5 Things You Need to Be Pre-approved for a Mortgage
October 19, 2020
By MICHELE LERNER Shopping for a home may be exciting and fun, but serious homebuyers need to start the process in a lender's office, not at an open house. Most sellers expect buyers to have a pre-approval letter and will be more willing to negotiate with those who prove that they can obtain financing. Potential buyers need ...
The Four Pillars of Financial Health
October 17, 2020
Many financial experts agree that financial health includes four key components: Spend, Save, Borrow, and Plan. It is crucial that you actively work on improving the health of each one. Unsatisfied with your financial health? Here are some valuable tips to strengthen each component. Spend.To spend wisely, you need a budget. With a little time, you can ...
Townhome vs. Condo: Which Should You Consider?
October 16, 2020
Whether it’s your first time buying or you just want to purchase something smaller, townhouses and condos are both great options. Check out the differences between the two to help aid you in your search!CondominiumsCondominiums are similar to apartments in that you purchase an individual unit inside of a larger building, but not the property it sits ...
First-Time Buyers in a New Kind of Housing Market
October 15, 2020
In the last decade, the housing market in the United States has undergone a transformation. Newcomers hunting for their first homes are finding higher prices in many locations since the lows of 2008 and 2009. At the same time, they’re having a harder time getting the tax breaks that once helped offset the costs of hefty mortgages.Despite ...
Decorating Your Home for Fall
October 15, 2020
DIY Home Decorating Tips for FallYou don't have to paint your walls or buy new furniture to get your home ready for fall. Instead, you can use some simple seasonal tricks to welcome autumn leaves and pumpkin spices into your home, and impress your visitors in the process.1. Bring Out the Cinnamon- and Pumpkin-Scented CandlesThe smell of ...
Prepping for Fall
October 15, 2020
Fall….. some people like it, some don’t. I fall in the category of don’t. My heart races every year as spring approaches. Seeing new life, leaves beginning to come out, flowers coming up but with fall I see the leaves dropping, roses are giving their last hurrah and other flowers are dying. To ...
How to choose a closing date for your mortgage
October 15, 2020
© DOUGBERRY/Getty Images A single-story home with attached garageIf you're buying a home, you may be receiving all sorts of advice about the best time of the month to close on your mortgage. In reality, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a closing date, but timing does matter. It's important to understand how closing ...
When you walk in and your client asks what is that "smell"?
October 15, 2020
Staging has a new kind of style.When you walk in - this is your happy place. Something is tantilizing your senses and smells supernaturally delicious! Fall is the perfect time to bake an egg custard pie an hour before the showing. It tastes like it smells. Pre cut the pie. Leave saucers with forks. Set out disposable cups, ...
Buying A Home In East TN
October 15, 2020
Buying a Home In East Tennessee By Sandra C Brown, Broker, GRI These points cover the housing market for the East TN Counties of Sevier, Cocke, Jefferson, an Hamblen Counties Until this year in East TN you could buy a starter in East TN for uner $100,000 There are still a few but typically need ...
Selling this Fall May Be Your Best Move
October 14, 2020
If you’re thinking about moving, selling your house this fall might be the way to go. Here are four highlights in the housing market that may make your decision to sell this fall an easy one.1. Buyers Are Actively in the MarketShowingTime, a leading real estate showing software and market stat service provider, just reported ...
Coronavirus Pandemic Threatens to Widen Racial Homeownership Gap
October 14, 2020
The housing market has led the recovery from the pandemic-induced economic downturn as Americans have rushed to buy homes amid a desire for more living space and record-low mortgage rates.But some analysts warn even as the housing boom bolsters the overall economy, it may widen the longstanding gap in homeownership between Black and white Americans. That could have ...
10 Tips to Help Sell a Home in Autumn
October 14, 2020
10 Tips to Help Sell a Home in AutumnCredit goes to Elizabeth Weintraub from The Balance...
Two Important Impacts of Home Equity
October 14, 2020
Equity continues to rise, helping American homeowners secure a much more stable financial future. According to the most recent data from CoreLogic, the average homeowner gained $9,800 in equity over the past year. In addition, experts project 2020 home prices to continue rising. With prices going up, equity gains will also keep accelerating. Black Knight just reported:“The ...
Do You Have Enough Down Payment Saved?
October 13, 2020
Do You Have Enough Money Saved for a Down Payment? One of the biggest misconceptions for first-time homebuyers is how much you’ll need to save for a down payment. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to put 20% down to buy a house. Here’s how it breaks down.A recent survey by ...
Why FSBO's are not as successful
October 13, 2020
Homeowners may be inclined to list their home on the For Sale By Owner website to avoid singing a listing agreement and having to stick with using an agent. In some cases, this may work out okay for the seller and buyer, but in this competitive market FSBO's may not be as successful as homes listed with ...
Help your homebuyers find their perfect home online by shopping on the HUDHomestore.com
October 13, 2020
90% of home shoppers today are likely to start their research online. 89% of them use the internet to search for real estate agents. What does this mean for realtors? It means now is the best time to advertise HUD Homes to get buyer leads as long as you get approval from HUD and/or the listing agent. There are ...
Control Credit Card Debt
October 12, 2020
Most people get into serious debt because of poor spending habits. Effective management of credit card debt can help you to stabilize your finances. Most financial experts suggest that credit card debt is healthy as long you have a plan for paying it off.. Managing your credit card wisely involves not charging those items that you couldn’t pay ...
Covid Trends & Affect on Real Estate
October 08, 2020
One of the most common questions these days goes something like this: which Covid trends will last and where will they take things? Most of the “trends” identified are questionable, but two offer a basis for firm conclusions: One, Zoom socializing will abate radically as soon as people become more comfortable with human contact. Human beings, even the ...
How Will the Presidential Election Impact Real Estate?
October 08, 2020
Demographics, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest RatesHow Will the Presidential Election Impact Real Estate?2.3KSHARES2.0K10320172The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the most challenging times of our lives. A worldwide pandemic, a recession causing historic unemployment, and a level of social unrest perhaps never seen before have all ...
Coastal Carolina Real Estate
October 08, 2020
Real estate in North Carolina is trending at an all time high with some of the most expensive homes across the country. While the median home value in North Carolina is just over $210,000 as of August, there are listings ranging from $7 million to just under $17 million right here in Wilmington, NC. New Hanover County is ...
Rentals to Sell?
October 08, 2020
If you are watching the news these days, you will notice that the media has covered several stories regarding the Eviction and Foreclosure moratorium enacted by the Federal and State Governments. While the reasons and merits could be debated, there is one thing that will happen. The Real Estate market will be affected in one way ...
Landlords offer stores pandemic-related escape clauses "Anyone who wants to survive probably will be in a position to renegotiate their rent on the spot."
October 06, 2020
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/landlords-offer-stores-pandemic-related-escape-clauses-n1238712 ...
FHA Loan Down Payment Rules
October 06, 2020
One of the biggest worries for some borrowers interested in buying or building a home? The down payment.At the time of this writing, there are only two zero-down payment mortgages offered nationally by participating lenders offering government-backed mortgages; the VA mortgage and certain USDA single-family home loans.USDA home loans are need-based mortgages with income caps and purchase ...
Must-Haves for Your First Home
October 05, 2020
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HUD Home Purchases
October 04, 2020
HUD home purchases have become more streamlined with the e-signature process. This has made it easier for both the purchaser and the Realtor working on the transaction. It has eliminated a great deal of stressors.The asset manager will prepare the documents, with a little assistance of the agent representing the buyer. Once ready, it is sent out ...
