Blog entries tagged Buyers

A New Twist On An Old Conundrum

Crystal Webster — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:16:31 +0100

As you know, I love personal finance and I love to learn about new concepts and differing points of view. I found this article on Mint.com today and instantly read it (as opposed to what I normally do; open it up in a new window and wait about 6 days until I have to shut down my computer so I read everything I have open).

With the recession the way that it is, I do believe that people need to reevaluate their housing situation to find what fits for them. What I don'Read More...

Money for Nothin' and Rental Properties For Free

Crystal Webster — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:42:41 +0100

At least it will feel like it's free. Below is an article from a personal financial blogger I follow occasionally. He puts together a very nice (and easier to follow) argument for why you should own investment properties in your portfolio.

Whether you're a first time home buyer or just looking for a second property take a look at this article. If you purchase the property properly to begin with and then have a great property manager and tax accountant on your team you'llRead More...

What's Important about Buying Your First Home

Crystal Webster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:13:40 +0100

You're Not an Investor. You're buying a home to live in and enjoy. It's not an 'investment' in the traditional sense. If the value of the home falls a little bit because of the market, that's OK, you're not trying to sell right away anyway.
You're Making Others Rich. The money you pay in rent goes to buy a home for someone else to own.
Homes are Inexpensive. You may be able to make your mortgage payment AND save a little bit for the same amount you're paying in rent righRead More...

Plan Your Move and Save Some Cash

Crystal Webster — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:14:38 +0100

By Susan Johnston:

According to Moving.com, the months between May and August are the most popular for moving in the United States.

Whether it’s down the street or across statRead More...

Interest Rates Hit 50 Year Lows

Crystal Webster — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:29:45 +0100

Interest rates are super low these days so whether you're looking to purchase a new home or stay put for a while it may be worth a call to your bank.

Buying?

The average loan payment will decrease about $50 for every .5% the interest rate drops. That's an evening out a month you'll save!

Refinancing?

Don't jump quite yet. There are a few things you'll want to consider first:

How long do you plan on staying in your home?
Do you have the cash to pony up for Read More...

Want to Keep From Closing on Your New House?

Crystal Webster — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:30:46 +0100

Here's a great article I found on Bankrate.com about the best ways to have your home loan fall through:

Want a lender to delay or even cancel your mortgage closing? Then change your "borrower circumstances" between the day you apply for and the day you close a home loan.

Lenders have gotten stricter in response to the mortgage meltdown. The latest tightening of the screws comes from Fannie Mae. The mortgage titan's Loan Quality Initiative, which went into effect June 1Read More...

Could the Tax Credit Be Extended Again?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:36:27 +0100

I would love to get your feedback on this one. I, of course, have my own opinions on the matter but would love to hear what others think:

The pressure is increasing on Congress to renew the homebuyers tax credits for a third time.

The first $7,500 tax credit was passed in 2008 and required first-time buyers to repay the credit over 15 years. A new months later in 2009, Congress expanded the credit to a maximum of $8,000 that didn't have to be paid back.

At the end of lastRead More...

10 Home Features Buyers Want

Crystal Webster — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:45:54 +0100

Home Designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don't have lasting value.

"It's all about family togetherness - casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces," says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group of San Antonio

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new hRead More...

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Likely?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:54:19 +0100

It seems likely that the US Senate will approve a deal to extend the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, but the devil is in the details.

Florida Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson told reporters traveling to Florida with President Obama Monday that he thought that the extension would be approved, but both senators and representatives are among those who think that there should be some fiscal offset for the extension. Spending any more money on the stimulus effort also could stir up a hornets' nesRead More...

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Likely

Crystal Webster — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:17:24 +0100

Extending the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, due to expire at the end of November, is high on the Democratic Congressional to-do list, legislative aides said.

After Wednesday’s meeting with President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released a statement that the government should “continue efforts to strengthen the housing market by extending the home buyer tax credit.”

Mark Zandi, chief econRead More...

Top Ten: Ten Things You Should Know About Your Realtor

Crystal Webster — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Full Time - Your Realtor needs to be full time; not doing several thing - just in real estate. Real estate is a fickle market and can change on a dime. You need someone on your team that is keeping up with those changes. You need someone who's following the trends, viewing houses, attending seminars and workshops, and generally keeping up to date on the goings on in Kansas City. When someone does not commit fully to real estate it's the ancillary, yet very important, items that tend to be pusheRead More...

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Everyone in real estate has their mind on one thing: What's going to happen on December 1st?

Realtor.org reported yesterday that bills are pending in both the US House and the Senate to extend the current credit - but don't expect to receive more money or for it to be extended to all home buyers - if the bill is extended at all.

As every first time home buyer knows, time is running out to cash in on the Federal Government's First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit. As I've said before, and will say again-right now, the tax credit is a nice incentive but should not be the only reason you chose to purchase a home. You need to be ready for the commitment: financially, emotionally, and physically.

Everyone wants the best deal they can - on a home, on a car, even on a gallon of milk. But, did you know that by waiting for the 'bottom to drop out' of the market you can actually be doing more damage to your financial life then you think you're bettering it? Here's why:

Interest rates are on their way back up. If you wait for home prices to declinRead More...

Buyers Beware - Staged Homes

Crystal Webster — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100

As a home buyer you want to find the perfect home for you and your family.

Home staging can make a home very inviting to buyers and get them swept up in the thought of living there - it helps to draw the eye to the focal point of every room to draw out the beautiful features of a home. Staging is so important that The Heritage Home Team has a resident home stager that is available to work with every seller on their home.

Realtor.com Homeownership Survey Results

Crystal Webster — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100

In case you haven't already guessed homes are more affordable then ever. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone is clamoring to purchase right now.

A family earning the national median income of $53,182 is able to purchase about 75% of the homes on the market today.

Want to know morRead More...

Where to Find Your Next Mortgage

Crystal Webster — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0100

If you're looking to get a mortgage be ready to spend some time (and maybe headache) in the process. There are lots of options but really three main catagories of lenders: local banks, direct banks, and broker.

Local Banks: Think credit union or KC's Cap Fed, they lend their own money (using their own rates and terms) so there is no 'middleman'. These loans are normally a little more conservative then the 'avRead More...

Have You Heard?

Crystal Webster — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Congress has approved a new first time home buyers tax credit. All it needs now is a signature from the President.

The credit has been increased to a maximum of $8,000 and is now a true credit with no repayment plan.

This website will continue to be updated once the President has signed the Read More...

Still Looking for a Reason to Buy a Home?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:00:00 +0100

How about super low interest rates?

The Washington Post is reporting that the Treasury Department is strongly considering getting involved with the mortgage industry to drastically push down interest rates to stimulate the market.

Click here to view the full article.

First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Crystal Webster — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:00:00 +0100

In case the low home values and the low interest rates haven't enticed you enough into looking for your first home here is another incentive to add to the mix.

The first-time home-buyers credit is part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and is available through mid 2009.

Any homebuyRead More...