Planning to attend a major sporting event but don’t have a place to stay. Think about the fact that each year there are homeowners around major sporting events that rent their homes for premium prices because there are little to no hotel rooms available. And the demand for renting private residences is up…for instance AirBnB. […]
A sector of the market that is not necessarily being met by other loan programs is being served by FHA insured mortgages. Buyers would love to secure a conventional 80 percent mortgage without mortgage insurance and get the lowest cost of financing possible, but if they can’t put down 20 percent then it isn’t really […]
Few of us regularly pay attention to what Congress does but in this case, you might want to. Congress passed an energy act in 2007 that set new energy-efficient standard for basic light bulbs. This act phases out standard incandescent bulbs and soon they will no longer be available. Alternative bulbs now available are LEDs […]
While you are off enjoying your holidays, the last thing you want to worry about is your home and its safety. Here is a quick checklist of things you can do to put your mind at ease. Have a friend you trust pick up your mail and newspapers. Ask them to pick up anything around […]
Need some money? Want lower interest rates? Then a home equity line of credit or HELOC may be the answer for you. It is a mortgage loan that homeowners can use as-needed. Any lender like a bank will review and approve it for a specific amount based on the amount of equity you have available […]
Considering refinancing? Buying a new home? It maybe worth discussing a 15-year loan instead of a traditional 30-year mortgage. Monthly payments will be higher but your interest rate will be lower and your equity will climb faster. Below I have provided an example for comparison on a $300,000 mortgage with two terms. One 30-year term […]
As a homeowner, the largest expenses you will have after you pay your mortgage payment is for energy consumption. Factors that contribute to the amount you will pay are air leaks, amount of insulation, efficiency of your heating and cooling system, water heater(s) and lights. However, some of your appliances can be energy pirates when […]
Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in their home. It is the only place you can truly be you. But we can take our feeling of safety for granted and we do need to remain vigilant about not compromising our safety. Below are some tips to help stay safe. An inviting home invites everyone […]
FHA and the VA began requiring buyers to qualify to assume mortgages in the late 80’s. Business on assumed mortgages has been down over the last 25 years due to low interest rates. If you need to qualify most people would qualify for a new loan with a chance at a lower rate rather than […]
Any lender and any borrower can agree on a set of rates and terms, but the IRS does have certain rules that control this type of transaction specifically when the parties are friends or family. Some of the applicable rules are that the loan must be done in a business-like manner as a written note […]
