Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Someday You Want to Buy a House

Buying a house can be an overwhelming experience for a first time homebuyer. It's important to surround yourself with the right professionals to help you navigate through the process. You may have a million questions! Chase Bank has put together a wonderful resource for you. My New Home is your step-by-step guide to buying a home. You first need to determine if homeownership is right for you. You can use the tools on this site to estimate your mortgage payment & determine the amount of downpayment needed so you can plan a budget. Learn the importance of your credit history and how to qualify and apply for a loan. Once you are well informed, you will be on your way for your first homebuying experience.  When you are ready, contact a well-qualified Realtor to assist you with selecting just the right home to fit your needs and your budget.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Surviving Home Ownership

So you have purchased a home! Congratulations! Now what? You will probably find this guide to surviving home ownership published by This Old House, an extremely handy resource. Whether you are new on the block or a seasoned homeowner, here are 47 skills a person needs to survive home ownership—everything from removing stripped screws to cleaning big paint spills off the carpet. You will probably want to bookmark this and refer to it often!

What do I do now? Read more.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

5 Homebuying Tips From Dad

Dad’s homebuying advice is back in fashion
Dad's homebuying advice is back in fashionIt was a different world when Dad bought his first home.
But oddly enough, a lot of his homebuying advice (unlike some of his tie collection) is back in fashion.

Putting up a sizable down payment, holding back some cash reserves in the bank, and shopping smart so you can get the best deal on a home loan? You’ll make the old man proud.
Here are five homebuying tips from Dad that will serve you (and him) just as well in today’s market.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Tips for Selling a Vacant Home

A vacant home—regardless of how nice the property—can seem eerily empty and lacking in character and warmth, and selling a vacant home is more difficult than selling a furnished one, no matter the market conditions. However, if you are trying to sell a vacant home—whether it’s a second home or a space you were unable to sell before moving to a new location—there are a few key tips that can make the process easier and help provide a quicker selling time, and a better selling price.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Top 10 Free Apps for New IPad

So you have a brand new IPad (or like me, want one)!  Social Networx, Inc. is suggesting the top 10 free apps.  If you don't already have them, check them out!

Top 10 Free Apps for New IPad

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Cancellation of Mortgage Debt and Your Tax Return

Linda Goold, Tax Counsel for the National Association of REALTORS® recently wrote an article for RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine advising consumers how to handle cancellation of mortgage debt on their tax returns. She offered some great information that is worthy of sharing.

According to Goold, in today’s market, a lender will sometimes forgive some portion of a borrower's debt. The general tax rule that applies to any debt forgiveness is that the amount forgiven is treated as taxable income to the borrower. Some exceptions to this rule exist and a law enacted in December 2007 provides relief to troubled borrowers when some portion of mortgage debt is forgiven. However, this relief expires on December 31, 2012. Goold provides the following general information you need to know about this law and cancellation of mortgage debt. Be sure to review this information with your accountant or personal tax advisor before filing this year’s tax return:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Non-Short Sale - Can This Help You?

This is a rather lengthy article about the process of buying and selling notes that is worth reading if your loan amount is higher than the current value of your home.  An investor who purchases notes at a discount and is willing to re-draft them to current market value can be a lifeline for many homeowners today. Depending on your situation you may prefer to stay in your home with a reduced principle on your loan, lower payments, and the bright prospect of once again building equity. If you choose to sell, it no longer is a "short sale", your loan is marked PAID IN FULL and you can move on with no further damage to your credit. Stay or go...it's your choice. Please share this article with your friends. You never know who you might be helping! They can contact me for details.

http://www.californiashortsalelawyer.com/2012/02/can-note-buyers-help-short-sales/

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Thursday, January 26, 2012

10 Money-Saving Tips for 2012

When it comes to improving your financial picture, small steps can yield big gains. Whether you’re saving for a down payment or dealing with increased expenses having just moved into a new home, the following tips from SWparents.com are great ways to save money in a variety of areas. Start today and you’ll quickly notice the positive impact on your bottom line:

Monday, January 16, 2012

Turning foreclosures into rentals

Federal regulators and the Obama administration are getting ready to roll out a program that would sell foreclosures to investors as rentals. The first transactions could take place in early 2012.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Renovating? Why Building Codes are Critical

We’ve all heard horror stories about the remodeling project that needs to be torn down or redone because it didn’t live up to code. While many believe that investigating building codes is too confusing, time consuming and costly, the consequences of not getting the necessary permits before starting a construction project are both upsetting and expensive.

Securing a building permit before you start planning a renovation can also prove critical should you sell your home in the near or distant future. Potential buyers could request proof of permit for that room above the garage you added. Not having one is a risk most buyers wouldn’t want to absorb.

Friday, January 6, 2012

4 Ways Your Credit Card Agreements Could Change - for the Better

Do you remember the last credit card you signed up for? More importantly, do you remember the actual contract? While credit card agreements outline such essential information as costs, features, and terms of the product, they are often long, complicated, and written in legalese. Unfortunately, key information about interest rates, fees, billing, and payments is often surrounded by legal fine print.

That’s why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched the Know Before You Owe project, a program designed to provide better consumer transparency in several areas, such as credit card agreements, so that consumers could have a better understanding of the prices, risks, and terms involved before signing on the dotted line.