Hello,
Looking to buy Boston Condos? Boston real estate? Boston real estate is our business so you came to the right real estate blog.

My name is John C. Ford and this is my blog. I appreciate you taking a minute to stop by and read my daily ramblings! Within you will find that I have some pretty interesting thoughts on a variety of subjects, especially Boston real estate and Brookline real estate

If you are looking to buy or sell a Boston condo, real estate in Boston or Brookline please call one of our three offices: Boston Beacon Hill, Boston Common and Brookline.

This is a great time to buy Boston real estate.

We sell Boston condos in: Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Fenway, Brookline, North End, Boston South End, Boston Common (Boston Midtown) and the Boston suburbs.



 

Steps in Buying a Boston Condo

•    Budget realistically – Make sure that what you can actually spend each month aligns with what you intend to borrow to buy your Boston condo.

•    Be an informed buyer – Check out your financing options (see our “Your Guide to Home Financing” article), and if you buy by December 2009, investigate whether you qualify for the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit before you purchase your Boston condo.

•    Get preapproved for a mortgage – This will both add to your credibility as a buyer of a Boston condo will give you a clear understanding of what you can afford when searching for Boston real estate and Boston Condos for sale.

•    Consider hiring an attorney – An attorney can help protect your best interests when drafting and negotiating the Contract to Purchase/Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Boston condo you wish to buy.

•    Find realtors, brokers, and inspectors you trust – Ask friends and family for references of reliable, trustworthy professionals who will work alongside you through the home-buying process. Ask the broker how many Boston condos they have sold in a month, year ect. If an agent sold less than 12 Boston condos in a year ask why.

To view luxury Boston condos visit our new and improved Boston condo web site. www.fordrealty.org

To view a list of Boston luxury condos for sale visit our new and improved Boston real estate web site at www.fordrealty.org

Our new Boston real estate blog is located at www.bostonreb.com

With several free Web sites that allow you one free credit report per year, you have no excuse not to get into the habit of an annual check. Reviewing your report once a year is the simple way to prevent unfortunate credit consequences down the road.

What is a credit report vs. a credit score?
A credit report is a written record of all of your current and inactive credit cards and payment history, as well as any credit inquiries that have been conducted into your account by creditors/loaners. A credit score is a literal number score that is based on your report history. While you are guaranteed one free credit report per year, you will have to pay to receive your credit score.

Why check your report and what to look for:
When you are applying for a loan, your credit report is the first thing that a lender will look at. You should know what they will see, and make sure it is completely accurate and updated. Errors in a credit report are surprisingly common, and when you discover a mistake you can simply call the credit bureau to report and fix the problem.
•    Make sure all of your credit lines are listed, and that there are no extra cards you have not authorized. Sometimes data from multiple reports can get mixed together.
•    Check your payment histories; occasionally credit companies do not accurately report payments or there is a technical error. If you see a discrepancy, address it as soon as possible.
•    As identity theft becomes more sophisticated and hard to identify in daily life, it is crucial that you insure there are no unknown accounts or activity on your report.
•    Keep up-to-date on how many inquiries have been made into your account (and make sure they are all by valid creditors you have authorized). Too many inquiries will begin to reflect negatively in your credit score, so you should always know where you stand before you authorize a new inquiry.

How to get a free credit report:
Several Web sites offer credit reports provided by the three approved consumer reporting companies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, or you can go directly to those companies’ sites. Annualcreditreport.com and Freecreditreport.com are both reputable venues for attaining your report. Beware of imposter and scam sites and pop-ups.

Good credit report means you can purchase a Boston condo. View Boston condos for sale at www.fordrealty.org

View more Boston real estate blog reports at www.bostonreb.com

If you are looking to purchase a Boston Luxury Condo or Apartment, and are a first-time Boston homebuyer, mortgages can be confusing and unfamiliar territory. Here, we will break it down for you and explain the terms and processes you need to get started.

The players:
When you are requesting a loan, you can choose from these three routes of investigating lending programs.
•    Banker – A local bank may grant your mortgage directly if you qualify for one of that institution’s specific loan programs.
•    Mortgage Broker – This is a liaison between the lender/bank and you, the homebuyer. A Broker passes on your information to a wide pool of lending programs, but you have very little control or oversight of the process.
•    Mortgage Lender – A Lender can issue a mortgage pre-approval and/or loan commitment, and can explore loan programs from a variety of banks so that you get the best loan option.

What is pre-approval and why is it important?

Pre-approval for a mortgage is granted after you have submitted your loan application and your credit report has been checked. The difference between a pre-approved and an approved mortgage is merely technical – a mortgage is only approved when a specific home has been identified for the loan.

Having pre-approval makes you a more credible buyer, lets you know exactly how much money you have to work with, and allows your final purchase and move-in to be quick and easy.

Before you apply for a loan to buy your dream Boston Condo, be sure to check your credit report. You should get into the habit of doing this annually whether or not you plan to buy a home. It is now free to get a credit report (different than a credit score) through a few services. Look for any evidence of errors or identity theft so that there are no unpleasant surprises in your loan approval process.

For our blogs please go to www.bostonreb.com

Ford Realty will now post all its blog entrys on www.bostonreb.com We are pleased to announce that we have acquired www.bostonreb.com including all its agents.