Mortgages and Your Home Articles
Does Your Home Have A Story To Tell?
I am often asked by my real estate partners to assist them in marketing their listings. They know I like to write and tell stories and that history is a passion of mine, so when they land a listing for maybe an older home in a community or a home being sold by a long time member of the community, they come to me for help in telling the story. The stories I write, with maybe ...Whatever Happened to Buying the Ugliest House on the Block?
One of my favorite authors is Andy Rooney. (For you under-40 youth out there, Andy Rooney is that amply-eye-browed curmudgeon who’d give those whiney-witty editorials at the end of “60 Minutes”. And for you under-30 types who learned about Ronald Reagan from your US History books in school, “60 Minutes” was once a well-respected CBS news show.) In one of Andy Rooney’s books, he had a chapter about what’s wrong with American society (actually, ...Should You Buy The “Ugliest House On The Block”?
There are some nervous times going on in the financial markets right now. What we’re finding right now is a phenomena called “Flight to Quality” – where people are putting their money in the safest investments they can find. You’re not seeing wild speculation going on. Investors are just happy if they don’t lose money and they aren’t expecting big gains on anything they buy. The housing market is the same way. ...How To Get $500 In The Bank – FAST!
In the last article, “Get $500 In The Bank Now”, I told you to write yourself a $100 check without cashing it (hanging it on the wall someplace you can see it everyday for motivation) to create a little cushion in your checking account to prevent bounced checks (and hefty bouncing fees). This is the first step towards getting $500 in the bank and keeping it there. I also told you, in a kind of ...Get $500 In The Bank Now!
You’re trying to get in position to buy a home. You may have huge outstanding debts or serious credit blemishes on your record. Maybe collectors are calling you and you’re afraid to answer the phone, and it seems every time you get a paycheck your immediate bills already add up to MORE than your take home pay. If this sounds like you, or maybe your situation isn’t nearly this severe but things are still ...Reserve Requirements for Mortgages
Here’s a fancy mortgage loan term that you need to have an understanding of as you move towards buying a home and getting your financing approved. “Reserve Requirements” – something that wasn’t necessary for quite awhile, but, guess what, They’re Baaack! During the past several years during the big subprime-Stated Income-easy credit frenzy, the idea of “Reserve Requirements” pretty much went away. But now they are coming back and many loans today absolute ...$7,500 IRS First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Explained
What is this mysterious $7,500 IRS Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers you may have heard about? Who qualifies? How does it work? Do you have to pay it back? Is it a good deal? How can it help borrowers afford a new home? Can it reduce the burdens of the new down payment requirements? Wow! That’s a lot of questions. I bet you didn’t think you had ...What Type of Mortgage Should I Get?
As you are searching for your home or taking care of your financial situation, let’s discuss what type of mortgage you should get once you’re ready. Rule #1: If you can’t afford a standard 30 year mortgage, you shouldn’t buy the home. Let me put that more snottily: If you want to live in a $300,000 house, you should be able to afford a standard $300,000 house payment. Many of my readers have had financial ...Trigger Leads – What Happens When A Lender Pulls Your Credit Report?
Something for you to be aware of as you continue your home shopping. For a long time, the 3 main credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) have been selling your information to marketers. Those pre-approved credit card offers you get in the mail are the result of data purchased from these agencies. This is not a secret to anyone – been going on for years. Recently, these 3 agencies have rolled out a ...Latest Articles
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I’ll Start Saving, Just As Soon As…
Of course you’ve heard that you need 3-6 months of spending money tucked away ...
Free IRS Money for Home Buyers
Great news for First Time Homebuyers! The massive economic stimulus ...
We’ve Decided to RAISE our Borrowers’ Interest Rates
“We appreciate your loan business very much, but because the economy has gotten difficult we’ve decided to TRIPLE your interest rate effective immediately. ...
Does Your Home Have A Story To Tell?
I am often asked by my real estate partners to assist them in marketing their listings. They know I like to write and tell stories ...