Home Buyer Tax Credits Are Working??!!
November 12, 2009
The first time home buyer tax credits in 2009 didn’t really interest us that much since we’ve owned our home for just under ten years now. However, the latest version of the bill now includes a tax credit through 2010 for homeowners who have lived in the same place for five of the last eight years consecutively. This new […]
Reverse Mortgages for Seniors
November 11, 2009
If you or your parents have lived in your home for many years and have built up a lot of equity in the property you may have heard about or considered a reverse mortgage as a potential source of income during retirement. There seems to be a wide divide in opinions on whether reverse mortgages […]
The Costs of Selling Your House
July 30, 2009
The costs of selling a house may not make or break your decision to sell whether you’re relocating, trading up, or buying a smaller home. However, the costs can run into the thousands of dollars so they’re something you don’t want to overlook. The first thing you need to consider if you are thinking about […]
Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams
July 16, 2009
The struggling economy has left many people facing the potential of foreclosure and has created a wave of scam artists that are taking advantage of the fears of desparate homeowners. The Federal Trade Commission is on a mission to help stop foreclosure rescue scams around the country. Here is the FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz’s warning […]
Home Inspection Tips When Buying A House
July 15, 2009
Buying a house is never easy and you’ll likely come across some snags during the process. One of the most common problems that can delay closing on a real estate deal is a home inspection full of problems. Home Inspections I recommend that everyone get a home inspection. I thinks its always worth paying for […]
Split Loans & Home Equity Lines of Credit
July 13, 2009
Buying a home is a dream of many families, unfortunately, not everyone is in the position financially to buy the house of their dreams. A big hurdle to many families is coming up with money for a down payment. Yesterday we talked about how a low down payment on a home can effect how much […]
Buying A House: Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance
July 11, 2009
Buying a house can be confusing if you don’t have someone you trust explaining the process to you. Fortunately for my wife and I, my my mother-in-law is a real estate agent and my dad is a real estate broker, so we haven’t had to play the guessing game with our first two property purchases. […]
Interest Rates & Mortgage Options
July 3, 2009
Once you’ve been pre-approved for a loan and found a house you want to buy the next step is determining the type of mortgage to use and when to lock in your interest rates. Due to the real estate decline and sub-prime mortgage meltdown, lenders and brokers are more careful with how they lend, what […]
Mortgage Pre-Approval When Buying a House
July 2, 2009
A mortgage pre-approval letter was very helpful for my wife and I when we started looking for houses about 8 months ago. My wife’s mom is a real estate agent, so she helped us every step of the way, but many agents won’t deal with buyers who aren’t pre-approved for a loan. They don’t want […]
Affordable Apartments for College Graduates
June 3, 2009
Once you graduate from college, finding an affordable apartment that suits your financial needs and budget is essential to properly starting off your working life. Finding the right apartment can be a daunting task, so here are some tips to help you pick the right apartment to fit your budget. Calculate Your Rent Budget Generally, one-fourth […]
