FICO, the most widely used credit scoring company in the country, modified their model in 2014 (FICO 9) but few people are aware of how these adjustments affect them personally, or even that there have been changes at all. A few shifts in the scoring algorithm can make a big difference in your credit score,… Read More
Foreclosure activity is back to “normal” across much of the nation. Low mortgage interest rates, which were ironically a result of the market crash, likely also play a part in the good health of today’s Real Estate market. First quarter foreclosure activity was below pre-recession levels in 78 out of 216 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas… Read More
I’ve had some personal experience with a botched title and I can tell you, it’s no party clearing it up. It took almost 2 years and over thousands of dollars in attorney fees before we were able to sell our home, and mind you, this was someone else’s error, not our own. When you’re buying… Read More
Eighty-six percent of the typical bank’s mortgage loans made last year were “qualified mortgages,” according to the American Bankers Association’s 23rd annual Real Estate Lending Survey. Despite an increase in non-QM lending, the survey results revealed that 72 percent of respondents expect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mortgage lending rules will continue to cause a… Read More
I like the tips in the article below but I might add that for a Seller, sorting and purging personal possessions is best done BEFORE you put your house on the market. As you try to put your home’s best foot forward it’s difficult to be tearing closets, attics and storage spaces apart. In addition,… Read More
A document that few people pay attention to, can make or break your home purchase or sale. The Title Company often seems incidental to your real estate transaction but the role they play is critical. Other than that great kitchen or that sparkling pool, do you know exactly what you’re buying? The Title Company does… Read More
I highly agree with the transaction tips below but my biggest concern is not so much a lack of communication as it is a lack of urgency. The dates on your contract are what make it a contract, and they probably more important than the hundreds for words surrounding them. ~Bill By Deborah Kearns If… Read More
I’ve never been an advocate of alarming people, and I’m not sure what a Real Estate Agent might feel they’re gaining by doing so. I’ll never tell you that selling your home is difficult or confusing, that’s just not my style. However if you do decide to employ a Realtor it’s helpful to know a… Read More
Your credit score can mean so much more than a great interest rate. Insurance companies and even employers may access your credit score. Credit scores on closed loans continued to fall to their lowest levels since Ellie Mae began reporting data in August 2011, according to the latest Origination Insight Report released by Ellie Mae®,… Read More
Before you even think about investing in Real Estate, you need to know that you shouldn’t start shopping for a home without first setting aside a little cash. from ‘A Heads-up For Home Buyers’ 11 Things you might not have though about. This is an Investment, Treat it That Way. Consider carefully, your up-front costs…. Read More
