Web can make new home search much easier
If you’re thinking about buying a new home but are unsure where to start, the solution could be as near as your personal computer. If you have Internet access, a wealth of information that will help you in the home-buying process is right at your fingertips.
The National Association of Home Builders’ Web site, www.nahb.org, has a detailed guide to buying a new home, tips on selecting and working with a home-builder and much more in the “For Consumers” section. You’ll also find news and information about events, issues and legislation that affect homeownership and housing affordability. Additionally, the NAHB Web site features the Housing Opportunity Index, which rates housing affordability in about 200 major markets on a quarterly basis.
Another excellent source of home-buying information is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Web site at www.hud.gov. Here you can find consumer information on buying, owning, renting, fair housing and much more, including FHA low down-payment mortgage insurance for home buyers.
Fannie Mae operates www.homepath.com, where you can find several mortgage calculators to help you determine what your monthly payments might be or how much you can afford to spend for a home. And if you’re not sure that homeownership is the right course for you to pursue, you will find information that can help you evaluate your options.
Freddie Mac’s site — www.freddiemac.com — also includes useful mortgage calculators, information about home buying and a consumer home inspection kit that can be printed from the site.
Numerous U.S. government publications on housing subjects ranging from different types of mortgages to selling a home, residential energy efficiency and the home-buying process are available at www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
One of the most important aspects of the home-buying process is financing, and the nation’s mortgage providers have taken full advantage of the Internet in their marketing efforts. Through a simple search, you can find numerous sites where rates are posted daily so you can compare terms and select the mortgage that best suits your needs. On some of these sites, it is possible to apply for a mortgage online.
A great local resource is the Spokane Home Builders Web site – www.shba.com. Here you can find contact information for local builders who can assist you through the home-building process.
These are just a few of the many online resources available to you as you begin your search for a new home. With a little time and the assistance of any of the popular Web search engines, you can find a wealth of information to make the process easier and more comprehensive.
Happy house-hunting!
Fall Festival of Homes
If you are interested in seeing available Spokane region homes in person, we invite you to attend the upcoming Fall Festival of Homes set for the weekends of Oct. 20-22 & Oct. 27-29; 38 beautiful new homes built by a number of our region’s renowned new home builders will be open for touring from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and admission is free. Watch The Spokesman-Review and this column for more details on the event. Our thanks to Tomlinson Black, Direct Buy and Golf Savings Bank, proud sponsors of the 2006 SHBA Fall Festival of Homes.