Many people fall out of the home buying market when interest rates start to go up. This is often a mistake. Many of the best mortgages deals become available when lenders are competing for new business and sellers are competing within a smaller buyer pool. You just have to know how to keep the costs down in order to counter the higher interest rates.

One of the best tricks is the buy-down. In a buy-down, a fee is paid at the closing to get a lower interest rate. In a soft market, an anxious seller may be lured into to paying all or part of the buy-down. Another approach is to get the seller to pay some of closing costs, thus lowering the amount of cash a buyer needs to close. Frequently the seller's costs can be used as a write-off by the buyer. Always consult with your tax advisor if you are considering such an arrangement.

If the market is softening due to rising or higher rates, the price itself becomes an area where a buyer may be able to save a lot of money on a house through skillful negotiating. Lower prices mean lower loan amounts, so don't be discouraged by higher rates--use them to your advantage.

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Pat and Norm Brown
Frank Howard Allen Realtors
470 First Street East
Sonoma, CA. 95476
707-939-2043
707-939-2505
707-484-7159
Fax: 707-939-2044
Email: pat-brown@NUMBER1EXPERT.com

Pat Brown is one of America's NUMBER1EXPERTS™ in the Sonoma area. Since obtaining her California Real Estate License in 1989, she was awarded Sales Person of the Year in 1991 for Keegan & Coppin Co. Sonoma office, was the Frank Howard Allen Realtors Wine Country Group #1 "Top Producer" for five consecutive years (1996-2000),and received the Chairman's Circle of Excellence distinction for top production between 1999 and 2005 from that same company. Pat says that her my real job satisfaction comes from helping people buy and sell their homes..."I care about people, I work hard, I get results, and I help my clients have a little fun throughout the process of buying or selling a home."

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