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Afghanistan is experiencing a boom in estate prices which defies the downward trend in property that many other parts of the world is seeing and has experienced for the last 2 years. Its hard to imagine why anyone wanting to live or invest in a city which has been renowned for violence and war. In some parts of Kabul, prices have risen by 75% in the past year which is partly due to the prices that international agencies are willing to pay in order to buy properties in the best locations. Alongside this wealthy Afghans which have seen there properties prices drop in Dubai are putting money back into Kabul

Estate agents are starting to smile again as the UK property market starts to rise. Last year at this time estate agents were struggling to sell one home each week, they also had to cut staff. They had people wanting to sell with no one buying – it now seems the other way round. One estate agency in London said that they registered over 300 buyers in one month. Two years the mortgage slump crippled sales and staff went to work away from the property market. As people now start to get mortgages the buyers are back. Many agents have said that parents have been the biggest contributors to the markets as it’s there help in the deposit which allows there siblings to buy a house.

Tesco has launched its own bank (Tesco Bank) but the supermarket has said it will not be doing mortgages and current accounts till 2011.

Tesco has decided that is wanted to do away with its old name of Tesco Personal Finance and rename it,

“We wanted a name that does what it says on the tin.”

Tesco bosses said.

In the meantime Tesco still plans to offer insurance products loans and credit cards, they have signed up over 300 thousand customers so far this year making a total of over 6 million and have made a profit in excess of £115 million.

Buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming, and complex process. There are a few things that you can do to help make the process go as smooth as possible:

1. Check your credit.

Before you apply for a home loan, regardless of your credit, it’s a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus and review the information. If there are errors or things that need to be addressed, it’s easier to address them before you have found a house, than after you have found a house and are trying to close your loan.

If you know that there are a few blemishes on your credit, let your lender know what they are, why they are there, and why you are a still good credit risk. Lenders look at your credit to determine how likely you will pay back the loan. If you had extenuating circumstances – like a loss of a job or medical bills – let them know so that they understand that it is not likely to happen again in the future.

2. Get approved before you buy.

An approval means that a lender has reviewed your credit history, verified your assets and employment, and has approved your loan before you have found a home to purchase. As long as the home appraises for at least the purchase price, the loan should close.

Getting approved also gives you an advantage over other buyers. Your firm approval makes it easier for you to negotiate on the price of a home, than a person who is not approved or is pre-qualified.

While getting pre-qualified may sound official, it is really just getting an idea of what you can afford. Its having a person plug in a few numbers that you give them – your monthly income and your monthly debt – and getting an approximate payment calculated. From the payment, the calculator can approximate the house price range that you can afford. No information is verified. Because your assets, income or credit is not verified, a pre-qualification has little value when purchasing a home.

3. Find a great buyer’s agent.

Traditionally real estate agents represent the sellers in a transaction. When you are not working with a buyer’s agent, they are less likely to negotiate the best price or contingencies for you.

A buyer’s agent’s job and fiduciary responsibility (meaning legal duty) is to you, the buyer. Before working with an agent, establish if they are a buyer’s agent or a seller’s agent. After spending a lot of time with a Realtor, it’s natural to feel like you’re a team. But if they are not negotiating for you, then they are not on your team.

A qualified, competent real estate agent will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying and selling a home. An agent provides value to the homeowner in many ways:

• Pays for all marketing and advertising costs.
• Adds experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales process including marketing, financing, negotiations and more.
• Handles all showings.
• Brings a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agent doesn’t have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does.
• Always has your interests in mind so you always have someone on your side.
• Can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations.
• Provides you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back.
• Gives an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your options. Unlike buyers and sellers, an agent has no emotional attachment to property.
• Has the knowledge to help you ask the right questions.
• Being a third party, potential buyers are more likely to tell your agent the truth about your home, even if it is unflattering. This objective viewpoint will help you make the necessary changes to get your home sold.
• Your time is valuable. A real estate agent allows you to spend your time how you want.