Knowledge is understanding, and understanding is knowledge. The more you learn, the more you know, and the better able you are to protect yourself from the unknown, unforeseen and unexpected.
These are simple concepts often lost in the deep recesses of our inner sanctum or overwhelmed by the exterior characteristics that catch our eye. Anything that we do that enables us to be better prepared prior to getting started on the journey to homeownership is a plus, making the entire process an easier one for you, your agent, the seller and all other parties involved.
The fact is there are too many variables involved for anyone to remember, and the number is growing rapidly. The options that correct or enhance a specific issue or allow you to avoid a hazard before it becomes an issue is increasing at a rate faster than anyone can keep pace with.
The key, then, is information -- more accurately, good information that guides and educates. If it's attractively packaged and easy to use, well, that makes it even better.
This is why I'm directing readers to get online and visit the Healthy Homes Research Center (www.uc.edu/healthyhomes/), which has been created in conjunction with the Better Housing League and the University of Cincinnati. This site is a cornucopia of knowledge regarding health hazards to be on the lookout for.
Click on the front door of the animated house and enter a clever yet simple and well-designed menu offering a wealth of resources. Links are available on home safety and lead hazard videos available at the resource centers library, along with a clever definitions map on topics such as mold, pesticides, carbon monoxide, radon and asbestos.
Each topic -- say asbestos, for example -- has additional links to government agencies such as the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or the Environmental Health Centers FAQ Fact Sheet. Pamphlets are made available that reproduce many of the brochures the Better Housing League has published over the years, including important information on asthma and household hazardous materials.
From a local perspective, the link to the Children's Hospital Medical Center is informative from the hazards-to-look-for standpoint. It's a site that should be permanently bookmarked by anyone with children.
If you're thinking of selling and you live in a neighborhood that's attractive to families with children, take a few moments to review and refresh yourself on potential areas that might be hazardous or potentially objectionable to future buyers. If you're thinking about buying, it's a good idea to stop by for few moments at some of the above links and sharpen your knowledge and skills on topics you don't normally think about when you're out hunting houses.
Remember that the better prepared the easier the journey becomes. In other words, browse, look, link and learn.
THIS WEEK'S TIP: Alternative ways to finance a home, Part 1
Despite continued low mortgage rates, some potential homebuyers remain shut out of the market for a variety of reasons. Money, however, shouldn't be one of them. Prospective homeowners might be able to overcome financing obstacles by using alternatives to standard home financing methods.
Financing alternatives include rent-with-option-to-buy agreements. Under a lease-purchase arrangement, part of the tenant's rent -- usually 10 percent to 20 percent -- is applied toward a downpayment on the home. When the downpayment savings reach a specified amount, the tenant obtains financing for the remaining amount of the purchase price and title is conveyed.
This arrangement generally works best for buyers who need an extended period to raise the funds and for sellers who don't need the equity from the sale of their home to purchase another home.
Home Work is a weekly column geared towards residential real estate.
