Rent to own homes

What is Rent To Own, How Does Rent To Own Works and Rent To Own Homes Free Listings

Real Estate

Is Rent to Own For You?

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Owning a home is not a vastly complex process but for those who lack the right experience and tools it can be very confusing and overwhelming. With any real estate transaction there are many variables to consider when deciding on renting a home, buying a home, or going the rent to own route. In this article we will be going over how you can decide for you and your family whether or not rent to own is a good fit for you.

Perfect Rent to Own Scenarios

  • Just moved into an area and need time to get settled before you get a loan
  • You need a 6-24 month time span to clean up your credit score so that you can get a loan
  • You need time to finish saving for a down payment
  • You would like to check out an area before you commit to buying
  • You are self-employed and are having trouble getting a home loan
  • You are a first time buyer having trouble establishing credit to get a loan but are making more than enough money to own
  • You are pre-approved for a loan but would like to wait for a lower interest rate while trying to increase your credit score

Rent to Own May Not Be For You If

  • You are not on a program or schedule to alleviate debt, fix your credit or save money for a down payment
  • You are looking for a quick fix and haven’t done you’re homework on the process
  • It is unrealistic for you to be able to purchase the home after the lease period (wish and a prayer technique)
  • You are uncomfortable asking tough questions and negotiating with the seller
  • You are unsure if you will need to relocate within a couple of years
Rent to own homes

If you notice that you’re situation includes one or more of the reasons above than rent to own may not be right for you. We urge you to be extremely careful because you could end up losing a lot of time money and effort and still not own a home. On the other hand if you have a great reason for using a rent to own strategy we are excited for you and give our seal of approval to start looking for a great rent to own deal!

How Rent To Own Works?

Rent to own takes place most of the time in one of three scenarios. The first is that a vacant, foreclosed, or dilapidated home is bought by an investor who fixes up and sells the home via rent to own to quickly turn the property. The next scenario is where a developer builds a series of homes or condos for luxury or in impoverished areas using rent to own to entice buyers. The final scenario is when a single home owner has trouble selling their home and decides to use this method to sell.

When we look at the first scenario you might think, so what an investor made a buck off of flipping a house how does that benefit anyone but the investor and the buyer? Well, when a neighborhood has a home that is run down, vacant or foreclosed it can lower home prices nearby as well as attract crime, squatting and drug use. The incentive of that the quick turn around rent to own provides for the investor can improve home prices for everyone in the area as well as prevent many problems.

Although a developer building rent to own luxury homes or condos can some what drive up the surrounding home prices it doesn’t have quite the overall community building affect that takes place when they build a development in an impoverished area.

It’s always a frustrating story when a seller can’t find the right offer for their home and desperately wants or needs to move. Many times in this situation home either remains vacant or is run through a series of tenants. While we discussed the issues with a vacant home above, a home with bad tenants can be just as bad. Tenants tend to not take as good of care of the home and if evicted even due damage to the property purposefully. In a rent to own situation the person renting intends to buy the house and is more likely to make friends with neighbors and take good care of the home.

Regardless of the scenario rent to own homes can provide serious benefits to the community and in some cases helping it actually flourish.

Rent to Own Responsibility Check

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There are a lot of what if’s and questions that rise during rent to own negotiations and during the term of the lease agreement. Today I would like to take some time to explain who is responsible for what and when. As I’ve said many times knowledge is the key to successful real estate transactions, so this is a must read and some serious real estate ammunition.

Maintenance and Repairs

One of the biggest controversies in rent to own is who holds the responsibility during the rental period for home maintenance and repairs. Why this is such a controversy is because the answer is, it depends. The reason why the rent to own agreement and legal counsel is so important in this process is because you need to decide ahead of time who holds the responsibility for these things. Generally these things would fall on the current owner but be careful to get this in writing. This is also one of the advantages of rent to own, even though you would lose your down payment you could walk away from a house that’s practically falling apart.

Rent To Own Homes

Property Taxes and Homeowners Insurance

Although there may be some confusion on these two items, it is fairly straight forward. The law clearly states that the responsibility for both taxes and insurance belongs to the name on the deed for the house. Even if the rent to own contract states that the buyer will pay the property taxes or insurance the final bill is left with the current owner. However it would be smart for the renter to purchase renters insurance until the time in which they outright own the home.

Real Estate Agent

Unless the buyer has specifically sought out a realtor to help them find a rent to own home the payment of the agent would fall on the current owner. There are several ways the realtor can be paid either as a portion of the excess rent every month, a 1 time fee at signing, or the rare and unlikely event of them getting paid when the renter transitions into the owner.

As you can see as long as you cover your behind in the initial agreement much more of the responsibility falls to the current owner, which is also why the buyer agrees to a non-refundable down payment to offset the amount of risk the seller is assuming. If you have any other questions on who is responsible for what feel free to email us and we’ll get back to you.

5 Reasons Why Rent to Own Homes

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Rent to own is often referred to as a less than desirable situation in the main stream media or by uninformed real estate agents but there are many reasons why rent to own is great for buyers. Check out the 5 simple reasons why rent to own is a better deal than you thought.

Rent To Own Can Fix Your Credit

It is one of the only methods available that gives buyers the ability to simultaneously work on their credit while working toward home ownership. This is a true two birds one stone scenario, where you don’t have to continue to rent a home you will never own while you work on fixing your credit to get a loan approved.

Rent To Own Homes

Save Money For A Down Payment

Rent to own can help buyers save up money for a down payment while having a place to live. Saving is hard work and it’s even harder when you’re a young family or have low income, but with rent to own your saving for a down payment is built right into your monthly rent payments.

Fixed Price Of The Property

In the right market rent to own can be used to lock in a sale price in a market where prices could rise. This helps buyers not get out priced in a market with rising prices while they work on down payment, credit, and other financing issues.

Walk Away If The House Has Issues

If something seriously wrong is found with the house you can walk away and the only thing you will lose is your option fee. Instead of being stuck with a home with disastrous foundation problems or in need of a new roof you simply walk away. This is a serious advantage to buyers, especially those with limited funds to make big repairs.

Real Estate Attorney Is Recommended

If you use a good real estate attorney separate from the seller you can ensure there are no unfair loop holes and that you are fully aware of all the terms of the contract. The use of a real estate attorney easily defeats possibility of a shady home seller pulling a fast one on unsuspecting buyers.

While there are some things that could go wrong with rent to own or any real estate transaction, hopefully now you can see quite a few more benefits on the pro side opposed to the cons. For more information on rent to own visit our homepage to find guides and how to’s.

How to Determine The Length of Your Lease Option?

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When you buy a home through the rent to own process, the most important aspect is determining the length of your option. This is the amount of time you spend renting while getting your finances in order, fixing credit scores, saving up a down payment, or deciding if you really want to buy a home. While ultimately the seller controls this time period, you need to know what your situation truly warrants before you enter a lease option agreement. You should always walk away from a seller who has unreasonable expectations on the length of your option.

Different Rent To Own Situations

Each rent to own buyer has a unique situation so today We will dissect each case separately and explain the range of time needed for the circumstance. The one overarching tenet of this process is that you should absolutely without fail be working with a mortgage broker from day 1. This will ensure that you will be able to buy the home at the end of your lease agreement if you choose to do so.

Rent to own homes

Bad Credit

12-36 months if no bankruptcy or foreclosures have occurred.
In determining the length of your option you need to know how long it will take to fix your credit rating. With a few small credit dings containing a couple of late payments you should be able to raise your credit score significantly in 12-24 months of on time payments along with the reduction of overall debt. With more severe credit problems containing lots of missed/late payments along with some debt being sent to collections it could take 18-36 months to rectify your scores. If you have any major credit flaws like a bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, it can take 3 years or longer to get your score high enough to get approved for a loan. If you have poor credit we suggest you meet with a qualified credit counselor as well as a mortgage broker before you even think about signing a rent to own contract. They will be able to give you a more exact timeline for your score improvement as well as when it will be possible for you to qualify for a loan.

Checking Out The Neighborhood

As long as you need, if finances are in order.
Many people look to use rent to own as a means to check out an area or neighborhood before committing to buy a home. If this is your only reason for utilizing rent to own the determination of how long your option should be is personal decision. However, it can take up to a year or longer to really get to know an area. To speed this process up you will want to do a lot of research on schools, crime rates, economy, traffic, and anything else that affects your daily life. In addition to doing your research and finding a house you want own, be sure to meet with a mortgage broker to get your finances in order so you can get a loan when the time comes.

Down Payment

12-36 months, be sure to do the math!
Buyers often utilize the rent credits and down payment assistance frequently found in rent to own agreements in order to save up enough money for a down payment. This is a great option for young home buyers or those on tight budgets. To calculate the length of the option needed if saving up a down payment is the missing link to your home purchase you need to do several things. First, meet with a mortgage broker as discussed in previous scenarios and find out what kind of down payment you will need to get financing how much you can afford etc. After you have these variables you simply do the math on how long it will take to save up the required amount. If you are planning on including saved money outside of rent credits as a part of the down payment it is crucial to get on a household budget and allow 3-4 extra months in case it takes longer than expected to save the money.

Lowering Debt

12-24 months depending on debt levels and income.
With mortgage regulation under extreme scrutiny a buyers debt to income ratio has to be at a reasonable level before you can be qualified for a loan. In this scenario the length of your option is based off of how long it will take for you pay your debt down to an acceptable level. In today’s market an acceptable debt to income ratio should be around 38, in other words the total housing expenses plus outside debt should only amount to 38% of the buyers total income. Determine your timeline using debt pay off calculator as well as a monthly budget to achieve the pay off on time. Just like down payment savings debt payoff should be given several extra months of breathing room, just in case of unexpected events.

Rent To Own or Lease Option Agreement

Entering into a rent to own or lease option agreement is not something that should be taken lightly and if you fail to execute your option within the timeline decided you can lose your down payment and rent credits. The average option length including extensions can be anywhere from 3 to 5 years so make sure that you can fix all issues preventing you from a traditional home purchase in that time frame. The easiest way to do this is before you start looking for homes to meet with a mortgage broker, get on a budget, seek credit help if necessary, and get educated on the process.

Should You Buy A House Now?

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The following is going to sound as if I’m trying to “sell” you on the idea of buying a home. I’m not. It’s just that I firmly believe that in almost every instance, if you can buy your home, as opposed to renting it… you should. Why?

FIRST, make no mistake—right now, at this very moment you are already buying a home. The only question is, are you buying it for you and your family or for your landlord.

SECOND, there is no security in renting. In my years in the real estate field, I can’t even begin to tell you how many families I have seen, that were uprooted when the landlord decided to rent to his niece, or decided to cash in his investment. Families had to move, kids had to change schools, make new friends, etc… It’s tough on the family and tough on the kids.

THIRD, Right now, if you are renting, you are buying the home that you live in– for someone else. You are making their payments! Your money is lowering their principle balance—eventually, they’ll owe $0—but you’ll still be making payments! As the property appreciates—as it ALWAYS, eventually does, the landlord has more in assets, has more money, and what do you have? You still have payments– that are increasing every 6 months or so!

Oh, and something else about the payments that you are making for them– They use YOUR money to make THEIR house payments and then they get to deduct the payment they made with your MONEY on THEIR taxes!

FOURTH, We all know this one. Historically, no investment is more secure or so consistently appreciates as does real estate. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when the market goes flat or even loses some value. But these are historically rare and short lived. I’ve been in the real estate field since 1976 and have seen prices dip only twice. Right now, in some areas of the US there is a slow down and in some areas, even a slight down turn of prices. But still over 60% of the US is appreciating!

Rent to own homes

Obviously, the very best time to buy ANYTHING is when it is at it’s lowest and preparing to rebound—buy low sell high! The problem is that no one ever really knows what constitutes the very best time to buy. But this we do know, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WHO BOUGHT A HOME IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, OR SO, AND KEPT IT FOR AT LEAST 2 OR 3 YEARS, EVER LOST MONEY!

In real estate no one ever loses money by buying at the “wrong” time. They only lose money by buying too late or not at all.

Common Reasons Used To Not Buy

Prices are going down

First, as we’ve already discussed, on those rare occasions that prices DO drop, they rarely drop far, they never drop for long and they ALWAYS go back up. If you believe they are or have dropped a bit, this is the time to buy and get it before they pop back up—which they ALWAYS do. The only way to ever know that a market has hit it’s bottom (the absolute best time to buy), is when you’ve seen a consistent rise in prices—and by then you missed it and are paying more than you otherwise would have. And remember, while you are sitting there waiting for the “bottom” you are still buying a home for someone else and getting no tax breaks, whatsoever, on your hard earned dollars.

No Down Payment

In today’s market this issue is the most easily overcome. The newest loan programs allow for No Down Payment loans in an unbelievable number of cases. Now just to be clear, No Down Payment is not the same as No Money to Close. You would still usually need to have closing costs available, usually about 1% to 3% of the sales price. But that is usually about what would be required for first, last, and deposit on a rental. Furthermore, if you move into your home on, let’s say, August 1, you don’t owe rent in your previous home for that month, PLUS your first houses payment is not usually due for about 45 to 60 days after the close of escrow. Since you don’t have to pay that last month of rent and will probably be getting a deposit back plus the fact that you have no payment due for 45 days or more makes it relatively easy to find the closing costs necessary to become a home owner.

You are saving a big down payment to lower your payment

People have the belief that the higher the down payment, the lower their payments will be. This, of course, is basically true. The problem arises when there is an incomplete understanding of how all the financial numbers actually pan out.

First- realize that for every $1000 down, it saves only about $8 or $9 dollars per month in payment. So, if a person puts an extra $10,000 in down payment they saved about $90 per month. Now there’s nothing wrong with a $90 savings but at what cost?

If you save $10,000 over the course of a year, hypothetically, you can save $90 on your mortgage. The problem lies in the fact that very few people can save money as fast as real estate goes up in value.

Over the last few years nationwide appreciation rates have been anywhere from 8% to 15% and in many areas even much higher. Let’s assume you wanted to buy a $200,000 home in an area with Low Appreciation of only 8%.

In a year you would have an additional $10,000 for a down payment. But at 8% appreciation that $200,000 home is now worth $216,000. You put the $10,000 down but would then owe $206,000 instead of the $200,000 you would have owed if you had bought Now! So you would actually have a monthly payment that is even higher than it would have been if you put ZERO down today, plus over this year you would have had no income tax write off, and you didn’t get the benefit of the appreciation.

On the other hand, if you had bought today, next year you would have had $16,000 in equity, placed no money down, and would have been able to take advantage of a year’s worth of tax advantages.

The bottom line is that buying today and taking advantage of a No Down home loan or personal loans makes more sense than seeing if you can save money faster than real estate appreciates.

Interest Rates Are Too High

Many people are interest rate conscious when what they should be is bottom line dollar conscious. What does this mean?

I’ve seen many people walk away from a transaction that I knew was the very best thing for them, just because they didn’t like the rate. They thought “if I can only pay off a couple of bills, next year this comes off my credit, then my score will be higher and I can get a better rate”. Again, in isolation this makes perfect sense, but in the real world where everything interrelates, it’s much more complicated.

For example. “When this comes off my credit, I can get a better rate”, or “I hear next year the rates will be lower”…

Many people who are rate conscious will fall into the trap of looking to the rate rather than the bottom line. Let’s assume that as buyer they are correct that if they wait they can get a better rate. Realize, on a $200,000 loan, an interest rate reduction of a full 1% will save about $130 per month. Now this is a big savings, but what is the cost?

By waiting a year until they could get that 1% lower rate, they would have saved 12 months of $130 over what they would have paid for a total of $1,560 in payment savings. But for that year, they were still a renter, buying a home for someone else, letting someone else have that year’s tax deduction, paying off someone else’s house—last but not least, remember, all the homes have been appreciating that year.

So, in order to save $1,560 in interest, the following situation has been created…

Now, when they do buy a home, assuming a 8% appreciation rate, the same property is going to be an additional $16,000 dollars. So…

They lost $16,000 in equity…

They are actually paying $16,000 more for the same home

Because the house costs them more, their payment will still be as high as it would have been if they had bought now, with the 1% higher interest rate! So when it is all said and done, they didn’t even lower their payment!– and lost $16,000 in equity.

All to save $1,560!

And remember, if the credit improves or the rates DO go down, refinancing is usually an option!

I’m the first to admit that there are legitimate reasons to Rent, even if you qualify to buy. But for your and your family’s sake, don’t use the above reasons for not buying.

What is Rent To Own?

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Owning a home is part of the American dream and something that everyone should be able to accomplish. People used to think of buying a home in their 40s and 50s when they had enough savings and disposable income to afford it. Gradually the trend started to drift towards people buying home after spending a few years in their career field. Provided that they saved enough money for a down payment and had a decent credit rating.

Rent To Own – How Did It All Start?

Though due to the economy, loss of income, or poor credit ratings people started to not be able to own a home and ended up renting.

Rent to own homes

To maintain the American dream people came up with an original way to combine renting and and owning a home. This is process of buying a home is referred to as rent to own homes. It works by allowing the rent you pay for your home to be applied towards the selling price of that home, also known as a rent credit. Once the buyers have had a chance to clean up your credit, paid the price down far enough to get a loan approved, or saved enough money to make a sizable down payment you have the option of purchasing the home.

Renting To Own Benefits

Not only is this a pocket friendly option for the new generations seeking to purchase a home of their own it also is a safe way to find the perfect home without getting a mortgage immediately. Also, the amount invested by you in the property should give good returns as the property values increase and but also offers a safety net if they don’t because you always have the option to not purchase the home.

Avoid the Pitfalls of Rent to Own Agreements

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When choosing to buy a home through a rent to own contract you might be relieved by the idea that you have typically three years to come up with the money to buy your home, your credit score does not have to be perfect and that as you live in the house a portion of your rent will go towards the payment of the house. While this sounds infallible, it is essential that you carefully look over your contract before you sign it and realize that some homeowners may be hoping to take advantage of your situation.

Read the contract from start to finish

The contract may be 10+ pages and your eyes might be growing weary from technical style but it is important that you read and understand every part of the lease. This is because even minor details could cause you to lose your home and your invested money. With this in mind, make sure you know and understand everything in the contract that could lead to eviction, such as unpaid pet deposits or roommates living in the house that are not on the lease.

Beware of foreclosures

As you know, many states have suffered from a poor housing market and many families continue to lose their homes. This is good reason to be wary before signing a rent to own contract. If the seller’s home is under foreclosure you could lose everything you’ve invested in the house. Because of this, make sure the seller provides you with proof of current mortgage statements and payment information. Another thing you can do is require the seller to send you proof of your payments each month in your contract. This will be proof that the seller is using your money to make payments on the house and not pocketing it.

Thoroughly check the condition of the house before you sign

You do not want to sign a rent to own contract without ensuring that everything in the house is in working condition. This is because some sellers will try to get you to sign the contract and then name you responsible for making all repairs, even for pre-existing conditions. If something is not working in the house, require the seller to fix it before you sign the contract so you won’t get stuck with the bill.

Have a lawyer or real estate broker look over your contract before you sign

This step is highly recommended because lawyers are trained to read documents and contracts to catch loopholes or contradictions. While it is important for you to look over your contract carefully and read through the entire thing, a second opinion could save you from an unfair agreement and a loss of money.

Rent to Own Contract Explanation

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Whether you are a buyer or a seller, a rent to own home may seem like your best option. For buyers, renting to own means you will have a better chance at buying a home even if your credit score is bad. You will be able to live in the house during process, which is an average of three years. For sellers, you will have more time to sell the house without paying double mortgages. However, the most important factor when choosing to rent to own is to create and agree on a thorough contract to avoid any loopholes or misunderstandings.

Choose the price of the home

When choosing the price of the house, the buyer and seller must agree on a price. Once that price is in the contract it cannot be changed unless the buyer’s lease is up and the buyer chooses not to buy the house. This means you must take into consideration the trends of the housing market and prices of houses in similar neighborhoods to yours. This is a gamble because as housing prices rise or fall the price you choose for your house will remain the same.

Rent to own homes

Agree on an option fee and rent premium

In rent to own homes – an option fee is a portion of money paid that goes toward the down payment of the house if the buyer chooses to buy the house at the end of the lease. If the buyer gets evicted, cannot afford to buy the house or chooses not to buy the house when the lease is up the option fee is profit for the seller. The rent premium is the rent per month plus an extra fee that goes toward the down payment of the house. Buyers must carefully make sure these fees fit into their budgets before agreeing to them because if a payment is missed they could be evicted.

Include the purchase option in the contract

After deciding on the money aspects of the deal you will need to come up with a contract that includes this information as well as stating that the buyer/tenant has the option to buy the home at any time before the lease expires.

The rest of the contract will resemble a lease contract

Because the buyer is a tenant until the home is purchased, the seller is responsible for fees such as homeowner’s insurance and real estate taxes. However, the seller can decide the terms of the lease and decide whether or not the buyer is responsible for lawn and pool care and general upkeep. The seller must also come up with house rules and reasons for eviction. This is necessary so that the buyer/tenant can be evicted if she violates the law or severely damages the property.

You may wish to have a lawyer look over the contract

Before you sign a rent to own contract you may wish to have a lawyer look it over to determine whether or not the contract is reliable. This is recommended for both buyers and sellers in order to avoid bad situations such as inability to evict an unlawful tenant or unfair eviction of a law-abiding tenant. The goal is to create a successful situation where a buyer can buy a house and a seller can sell a house.

Online dating basics

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If you are new to this subject and want to start from the scratch, it is advisable first to read as much as possible on dating. Internet provides you with access to many websites that compile lists of dating websites along with short descriptions of what each site has to offer. Most of the time, they are also accompanied by reviews and comparisons too. These instructions are to be had for both free dating sites and other websites. It pays to sharpen your knowledge about how dating websites operate before you take the plunge.

When you are ready with enough know-how on dating online, select a website that provided those services free or for a fee. The free websites, clearly, have lesser number of members and attractions than the paid services have. Hence, the paid dating websites give you more parameters to narrow down your search for the ideal date you have in mind than the free dating websites. In spite of everything, it could be your other half you may discover in the end.

Another remarkable feature about dating websites on the internet is the availability of specific websites for daters who are particular about their specific needs and wants. Some guides have directories compiled of such dating websites so that the prospective dater could avail himself of such information to suit his needs. Several such sites are identified by names such as Christian dating sites, UK dating sites, Single parent dating sites and Adult dating sites.

Last but not least, let me warn you, however. The Net is reputed to be full of crooks who are ready to pounce on the unsuspecting users. Therefore, every precaution should be taken not to fall prey to such scammers. Simultaneously, refer reading materials that impart hints on things-to-do prior to casting your lot with dating websites. Prevention is better than cure, they say.

Types of Patent claims

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There are two types of claims that will be found in a patent:

independent claims;
and dependent claims.

Independent claims are claims that stand by themselves and comprise a set of limitations (or elements) that define the scope of an invention.

Dependent claims are those claims that include all the limitations of a particular independent claim but also add one or more additional limitations. They do not stand alone and always reference another claim.

A typical issued patent usually has 1-5 independent claims and 0-30 claims that depend from one or more of the independent claims. There is, however, no limit to the number of claims that may be included in a patent application or a patent, although only 20 claims, of which three can be independent, are provided for with standard filing fee. Additional fees are assessed for a total number of claims in excess of 20 or independent claims in excess of three as explained on https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/InventHelp-Reviews-E152162.htm.

Practically, a patent examiner will limit an inventor to claims related to a single invention, so patents rarely issue with more than 30 claims. Since 20 claims are included with the basic filing fee, only in very rare circumstances should an application be filed without 20 claims.

Further, if a fraction of the twenty claims are allowed by the patent examiner during prosecution, your patent attorney should request that he be allowed to add dependent claims to the allowed independent claims until the maximum number of 20 is reached as shown on https://blogs.cornell.edu/react/inventhelp-taking-inventions-from-paper-to-the-global-marketplace-hinges-on-usp/. This will not always be possible but it is almost always better to have a patent with more claims rather than less.

Patentability Search – Where to Look

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Patent searches are a vital step in the invention process. There are several types of searches – The type that the inventor will usually want to do first is a patentability search to determine the chances of the patent office granting a patent on the invention. A second type of search that is important prior to introduction of a new product is an infringement search and opinion.

Prior to investment of substantial money in filing patent applications and commercialization of a product it is useful to have an experienced patent searcher perform a more extensive search. Due to the complexities of the patent law, it is always advisable to have a patent attorney or a patent agency to provide the final opinion as to patentability or infringement issues as written on https://kulturehub.com/inventhelp-support-inventors/.

USPTO Patent Databases- It has become much easier to do at least a casual patent search since the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has placed online the full text of U.S. patents. The patents issued since 1976 are searchable in their full text, while patents issued prior to 1976 are only searchable by patent numbers or by the current patent office classification system.

The full text of the patents issued since 1976 are available both in full text (without drawings) and in patent images (with drawings). It is necessary to download and install on your computer a software plug-in, in order to view these patent images. A disadvantage of this software is that you can only view one page image at a time, greatly lengthening the time to print the patent.

In-Person Searching

It is still possible to do an old fashioned search through paper patents. The best place to do this is at the US Patent and Trademark Office in Arlington, Virginia. The main advantage to the USPTO’s collection is that it is arranged by technologies in the US classification system. It can be easier to compare several patents when you have the paper in front of you vs. the electronic systems where you can view only one page at a time online.

In addition, there is at least one patent depository library in each state. These libraries are usually part of a large city or university library and contain large collections of U.S. patents (at least the last 20 years and usually more). It is necessary to use electronic tools to find the numbers of the patents in your search at such libraries and then to look up the patents on microfilm. Follow https://twitter.com/inventhelp to get the latest news about patents and patenting process.

Product Design

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Product design is the most important thing for inventors to focus on as they work to turn their ideas and patents into actual prototypes. Product design is the determining factor in the success, or failure, of a product and idea.

Product design focuses on the look, feel and actions of the actual prototype. Inventors need to focus on every single aspect of their product design. Each and every angle of the product design should be reviewed, as each piece needs to operate correctly and efficiently.

There are three main aspects to consider with product design: function, exterior design and testing as explained on https://www.techtimes.com/articles/249715/20200518/how-inventhelp-gets-new-inventors-onto-the-right-path.htm.

The first thing an inventor should focus on is the function of the prototype. An inventor needs to understand how the prototype is supposed to work and the parts necessary to make it function. This aspect of design will help manufacturers and builders understand how all of the parts of the prototype work together.

The second thing an inventor should focus on, in terms of product design, is the external design of the prototype. A product needs to look good, as aesthetic features can often be as important as function. Inventors need to work to create an external design that is both pleasing to the eye and able to handle the various functions of the prototype.

Finally, inventors need to test out their prototypes. They need to test the product design for functionality, working to see if the design actually achieves the desired result. Inventors also need to test external design by asking individuals how they feel about the overall look and feel of the product.

Inventors may not be able to handle all of this product design on their own. Professionals can be hired to create the external design, internal function and testing portions of overall product design as you can read from https://www.valuewalk.com/2020/05/medical-invention-covid-19/. These professionals can give your prototype the best possible chance at success.

The Importance Of A Written Log

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As you work from your basic invention drawings towards the prototype, keep a thorough written log of your activity. The importance of a written record comes in handy throughout the prototype phase just as it did during the initial drawing and conception phases of your invention. During this time, it will serve as a troubleshooting device as much as a tool to help you to protect your investment. Without having written records, you could be putting your investment in jeopardy in any number of ways.

Now that you have a great idea worked out on paper, get it into the prototype phase. Use a journal or log, in paper. Title it your Record of Invention. And, just like the name states, this is your written log of what is happening and your record that you invented it. Nothing is more important during the invention and prototype phase than this written record as seen on https://www.youtube.com/user/inventhelp. Here are some tips for making sure that your written records will stick.

Make sure that it is on paper, not just an online journal. These can be faked and anyone can access it. You need it to be written on paper and in ink. This will give you the best overall protection in a legal court, too.

Be sure that it includes a very comprehensive description of the prototype. Everything that you have worked hard on should be included in your log. Without it, you are risking not having enough information.

Date every entry that you make. You will want to make a dated entry anytime that you work on your invention and the prototype. For example, you will want to document what has been done, who did it, what changes it made and the success or failure of the changes if realized. This will help protect you, too.

Sign your log. What if your prototype made it to the design company and you left your log sitting on the table prior to leaving, without any identification on it. Anyone that is less than trustworthy could pick it up and claim the entire invention as their own. Instead, be sure that there is a signature throughout your log.

Have someone else sign it, too. A partner, investor or other individual should serve as your witness throughout the process. This will give a record of the time line and help to show that the book is in fact your own.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about the prototype process is getting protection for yourself throughout it. You do not want to have your invention, blood, sweat and tears to be taken out from under you. Instead of doing this, insist that anyone working with you sign a confidentiality agreement. If you work with a design firm to design your prototype, all of the individuals working on it must sign one of these to protect you from any potential problem later. This can prove to be one of the most valuable parts to the process as discussed on https://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2020/03/24/444881-everything-need-know-inventhelp.htm.

Provisional patent applications (PPA)

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Provisional patent applications (also called PPA), are a cost saving advantage over other costlier patent applications. A provisional patent application gives an inventor one year to file a non-provisional patent application, and claim benefit of the filing date of the provisional patent application.

By filing a provisional patent application, an inventor can label an invention as “patent pending,” and explore whether filing a non-provisional patent application is a good idea. A non-provisional patent application can claim priority to the filing date of a PPA only if it complies with the legal requirements as you can see on https://www.jpost.com/Special-Content/Get-Your-Invention-Off-the-Ground-with-the-Support-of-InventHelp-624132.

It is thus vitally important to ensure that a provisional patent application fully describes all features and benefits of an invention, and additionally explains how to make a working version of the invention. A common misconception is that a provisional patent application is always a “quick” patent application.

While less time is spend drafting claims and providing alternative forms of the invention, a provisional patent application must describe all of the features and benefits of an invention to allow subsequent patent applications to claim the benefit of the priority filing date of the provisional patent application. A provisional patent application is not examined by the USPTO, and a patent will not issue from a provisional patent application.

A reasonably priced law firm charges approximately $1500 (plus USPTO filing fee for a small entity of $80) for the preparation of a basic provisional patent application. For more information about patenting an invention or an idea visit https://spacecoastdaily.com/2020/03/inventhelp-the-way-forward-for-new-inventors/.

Can You Patent a Website?

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A website generally can not be patented. More typically, a copyright is used to identify a website and its content as the original work of its creator.

Nevertheless, specific aspects, including the layout of features on a webpage, can be the subject matter of either a utility patent or a design patent. A new idea (more accurately termed an invention) for websites and website features must be novel and not obvious. An essential step is to conduct a search of the internet itself for the same “idea” as explained on https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/gotconcept/elon-musks-greatest-inventions/.

A website that performs a task is patentable.

In order to obtain a valid United States patent, the claimed subject matter must be new, useful and non-obvious. In theory if your website meets these statutory requirements, it can be patented. It will depend on the specifics. Most of the time there is a lot of intellectual property that goes into any website – and much of it is subject to protection by tools other than patent.

When looking at what goes into your website, a simple way to classify the intellectual property (IP) is to group it as “content”, “identity” and “technology”. The IP directed to content – images, text, sound recordings etc – is usually protected by copyright. The IP directed to identity trade names, slogans, tag lines and trade symbols-is generally subject to trade mark protection. The IP related to technology – software programs, business methods etc. – is can be subject to patent protection.

The best advice in this situation is to discuss this with your patenting agency, like InventHelp, or an IP attorney as the right answer in situations like the one posed by this question very fact-dependant.