Home modifications that can lessen your home’s value - Renovations to Avoid: Whether or not you've been thinking about selling your house for a while, there's a good chance you've heard the buzzword 'renovation' and considered how it can positively impact the value of your home. From upgrading your kitchen to painting, there are plenty of renovations that will do wonders in terms of your property's price on the market. There are a few modifications that can actually have the opposite effect so you'll want to be leery of the following fix-ups Cool Colored Tile If, at some point, you installed a bunch of brightly colored tile into your living room or kitchen to add a bit more life to your home, it's possible this is the type of renovation you may come to regret upon resale. Often times, when it comes to purchasing a home, buyers will be looking for something they won't have to renovate right off the bat, so a flashy feature can have a marked effect on the selling potential of your … [Read more...]
Home Sales Tips – How to Market Your Community to Prospective Buyers!
Home Sales Tips – How to market your community to prospective buyers! Selling a home is more than a real estate listing - make the home appealing to potential buyers. One factor buyers take into account when buying a home is its location, meaning the community that surrounds the home. For sellers as well as buyers, it's important to highlight the benefits of living in a particular community. After all, neighborhoods will have an enormous impact on the future buyer’s living experience. It’s All About Walkable Neighborhoods According to a Portland - Oregon-based company, City Observatory, there’s a growing demand for homes located in walk-able neighborhood. Decades - long love affair with commuting from suburban areas to work in the city has greatly lost its appeal. Also, the growing demand for walk-able neighborhoods is fueled by people desiring convenient access good schools as well as entertainment options like movie theaters, restaurants, and shopping. There’s also an … [Read more...]
First Time Home Buyers Credit
First time home buyers credit - The State of Maryland has a great program to help home buyers obtain home ownership and now first time home buyers can qualify for the the Maryland Mortgage Program! If you have not owned a home in the past three years in the State of Maryland, there is an EXCELLENT chance you will will be eligible for assistance of $5,000 at a MINIMUM. And, even if you have owned a home in the past three years, there are targeted areas where you can buy again without the 3 year wait. For example, the entire City of Baltimore is classified as targeted so anyone can get $5,000 in assistance as long as they don't own any other property when they go to settlement. The Maryland Mortgage Program offers $5,000 in assistance or potentially more depending on the your employer for down payment or closing cost assistance. So, if are purchasing a $200,000 home and you need 3.5% of the purchase price ($7,000) as a down payment, this program will … [Read more...]
Veteran Buyers
Veteran buyers will be faced with several changes in the coming months when applying for a VA loan. As of now, the Senate is reviewing a law that has already passed The House of Representatives to make two big changes to VA loans. The first change is to get rid of VA loan limits entirely so buyers do not have to come up with a down payment. Right now, a buyer can purchase up to $417,000 with no money down at all. If they go above this amount - they have to come up with some money for the down payment. Let's say it is 25% of the difference of the sales price over $417,000. As an example, if a buyer purchases a $500,000 house then they need to come up with $20,750 ($500,000-$417,000=$83,000 x 25%). Under the new law - they would not need any money for the down payment if they purchased over $417,000. This will have a huge impact on the cash needed for high end veteran buyers. The second change is in regards to VA non - allowables. Right now there are … [Read more...]
Victoria Falls Market Watch – Condo sales – 2016
Victoria Falls Market Watch – Condo sales - 2016 have been extremely strong! Market values continue to increase with sales prices driven by lack of inventory, increased buyer's demand, previous sales data, documented upgrades and square footage of each condo unit. MRIS Residential Stats – Analysis report compared: Condo prices when initially listed vs. Price at time of sale. The report totals indicate that the high list price was $279,900 and the sold Price was $276,400 which equates to 99.65 % of list price. Victoria Falls Market Watch – Condo sales - 2016 Contract Pending – 13601 Belle Chasse Blvd. #214 – List Price: $249,900. Close Date: 02/26/2016. This is a Fannie Mae HomePath property. This home features two bedrooms, two full baths, living room, dining room and one car garage space. Buyer pays all transfer taxes under the Homepath program. Go to www. Homepath.com - www.fanniemae.com for more information. Approximate Tax Living Area: 1,875 sq. ft. Days … [Read more...]
Grant monies are back
Grant monies are back! The Federal Home Loan Bank replenished their funds for 2016. They are limited though and will go very fast because the grant is very popular and easy to obtain for buyers. Federal Home Loan Bank offers $5,000 to first time home buyers if they contribute a minimum of $1,250 into buying their home. And those monies can actually be gifted as well. Buyers can actually contribute less monies but their grant will be reduced because it is based on a 4:1 ratio. For example, if a buyer wanted to obtain $2,500 of grant monies then they would only have to contribute $625 or half of the $1,250. And the fees they pay upfront can be used to meet their contribution so the earnest money deposit and appraisal fee can be used towards their minimum contribution. Here are some other reasons to consider this grant over the other grant programs if a buyer's income qualifies under it. The grant is forgivable after 5 years entirely. If a buyer vacates … [Read more...]
New Home Buyers Due Diligence and Vigilance
New Home buyers due diligence and vigilance should be addressed by buyers or their agent prior to a successful closing especially when purchasing a newly constructed home. The following points of interest should be on your agents’ radar:Ask for a sample of the builder’s contract. Most builders have their own distinct forms and contracts contrary from company to company. Ask for clarification on the mortgage processing options and discounts. Determine whether you have the option to select your own mortgage company. And, what are the consequences if you decide to seek financing elsewhere. Ask for clarification of home warranty coverage. Home warranty contract are often issued by several third party companies, e.g. HMS and AHS. Obtain a list of costs. Determine what is standard versus upgrade. And, the cost of each upgrade. Inspection for defects. New homes are not flawless. The builder may offer a final walk through inspection with the staff. Request an inspection from a … [Read more...]
Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program
WHAT IS MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE (MHA) ALL ABOUT? Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program is a critical part of the Administration's broad strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and stabilize the nation's housing market. Eligible homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low interest rates. And for those homeowners for whom ownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program can provide a way out that avoids foreclosure. There are also options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. ABOUT SERVICERS HOME AFFORDABLE REFINANCE PROGRAM (HARP) I'm current on my mortgage. Is it possible to refinance my loan under HARP? Yes. Eligible homeowners, who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may have the opportunity to refinance. Through HARP, Fannie Mae and … [Read more...]
Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA)
Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA) HAFA® provides homeowners the opportunity to exit their homes and be relieved of their remaining mortgage debt through a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (DIL). It also provides homeowners with $10,000 in relocation assistance. Application Deadline: December 31, 2016 FEATURES AND BENEFITS Through HAFA, you can get help with your primary residence or rental property. If a HAFA short sale doesn’t work, you may be able to give the title back to your mortgage company in a HAFA deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (DIL). Once you complete a HAFA short sale or DIL, there is a waiver of deficiency, meaning you are released from any remaining mortgage debt. HAFA offers $10,000 in relocation assistance for you or your tenant. In some cases, HAFA has a less negative effect on your credit score than a foreclosure, which allows for a faster financial recovery. ELIGIBILITY You may be eligible for HAFA if you meet … [Read more...]
Interest – Only Mortgages
Interest - Only mortgages received a lot of bad press during the aftermath of the housing bust, but they have stuck around as a viable mortgage alternative to home buyers who meet rigorous lending guidelines enacted by the federal government in recent years. Interest - Only mortgages can lower monthly mortgage payments by allowing borrowers to delay paying principle on their loan for several years. The down side of this mortgage program is the increase in mortgage payments when interest-only period comes to the end. At that time, borrowers begin to pay a combination of principal and interest until the loan is paid off. The shock of the increase in monthly mortgage payments as a result of higher interest rates on adjustable-rate interest only loan loans have caused many borrowers to default on their loans in the past. This shock in monthly payments is often accompanied with a higher interest rate which results in many borrowers falling behind in their monthly … [Read more...]
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