FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Dubai • Abu Dhabi • Sharjah • Ajman

To find out more about buying, selling, and renting real estate, choose one of the frequently asked questions listed below. Start to examine vital factors as well before beginning your real estate search.

Question about selling

Real estate, in general, does not lose value over time, or, to put it another way, it does not happen very often. Due of this, it’s a fantastic investment. When choosing a home, be sure to give location and neighbourhood due consideration because they can have a significant impact on the property’s potential worth.

If you live in a freshly built region, find out whether the building of the nearby areas is likely to have an impact on the value of your home.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, although both modern and older homes have their advantages, depending on your preferences and way of life.

In general, older homes can be less expensive than new homes, however there are several instances where new homes can be less expensive than older homes.

Most new homes won’t have any landscaping in the backyard, and others won’t even have any in the front. An older home typically includes landscaping that has already been done and costing tens of thousands of dollars that is already included in the selling price.

Some older homes may also have lower taxes. Even while older homes have a certain elegance, some individuals are put off by them because they fear the high upkeep costs. To gain the peace of mind you deserve, think about getting a home warranty. A good Home Warranty plan protects you against unexpected repairs on many home systems and appliances for a full year or more after you move in.

In a brand-new home, you have more upgrade possibilities and can choose your own colour schemes, flooring, kitchen cabinets, appliances, bespoke wiring for TVs, electrical, computers, phones, and speakers, among other things. Ground-up building also makes it easier to incorporate contemporary features like media rooms, extra-large closets, and extra-large bathrooms and baths. If you don’t want to invest thousands of dollars in renovating and rewiring, you must rely heavily on the preferences and technical whims of the previous owner in a used property.

Designers of new homes can employ cutting-edge construction materials, such as Energy Star windows, thicker insulation, and other technology, to reduce the owner’s future energy expenses. Most states currently have minimal standards for new construction’s energy efficiency. More energy-efficient equipment are built into new homes’ kitchens and laundry rooms. Older homes typically cost substantially more per square foot to heat and cool, unless they have undergone an efficient retrofit.

Particularly in the West and Northwest, where earthquake safety standards must be adhered to, builders must adhere to highly tight guidelines when building new homes and extensions. New construction is typically more fire resistant and more suited to modern security and garage door systems.

It is easier to evaluate the quality and timeless beauty of older residences. Smooth-veneered new homes may eventually disclose the use of inferior building materials or poor craftsmanship.

As you can see, each has benefits and drawbacks, but ultimately, it depends on your preferences and the features you are looking for in a home.

A representative with the right to establish and manage their own firm. There is a single principal broker for all real estate firms.

If you are prequalified, it indicates that, provided all of the information you give to the bank is valid and true, you MAY BE ABLE TO GET A LOAN FOR THE AMOUNT STATED TO YOU. Not as powerful as a preapproval, this.

When a lender is willing to provide you a loan, it indicates you have passed the lender’s thorough financial background investigation, which involves examining your credit history, prior tax returns, and validating your employment. This effectively means you are accepted if you are preapproved.

Typically, a precise number indicating the maximum sum for which you are qualified will be given to you.

Because they know there won’t be any issues with the purchase of their home, most sellers favour purchasers who have been preapproved.

When a property’s title is in question, title insurance safeguards the lender and the buyer from financial loss.

The escrow terms are stated in the mortgage documentation at the time the loan is originated. This has grown to be accepted practise for all types of mortgages, including conventional, FHA, and VA loans. If the member owns at least 20% of the property, FRFCU will occasionally forgo the collection of escrow required at closing for conventional loans.

The simplest approach to avoid PMI is to make a 20% down payment, but you can also avoid it with a down payment of just 5% or 10%. This can be done by using a first and second mortgage combination, sometimes known as an 80/10/10 or 80/15/5.

These two strategies combine a first mortgage lien for 80% of the house’s purchase price with a second mortgage lien for 10% or 15% of the price, leaving 5% or 10% of the purchase price as the down payment. Even if a second mortgage is being “piggybacked” onto the financing to enable the lessor down payment, there is no need for PMI because the first lien is at the magic 80% loan-to-value.

Even though the terms of the second lien are not as favourable as those of the first lien, the second mortgage still counts as house mortgage interest and is therefore deductable as such on your federal tax return, unlike PMI, which is insurance and does not provide a deduction.

Contrary to consumer loans, which calculate up until the date of payment reception, the majority of mortgages created today compute interest in arrears. For instance, borrowers pay the January interest when they make their February mortgage instalments. This method of calculating interest is based on a year of 360 days, with 30 days in each month.

Insuring against losses brought on by disagreements over a property’s title, title insurance safeguards the lender and the buyer.

Title insurance is insurance that protects the lender and buyer against any losses incurred from disputes over the title of a property.

The homeowner as well as the Credit Union will frequently receive a copy of the real estate tax statement in the mail for informational purposes. However, there are some tax reports that the credit union does not receive, therefore in such instances we will need your help in receiving the bill. Please send or fax any statements you get for any of the following to our office.

If the tax authority refuses to comply with a bill request from another party, there will be special assessments for past-due real estate taxes that are supplemental or additional.

Contrary to consumer loans, which calculate up until the date of payment reception, the majority of mortgages created today compute interest in arrears. For instance, borrowers pay the January interest when they make their February mortgage instalments. This method of calculating interest is based on a year of 360 days, with 30 days in each month.

Question about Renting

Generally, real property never depreciates in value, or more so, it is not very common for property to depreciate.  This is why it’s a great investment. Make sure you carefully consider location and community when choosing a home, it can effect the homes future value greatly.

If you are in a newly developed area, do some research on the construction of the surrounding areas being developed to determine if they may effect your homes value.

This is really just a matter of preference, but both newer and older homes offer distinct advantages, depending upon your unique taste and lifestyle.

Older homes can generally cost less than new homes, however, there are many cases where new homes can also cost less then older homes. Most new homes will not have any backyard landscaping and some don”t include any front landscaping either. With an older home, the landscaping is normally already completed and could have 10”s of thousands of dollars in landscaping done, which is included in the purchase price.

Taxes on some older homes may also be lower. Some people are charmed by the elegance of an older home but shy away because they”re concerned about potential maintenance costs. Consider a home warranty to get the peace of mind you deserve. A good Home Warranty plan protects you against unexpected repairs on many home systems and appliances for a full year or more after you move in.

In a new house, you can pick your own color schemes, flooring, kitchen cabinets, appliances, custom wiring for TV”s, electrical, computers, phones and speakers, etc., as well as have more upgrade options. Modern features like media rooms, extra-large closets and extra-large bathrooms and tubs are also more attainable in ground-up construction. In a used home, you rely largely on the previous resident”s tastes and technological whims, unless you plan to farm thousands into a remodeling and rewiring.

New-home designers can use new building materials such as glazed Energy Star windows, thicker insulation and other technology that will lower future energy costs for the owner. Most states now have minimum energy-efficiency requirements for new construction. Kitchens and laundry areas in new homes are designed to house more efficient energy-saving appliances. Older homes, unless they have undergone an energy retrofit, usually cost much more per square foot to air-condition and heat.

Builders have to follow very strict guidelines in new-homes and additions, especially in the West and Northwest, where earthquake safety standards must be observed. In general, new homes are usually more fire-safe and better accommodating of new security and garage-door systems.

Older homes can be better judged for their quality and timeless beauty. New homes that now possess a smooth veneer might reveal the use of substandard building materials or shoddy workmanship over time.

As you can see there are advantages and dis-advantages to each, but it really comes down to what fits you and what you are looking for in a home.

An agent who is authorized to open and run his/her own agency. All real estate offices have one principal broker.

If you’re prequalified it means that you POTENTIALLY could get a loan for the amount stated to you, assuming that all of the information you provide to the bank is accurate and true. This is not as strong as a preapproval.

If you’re preapproved, it means that you have undergone the extensive financial background check, which includes looking at your credit history, previous tax returns and verifying your employment – and the lender is willing to give you a loan, basically meaning you’re approved!

You will usually be provided an accurate figure which shows the maximum amount that you are approved for.  Most sellers prefer buyers that have been preapproved because they know that there will not be any problems with the purchase of their home.

Title insurance is insurance that protects the lender and buyer against any losses incurred from disputes over the title of a property.

When a loan is originated, the mortgage documents specify the escrow conditions. This has become a standard practice for all mortgages, including FHA, VA and conventional mortgages.  Occasionally on conventional loans, FRFCU waives the collection of escrow requirement at closing if the member has a minimum 20% equity position in the property.

The easiest way to avoid PMI is by putting 20% down payment; however, PMI can also be avoided if you only have 5% or 10% for the down payment. The way to accomplish this is via a first and second mortgage combination commonly referred to as 80/10/10^s or 80/15/5^s.

These two methods combine a first mortgage lien for 80% of the home price with a second mortgage lien for either 10% or 15% of the home price leaving the remaining 5% or 10% as the down payment. Because the first lien is at the magical 80% loan=to-value, there is no PMI required, even though a second mortgage is being |piggybacked| onto the financing thus allowing for the lessor down payment.

While the second lien terms are not as attractive as first lien rates, the second mortgage is still home mortgage interest and thus deductible as such on your federal tax return where PMI is insurance and offers no deduction.

Most mortgages originated today calculate interest in arrears, unlike consumer loans which calculate interest to the date of payment receipt. As an example, when borrowers pay their February mortgage payments, they are paying the January interest. This method of calculating interest is based on a 360 day year in which each month has 30 days.

Title insurance is insurance that protects the lender and buyer against any losses incurred from disputes over the title of a property.

Title insurance is insurance that protects the lender and buyer against any losses incurred from disputes over the title of a property.

Many tax authorities will mail an informational copy of the real estate tax statement to the homeowner in addition to the Credit Union.  However, there are some statements tax authorities do not forward to the credit union, and in special cases we will need your assistance in obtaining the bill. If you receive a statement for any of the following, please forward it to our office by mail or fax.

delinquent real estate taxes
supplemental or additional real estate taxes
special assessments
if the tax authority will not honor a bill request from another party.

Most mortgages originated today calculate interest in arrears, unlike consumer loans which calculate interest to the date of payment receipt. As an example, when borrowers pay their February mortgage payments, they are paying the January interest. This method of calculating interest is based on a 360 day year in which each month has 30 days.

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