Buying a home does take a lot of financial planning and time. Most lenders require having a hefty down payment before they would consider giving a prospective buyer a loan. At 5% to 10% down, from some banks, coming up with the money can be a difficult, and sometimes down-right-nasty, task.

With the home values rising constantly, I would always advise new home-owners to aim their prospects low. Don't take the best looking house that is available in the community. Choose a house that needs work, your efforts will definitely pay off in the end. All you would really need is a home that has a good structure and decent layout. Remember, you can always build value onto it!

Speaking from experience, my first home was a fixer-upper. It needed new windows, a new roof, porch, updated decor. You name it, it needed it. I bought the house for very little money and felt I was ready to take on the incredible adventure of owning my own home.

The saying, "It takes money to make money," is absolutely true when it comes to your home. Look at all the options available to you with everything from what kind of roofing you want to the decision of having hardwood floors or carpet in the dining room. This is a list of projects that will add tens of thousands of value to your home, and cost you a lot less.

Outside:

1. Pick up the yard, cut down trees, mow the grass, do some landscaping. All of these things are a major plus when future buyers come to look at your property. They don't exactly add value to the home, but it does make for a nice presentation.
2. Replace the roof. The roof of the house is a very big project that will raise the property value quite a bit. Having a tin roof is a very popular alternative to re-shingling. Sure it costs a little more, but the lifespan of tin is almost twice as long as shingles.
3. Rebuild that front porch; build a new porch or patio. Because the front deck/patio is attached to the house it does add value. Most likely, the value of the house will raise the same amount as it cost to build the porch.

Inside:

1. Update the decor, replace the carpet and windows, and buff the floors. These don't necessarily add more value to the home as to make it more appealing to the eye.
2. Remodel the kitchen and bathroom. Remodeling these two rooms can add so much value to your home. You can find new cabinets, sinks, showers, toilets, etc. at discounted rates everywhere because they sometimes have visual defects that can be buffed out with a little work. Remodeling a bathroom can add up to $10,000 to the value of the home while remodeling a kitchen can bring the value up $20,000+.
3. Re-finish the basement, attic, or add on a room. By adding on or re-finishing the basement and attic, the value of the home will almost double because of having more available space for living.

The average American renter is worth less than $5,000, while the average homeowner is worth more than $180,000. Get a loan, buy a home, and watch your equity grow.

You don't have to spend hours researching the company, and you don't have to learn anything by heart. All you need is general knowledge.

• Who they are
• What they do
• The type of product or service they supply
• National and international presence

If the company has a website, it's a good idea to visit it. You don't have to become an expert on the company, but at least have a general idea of who they are.

The First Contact

A job offer can sometime depend on the first impression.

Yes, we all know how to say hello and good bye. At my first interview I stammered as I greeted the interviewer, and tripped as I left. Stressed is not strong enough to describe how I felt.

Role play greeting the interviewer and saying good bye with a friend Practice shaking hands and smiling. This may seem childish, but it works.

Dress Correctly

The best advice anyone can give you about dressing correctly for a job interview is: dress is if you already had the job.

Arrive On Time

Arriving on time is part of making a good first impression. If the job interview is worth going to, then it's being on time.

1. Choosing the right real estate agent is as important as securing a loan to buy your dream home. Obviously, not all agents are the same; an agent that works for a well known real estate company like Century 21 or a Coldwell Banker is not necessarily the best agent for you. Yes, there are experienced agents at large and small companies. There are many benefits of working with an experienced agent.
2. A good real estate agent is more than a sales person; a good real estate agent is experienced, knowledgeable, patient, courteous, and a good listener. A good agent make customer satisfaction their number one priority and put their customers' needs before their own The ideal agent will also be able to answer your questions; however, if he or she doesn't have an answer to a question, the agent would be honest and tell you that he or she will get the answer for you within a reasonable time.
3. Where do you find the right agent? You may find good potential agents at open houses, online, newspaper, referral, a friend, and co-worker. By going to open houses, you can meet real estate agents in a non-threatening working environment. You can interview them on the spot. Also, collect business cards and make notes on them.
4. Here are a few questions you may ask a potential agent. Have you sold any houses before, do you have at least two satisfied customers, can I call at least 2 of your previous clients? What's your commission? If you're selling, you may ask “how will you market my house.” Ask the prospective real estate agent what they'll do to sell your home. Not all agents work the same way. Some agents will advertise your property and spread the word to other agents they know. Others will just add your property to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service, a directory of homes for sale) and wait for calls to come in.
5. If you're thinking about selling your home, go to a few open houses and pay attention to how the agent is showing the home. Is he or she is polite, informative, appear knowledgeable, or scared?
6. The commission paid to agents varies; most agents charge a percentage of the sale price, which usually comes from the seller. The average commission they usually charge is about 4% to 6%. The agent's broker usually gets 50% of the commission. As a seller, you can also negotiate to pay a lower commission.

Conclusion

With the benefits of the internet and print media, there's no reason why a home buyer or seller should be in the dark. Buyers and sellers should start educating themselves today.