If you’re not looking to purchase or refinance immediately, make sure you’re as ready as possible; namely, make sure your credit is the best it can be. Find out what your credit score is. If need be, improve it. 

If you are looking to sell, know that there are buyers out there and that you need to be realistic with your expectations. Set a fair price, based on today’s values, not yesterday’s.

Most important, now is the time to be sure you are working with a true professional. Your home and its financing are far too important to leave to a low bid you might find on the Internet. If there is any lesson to be learned in all that the industry has gone through, it’s to seek quality. I am here to help you, to advise you through the entire process. Our goal is to help our customers secure affordable mortgages so they can be successful homeowners.

If you — or your neighbors, family or friends — have any questions about mortgage financing or refinancing, We would be glad to answer them. Give us a call or drop a line.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

·       Don’t assume you have a great credit history just because of the continuous offers for revolving credit you receive in the mail.

·       Don’t apply for more credit that you can manage. Determine how much credit you can comfortably afford — no more than 15% to 20% of your take-home pay is a good rule of thumb.

·       Make regular payments. Every time you make a payment as agreed to a creditor, you are building a favorable credit history.

·       Late payments affect your credit rating. It doesn’t matter that the credit card balance is only $5, or that the payment is only one day late, or that you pay the late fee. Failure to pay on time hurts your credit rating.

·       Minimum payments are another trouble spot. While making the minimum payment is acceptable, it does very little to reduce your outstanding debt. Credit purchases should generally be limited to those that can be paid off at the end of the month.

·       Find out what your credit report says about you. To obtain a copy, contact credit-reporting agencies Experian, TransUnion or Equifax.

·       To correct errors on your credit report, write to the credit card company and explain the error. If the creditor concurs that an error has occurred, the credit card company must report and correct the error to the credit-reporting agency.

·       Fix bad credit. It may take some time. A professional financial counselor or a credit- and budget-counseling agency, such as Consumer Credit Counseling Service at 1-800-388-2227 or http://www.cccservices.com, can really help.

·       If you find that you cannot afford credit purchases, considering your current income and expenses, you should still concentrate on establishing good credit, but continue making most of your purchases using cash.

We would be happy to answer any questions you have about credit as it relates to you qualifying for a mortgage.  You can contact us via e-mail or phone at your convenience. 

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

·       whether or not you are a good candidate for a loan — your creditworthiness

·       what type of interest rate you will pay

In addition to your credit score and your loan application, lenders also evaluate the information on your credit report.

By regularly checking your credit report, you can:

·       Be informed of the most up-to-date information in your credit history.

·       Correct any inaccuracies to ensure that your credit data is a true reflection of your credit record and to increase your chances of receiving credit under the best possible terms.

To obtain a copy of your credit report, contact one of the credit-reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion or Equifax.

We would be happy to answer any questions you have about credit as it relates to you qualifying for a mortgage.  You can contact us via e-mail or phone at your convenience. 

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

If you have children, you may want to know if there are other kids in the neighborhood and whether schools and playgrounds are nearby. As a working person, distance and travel time to and from work or the availability of public transportation may be a factor.

You’ll also want to consider the condition of the plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and whether these are up to code. Closet space. Number of bedrooms. The list goes on and on.

A real estate agent can be a huge help because he/she knows the local market and has information about such things as school systems, tax rates, water and sewer charges, public transportation and other concerns that might affect your decision to buy a particular home.

If you don’t have a Realtor, we would be more than happy to introduce you to one of our business partners. Give us a call or send an e-mail.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

·       your ability to qualify for the loan amount,

·       how long you plan to live in the home,

·       whether your income is stable or rising,

·       the possibility of significant interest rate changes, and

·       the amount of up-front costs and whether you can comfortably afford your monthly mortgage payment.

Your monthly mortgage payment will generally include a principal and interest payment; an amount to cover your real estate taxes and homeowners insurance; and possibly an amount to cover other costs like condominium dues and mortgage insurance. Mortgages generally fall into one of two categories — fixed-rate and nonfixed-rate.

Fixed-rate mortgages feature a nonchanging interest rate. The principal and interest portion of the monthly mortgage payment do not change, although real estate taxes and homeowners insurance costs may rise from year to year, resulting in a higher monthly payment.

·       Advantages: Fixed-rate mortgages are ideal for borrowers whose income is not rising rapidly and who want the comfort of knowing the principal and interest portion of the mortgage payment will not change.

·       Disadvantages: A fixed-rate mortgage typically has a higher initial interest rate than a nonfixed-rate mortgage.

Nonfixed-rate mortgages are designed for borrowers who are comfortable with their ability to handle payment increases. Because the borrower assumes some of the interest-rate risk that the lender normally assumes on a fixed-rate mortgage, the borrower receives a lower initial interest rate.

·       Advantages: A lower interest rate means a lower monthly payment.

·       Disadvantages: Beyond increasing costs for taxes and homeowners insurance, the interest portion of the monthly payment also increases. The point at which the payment can be changed varies by the program chosen. It can range from one month to more than five years. Typically, the shorter the period before a change can occur, the lower the initial interest rate.

When you’re ready to apply for a loan, we can help you review the loan options that are available and determine the type that best suits your needs. Give us a call or drop a line.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

• Start a compost pile to reduce your home’s trash output.
• In summer months, draw your shades during the day or plant trees at key locations to beat the heat and reduce cooling costs.
• Reduce water usage with low-flow faucets and showerheads.
• Remove your name from junk mail lists and reduce the paper coming into your home.
• Recycle used batteries. See www.earth911.org for locations.
• Take shorter showers.
• Better insulate your home by finding the sources of drafts and caulking or sealing them shut.
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs. They use two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last 10 times as long.
• Consider buying Energy Star qualified appliances. Energy Star washers and dryers can reduce energy bills by an average of $50 a year. Qualified washers can reduce yearly water usage by up to 7,000 gallons.
• Unplug unused appliances. Some appliances still use energy even when turned off.

It only takes a few small changes to add up to significant savings for your wallet and the environment.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

Kahai Tate, an Accredited Staging Professional, says, “Staging is increasing the perceived value of a home by ‘showcasing’ the space, allowing potential homebuyers to mentally move in.” A few staging tips include:

·       ridding your home of clutter by either renting storage space or holding a yard sale

·       turning on all the lights in the house

·       repainting rooms to get rid of personalized colors that may distract buyers

·       livening the entrance with cheerful colors and polished exterior lights, lock sets and address numbers

·       repurposing unused rooms

You can hire a stager and they’re typically paid from $200 to $3,000, depending on the level of service required. Staging can pay for itself. In 2006, StagedHomes.com looked at the sales history of 200 properties staged by its members and found staged homes sold for an average of $26,000 more than expected.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

Here are a few green home items to look for:

·       Does the home have energy efficient windows? Look at window frames, insulated glass material and glass spacers, and check if they’re properly installed.

·       Is there a place in the yard for a compost pile to reduce the home’s trash output?

·       Are there trees at key locations that create shade, beat the summer heat and reduce cooling costs?

·       Are there low-flow faucets and showerheads to help reduce water usage?

·       Is the home drafty? Drafts indicate poor insulation and can cause high heating and cooling bills.

·       Can lighting fixtures use energy-efficient bulbs without looking awkward (such as in some ceiling fixtures). Energy-efficient bulbs can use two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last ten times longer.

·       Are there Energy Star qualified appliances? Energy Star washers and dryers can reduce energy bills by an average of $50 a year. Qualified washers can reduce yearly water usage by up to 7,000 gallons.

These may not seem like “big picture” items to look for in a home, but they add up to significant savings for your wallet and the environment.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

A common mistake many buyers make is they begin looking at homes without obtaining loan pre-approval. The time spent on homes that don’t fit their budget can be avoided with this simple process.

An “Approval Letter” also provides you with additional ammunition when there are multiple offers on the home you want to purchase.

To make your next purchase a breeze, just contact us today to obtain your pre-approval letter, or apply online.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com

Financial benefits to homeownership include: equity increase due to appreciation, principal reduction and home improvements, and tax and potential retirement benefits available with a reverse mortgage.

Personal benefits include: pride of ownership, stability, security, freedom to occupy or rent the home, and much more.

Your new home may be closer than you think. Call today for a free analysis of your situation, and learn how easily you may be able to afford your own home.

Contact mortgage help today by visiting mortgagehelp.com or call our offices at:

888.684.9111

www.mortgagehelp.com