Zillow Advice RSS: Question-Guide,Home Buying,MN

Where should I go to get a certified home inspector?

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:59:00 GMT

I am buying a home and will need to find a home inspector. Where can I find an independant certified home inspector. My realtor referred me to an inspector she knows, but I feel getting an inspector referred to by my realtor is a conflict of interest.

11 replies

How do I go about working on a foreclosure for my mom?

Sun, 05 May 2013 22:33:00 GMT

8 replies

Limited Brokers License MN

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:35:00 GMT

I'm a first time cash buyer looking to at working class/renting neighborhoods (i.e. North East Minneapolis & the North end of St. Paul) with high foreclosure rates and REO houses that have been on the market for awhile. I've already identified several likely REO properties in the area and will soon be contacting some bank RE agents for showings. I've been thinking about paying the $300 dollars and getting a Minnesota's Limited Brokers License, but haven't been able to find much information about it besides what's on the gov't licensure page. If I'm acting as my own buyers agent will the banks listing agents be willing to split the commission with me? I understand they traditionally will split their commission with a buyers agent and I don't really understand why I wouldn't do this if I can save 2-3% on the purchase price. Will it make my bid really unattractive or get it ignored if I try and get put in as the buyers agent with a share of the commission? Between the over-saturated market, the length of time some of the properties have been listed, and being a cash buyer I'm hoping for some bargaining power. I'd love to hear from anyone with personal experience in Minnesota, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

4 replies

Need a Mortgage with bad credit

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:18:00 GMT

I have been renting a home for 3 years, the current owner decided to foreclose. We need to be out by June 1. The problem is, we don't want to rent any more but have not-so-good credit. We don't have time to improve our credit enough to qualify for a home loan. Do sub-prime mortgages work?

5 replies

how do I buy 2501 14th ave so. minneapolis mn

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:18:00 GMT

how do I buy 2501 14th ave south 55404? I am pre approved. for up to $102,000 but do not have the down payment until august 2013
Thank you
brown6394@hotmail.com
612-462-2574
lori brown

4 replies

is the 129 tanager path home really $1125 or is that a misprint?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:04:00 GMT

2 replies

How do you determine the value of upgrades made to a home?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:47:00 GMT

My wife and I are looking at home in Phoenix, AZ. The sellers are asking roughly $20/sq ft more then homes recently sold in the development. They supplied a list of improvements they made justify why they want more money. Professionally painted exterior and interior ($4000), window treatments ($6000), new washer ($600), landscaping ($7500), etc.... Total improvements = ~$32K which they multipled by 80% and added that to the basic home price. It appears they are simply trying to recoup their cost in a very short period of time. They made the improvements and now have decided to move for whatever reason. The house is 4 years old.
What't the best way to approach this?

5 replies

how do i figure out the sqft of a lot and figure acres. I want more than 5 and dont know how to fig

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:27:00 GMT

also want to look for a house in school district 831, this is in forest lake, columbus, linwood, wyoming etc how do i expand the search.

3 replies

What is the definition of a single-family home? Is a twin home or duplex considered a single-famil

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:43:00 GMT

6 replies

what is "make me move"?

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:26:00 GMT

I saw some home's under for sale by owner that say "Make me move". What does that mean?

5 replies

Do New Construction Builders typically pay or help with paying closing costs?

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:06:00 GMT

I'm located in the burbs of Minneapolis and I'm looking to buy a new construction house at around $240,000 and should have the $48,000 to pay the 20% down by the end of the construction process at the time of closing. But if I have to pay $5,000 to $6,000 more for closing costs, that might affect my ability to pay all 20% down. I want to avoid paying PMI, and if the builder can pay atleast 1/2 of my closing costs or more, I should be in the clear.

Just wanted to know, how typical do builders pay for closing costs, how much they pay as I have read some builders will pay as much as 3% of home price to closing costs. My realtor is out of town until our meeting with the builder next week, and I can't get answers from her now.

If they do not pay closing costs, I may forced to decrease a few upgrades (wood floors, vaulted ceilings, or fireplace etc) in order to put 20% down and have enough for closing costs, I would think they would lose profit if I ended up having to take away some of my upgrades. Thanks!

6 replies

What can I do to get more (or better) quotes for my loan request ZR-HNHRBCZ?

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:11:00 GMT

Looking to buy this older home that doesn't need much repair so I can rent it out. I already have a duplex and our family home. Track record of having paid on time for over ten years. Looking for pre approval to get the ball rolling. Home is 34k I can do down payment of maybe 5k

1 reply

Seller lied on disclosure and didn't pull permits. Legal resourse?

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:43:00 GMT

We bought our house 1.5 years ago. We discovered last weekend some water issues in the basement. While the previous owners did try to remedy the water situation, they never disclosed the information in the seller disclosure (the issues have been confirmed by neighbors). We discovered today that the entire basement was remodeled incorrectly (i.e. the framing and insulation was all done wrong, which is adding to the water issues). The previous owners never pulled permits.

Do we have any legal resource? We are looking at thousands and thousands in repairs, and it is just sad that people could be so duplicitous.

3 replies

Can you buy a home without buying the deeded lake access?

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:04:00 GMT

We are looking at a home for sale in the Chisago Lakes area of MN. The home is listed at 268,900. It is a 4 bd, 4bth, 4.7 acre lot. The problem for us is that the property taxes are over 5200/year because of the deeded lake access that comes with the property. Is it possible to buy the home and land without the lake access and if so, would it decrease the property taxes?

Thanks, Sarah

1 reply

who pays maintenance fees for first year

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:17:00 GMT

I am buying condo in minneapolis downtown. Closing this week. Who pays for first year maintenance fees- buyer or seller side?

3 replies

1 80s home avail. in my (low) price range in school district. I want 50's or earlier. Wait or buy?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:36:00 GMT

I'm pretty much looking at fixer-uppers in my price range (<100k). I'd rather restore an older home than make 80's construction, uh, glam. In the last year, more of the older homes in the school district have sold than the newer ones, at least at a low price point. It's March. Do I bite the bullet and take the only property available to me now, or do I take the high road and hope another of the older houses becomes available... in my price range. I'm not under any schedule pressure to move. Will the market price me out of a home in the next few months?

4 replies

what is included in closing costs and do you pay your broker a fee for this?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:07:00 GMT

3 replies

How can I find out who the bank is that owns this property

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:18:00 GMT

I am interested in a property that says it is bank owned an may go up for sale. How do I find out who the bank is?

5 replies

Cancelling purchase agreement after inspection ok

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 07:01:00 GMT

Any legal ramifications on buyer if he changes mind and walks away after purchase agreement accepted and inspection done but before closing? I assume buyer would lose earnest money, anything else?

13 replies

are appliances furnished with townhouses?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:13:00 GMT

5 replies