News

A lot of Americans have moved or considered moving in the last year. When you move you aren’t just moving into a new home but also a neighborhood, so you want to be sure to check the area out carefully, here are 10 things to consider.
1. Property Taxes – you should look at property taxes and also how much they’ve increased in the last five years and if any increases are planned. It’s a good idea to build this into your budget too.
2. Amenities – check what’s nearby based on your interests, restaurants, groceries stores, houses of worship etc.
3. Future development – it’s a good idea to check and see what future development is planned – it might be a good or bad thing but either way its worth checking.
4. Crime rates – you can check local crime rates online or even contact the local police department to get a better feel.
5. See the area for yourself – its best to hang around the area especially at different times of the day to get a feel for what its really like.
6. Commute times – you probably already thought about this but make sure to check the times during rush hour too.
7. Schools – if you have kids, you already thought about this. But good schools can also be a good sign of a well-kept neighborhood.
8. Housing Values – check the current values and compare them with five and 10 years ago.
9. Walkability and activities – depending on your tastes see what activities are nearby.
10. Personal Fit – everyone has different tastes so try to match the neighborhood with yours – new or old, tight-knit or independent, quiet or bustle, these are individual fits but finding the right one will help you enjoy your home that much more!
And of course reach out to us with questions and if you haven’t gotten pre-qualified yet make sure you do 🙂

With the housing market tight in many parts of the country and affordability a big issue for many would be buyers, buying a fixer-upper might be tempting. We’ve all seen the home make-over shows with amazing before and afters but should you do it?
Here are a few things to consider:
1. Know Your Limits
How much of the work can you do. How much time do you have to put into renovations. Are you prepared to live in a work zone for a while
2. Work Out Costs In Advance
Have a contractor walk through the inspection with you and get a written estimate for work he would do. If you are doing the work yourself price the costs of supplies, either way add 15% to the costs because surprises are likely.
3. Check Permitting Costs and Procedures
Check with local officials to see if the work requires a permit and the permit costs.
4. Be Extra Careful with Structural Issues
If the house requires structural repairs then double check the work and pricing. Hire a structural engineer to do an inspection and if structural work needs to be done make sure your bid discounts this work
5. Include Inspection Contingencies
Make sure you hire professional inspectors and check for hidden issues like mold, piping issues, pest damage etc. And if things come up ask for discounts. And if too many red flags come up or the seller won’t properly discount the costs for repair then you may want walk away and keep looking!

As we hopefully start to climb out of the covid crisis, interest rates nudged up this week. Rates inched up as Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage was 2.97%. This is still well below the rate a year ago which was 3.45%. Analyists expect rates to continue to rise slightly throughout the year on an anticipated economic recovery, although rates are expected to remain very low by historic standards.
While rates remain near historic lows, the housing market continues to be red hot. Extremely low inventory is driving prices up. The National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales were up nearly 25% compared to last year and the median home price is up nearly 15% from a year ago. This may be a bigger impediment to home buyers than rates inching up.
We will continue to keep you up to date on market trends and use our web site pre-qualifier to see what you can afford and get a pre-qualification to assist your home shopping.

If you’re looking for a new house, many realtors will actually ask for a pre-approval in advance. And its good for you to know how much you can afford and if there are any issues, you will know in advanced instead of any last minute surprises!

1. Proof of Income
This is usually W-2 statements but also includes any other sources of income like bonuses or alimony.
2. Proof of Assets
This will include bank and investment account statements. If you are receiving a money from a relative or friend you may also need a gift letter from them.
3. Credit Score
Your credit score will be an important factor on the down payment and interest rate on the loan.
4. Employment Verification
Lenders may call your employer to verify employment, or if you are self-employed you may need to supply additional paperwork.
5. You Verification
You may need to supply a copy of your drivers license and social security number as well.

Now that you know the basics, check with us to get pre-approved and see how much you can get approved for!

If you’re looking for a new house, many realtors will actually ask for a pre-approval in advance. And its good for you to know how much you can afford and if there are any issues, you will know in advanced instead of any last minute surprises!

1. Proof of Income
This is usually W-2 statements but also includes any other sources of income like bonuses or alimony.
2. Proof of Assets
This will include bank and investment account statements. If you are receiving a money from a relative or friend you may also need a gift letter from them.
3. Credit Score
Your credit score will be an important factor on the down payment and interest rate on the loan.
4. Employment Verification
Lenders may call your employer to verify employment, or if you are self-employed you may need to supply additional paperwork.
5. You Verification
You may need to supply a copy of your drivers license and social security number as well.

Now that you know the basics, check with us to get pre-approved and see how much you can get approved for!

We are in the middle of winter and that means more time indoors and often in the kitchen. If you’re kitchen is the before part of a makeover show then here is our top ten list of things to consider before starting a renovation project.

1. Budget
Before getting started set a budget! (Can’t you say this before starting every project? 🙂
2. Lighting
Gone are the days of dark cramped kitchens, make sure there’s plenty of light and consider a mix of light sources.
3. Walkways
This one is especially important if you have or are planning on adding an island – make sure there’s enough room to move around without the kids getting in the way!
4. Countertops
This is a big one of course and with more options than ever. A great mid-range option is quartz which has the appeal of marble without the cost and upkeep worries.
5. Outlets
Make sure you plan enough outlets for appliances, gadgets and maybe the thing you are reading this on 🙂
6. Panel Ready
If you are doing a fancier reno, we love panel appliances. How clean does the paneled dishwasher look when it seamlessly blends in?
7. Ceiling
Don’t forget to look up! Make sure the ceiling isn’t neglected and having some great light fixtures can really make the kitchen pop!
8. Storage
This is another biggie – you want enough space to store all the goodies and gadgets! Don’t put appliances in corners and make sure doors don’t bang into each other too!
9. Flooring
Your grandparents linoleum floors are history – today there are a ton of awesome flooring choices.
10. Appliances
This one depends on your budget. The lux range looks great and is useful but be realistic too. It’s an investment, consider if you are going to stay in the house a long time and you’re a big chef are two key factors to consider!

Spring is traditionally the busiest home buying season but is it a good idea to close on a home during the winter?
According to a recent ATTOM Data Solutions seven year market study, it showed that buyers who closed on January 26 actually got some of the best deals, paying market value in a competitive market while buyers in June paid close to seven percent premium above market value! An example of this in actual numbers would have a $300,000 house costing almost $25,000 more in June than January!
Currently inventory is tight in most markets which applies upward pressure on pricing, and the spring buying season is likely to show this, however housing construction was up five percent last fall to help meet demand. Rates are also at record lows and if the economy rebounds their will be pressure on rates to rise.

As we start the new year, mortgage interest rates are actually going down. Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down to 2.77%, which is nearly a point below the average of 3.60% a year ago! The forecast is for rates to remain low with some possible rising later in the year.

We definitely recommend contacting us for a quick refinance analysis, we will give you a recommendation and tell you to how much you can save monthly, get cash out or both! And most of us can use all the extra spending money we can get nowadays. Call us or fill out our quick qualifier on our site and we will get back to you promptly with your options.

Today the second round of PPP is starting. PPP or Paycheck Protection Plan is the government assistance program to small business owners to help them weather the downturn caused by the pandemic.

Applications for round two start on January 19, 2021 and even if you received money last time, you still may be eligible. Two key criteria are that you must have opened the business prior to February 15, 2020 and if you’re a sole proprietorship you must have shown a profit on your 2019 tax return.

How much can you get? First-time borrowers are eligible up to 2.5 times their monthly payroll or if you’re a sole proprietorship you can borrower up to 2.5 times the monthly profit. See this link for more info
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/How-to-Calculate-Loan-Amounts.pdf

Do you have to pay it all back? Your loan can be forgiven if you follow the rules that at least 60% goes to payroll expenses and the other 40% goes to rent and utilities (in the new round expenses towards developing social distancing and following health mandates are also applicable).

Reach out to us if you have any questions on this or other financing (remember refinancing is often still a great idea with today’s rates!)

It’s a New Year! And we’re betting and hoping its going to be a better 2021. Somethings are out of our control, some things are not. We want to start with New Year’s Financial Resolutions to help us get the year started right! Here’s our top seven for 2021!

1. Make A Budget
We always here it but sometimes we don’t do it. So get the year started with the basics and make a budget. Figure out your money in (income and earnings) and your money out (bills, mortgage, taxes, etc). Then you have an idea of your monthly expenses and how much you can save!
2. Fund Your Savings And Retirement
One great thing about creating the budget is it gives you a good idea of how much you can save monthly. So use that to plan your savings and retirement deposits!
3. Prepare an Emergency Fund
If 2020 taught us anything its that the unexpected will happen! So get that emergency fund ready to pay three to six (if you can) months expenses. Also prepare for sudden emergencies– have your key financial documents organized in case of natural disaster, review your insurance policies, and an emergency supply kit and shelter plan.
4. Consider Refinancing
If you haven’t done so recently – consider refinancing. Rates are at historic lows so even if your current rate is low, you still might be able to save a lot on the monthly payment! Check with us for a quick analysis.
5. Optimize the Auto-Payments!
Check those monthly auto payments we often are paying for stuff we don’t use (maybe you only watch 2 of the 5 streaming services :). Cancelling a few might just pay for that first post-Covid vacation! One automated payment you might want to set up is automatic payments to savings and retirement funds!
6. Schedule Regular Financial Checkups
Don’t leave your finances on auto-pilot . Check in on them every couple of months to make sure you’re on track.
7. Improve Your Financial Literacy
We can’t have a resolution list without some self-improvement can we? But seriously we often go to school, work hard but don’t take the time to become financial literate. Do a little homework to improve your financial literacy so the ship doesn’t sail you, but you sail the boat!

We hope this list helps and wish you a safe and prosperous new year! And if you’re reading this later, don’t worry it applies anytime 😀