By Addi Vardhaman

The Indian immovable property has come of ages. Consumer is the King now and gone are the days of monopolistic behavior. And definitely, if you are the one with sound financial background and impeccable credit record you can strike a better deal with the banks in terms of interest rates and other payment conditions and purchase your dream property without any hassle.

Interestingly, the same criteria is equally applicable on those, as well, who have already availed a loan from a bank. Near about all the major public and private sector banks in the Indian banking system are now offering the option of ‘Balance Transfer’ on housing finance. Often, banks in the housing finance sector tend to increase the interest rates when the benchmark interest rates increase. But, such alacrity is not shown by them in decreasing rates whether the Repo rate comes down or not. In such circumstances, balance transfer help the customer a lot. He can replace the higher rate loan and avail a lower rate one by paying some extra charges. These charges are lower compared to the total payable interest.

What is Balance Transfer and how is it relevant in the housing finance?

There are times you find that the interest rate on your home loan is at a higher level. Take an example. Suppose you were paying at the rate of 10.5 per cent per annum. This rate is quite high in comparison of 9 per cent offered by some other bank. In such cases balance transfer of housing finance comes into rescue. You can trigger off the balance transfer option with your existing bank or lending institution, under which the unpaid portion of your housing finance would get transferred to your desired bank, thereby taking benefit of the difference in the housing loan interest rate.

Things to take care of at the time of balance transfer:

* Tenure of loan amount should be taken care: Ideally, you should consider taking the balance transfer option when the remaining part of your payment period is more than 5-years and in such a case you have the time for speculative gains. There is no profit in transferring the home loan from one bank to another if you end up paying early payment penalty and other processing charges even more than the difference of housing loan interest rate and the amount you had to pay towards interest in the normal condition.

* Early Payment Charges associated with the housing finance scheme: Banks like State Bank of India, IDBI and ICICI offer benefits like exemption of the early payment charges to your existing bank if you transfer the balance. So you must confirm the same with the new lending institution that are they ready to deal with this matter. Otherwise, the deal is not profitable.

* Additional charges involved with the loan amount: You must confirm that the desired amount for your home purchase loan is perfectly at par with the balance you had in your previous bank. It may be the case that that your new bank pays all early payment penalties and processing charges on your behalf and later add the amount to the principal of your housing loan. So, in such case your total owing remain the same and the transfer is not profitable. In this situation, you have to suffer the impact of debt compounding, which does not favour you in the long run.

Seeking balance transfer as a burden reduction option needs the similar degree of caution and study that you undertake while taking housing finance. Definitely with balance transfer, you can save a considerable amount of interest charges under this option once you strike the right chord!

About The Author: For more information about home loans. Please visit our website: http://www.paisawaisa.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Addi_Vardhaman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Balance-Transfer-and-Housing-Finance&id=1337511

By Aditya Jaiswal

The housing finance in India is growing at a fast pace. The home loans or housing finance is a huge industry in itself. A lot many people are trusting home loans in India to purchase property. This is the best and affordable way of realizing your dream of buying your own home. These finance options are open for all salaried individuals, self-employed individuals, partnerships, and even NRIs. The home loan can be availed for various purposes like loan for building a house, purchasing a piece of land, buying an existing house or apartment, and renovating a house.

The home loan can be availed for all kinds of properties like residential, commercial, and industrial. The loans for industrial and commercial property are of huge size and are normally taken by organizations. People also take home loan for the purpose of investment in property rather than for their own use. These properties are later on sold in the market at good profit.

Apart from a normal housing loan one can also get home equity loan, a unique concept wherein the borrower can mortgage his existing property to avail loan that can be used for any kind of purpose as desired by the buyer. Generally, people avail home equity loan facility for the purpose of marriage, education, or to meet medical expenses. The maximum loan amount that banks normally offer is about 60% to 65% of the market value of the property. The home equity loan is generally provided on difference amount of the actual market value of the property and the amount the customer already owes to the bank. At one time this concept of borrowing was not much known but today it has become quite popular as the funds can be put in use as per the wish of the customer.

The housing finance companies follow a very strict process while providing loans to the customers. The loans are disbursed in line with the credit policies of the bank and financial institution. As part of their process, banks verify the credit history of the borrower to ensure safety of the funds. It is important to check whether the customer is a defaulter with some other financial organization or if he has misused any of the banking products.

The housing finance sector is being promoted in a big way in India. The banks and financial institutions are offering home loans at attractive terms. Even people find it advantageous to purchase property by availing home loan as they get tax benefits and easy repayment options. This is the best way to buy a property especially if you belong to service class. The banks and housing finance companies are also being professionally managed. They are always ready to assist the customers regarding queries related to the prevailing rate on interest, the various tenures available for repayment, conditions or the eligibility criteria for various categories of customers, the documentation required etc. It will not be wrong to say that housing finance in India has caused a revolution in the market and has motivated purchase of properties.

Aditya Jaiswal, advisor of home loans for NRIs, is an associated editor with the site: www.guide2homeloan.com The site is an online portal to provide home loan advice on home loans in India including types of home loans in India, home loan interest rates in India provided by home loan providers in India.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aditya_Jaiswal
http://EzineArticles.com/?Housing-Finance—A-Revolution-In-The-Market&id=397589

EnergyStar.gov –  Check Out Energy Rebates

This is a government site that offers lots of energy saving tips as well as explains what energy saving grants or credits might be available.

Here is the latest issue of my foreclosure trends newsletter.  As you can see, the trend is not our friend, in the sense that the housing market has not recovered.  Until jobs come back and people are employed and feel safe in their employment, they will tend to avoid making a committment.

ForeclosureTrends.pdf

Besides the board of realtor sites:  http://theThing.mplsrealtor.com and market data posted elsewhere at http://www.MplsRealtor.com I have a subscription to Realty Trac.  My subscription gives me additional data about foreclosures and trends within certain zip codes.  This is in addition to my daily subscription to Finance & Commerce (a business newspaper that prints all the foreclosure information as well as very timely articles regarding the business community).  If you are looking for someone who has experience and access to information about distressed sales, we need to be working together.  Whether buyer or seller-I can help you understand the market we are in and the options and opportunities available to you.  Give me call today.

These are a couple of my newsletters that have a ton of valuable information. Go check them out.

Foreclosure Market Trends Newsletter
http://www.realtytrac.com/MarketTrends/NewsLetter.aspx?guid=131bd355-1b69-4bd1-99cd-2f0c9a936810

Real Estate Cyber Space Tips
http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627

By Jessica Elliott

Maybe you’re buying your first home in Minnesota, or perhaps you’re relocating to Minnesota from another state. Either way, it’s important that you educate yourself on Minnesota home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you’ll need to know before buying a home in Minnesota:

The median price of a home in Minnesota is $122,400. The price of homes in Minnesota varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $320,000; however, in Plymouth, Minnesota, the median price of a home was $214,000, and in Forest Lake, Minnesota, it was $225,000. Average interest and job growth rates in South Dakota are both below the national average.

Minnesota law prohibits the financing of points and fees on a mortgage that are more than 5% of the loan amount. Additionally, Minnesota limits the ownership of agricultural land to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and corporations owned at least 80% by U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

The state of Minnesota does not regulate home radon levels. This means that home buyers must test for radon levels in the home they are purchasing and decide for themselves how much radon is acceptable in their home.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Minnesota Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Elliott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Minnesota-Mortgage—What-to-Expect-When-Buying-a-Home-in-Minnesota&id=263529

Thinking about buying a home but don’t know where to start? Why not start by reading the home buyer hand book that we have provided below. It is a great place to start to get the information you need. When you’re ready, we would love to help you find and finance a new home.

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Donna Fuscaldo
Published: October 22, 2009

A federal tax credit makes energy-efficient solar water heaters a more affordable and sustainable option for many homeowners.
A solar water heater uses the renewable thermal energy produced by the sun to warm water for your shower, washing machine, and dishwasher. Better yet, it does it at a fraction of the price of a conventional storage tank water heater. If you take the plunge and purchase a solar water heater, expect to see your home’s water-heating bill cut in half.

The financial attraction doesn’t end there. A federal energy tax credit that’s available through the end of 2016 allows homeowners to shave 30% off the cost of a solar water heater. Even new homes and second homes qualify.
How solar water heaters work

Solar water heaters operate (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=solar_wheat.pr_how_it_works) in one of two ways: either as a direct system or as an indirect system. A direct system warms water by circulating it via pipes through rooftop solar collectors. An indirect system, also known as a closed-loop system, relies on a non-freezing heat transfer liquid.

The liquid is heated in the solar collectors and returns through pipes to a storage tank, where a heat exchanger inside the tank transfers the heat to the water. Most systems rely on electric pumps to move water (or a transfer liquid) between the storage tank and the rooftop solar collectors.

In general, solar water heaters can be used anywhere as long as your roof gets direct sunlight for most of the day. The rooftop collectors should face south. A direct system makes sense in warm climates where temperatures don’t fall below freezing. The non-freezing liquid used in an indirect system makes it better suited for cold climates.

You’ll need to retain your conventional water heater as a back-up at night, on cloudy days, or anytime a solar water heater’s capacity is exceeded. An average person uses about 15 to 20 gallons of water per day, so a family of four would likely need an 80-gallon water heater tank.

The cost of a solar water heater

A solar water heater starts at around $4,000 including installation, though the price tag could double depending on the size, quality, and complexity of the system. Figure it’ll take two to four days to install.

There’s no cap on the 30% federal tax credit, which applies to systems placed in service between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2016. Solar water heaters must be certified by the Solar Rating & Certification Corp. (http://www.solar-rating.org/) to qualify. States may offer additional incentives. Check the DSIRE database (http://www.dsireusa.org/).

To earn the federal tax credit, at least half of your household’s energy for water heating must come from the sun. You can only count money spent on the solar water heater, not the entire heating system. You can’t claim the credit if the solar water heater is for a pool or hot tub.

Take the credit on IRS Form 5695 for the year you install the solar water heater. Remember to save receipts and manufacturer certification statements. The credit can’t exceed the total amount you owed in federal taxes for the year.

The savings can add up

According to Energy Star, a federal program that promotes energy efficiency, a solar water heater can lower the average household’s water-heating costs (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=solar_wheat.pr_savings_benefits) by 50%. If you use a gas water heater, that translates to savings of $190 a year. You’ll save $265 annually if you have an electric water heater.

Savings are greater for large families that use a lot of hot water. How quickly you recoup your total investment depends on how much water you use, the amount of sun you get, the performance of your solar water heater, and how much it costs to heat up your water using your existing system.

If you’re building a new home or refinancing your mortgage, consider lumping in the cost of a solar water heater with the loan. By spreading the cost (http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12860) of the system over the life of your mortgage, you can take advantage of the tax deduction (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/deduct-mortgage-interest-home-equity-loans/) for mortgage interest.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you’ll pay an extra $13 to $20 per month to include the cost of a solar water heater in a 30-year mortgage. With the mortgage interest deduction that cost gets reduced by $3 to $5. The difference is about what you should save on your monthly energy bills.

Long life, little TLC

Solar water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years or more, double that of conventional storage tank water heaters. They typically don’t require replacement parts for the first 10 years. It’s prudent to hire a qualified contractor to conduct annual inspections, as you might do with a furnace.

You can do your part by making sure the collector is clean, sealings aren’t cracked, and fasteners connecting the collector to the roof are tight. Whether for installation or maintenance, look for contractors certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (http://www.nabcep.org).

Solar water heaters not only save money-they save the environment. The DOE says a solar water heater can cut the electric load of your water heater by 2,500 kilowatt hours annually, which prevents 4,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That’s equal to not driving your car for four months a year.

This article provides general information about tax laws and consequences, but is not intended to be relied upon by readers as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Readers should consult a tax professional for such advice, and are reminded that tax laws may vary by jurisdiction.

Donna Fuscaldo has written about alternative energy for Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal, and Fox Business News for more than a decade. She’s currently renovating her house with an eye toward energy efficiency and green technologies.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.