. There may not even be any benefit to buying without an inspection, as most homes in hot markets sell for more than the asking price whether the home is inspected or not. If you cannot inspect a home prior to purchase, it would probably be wise to pass and wait for another suitable property to come along.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on mortgages and home equity loans.


MORE RESOURCES:

Housing Wire

Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
Fox News
WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
President Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Just a Bid for VotesYahoo! Contributors Network
Obama Unveils Mortgage Refinance EndeavorsMortgageorb
Obama to Announce New FHA Mortgage Refinance ProgramGo Banking Rates
Housing Wire -MarketWatch -CBS Moneywatch
all 1,239 news articles »


MonitorBankRates.com

Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
MonitorBankRates.com
Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

and more »


Fox News

Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
Wall Street Journal
By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
Daily Caller
all 314 news articles »


International Business Times

FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
MyFox Los Angeles
And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

all 12,250 news articles »


CBS Local

Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
Obama plan could help refinance Bay Area mortgagesSan Francisco Chronicle

all 19 news articles »


Anchor Bancorp Wisconsin Inc. Announces Third Quarter Results
MarketWatch (press release)
Revenues in the quarter ending September 30, 2011, were unfavorably impacted by a $5.1 million impairment charge on the capitalized mortgage servicing rights asset due to lower interest rates and the resultant mortgage refinance activity.

and more »


KOMO News

Living large? Get the best rate on your jumbo mortgage refinance
NASDAQ
If you buy apparel from "big and tall" clothing stores, you're used to paying more and having less to choose from. "Regular guys," on the other hand, benefit from a wider selection of products and more competition between retailers.
Mortgage Interest Rates Move Higher: 15 Year Mortgage Interest Rates at 3.34%MonitorBankRates.com

all 113 news articles »


AgedLeadStore.com to Add 1100000 Aged Mortgage Refinance Leads
Middle East North Africa Financial Network
COM, January 26, 2012 ) Baltimore, MD AgedLeadStore.com is increasing its value for its customers by adding 1.1 million aged Mortgage Refinance Leads in February. This is important as many people depend upon their ability to refinance to make progress ...



High Volume Stock Movers: Bank of America, Sprint, Cisco, Annaly, Sirius Feb. 8th
Wall St. Cheat Sheet
By Derek Hoffman Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC): The US's Home Affordable Refinance Program has increased mortgage refinance applications and strained capacity at Bank of America, leading the bank to ask some customers to wait 60 to 90 days, ...



New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 Million
NASDAQ
Other changes to the program were designed to make it easier for homeowners with private mortgage insurance (PMI) to refinance or to obtain a HARP mortgage refinance with a lender other than their current mortgage servicer. In addition, new limits were ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006 TIGER MEDIA