GROUR 5

OutlineWhat does home means in AmericaKinds of dwellings in America. How to buy a house in AmericaCompare American dwellings with Taiwans.

What does home means in AmericaA place where one lives, especially with ones family.District or country where one was born. Where one has lived for a long time or to which one feel attached.A place from which something originates.

Introduction of dwellingsApartment blockDetached houseDuplexRanch houseMansionStudio of loftTenement

Apartments blockA large building divided into separate parts. A room or suite of rooms designed as a residence and generally located in a building occupied by more than one household. Usually located at midtown.The residents are mostly students, SOHO or small families. castle-von-apartment-block of Boston

Walk-up apartmentsNo elevatorLow-rise apartments (maximum 5 stories)

Mid-rise apartments (6-15 stories)High-rise apartments (over 16 stories)

Detached houseIts not connected to another building on any side.Usually located at the suburban area of a city.People of high income like lawyers, bankers, artists etc., are the majority.

Detached house1

Detached house2

DuplexA type of house that is divided so that it has two families.A house divided into two living units or residences, usually having separate entrancesAn apartment having rooms on two adjoining floors connected by an inner staircase.

Duplex1

Duplex2

Ranch houseA long, rectangular and narrow house built on one level, usually with a roof that doesnt slope much.A house on a ranch, in which the ranchers live. Now some ranches also change into vacationlands.Trout Creek ranch house

An early ranch house

The ranch house of Boys Ranch in the Northwest Arkansas

MansionA separate dwelling in a large house or structure with luxurious materials and beautiful garden.It was once the noblesse or dignitarys dwelling place.As an official residence.

The Governor's Mansion for Alabama's chief executive

The Governor's Mansion in State of Washington

Studio of loftA raised area above the main part of the dwelling, usually for sleeping or storing goods, but has been changed into living space or work space for artists like painters, musicians, photographers, and dancer etc.

Music studio

Loft for sleeping

TenementA large building divided into apartments, especially in the poorer areas of a city.A rundown, low-rental apartment building whose facilities and maintenance barely meet minimum standards.

Tenement House in Brooklyn

Tenement houses in New York City Manhattan, Lower East Side, Orchard Street

New York City tenements, have narrow connected living spaces and shared bathrooms. The use of space was flexibleliving rooms could serve as bedrooms or work roomsand privacy was not expected.

How to buy a house in AmericaOrganize your filesLaws of home buyingFinance a homeHomeowner insuranceChoose an agent

Laws of Home Buying

The only person looking out for you is you! Why you want to buy a house?How much you can offer?Where you want to live?

Organize your fileCan you even afford a house right now? Start planning 6 Months before you apply for a home mortgage.

Choose an agent"Real Estate Agent" Is Just Another Name For "Salesperson" .You cannot guarantee impartiality.Choosing A Good Real Estate Agent

Finance a homeFind a mortgage brokers Mortgage brokers are companies that sell mortgages for many different banks and lenders. They usually get a commission based on a flat fee or a percentage of the loan, paid by the lender. Brokers can be useful in quickly getting you a loan, because they represent many different types of mortgages, and one of them is bound to be ideal for your financial situation.

Homeowners Insurance Flood InsuranceWindstorm InsuranceEarthquake InsuranceLife insurance

Compare American dwellings with Taiwans.Scheme for houses.Material of construction for houses.Space.Form of houses.

Apartments in Taiwan

Detached house in Taiwan

Residential quarter in downtown

Everyone need a roof over the headAAssuming you can afford a house, how much can you afford? These are important questions that many people don't research, focusing on what their mortgage payments will be, ignoring other monthly payments. This oversight puts many people down the wrong path to bad debt. BYou should start planning 6 months before you expect to buy. You need this time to clean up your credit report, and get funds that are contributed by family into your account long before the lenders go looking for it. Most lenders do not allow money given to you by family members to count toward a down payment, so you have to bury it early in your account. You can get your credit report from sites like Equifax Score Power, True Credit and Consumerinfo. ADon't ever lose sight of that fact. Their only mission is to sell, sell, sell to YOU. Don't ever let on that you are in a desperate situation, or that you need to sell a house fast to pay for emergency bills, or that you are in a desperate crunch to buy this house.BThe only way to guarantee that is to actually pay a large fee to a real buyer's agent who does not get a percentage of the selling price. But the fee almost removes the benefit of bypassing the commissioned real estate agent in the first place. To play it safe, never tell anyone but yourself how high you are willing to go. By law the seller's real estate agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller, and they WILL tell the seller everything you say, so pretend you are under police interrogation. The first thing the agent will do is ask you how high you are willing to go on the house. Don't fall for this trick. Just give them the price you want to pay for the house and if they ask how high you are willing to go, tell them that's it. If the seller does not agree there is no deal and you're taking your money elsewhere. If you are a home buyer, don't think your real estate agent is "going in to do battle on your behalf" with the seller's agent. Cif you know you have a great Real Estate Agent who will tenaciously hunt down houses matching your criteria, it can save you a lot of time. But you do still need a good property attorney, and no matter what you do, don't let your real estate agent choose your property attorney. Everybody who owns a home should get insurance on their property, and everyone who has a mortgage on their home MUST get an insurance policy. The lender will force you to carry a policy that covers fire and hazard insurance in order to protect their investment.