Sonic5

I am thinking of buying my first house (am renting currently ) and would like to know what to expect in the process, how it is different from the UK and if there are any dangers/dirty tricks I should watch out for.

Also, what status must I have to own a property?

Is there a guide on this site or anywhere else that you can recommend that I can access?

fatbrit

But you didn't know that with 50 state and some odds and ends, we have more than 50 sets of practices?

Ray

Rearrange these words

Rocks as dumb

Bob

There's been a few threads on BE, search them out...but as mentioned, they'll be fairly generic because requirements are state dependant...

Sue

Hi,

Welcome to BE.

As others have suggested trying do a search of the forum. In the meantime here is a thread to start you off:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=603317

Sue

Tarkak9

depends - talking ethical and/or illegal things, or both?

due to the shortsale and foreclosure environment in the US one of the bigger concerns at the mo are shortsale frauds... which sometimes leads to participation in bank/loan fraud and wire fraud.
Never a dull moment in real estate!

Sonic5

Well, some of the "suggestions" if you can call them that, were delivered by not nice folk so I ignored those.
Also, I did carry out a search before my post, but searching for something like this on this site is a very arduous process with many hundreds of threads appearing in the results, none of which had a title of what I am looking for. I thought it would be easier to just ask.
Seems like people on here get ticked off really easily.

Giantaxe

There's plenty of good information in that thread.

The irony.

Ray

So have you learnt yet that the first thing you say ..is the State
you are in, or going too..You can add it to your location in your profile
If you cannot be bothered to give the Information... nobody can give help

Sue

Its not that, its just that what often happens is alot of people post first then search later, and as you had not mentioned you had searched in your original post I thought I would mention the search facility. You'd be surprised by how many don't even know it exists. As to your question about buying a house, this can differ from state to state. Perhaps if you were to share what state you are looking to buy a house in, then it would be easier for us to share experiences based on the area you are buying in.

lisa67

The main difference I found (and we've bought houses in 2 states and this applied to both) is that you, as a buyer, contacts a realtor (estate agent) and he then contacts the sellers of the houses you are interested in and arranges for you to go around the house(s) with him. You do not contact the sellers realtor as you would in the UK ...hope this makes sense!!

Sonic5

NC

lisag8070

whereabouts in NC?...I'm just being nosey

try this..it might answer some of your questions

http://research.lawyers.com/North-Ca...-Carolina.html

Sue

That's a great link. Lots of useful info

Sonic5

Thank you very much. I will read this now.