Consumers search in ranges and positioning the home properly will help it show up at the top-end of one search and the bottom-end of another.
Homebuyers are protected from certain risky loan practices allowed prior to the mortgage crisis like negative amortization and others.
Consumer Protection from Irresponsible Mortgage Practices 9/19/2018 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 loans that have certain, more stable features
Convincing Advantages with Standard Deduction
The new tax law doubles the standard deduction and it is estimated that over 90% of taxpayers will elect to use it. However, even without considering tax benefits, homeownership has convincing advantages. Besides the personal and social reasons for owning a home, one of the most compelling is that it is cheaper. Principal reduction and
Lower Your Expenses without PMI
Mortgage loans for more than 80% loan-to-value typically require private mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance reimburses the lender if a borrower defaults on a loan. PMI is expensive, and homeowners should be aware of how to remove it when certain conditions have been met. A borrower can request in writing for the lender to cancel the
READY FOR RETIRMENT
It can be shocking to hear how many people spend more time planning their vacation or next mobile phone purchase than planning for retirement. It is hard to imagine that they are expecting Social Security will take them through their golden years. A person who has paid in the maximum each year to social security can
Balancing Risk and Deductibles
The benefit of insurance is to transfer the risk of loss to a company in exchange for a premium. The deductible is an amount the insured pays out of pocket before the insurance starts covering the cost of the loss. The challenge is to balance the risk an insured can accept with the premium being
HOMEOWNERS TAX CHANGE
The new tax law that was signed into effect at the end of 2017 will affect all taxpayers. Homeowners should familiarize themselves with the areas that could affect them which may require some planning to maximize the benefits. Some of the things that will affect most homeowners are the following: Reduces the limit on deductible
ATM Safety Tips
During the holidays as throughout the year, getting cash from an ATM is normal for many people. ATM’s are available 24 hours a day and they’re located in bank branches, convenience stores, grocery stores, malls, airports, sports venues and on street corners. Unfortunately, the convenience aspect can compromise personal safety especially if you are distracted
Eleventh Hour Gifts Without Shopping
If you’re beginning to feel the pressure of running out of time to find the perfect gift, here are a few suggestions that may not be on their “list” but will certainly be appreciated. The gift of really listening without interrupting, daydreaming or planning your response can be exactly what people want when they have