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Please fill out the form below and one of our experts will contact you immediately!  Jordyn Taylor Properties, Inc. D.B.A. Florida Rent Finders is a full service Real Estate office that specializes in leasing.  We have 14 office locations throughout Florida for your convenience. Florida Rent Finders will help you save time and energy when finding a rental property.  We have access to every rental property available in Florida.  Our professional staff of residential leasing specialist’s will help assist you in locating that perfect rental home quickly.  Florida Rent Finders believes in the highest level of customer service.  We offer friendly service in a comfortable environment. No matter your situation Florida Rent Finders can help you.  We excel at special circumstances such as bad credit, pets, boats, and other special vehicles. Apartments, town-homes, duplexes and single family homes.  We have access to every rental available.  No matter the style or size Florida Rent Finders will make finding your next rental home easy.    A Free Service to Renters, is a real estate company that specializes in residential leasing. Rent Free Realty opened its first office in Oakland Park, Fl. in September of 1988. Today, Rent Free Realty has office locations throughout Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. As the established leader in the Florida Real Estate Rental market, Rent Free Realty assisted more than 20,000 families last year in finding a new home.  Rent Free Realty's success comes from providing the best 1 stop shopping service in real estate rental market by giving its customers access to the largest inventory of available South Florida properties on the market today.  Rent Free Realty's inventory of properties incorporates 1000's and 1000's of properties, including, virtually all Apartment and Town home rental communities, almost all privately owned homes, villas, condos, town homes, duplexes, and, all rentals listed with traditional real estate companies utilizing the Multiple Listing Service created by the National Association of Realtors.  In short, whether you, your family or your company are in search of short or long term, luxury or economy, furnished or unfurnished, Rent Free Realty provides, as a free service, the fastest, most effective way to find a new home.  Today, as a full service real estate company, Rent Free Realty also provides its customers all the expertise needed when it comes purchasing their new home or selling their existing one. Rent Free Realty provides its customers with help in finding the best mortgage, the most reliable home inspection company and the most diligent title company to close their purchase or sale. Rent Free Realty provides its customers with assistance with any aspect of residential rentals or sales.  LEADERS IN RESIDENTIAL RENTALS is South Florida's leader in the real estate rental market. Rent Free Realty provides, as a Free Service to its customers, access to the largest inventory of South Florida rental properties available. Rent Free Realty's inventory of properties includes virtually all apartment and town home rental communities, all rentals listed with traditional real estate companies through the Multiple Listing Service, and 1000's of privately owned homes, villas, condos, town homes, duplexes and cottages. Whether you are looking for short or long term, luxury or economy, furnished or unfurnished, provides the fastest, most effective 1 stop shopping service in the industry today.
CORPORATE HOUSING  is an expert in the field of corporate relocation. Whether a small business or Fortune 500 company, Rent Free Realty can handle any type of corporate housing needs. No matter how many properties are needed, no matter for what period of time, Rent Free Realty is South Florida's leader in corporate relocations. LEASE OPTION & RENT TO OWN For those customers who would like to purchase but are not quite ready, Rent Free Realty has properties where owners will lease option or rent to own their property. This gives our customers that unique opportunity to rent while preserving the opportunity of ownership at a later date. BUYING or SELLING YOUR HOME  As a Full Service real estate company, we provides its customers with all the benefits of a traditional real estate office when it comes to buying their new home or selling their existing one. Whether it is a customer's desire to rent short term first and then buy or just to outright buy or sell a home, Rent Free Realty can handle all your buying or selling needs. STAFF OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS staff are all licensed real estate professionals and are members of the National Association of Realtors and the Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Board of Realtors. Rent Free Realty's staff maintains the highest level excellence and diligence and has been awarded the Certificate of recognition by the Department of Treasury U.S. Customs and the City of Miami for services rendered following Hurricane Andrew. No appointment is ever necessary. Please call, e-mail or drop by. We are experts in the field of relocation. Whether you are small business or Fortune 500 company, you can rely on Rent Free Realty for all of your corporate housing needs. We have assisted American Express, Ballys, Sun Sentinnel, Motorola, Best Buy, Spirit Airlines, Nordstrom's, Sports Authority, Burger King, U.S. Coast Guard, and countless other firms in finding both long and short term housing. No matter how many properties are needed, no matter for what period of time, Rent Free Realty is South Florida's leader in corporate relocations.  Once we have met your short term housing needs, Rent Free Realty can assist you, your family or your company in finding that ideal property to purchase. Finding a home that fits your exact needs is what we specialize in. Let one of our professionals guide you through the process easily and effortlessly. The data relating to real estate for sale/lease on this web site come in part from a cooperative data exchange program of the multiple listing service (MLS) in which this real estate firm (Broker) participates. The properties displayed may not be all of the properties in the MLS's database, or all of the properties listed with Brokers participating in the cooperative data exchange program. Properties listed by Brokers other than this Broker are marked with either the listing Broker's logo or name or the MLS name or a logo provided by the MLS. Detailed information about such properties includes the name of the listing Brokers. Information provided is thought to be reliable but is not guaranteed to be accurate; you are advised to verify facts that are important to you. No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for the data herein, or for their use or interpretation by the user. The Florida Association of Realtors and its cooperating MLSs do not create, control or review the property data displayed herein and take no responsibility for the content of such records. Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale, rental or financing of housing. When selling your home, you may be obligated to disclose problems that could affect the property's value or desirability. In most states, it is illegal to fraudulently conceal major physical defects in your property such as a basement that floods in heavy rains. And states are increasingly requiring sellers to take a pro-active role by making written disclosures on the condition of the property. Generally, you are responsible for disclosing only information within your personal knowledge, but that doesn't mean you'll always have an adequate defense if you are sued over an obvious defect or in cases where the law requires you to determine whether a defect exists. While it's not usually required, many sellers hire a general contractor to inspect the property. The information will help you determine what needs repair or replacement and will assist you with preparing any required disclosures. An inspection report is also useful in pricing your house and negotiating with prospective buyers. If you have an inkling of a question about whether or not you should disclose something, avoid the potential for liability and tell potential buyers about it. Full disclosure of any property defects found in a home inspection will help protect you from legal problems later, such as buyers who want out of the deal or who claim damages suffered because you carelessly or intentionally withheld information about your property. And remember, just because you disclose a problem doesn't mean you must repair or correct it. The disclosed item can become a point of negotiation between you and your buyer. Most laws mandate disclosures on special disclosure forms the seller must sign and date. Be sure the buyer acknowledges receipt of the disclosures by signing and dating the form as well. If your state doesn't require a specific disclosure form, be sure the buyer otherwise affirms receipt of your disclosures -- in writing. Check with your real estate broker or attorney or your state department of real estate for disclosures required in your state. Also, check with your city planning department for information on local ordinances and disclosures that affect your sale. Finally, be aware that real estate brokers are increasingly requiring that sellers complete disclosure forms, regardless of whether or not it's legally required. Working With a Real Estate Agent  How to deal with a real estate agent when you buy a house. Most homebuyers use a real estate agent or broker to help find a home, negotiate the contract and handle other details of the house purchase process. But before you hire an agent, learn all you can the homebuying transaction. You need to be knowledgeable about your ideal home and neighborhood, your financing needs and options, your legal rights and how to evaluate comparable prices before you know what to expect from the professional who will assist you. How Real Estate Agents Are Paid Real estate agents work on commission, not salary, and get paid only after your home search is over, the contract negotiated and the transaction complete. Under the typical arrangement, the seller pays the commission to the real estate agent, and the agent's services are free to the buyer. Most listing brokers get sellers to pay 5% to 7% of the sales price. For probate sales, commissions are set by the probate court. And for more expensive homes, say over $500,000, or in competitive markets, sellers can sometimes negotiate a lower commission rate. Because most real estate transactions involve two brokers -- one that produces the buyer and one that helps the seller -- the commission is divided, usually 50-50, between the two brokerage offices. Then, within each office, the salesperson who handled the transaction gets a share, usually 50%. Choosing an Agent The agent or broker you choose should be in the full-time business of selling real estate and should have, ideally, at least the following five traits: integrity, business sophistication, experience with the type of services you need, knowledge of the area where you want to live and sensitivity to your tastes and needs. Get two or three recommendations from friends, family, co-workers and others you trust. The best referrals come from those who've recently bought or sold a home. Ask each agent who's been referred to you to recommend one or two people (other than themselves) they consider top-notch agents who can fulfill your needs. It's a question the agent likely won't expect, but if he or she balks or refuses to answer, there are plenty of agents who will. Not only can the question provide you with others to interview, it also tests the agent's honesty and integrity. Don't work with an agent you meet at an open house, find in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet without thoroughly checking their credentials, experience and practice. All states regulate and license real estate agents and brokers. Only agents who meet minimum levels of state-mandated education, training and testing are licensed. Brokers, who generally oversee agents, have more training, education and experience. Ask for proof. The license offers you a layer of consumer protection should something go wrong. CredentialsReal estate professionals obtain additional credentials from their trade associations, which require a state license before the individual can join. While credentials alone don't guarantee an agent's or broker's success, they do indicate a certain level of professional achievement that can translate into a less worrisome transaction. Trade group membership is not legally required, but most residential real estate sales are conducted by trade group members. Trade groups offer yet another layer of consumer protection by mandating that members adhere to standards of practice and a code of ethics. Trade group members are also privy to listings, market information and other data non-members must struggle to obtain. Trade group affiliation also gives agents the opportunity to attain special credentials and designations that indicate a member has achieved higher levels of professional skill. There are relatively few of these agents and brokers, identified by certain initials (much like post-graduate degrees) on business cards and other documents. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) offers GRI (for Graduate Realtors Institute), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), CRB (for Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager, a designation that is the brokers' counterpart to the CRS). Less than one-half of one percent of association member brokers have this CRS designation. NAR also sanctions specialists' designations for relocation and international sales expertise as well as other specialties, should you need them. Many real estate companies also offer special in-house training programs resulting in achievements that match NAR's designations. Legal and Financial Relationships with Brokers While you may have different options as to the type of legal relationship you have with an agent or broker, normally the seller pays the commission of the real estate salesperson who helps the buyer locate the seller's house. What this means is that a homebuyer's agent or broker has a build-in conflict of interest: Unless you've agreed to pay the agent separately, she won't get paid until you buy a home, and the more you pay for a house, the bigger the agent's cut. Beware of dual agency -- that is, an agent, brokerage or company representing both the buyer and seller. Legal in many states, dual agency nevertheless comes with an inherent conflict of interest as the agent attempts to fairly represent two opposing clients and collect the full commission. Consider working with a buyer's agent who represents you exclusively (not both you and the seller) and is more likely to work with your best interests at heart. He or she will split the total 5% to 7% commission with the listing agent. If you don't want to pay the going commission, consider a discount broker who will charge you a reduced commission as small as 1%. Others offer you a "fee for services" rate. You select from a menu of services, such as preparing the written offer, and pay only for those you need. Discount services are available from franchise operations such as Help-U-Sell (http://www.helpusell.com), as well as from other independent real estate companies and individual brokers.The advantage of hiring a broker by the service or hour is that you get expert help with no built-in conflict of interest. The disadvantage is that you may have trouble locating an outstanding broker by the hour or service. Also, you pay for the hours you use whether or not you buy a house and you must do a lot of legwork yourself, such as negotiating with the seller. Interviewing Agents Once you've selected several real estate agents, let each know you want to interview him or her for 45 minutes to an hour. You can talk in person or on the telephone. Arranging the interview is a test of the agent's willingness to spend time with you and his or her punctuality. Ask the broker to sit in if you interview an agent. That will help you learn how not just the agent works, but his or her office as well. During the interview, explain your needs, how you like to work and what you expect. Ask the agent to speak in English, not industry jargon and acronyms. Let the agent know you are still learning about the homebuying process. Here are some of the major issues to discuss: The number of homes the agent found for buyers and sold for sellers. Don't accept a dollar amount answer. Ask for the addresses of recent transactions. Scan the list for homes similar in price to what you can afford. Determine if the homes are in the general neighborhood or community where you are buying. If so, get the agent to talk about what you can expect for your money and the pros and cons of the neighborhood or community. Listings that haven't sold. Ask why, but don't blame the agent for homes that were overpriced and sellers who've refused to reduce the price to a fair market value. Names of past clients. Ask for names of both buyers and sellers who can provide references. Financing. Ask the agent about mortgages, including special and new loan programs, creative financing, mortgage brokers and lenders and other financial details specific to your needs. Also ask about insurance and taxes. Management and communication tools. The real estate transaction is an esoteric entanglement of details, tasks and duties. Ask the agent to explain how he or she gets the job done, both online and off. Inquire as to how often the agent will report to you on sales activity or buying leads. You'll have to determine how much is enough for you, but once a week is a minimum in a stable market. Daily check-ins could be necessary in a hot market. Ask to see logs, checklists, worksheets and other tools or documents the agent uses to keep track of the details from the house search and financing through negotiating an offer and closing the deal. Representation. Will the agent act as a dual agent representing sellers with homes you may want to buy? If he or she is a buyer's agent, representing you exclusively, ask if a contract with fees is required. Also ask buyer's agents about fees in lieu of commissions, the duration of any contracts and other details.  As you ask questions and discuss your needs, consider how well the agent listens to your anxieties, fears and concerns. You want to feel that the agent cares more about your needs than collecting the commission or making a quota. Once you've chosen an agent, don't double dip. Loyalty and time commitment is a two-way street. If your agent doesn't have your full attention, he or she may reciprocate. You'll also get a disconcerting array of advice and opinions, at a time when you need straight talk. There's something very appealing about a brand new house -- you get to pick out the carpet, drapes and appliances, and have things designed just the way you want them. New houses are sometimes priced more reasonably than comparable old ones, often come with amenities such as pools and tennis courts, require less immediate fix-up work and are more energy-efficient. To get a good sense of new house development, visit.Too often, though, the advantages of new houses are overshadowed by problems such as shoddy construction and lengthy construction delays. Here are some suggestions on how to avoid problems. Choose the Developer, Then the House The most important factor in buying a new house is not what you buy (that is, the particular model), but rather who you buy from. In other words, don't buy a house -- buy its builder.To check out a builder, talk to: Owners who live in the development you're considering or in a recently completed development by the same builder. If you are considering a development run by a homeowners' association, talk to existing owners -- association members -- and the board of directors. They are especially insightful sources of information. An experienced contractor or home inspector. Have him look at the house you're considering for the quality of construction. If your house isn't built yet or is already finished, have him look at other houses the developer is in the process of building. When a house is being done, it's easy to see if construction standards are high or not. County planning or building department staff who deal with local developers. For the best results, ask your questions positively. "Do Brady and Jones finish their projects on time, with few complaints?" will probably be answered candidly, but "Is it true Brady and Jones is a real shlock outfit?" might not be. Real estate agents who've worked in the area for some time. Agents won't usually deal directly with new house sales, but they may have handled the resale of houses built by developers and may know their reputations. The state or local licensing or consumer protection agency that oversees contractors, and the local Better Business Bureau. Ask about complaints filed against the developer. Be Wary of Optional Add-Ons Many developers advertise houses at comparatively low prices to get you to come out and have a look. Once there, commissioned salespeople show you models loaded with expensive extras such as spa, fireplace, high quality carpet and big master bedroom. If you become seriously interested, the advertised price will rise as the developer tries to sell you the extras. Buying extras lets you semi-custom design your home. But ask yourself what you really need and how much it will cost. Upgrades often add 5%-20% to the cost of a new home. To get the most for your money, follow these steps:Take Care of Essentials First Be practical. More electrical outlets, a fenced yard (especially if you have children or pets) and, in many areas, air conditioning, are day-to-day necessities. A fireplace and hot tub are not. Make Sure Prices Are Fair Some developers are less ethical in pricing extras than others. Steer clear of those who deliberately use poor-quality materials in highly visible spots in their models, almost forcing you to upgrade to over-priced substitutes. Negotiate Ask for one free extra for every two you buy. For example, if you pay top dollar for good carpets, tile and kitchen cabinets, ask the developer to throw in a better stove at no charge. And don't be afraid to ask for the right to buy and install extras on your own. Investigate Warranties  You've probably heard horror stories about new houses that begin to disintegrate soon after the buyer moves in -- the roof leaks, or the basement floods after the first big rain. This shouldn't be a problem if you buy from a reputable developer -- but not all developers are reputable. Your best bet is to buy from a developer who includes a new house warranty from an independent insurance company. Typically, they cover workmanship and materials for one year, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems for two years and major structural defects for ten years.You can also buy a warranty on your own, but it probably won't cover major structural defects. A typical warranty begins at the end of the first year you own your new home and runs four years. It costs about $500 for a single family home, with a $50 deductible for each claim. These warranties are often of questionable value because, much like extended warranties on cars and appliances, civil remedies for poor workmanship are already in place. Read the Contract Carefully  Many new house contracts contain a clause saying that the model's features, such as carpets and appliances, are not necessarily the same brands you'll receive. You are guaranteed only the functional equivalent of what you see, which is typically different and costs the builder far less. Make a list of the precise features you're concerned about (with makes and models) and include it in your contract. If one developer won't accommodate you, shop elsewhere. Get It In Writing When dealing with a developer's sales representative, get all promises as to what will be done, and when, in writing. Before you sign the purchase contract, make sure it includes all agreed-upon changes. If you've already signed the contract when you negotiate changes, write them down in a separate document. Don't rely on oral commitments, which are notoriously unreliable and almost impossible to enforce. Protect Yourself Against Delays It's always best not to close escrow on a new home until the work is completed, or you could move in on top of late or unfinished construction. Some hot markets don't give you that option. If you agree to buy a house that isn't finished (or even started), you'll be asked to sign a very one-sided contract. You'll be given numerous deadlines (to make deposits, agree to design changes, get loan approval, sell your present house and close escrow), but the developer will have great leeway -- sometimes up to a year from the target date -- to deliver the house. Do what you can to negotiate a fairer deal. Most important, you want to establish a reasonable date at which you can cancel the contract and get all of your money back if the developer doesn't deliver the house. Again, get it in writing. Before escrow closes, inspect the house, and don't pay your money (close escrow) unless everything is complete to your satisfaction. If you must close escrow because you need to move in, but significant and costly work remains, insist that the necessary funds be taken out of what you're paying the developer and placed in a trust account after escrow closes. Then ask for a written agreement stating that if the work is performed on time, the money will be released to the developer; but if it isn't, the funds go to you to hire someone else to do the work. If the developer refuses, at least make a list of what needs to be done, assign a completion date to each, and have it signed by the developer. If the developer fails to make a good faith effort to do the work, you may be able to sue in small claims court if you have out-of-pocket losses, such as rent or hotel bills because you could not move in on time. A growing number of consumers browsing the Web for housing are taking side trips to look for the perfect mortgage. In fact, within the next five years, some 10% to 20% of all mortgages will be Net-based and as many as 85% of refinanced and equity mortgages will originate electronically. That's because Internet technology makes comparing loans a breeze. What's more, online loans offer 24-hour convenience, process faster and are often cheaper than their brick and mortar counterparts. Online mortgages aren't, however, without their dangers. Here, we explore the benefits and alert you to the potential pitfalls of shopping for your mortgage online. Mortgage Information ("No-Loan") Sites Mortgage websites come in two basic flavors: those sites that don't offer loans (called "no-loan" sites) and those that do. No-loan sites don't broker or lend mortgage money, but typically provide mortgage content, information and news as well as mortgage rates -- just what most mortgage shoppers want and need. Sites like HSH.Com and Bank Rate Monitor (http://www.bankrate.com) keep daily tabs on mortgage rates, indexes and market events that push costs up or down. You can visit sites like these to obtain the latest regional average rates on purchase, refinance, equity and other mortgages. Offering vast libraries of mortgage information for consumers, these sites are also a great place to examine mortgage programs, learn mortgage lingo, understand underwriting, get questions answered about the loan qualification process, crunch numbers with online mortgage calculators, check your credit and obtain other pertinent information, such as market trend analyses, forecasts and a host of other useful features. No-loan sites are also referred to as "referral" sites because they introduce you to a host of participating lenders, either through advertisements or links embedded in the content. The referrals could be useful provided you gather enough of them to adequately compare loan costs. That's a tedious process. In the no-loan site category, don't overlook informative government, quasi-government and trade sites, including Fannie Mae (http://www.fanniemae.com), Freddie Mac (http://www.freddiemac.com), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://www.hud.gov) and Mortgage Bankers Association of America (http://www.mbaa.org). These sites offer information about the latest mortgage programs, conforming loan amount changes, and general consumer and industry information. They also offer complaint services for mortgage problems on or off the Net. Mortgage Money Sites Online mortgage loan sites that offer direct access to loans come in three basic varieties: direct or single lenders, auction sites and multi-lender shopping sites. Direct or single lender sites. Most mortgage websites are direct lender sites. These include mortgage lenders such as Countrywide (http://www.countrywide.com) and Norwest (http://www.norwest.com), as well as all-purpose banks that make mortgage loans, like Wells Fargo (http://www.wellsfargo.com) and Bank of America (http://www.bankofamerica.com). If, for whatever reason, you've already decided to borrow from a particular lender, you might consider visiting its website. Simply search for the name of the financial institution you are interested in to see what's available, or check the online real estate section of your local newspaper. Many of the direct lender sites offer general consumer information, but it's impossible on the Web to compare rates among them. These lenders rarely provide complete product price information including points, fees, lock periods and the like. Auction sites. Some mortgage sites allow you to complete a loan application, which is then sent to lenders who, in turn, compete for your business. Some of the lenders are sub-prime lenders making these sites a possible choice for you if your credit is damaged. You won't get immediate feedback, but must wait a day or so for several offers. To compare more loans you'll have to repeat the process on each site. Auction sites include LendingTree.com, GetSmart.com, and RealEstate.com. Multi-lender shopping sites. Shopping sites are your best fit if you are a discriminating mortgage shopper who demands details. It's not necessary to complete an application before you shop for a mortgage using more variables than some brokers use. You enter the loan amount, property details and other information and you'll get current rates, APR, points, even settlement costs for each loan from dozens of lenders. You can sort loans by each factor. You can also put loans side-by-side and make apples-to-apples comparisons of interest rate adjustments, margins, life caps, year-by-year payment totals and interest costs and tax benefits. You can even compare the home as an investment with other financial investments. If you choose to complete an application, mortgage shopping sites review your application, process the required documentation and ship your loan to the lender for further review and underwriting. While many shopping sites rely largely on traditional mortgage distribution channels, E-Loan.com, QuickenLoans.com, iOwn.com, and HomeAdvisor.com are among the few large shopping sites that cut out the costs of loan officers and brokers. Tips for Purchasing a Mortgage Online Window shopping for online mortgages is a lot easier than actually completing the process electronically. A confusing array of mortgage site types, mortgages that simply aren't a good fit for automated underwriting (built for speed and best suited for assembly line, cookie-cutter loans, typically refinanced and equity mortgages for borrowers with excellent credit), and consumers' own technophobias thwart many from cashing in on the proliferation of online mortgages. Home purchase mortgages involve two parties and a longer and more complicated escrow process (that's the time between signing a contract and transferring ownership). If something goes wrong, the computer can't sit down with you and work it out. Likewise, if you have bad credit, a loan specialist will have to decide if you can qualify for a more expensive sub-prime loan and, if so, which one. Unfortunately, mortgage websites typically don't work well for shoppers with less than top-notch credit. Also, first-time homebuyers often need a lot of hand holding that a cold Internet interface can't provide. Still other consumers have security concerns and avoid online mortgages. Before you complete an online mortgage application for a purchase, refinance or equity loan, consider these tips: Attend a mortgage workshop, seminar or class or sit down with a good book or traditional mortgage broker to get briefed on the mortgage process. Choose an online broker licensed and regulated by your state. Your state's regulatory agency may be at a loss to handle problems with outside lenders. Check out the lender, too. The broker finds your loan, but a lender underwrites and finances it. Verify the online lender's status with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/information/index.html) or another federal regulatory agency that governs mortgage lenders. Use online technology to your advantage. Shop around using online brokers, "click and mortar" brokers who are both on and off the net and traditional "brick and mortar" brokers and lenders. Get the best rate and terms before you apply. Offline lenders know online lenders can be competitive and they will try to offer you a better deal. Don't be taken by the ease of completing applications online. Do your research, complete one when you've found the loan you want -- and then stick with it. Each subsequent application triggers another credit check and lenders could reject your applications after your credit report reveals numerous credit checks in a short period. Don't complete an online mortgage application if you can't follow through. If you fill out an application at work, but don't have Internet access at home, you'll defeat the purpose of the automated online mortgage process. Online brokers use email to help you track your mortgage's progress and to advise you of interest rate fluctuations. Some sites allow you to track your mortgage application's progress and funding online. Get a rate lock. Online or off, a rate lock -- in writing -- guarantees you a certain rate and terms for a given period of time. Consider security issues. It is possible, but not very likely, that someone might steal your online mortgage application information. But it's probably a lot easier to break a window at your mortgage broker's office and ransack the files than it is to hack into a heavily secured online mortgage site. Beware of come-ons. Use the same diligence when you shop online as you would shopping elsewhere. The same teaser-rate, bait-and-switch and small print games that occur offline unfortunately also exist on the Web. Inspecting the physical condition of a house is an important part of the homebuying process. In some states, such as California, buyers may have the advantage of a law that requires sellers to disclose considerable information about the condition of the house, as well as potential hazards from floods, earthquakes, fires and environmental hazards. But regardless of whether or not the seller provides disclosures, you should have the property inspected for defects or malfunctions in the building's structure such as the roof or plumbing.You should first conduct your own inspection. Ideally, you should do this before you make a formal written offer so that you can save yourself the trouble should you find serious problems. There are several useful do-it-yourself inspection books available. In addition to inspecting the house yourself, hire a general contractor to inspect all major house systems, from top to bottom, including the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating systems and drainage. This will take two or three hours and cost you anywhere from $200 to $500 depending on the location, size, age and type of home. Accompany the inspector during the examination, so that you can learn more about the maintenance and preservation of the house and get answers to any questions you may have, including what problems are important and which are relatively minor. Depending on the property, you may want to arrange specialized inspections for pest damage, hazards from floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, and environmental health hazards such as asbestos and lead. Professional inspections should be done after your written purchase offer has been accepted by the seller (which should be contingent upon your approving the results of one or more inspections). Be sure you get a written report of all inspections. If the house is in good shape, you can proceed, knowing that you're getting what you paid for. If inspections discover problems -- such as an antiquated plumbing system or major termite problems -- you can negotiate with the seller to have him pay for necessary repairs, or you can back out of the deal, assuming your contract is properly written to allow you to do so.