Real Estate Blog
Local News and InformationIt’s Not Just the Tax Benefits
When the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly was increased from $12,700 to $24,000 for 2018, there was some speculation that the bloom was off the rose of homeownership. The thought was that if the tax benefits from being able to deduct the property...
HELOCs Becoming More Expensive
In September, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the third time in 2018 and they're expected to go up one more time this year and three times next year. If you have a Home Equity Line of Credit, HELOC, you're paying more to use that money and it is going to...
Fast Track Rental Property
FHA allows owner-occupants to purchase up to a four-unit property with a minimum 3.5% down payment. The rent collected on three units could be used to make the payment and the owners' pro-rata share would be less than ¼ of the payment itself. The owner-occupied unit...
Mortgage Free
It may be an all too common belief that a person will have a house payment and a car payment for the rest of their lives. However, with a plan and some determination, you can be mortgage free. Planning for retirement is obviously important and many times, an activity...
How to Clean Gutters
The gutters and downspouts on your home are intended to channel rainwater away from your home and its foundation. When they're blocked and not functioning properly they can lead to the gutters coming loose, wood rot and mildew, staining of painted surfaces, and even...
Consumer Protection from Irresponsible Mortgage Practices
Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010 in response to the mortgage crisis that led to America's Great Recession. The two parts that apply closely to homebuyers are the Ability-to-Repay (ATR) and Qualified Mortgages (QM). A Qualified Mortgage is a category of...
Quick Plumbing Inspection
No one wants to waste water or money. For that reason, take a few minutes every other month to do the following inspections: * Check to see if cutoff valves on sinks and toilets are working properly. Many times, builders will put individual cutoffs on supply lines to...
Reduce Financing Costs
There is much more than a lower rate and payment to determine whether to refinance a mortgage. Lenders try to make refinancing as attractive as possible by rolling the closing costs into the new mortgage so there isn't any out of pocket cash required. The closing...
Moisture And Mold
Moisture is mold's best friend and it thrives between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit which is why it is commonly found in homes. Mold spores float in the air and can grow on virtually any substance with moisture including tile, wood, drywall, paper, carpet, and food....
What to Avoid Before Closing Your New Home
It's understandable; you’re excited; you've found the right home, we have helped you negotiate a contract, you made a loan application and the house passed inspections. Closing is not that far away, and you are making plans to move and put personal touches on your new...