Asifa Zia -The Realtor YOU want

                                                       Written by  Katherine Reynolds Lewis,  is a freelance writer. Want to buy your first home? You’ve probably got some cash saved for a down payment and maybe even recommendations for realty agents from savvy friends you trust. But have you cleared up your credit report, hired a tax adviser or considered the benefits of FHA financing compared with a conventional mortgage? Kasara Williams, 31, has taken all three steps in a year-long quest to buy her first home. “This whole experience has taught me that it’s important to have your financial act in order,” said Williams, a commercial property manager in Arlington. “It’s important to start your search early.” Not every first-time homebuyer will need a tax adviser, like Williams did to fill out forms needed to withdraw part of her IRA without being penalized. But everyone interested in becoming a homeowner should prepare early with orderly finances, information and plenty of pa

Types of Bankruptcy Americans can undergo several types of bankruptcy proceedings, but the two most common are known as Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out all of your debt (with a few exceptions) while filing a Chapter 13 obligates you to pay back your debts over a period of three to five years. The courts won’t allow you to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy if you have enough disposable income to pay your debts every month. So, which process is the better choice for someone hoping to purchase a home sooner rather than later? While there is some disagreement, many experts say that a  Chapter 7  is your best choice because the process is quicker, it immediately lowers your debt-to-income ratio, and it gives you a clean foundation on which to build good credit. Debt and Credit Aside from a chunk of cash to use as a down payment, the biggest issue standing in the way of many would-be homeowners – whether bankrupt or not – is their debt. Lenders scrutinize an

The floor plan, or plan, is the most common of all architectural drawings. From builders to architects, Realtors to appraisers, everyone uses a floor plan. More than likely this is because the floor plan is the one drawing that tells us the most about a house. From the type of house to the size of the house, a floor plan reveals area, structure, circulation pattern, stair location, door and window locations, room layout and so much more. While floor plans do  reveal a lot  about the functional characteristics of a house, they often lack the information needed to describe the home's overall feel. This is because they can't easily show us what is going on in the  third dimension . So when looking at a floor plan, remember that you're looking at just one view of the house and you'll need to look at other views to really understand all of the house's features. Having said this, let's look at what a floor plan shows. Bud Dietrich, AIA Save to Ideabook

When you buy your first house, you have a lot going on with moving in, perhaps buying some furniture, hosting your first party at the house and getting used to those mortgage payments. With all that excitement, it’s easy to overlook routine home maintenance, especially when you’ve never had to tackle these tasks before. To keep things from getting overwhelming, we’ve created this home maintenance guide for first-time owners. And don’t worry — most of these tasks take just a few minutes or a quick call to a trusted pro. Take a deep breath and dive into the 11 home maintenance to-dos you’ll need to handle in the first year of buying a home. Elias Zouras Custom Builder Inc Save to Ideabook Email Photo Check Your Furnace and HVAC Filters Why:  Who knows what dust and grime the previous owners or construction crews have left behind? Clogged filters make heating and cooling systems run less efficiently, which wastes energy and costs you money. They can also trap harmful