A couple is planning to tour the United States in a travel trailer during their first few years of retirement. They are going to sell their current home now and purchase another home when they finish their travels. An interesting exercise is to determine the optimum time of selling the home: now or when they’re […]
Recent Posts
Waiting Period After Distressed Sale
“How long do we have to wait to qualify for another mortgage” is the question concerning people who’ve had a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy. The loan types for the new loan will differ in amounts of time to heal credit scores based on the event. The following chart is meant to be a general […]
Waiting Will Cost More
With the first quarter of 2018 in the books, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is nearing what Freddie Mac predicted it would be in the second quarter. If this pace continues, rates will exceed the five percent mark expected by the end of the year. The Fed has had its first of an expected three […]
FHA Advantages
The Federal Housing Authority, operating under HUD, offers affordable mortgages for tens of thousands of buyers who may not qualify for other types of programs. They are popular with both first-time and repeat buyers. The 3.5% down payment is an attractive feature but there are other advantages: More tolerant for credit challenges than conventional mortgages. […]
Standard or Itemized
Taxpayers can decide each year whether to take the standard deduction or their itemized deductions when filing their personal income tax returns. Roughly, 75% of households with more than $75,000 income and most homeowners itemize their deductions. Beginning in 2018, the standard deduction, available to all taxpayers, regardless of whether they own a home, is […]
Inventory Continues to be a Challenge
In any given market, inventories fluctuate based on supply and demand considering area and price range. The National Association of REALTORS considers a balanced market to be a six-month supply of homes. If it takes longer than six months to sell, it is thought to be a buyer’s market and less than six months, a […]
Your Refund Could be the Difference
One of the silver linings to filing your income tax return is finding out that you are going to receive a refund. If you happen to be one of these fortunate taxpayers, your next decision is what to do with it. With the average tax refund around $3,000, it could be the difference that makes […]
Benefits of Indoor Plants
Indoor plants provide a variety of benefits in addition to adding interest to your decor. They’re generally easy to care for and many thrive in low light conditions. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen in the presence of light. With newer homes becoming increasingly airtight and energy efficient, our indoor air […]
Historical Perspective
In 1968, mortgage rates were 8.5%. The next year, rates went down to 7%. Homeowners could buy a 15-20% larger home for the same payments if they could find someone to assume their mortgage. FHA and VA mortgages were very popular in certain price ranges and they allowed anyone to assume the mortgage regardless of […]
The “Right” Agent and the “Right” Home
Some buyers think that finding the right home is the critical part of the buying process and that is how they determine which agent to use. While it is important, there may be a broader skill set to consider when selecting your real estate professional. The most recent NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers […]
Mandy Pajerski 