Say Hello To Buyer-Friendly Housing Market (NAPSA)—Homebuyers are increasingly finding there’s a lot of opportunity in today’s housing market. A recent consumersurvey, commissioned by one of the country’s top-10 home builders, found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe now is an ideal time to buy a home. Of those who said purchasing a new home wason the horizon, 24 percent called themselves firsttime buyers, while 28 percent have owned three or more homes VEN ? in their lifetime. According to Martin Hernandez, corporate vice president of sales for Beazer Homes, a rich supply of housing and low interest rates are contributing to the “smart time to buy” sentiment. “Savvy consumersrealize housing is a cyclical industry. In the current market, buyers can take their pick of quality homes with a variety of options, upgrades and incentives,” said Hernandez. Here are his tips on how to look for a homein today’s housing market: Start online. Eighty percent of homebuyers begin their real estate shopping online. In fact, one in four people found the home they wanted online in 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. Most online sites allow you to narrow down your search by targeted neighborhood and price, as well as take virtual tours and download floor plans. Make a list. You know how many bedrooms and baths are important, but what about other bells and whistles such as a gourmet kitchen, walk-in closets or flex space? A rich supply of housing and low interest rates are contributing to a “smart time to buy” sentiment in many housing markets. New vs. resale. Your list should include whether you plan to spend time on maintenance or home improvements, an answer that will help you decide whether to buy a newly constructed home or a resale. In the current market, a newly constructed homeis likely to be a much better value for homebuyers when compared with the purchase of a resale home. Get preapproved. Preapproval means you receive a loan commitment for up to a certain amount from your lender, based on their review of your credit and finances. Because preapproval gives you a dollar amount to consider, it allows you to narrow your search to only the homes that you can afford. Beazer Homes currently builds in over 30 markets in the United States. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.beazer.com.
