Do you like Water?</h1> <article> <h1>Do you like Water?</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:05:00 GMT</p> Then vote for Proposition 2 on November 8, 2011. Proposition 2 saves taxpayer dollars on water projects needed by many communities. For example, it gives cities a lower-cost way to repair and replace water mains and to keep treatment plants from being overwhelmed.<div class="tags">Tags: Elections,buyers,sellers,property owners</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/2/Default.aspx>Sellers</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Total homes sold by month</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:03:00 GMT</p> August Market Data for homes sold in North Denton County from 2004 - August 2011. Click to view the chart.<div class="tags">Tags: Denton,Denton county,market data,sold,buyers,sellers</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/10/Default.aspx>Market Data</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/11/Default.aspx>Denton County</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/2/Default.aspx>Sellers</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Hopkins County Homes sold thru August 2011</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:42:00 GMT</p> Total homes sold in Hopkins County from 2004 thru August 2011<div class="tags">Tags: buyers,sellers,hopkins,sold,sales,history</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/2/Default.aspx>Sellers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/10/Default.aspx>Market Data</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/12/Default.aspx>Hopkins County</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Tips on Caring for your Home's Foundation</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:44:00 GMT</p> <h2>Drainage</h2> <h2> <p><span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 12px;">Foundation - Your yard should slope away from the house. Landscape borders and flat work should not interfere with drainage.<br /> </span></p> </h2><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/2/Default.aspx>Sellers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/5/Default.aspx>Inspection</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Mistakes Home Buyers often make</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:01:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Buying a home represents the most significant financial decision most people will ever make during their lifetime. From a person’s first home, which often establishes the foundation for future home purchases, to the purchase of the home where they’ll spend their senior years, there are definite pitfalls to avoid and suggested steps to take to assist one in making the right decisions.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">One of the first mistakes people make is <i>not getting pre-approved or pre-qualified by a bank or lending institution. </i> Sellers and their agents are often skeptical of a prospective buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage loan when the buyer has not been pre-qualified. When choosing between two comparable offers, or when contemplating countering a buyer’s offer, a seller will always look more favorably upon the pre-qualified buyer.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Employing the services of a realtor makes great sense, since navigating through the home purchase process is both complex and fraught with financial dangers. However, as the buyer, <i>you should have your own realtor </i>who will be fully committed to representing your best interests. The seller’s realtor will often favor the interests of the seller, with an eye to the commission involved. Your agent will be inclined to do a “comparative market analysis”, which will establish property values and selling prices of homes in the area of your targeted purchase.</span></p> <p> <i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Take your time!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It happens all too frequently that people rush into signing a contract to purchase a particular home and then for any number of reasons, regret their hasty decision. Remember… if you enter into a contract to buy a home, your chances of rescinding that contract are very slim. It doesn’t help that you’ve found another home you prefer, when you’re under contract to make a purchase you’re expected to follow through and buy it.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">In addition to finding a home they like better than the one they’ve contracted to buy, another reason people try to cancel a contract is that they realize too late that they’ve <i>over-purchased</i>. The mere fact that you can qualify to purchase a particular property doesn’t speak the full story. Being “house poor” is the pits. Putting the bulk of your earnings into your mortgage payment obviously detracts from your quality of life. Things you used to enjoy, such as vacation trips, going out to dinner or splurging on an expensive piece of clothing will have to be curtailed. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some people have specific requirements for their dream home and <i>unfortunately sometimes wait too long</i> for that home to present itself. While waiting for utopia, people pass up excellent homes that are good bargains and would fulfill a majority of their demands. Also, in many cases, market prices and mortgage rates continue to rise.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">The potential buyer should be aware that there are many types of mortgages being offered by lenders; therefore, they <i>should explore all of their options before “locking in.”</i> Interest only loans allow the buyer to pay only the interest on their mortgage for a period of usually up to five years. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is an attractive option for young buyers who want to establish themselves in a home of their own, but have not reached their full earning potential. Hopefully and assumedly, at the end of the prescribed 1-5 year period the buyers will be better able to meet full mortgage payments. All other options should be explored as well.</span></p> <p> <i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Failing to require a comprehensive home inspection</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, or relying on the knowledge of a friend, is a penny-wise/pound-foolish thing to do. The relatively minor expense of the full inspection is definitely cost-effective. The inspection should include a review of electrical system, condition of the roof, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, septic system, water quality, etc. etc. etc. This is a very important process that can save untold heartache in the future.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">When selecting a home, <i>don’t forget that your quality of life in that home extends into the surrounding community</i>. Your new home can be a showplace, but if it’s surrounded by run down properties and neighbors who don’t fit into your preferred social structure, you aren’t going to be happy. Be sure that the school system meets with your approval; inquire about the crime rate and consider the quality of the stores and services available in the area. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes it’s hard to look into the future, but when buying a home it’s good to think about resale value. Not that this should be the final consideration, but when touring your prospective new home you should look for things that would be a deterrent to another buyer.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, before signing the contract you should be aware of any restrictions imposed by your new community association. Such restrictions can include: fencing guidelines, parking restrictions (no RV’s in the driveway), no boats in the yard, landscaping requirements, and even certain occupancy restrictions. <i>Blindly buying into a heavily restricted community is a very common mistake.</i></span></p> <p><i> </i><span style="font-family: times new roman,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The ten common buying errors mentioned here are by no means an exhaustive list of things to avoid. Buying a home should be done systematically and carefully. Checklists are available from reputable realtors and should be consulted and utilized throughout the searching and buying process.</span></p><br /><a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/EntryId/9/Mistakes-Home-Buyers-often-make.aspx>More ...</a><div class="tags">Tags: buyers,value,inspection,appraisals</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/5/Default.aspx>Inspection</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/7/Default.aspx>Appraisals</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/9/Default.aspx>Home Warranty</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Location, Location, Location: How to find all the details about your North Texas neighborhood before you buy.</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:21:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Jones’ family found their dream home in North Texas and moved into it with all of the excitement and enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. After a long and hectic day of unpacking, they collapsed into bed anticipating a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, they were shocked and dismayed when they began to hear the very obvious noise of trucks roaring along the interstate highway situated less than a half mile to the rear of their home. Too late!</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">This unfortunate situation exemplifies the need to focus on location when contemplating the purchase of a home. A ten million dollar mansion isn’t worth a dime if it’s sitting next to a toxic waste dump. This example is far-fetched and outrageous, but it makes the point that finding the right location is certainly as important as finding the right house.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do you investigate a potential neighborhood? There are a number of factors and issues to be considered in your evaluation. Some of them can be covered merely through visual observation; others will have to be explored with the assistance of community and government organizations.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">One of your first and most significant concerns should be the crime rate. If every other house on the block is being burglarized every other month, you might want to look elsewhere. Talk to a spokesperson of the local law enforcement agency. Check our Links page for a listing of local area law inforcement websites with their monthly crime stats and a copy of their year ending report. Visit the police department and ask the spokesperson about crime rates, ask about their response times in your area. If it’s over five minutes, ask why. If the community has a neighborhood watch group or a neighborhood citizens’ security patrol, attend one of their meetings or speak with their group representatives.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">How far is your new neighborhood from your place of employment? How far is too far? Bottom line: check the driving time and traffic patterns, both coming and going, by driving the route you’ll take. Are there any activities or facilities in the area that will make the trip more unpleasant or time consuming on specific days of the week? As an example, is there a bridge that backs up on Friday afternoons as people rush to their weekend retreats?</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you have children, or anticipate having them, you’ll want to check out the schools in the area. Visit the schools and talk to the Principals or school counselors. Ask about class sizes, bus service, curriculum and even school menus. If your child is a gifted student, you’ll want to inquire about accelerated courses. If your child needs special Ed opportunities, ask about them. Knowing about your child’s school is one of your primary responsibilities as a parent.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">This may sound a bit picky, but you should visit and evaluate your local markets, shops and restaurants. Do they sell quality products? Is there a convenient place to purchase daily necessities such as milk, luncheon items, coffee, etc.? Do the local restaurants suit your taste? The answers to these questions may not factor substantially into your moving decision, but they are part of the equation and should at least be recognized and considered.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Availability of community services should not be overlooked. Is there a good hospital in the immediate vicinity? Do they have an emergency room? How about parks and a library? </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">You should visit the neighborhood at various times of the day and night to check for sounds, smells, heavy traffic and the presence of any activities that you might find offensive as a resident. Sometimes the complexion of a neighborhood changes at night. Drive around after dark and look for the presence of undesirables lounging about in public places. Try to get a sense and feeling of the neighborhood. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, you will want to find out if the community has a community association. If so, visit the association and ask about membership dues, restrictions and covenants. If the representative is forthcoming, ask if there are any problems in the area that you as a prospective new resident should consider.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-family: times new roman,serif; font-size: 12pt;">You are about to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. Don’t be timid. Ask questions, make notes and weigh all the pro’s and con’s before deciding.</span></p><br /><a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/EntryId/8/Location-Location-Location-How-to-find-all-the-details-about-your-North-Texas-neighborhood-before-you-buy.aspx>More ...</a><div class="tags">Tags: neighborhood,buyers,home,values,location,schools,crime</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>The search for your North Texas home is on: Ways to make the most of your house hunting trip</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:01:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It has been said that moving and divorce are the two of the most stressful events a person or family can experience. Divorce is a subject for another time. Let’s consider the event of moving and look at some ways to make your house hunting trip in North Texas less stressful and more effective.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Location is the first factor to consider when planning a move. If you have children, or are planning a family, you will want to know about the schools in the area. How about shopping centers, medical facilities, recreational opportunities and of course how far will you be from your place of employment. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you require public transportation, is there any within walking distance of your prospective new home. What about the crime rate? A check with the local law enforcement agency can either put your mind at ease or give you reason to look elsewhere. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">And finally, try to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area. This is obviously difficult to do without interviewing them, but you can get a rough impression from the condition of their homes and properties and from the activities you might observe. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">As an example, if your prospective neighbor has discarded appliances all over the front yard and their son is roaring around the neighborhood on a mini-bike with no muffler, you might want to take all that into consideration. And remember, a poor location will definitely be a negative factor when and if you attempt to resell the home at some later date.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Once you’ve zeroed in on your preferred location in the North Texas area, you can start to think seriously about searching for your dream home. Rather than spin your wheels by looking at houses randomly, you should determine what you really want in a house and let those things help you focus your search.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Make a list and start with the obvious: how many bedrooms do you need; do you want a garage; must you have a single story home due to your inability to climb stairs; is a fenced yard an absolute necessity? After listing the absolute “must haves”, think about the things you like and dislike about your current residence and factor those things into your wish list. Making a list will not only save you time, it will be a big help to your REALTOR® in planning your viewings. Our MLS has automated search features that once set up will send you a list of homes that meet your search criteria on a regular basis. This way you will not be overwhelmed with all the homes on the market. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most people don’t really know how much house they can afford. Affordability is based upon income, credit status, interest rates, down payment, closing costs and the type of loan selected. By getting pre-qualified by a lending institution, you will know what you can afford to spend. Often, that figure is quite a surprise to prospective home buyers. In any case, pre-qualification will save you time and trouble by establishing your price range.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Typically, house hunting involves seeing as many homes as possible in a short period of time. Both the house hunter and the assisting realtor have busy schedules and want to tour fast and furious. However, after the first two or three houses, they all start to run together. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">You need to make notes after each viewing. One effective means of qualifying each home is to make multiple copies of your list of priorities and use it as a checklist to grade each home visited. This little tip will eliminate confusion when trying to make mental comparisons at the end of the day.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Regard your hunt as an excursion. If you were going to the zoo for the day and contemplated a lot of walking, you would dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. House hunting is no different; you’ll be walking, climbing stairs, quite possibly going into basements and attics and constantly getting in and out of cars. Dressing to impress homeowners or your REALTOR® should not be your top priority. Dress clean and neat of course, but comfortable is the name of the house hunting game.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">And last but not least, use your own REALTOR®. When you call the REALTOR® on a “house for sale” sign you’re speaking to the seller’s agent. Keep in mind that he or she represents the seller and will be looking after the seller’s interests. You need your own REALTOR®; someone who is working for you and is looking out for your interests. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">House hunting can actually be an enjoyable experience if you take your time and do your homework.</span></p><br /><a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/EntryId/7/The-search-for-your-North-Texas-home-is-on-Ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-house-hunting-trip.aspx>More ...</a><div class="tags">Tags: home,search,buyers,North Texas</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Home Warranties: What are they and do you really need one?</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:57:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A <a href="http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/LinkClick.aspx?link=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ahs.com%2f&tabid=141&mid=482" title="American Home Shield" target="_blank">home warranty</a> is not much different from a warranty you might have on your car, your computer or your home entertainment center. A warranty on your home usually covers all of your home’s major mechanical systems, including hot tubs, pools, wells, septic tanks and all of your appliances. Some policies even cover the roof of your home and almost anything else you’d like to include, as long as it’s specified in the policy. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <a href="http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/LinkClick.aspx?link=http%3a%2f%2fwww.orhp.com%2f&tabid=141&mid=482" title="Old Republic Home Protection">Home warranties</a> are obtainable for most any dwelling, including mobile homes, condominiums, town houses and manufactured homes. They can be purchased by either the buyer or the seller; some sellers will include a home warranty policy to make purchasing their home more attractive. Including a home warranty with the sale is an excellent idea, especially if the home is older and the systems and appliances are aging. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since the policy can be purchased at closing, the seller doesn’t have to come up with the premium out of pocket. Further, the cost of the policy can be split between the buyer and the seller, depending on the terms of the sale.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Home warranty policies are generally effective for one year and are renewable. However, you can expect to pay a little more for coverage each year, as the items covered continue to age. This is reasonable. Policy costs vary according to the list of things covered, but an average cost would be between $350 and $500 per year. Obviously, when obtaining a policy it is important to be specific about coverage. You can expect to pay a small co-payment when the repair person responds to make a repair. This is an industry standard. Your payment will range from $35 to $55 per visit.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to a Gallup poll, 79% of buyers and sellers surveyed rated home warranties as one of the most important aspects of buying a home. These policies are not like hazard insurance, which covers losses due to fires, storms and accidents; home warranties cover normal wear and tear breakdowns. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">A new home and its major systems are usually warranted by the builder for at least one year; thereafter, your home warranty policy coverage will take effect. Be sure to understand the limitations and intent of your home warranty. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">As an example, should your microwave oven catch fire and damage your kitchen cabinets, your home warranty would cover the cost of the microwave; your home owners insurance would pay to fix the cabinets.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Before buying your home warranty policy, you should shop around and find the best and most cost-effective provider. Get recommendations from your mortgage company, your builder, your friends, and from the Better Business Bureau. Obviously, some companies are better and more reliable than others. Ask specific questions: Do they subcontract their work? What is their normal response time? If your freezer stops running you need someone to respond quickly. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">When trying to decide whether or not you need a home warranty, the rule of thumb is: the older your home, the more you will benefit from a home warranty policy. Most systems and appliances covered under a home warranty can be expected to last at least 5 years. Therefore, during the early years of your new home, the home warranty policy may not be necessary. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">As the components of your home age, the need for a home warranty policy becomes more critical. It is obviously more attractive to pay $400 or $500 in policy premiums than shell out several thousand dollars for a new furnace or even several hundred for a new refrigerator. The policy will easily pay for itself if a major home system has to be repaired or even one major appliance has to be replaced.</span></p> <p> <span style="font-family: times new roman,serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you’re the owner of rental property, you should definitely consider a home warranty policy. Unlike the appliances and systems in your own home, you have little, if any, control over the frequency and manner in which these things are used by your tenants. Odds are that you will have to replace or repair items and systems more frequently in your rental property than in your own home. As a landlord, your home warranty policy may very well save you money, but just as importantly, it can buy you peace of mind.</span></p><br /><a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/EntryId/6/Home-Warranties-What-are-they-and-do-you-really-need-one.aspx>More ...</a><div class="tags">Tags: home,warranties,warranty,buyer,seller</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/2/Default.aspx>Sellers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/9/Default.aspx>Home Warranty</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>Online Auctions: Buying your Home Online</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Wed, 05 May 2010 23:56:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ecommerce is rapidly expanding to the real estate market. Sellers are looking to auction off down payments, lease agreements, or selling the home outright. Individual homeowners and real estate agents are turning to the Internet as an avenue for sales. Buying your home online can be a risky venture. On the flipside, there are some great deals out there. If you decide to take this path, you should be aware of the challenges associated with buying a home site unseen. The more educated you are, the better.<br /> <br /> First of all, the home could have major structural issues not evident in an online picture. Pictures don’t always tell the whole story. It has also become much easier to doctor photographs. You have to consider the possibility that some sellers might not be as truthful as they should be. After all, they are trying to sell the property, so the sales description is going to emphasize the positives and downplay the negatives. Getting a fixer upper is one thing. Living in a house that is structurally unsound is a completely different matter.<br /> <br /> Secondly, you must make sure that you know your property rights. If you are buying land, you must make sure that you can have the utilities you want. There might be restrictions that are not specified on the auction site. There would be nothing worse than buying the property for your dream home and then discovering that you cannot have utilities.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Another potential hazard to buying your home online is not knowing anything about the area. It would be well worth your time to do some investigating. Is the property in an area that is prone to flooding? Is the property accessible by car? These are things that the seller might not mention in their ad.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Also, it is easy to become a victim of online fraud. There is really no way to regulate the online auctions. The auction companies have their own guidelines in place to circumvent illegal activity, but with the high volumes of online business activity every day, it is hard to police every transaction. The government may eventually step in and try to pass laws that will protect online consumers. Time will only tell, so until then you have to keep your guard up.</p> <p> On the positive side, it is important to note that online auctions are not legally binding. The companies are not actually licensed to sell real estate; therefore, they are not true auction houses. The service that they offer is advertising to potential buyers. It gives buyers and sellers the opportunity to communicate with one another online and work out a legally binding contract after bidding ends.</p> <p> When placing an eBay bid online, you should be aware that there are two types of bids: “Binding” and “non-binding”. The term binding is not entirely accurate because it does not result in a legally binding contract. A Binding real estate auction means that you have placed a bid with intent to buy. If you don’t live up to your end of the transaction, you will receive negative feedback. It won’t result in legal problems, but it can hurt your business potential on EBay. Everyone looks at the feedback and most people won’t do business with someone if they have a lot of negative feedback. A non-binding bid simply means that you cannot receive negative feedback if you fail to complete the transaction.</p> <p> Always take the time to review the auction companies’ policies and procedures. There should be a link to them on the main page. If you have trouble locating them, contact the company directly. You should be able to email them any questions that you may have and they should respond to your inquiries quickly. Try to talk to people that have a lot of experience with doing business online. It seems like just about everyone has some experience with online auctions. They may have some horror stories, but don’t let that discourage you. You can learn a lot from the mistakes of others. If you prefer reading to chatting, there are also several books about the subject. Visit the technology section of your favorite bookstore and you are bound to see a possible resource. Take all of the advice and use common sense when entering into an online real estate deal. You will emerge as the winner and have a fabulous home to show for it.</p><br /><a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/EntryId/1/Online-Auctions-Buying-your-Home-Online.aspx>More ...</a><div class="tags">Tags: Denton,home,Denton county,buyers,online,auctions</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div> </article> <article> <h1>First Time Home Buyer Tips</h1> <p>broker@uroftx.com — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:45:00 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Buying your first home is one of the most exciting things you will ever do. If you have spent years living in apartments, there is nothing more satisfying than owning your own property. The process can be a little lengthy and you might hit a few bumps in the road to home ownership. The following tips will help the first time homeowner avoid some of the hiccups.</span></p><div class="tags">Tags: buyers,first,home,purchase</div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/1/Default.aspx>Buyers</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/4/Default.aspx>Title & Insurance</a></div><div class="category">Category: <a href=http://www.unitedrealtyoftexas.com/office/Blog/tabid/141/CatID/8/Default.aspx>Mortgages</a></div> </article> </main></body></html>