WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve, trying to stabilize a shaky U.S. financial system, may give squeezed Wall Street firms more time to tap the central bank’s emergency loan program, chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday. And, in an effort to prevent a repeat of the current mortgage mess, Bernanke said the Fed next week will issue new rules aimed at protecting future homebuyers from dubious lending practices.
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With the Traditional buying season coming up here are some tips that will be helpful to you.

1. Don’t be put off by bad weather. It’s a good time to check the potential property for leaks and poor drainage.

2. Visit the area to check out the proximity of schools, nightlife, transport, shopping centres, etc. These can have an effect on your lifestyle, both now and in the future (ie.children).

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Before we start, let us give you one reason to not buy a new home right now. How long do you intend to live there?
A rule of thumb is that it rarely makes sense to buy if you expect to move within two years. That’s because when you do sell, there are costs associated with selling. We’re not just talking about sales commissions to the buying and selling real estate brokers. Most owners rely on home appreciation to pay those costs and to provide the down payment and closing costs when they buy their next home. So buying a home when you expect to move before too long is a risk, especially in an uncertain market.
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Established National Real Estate Franchise Brands
Depending on what criteria you use, and which survey you read, the three most recognizable real estate brands are Century 21, Coldwell Banker and RE/MAX.
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What’s “cool” about the Internet is that there is so much information available, including information about real estate.  You can read online articles about how to buy a house, sell a house, getting a mortgage, local communities, and more. Especially cool is that now you can do something that (in the “olden days”) only Realtors could do.  You can see all the listings on the web.
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