3 PANDEMIC INSPIRED BUYING TRENDS WITH STAYING POWER
December 01, 2020
How we use our homes, where we live, and who lives with us have all changed as a result of COVID-19. While the initial lockdowns may have delayed the spring real estate market, a recent survey from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) showed nine out of ten REALTORS® now feel their markets are in recovery mode.We’...
Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
December 01, 2020
Preparing to buy tips1. Start saving earlyHere are the main costs to consider when saving for a home:Down payment: Your down payment requirement will depend on the type of mortgage you choose and the lender. Some conventional loans aimed at first-time home buyers with excellent credit allow as little as 3% down. But even a small down payment can ...
Common Questions About FHA Mobile Home Loans
December 01, 2020
FHA home loan options include FHA mortgages for mobile homes. You can buy a mobile home, manufactured home, or modular home using an FHA mortgage and there are many common questions about this type of FHA mortgage option.What Does the FHA Define As A Manufactured Home?The FHA official site describes a mobile home (also known as a ...
Tips for photos
November 30, 2020
When it comes to listing photos, more is better—but only if those photos are good. Plan to take photos of each of the main rooms of the home, at least one exterior photo and additional shots of your home’s marketable details, like wainscoting or crown molding, a swimming pool, a stone paver driveway, etc. ...
Don’t Let Buyer Competition Keep You from Purchasing a Home
November 27, 2020
Don’t Let Buyer Competition Keep You from Purchasing a HomeThis year’s record-low mortgage rates sparked high demand among homebuyers. Current homeowners, however, haven’t put their houses on the market so quickly. This makes finding a home to buy today challenging for many potential buyers. With an obstacle like this, those searching for their dream homes may ...
How the holiday season impacts the Real Estate market!
November 25, 2020
The timing of buying and selling homes are linked through several factors. It is common for buyers to work in a quicker time frame than most sellers when finding either the right time to buy or the best time to sell. While the holidays can be known for the joy and cheer that is around, it is also one ...
FHA Proposes Private Flood Insurance for Single-Family Mortgages
November 18, 2020
The Federal Housing Administration published a proposed rule on its website that would allow a private flood insurance option instead of insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), when flood insurance is required by FHA.The changes, proposed, would allow lenders to begin accepting private flood insurance policies for single-family insured loans for homes located in Federal Emergency ...
Two COVID-19 Adjustments to be Aware of if You’re a Self-Employed Borrower
November 18, 2020
f you’re self-employed and partaking in the COVID-19 housing environment, here are a couple things you should know as you begin the journey:Income and Asset Documentation: Under non-COVID circumstances, self-employed borrowers have flexible requirements in order to obtain a mortgage without the traditional documentation. However, it is important to note that expiration dates for documents are currently 60 ...
Why the Holidays Are a Good Time to Sell a House
November 17, 2020
When it comes to real estate, the ideal time to sell your home often falls in the spring months. After all, many people hunker down during the winter months or are too busy with the holidays to think about purchasing a new home. And don't forget, people like to start shopping in the spring to make sure they ...
CARBON MONOXIDE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
November 16, 2020
CO is an odorless, colorless gas produced by the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, oil and propane in devices including furnaces, water heaters and stoves. These appliances are designed to vent the CO to the outside, but incomplete combustion of fuel, improper installation, or blockages, leaks or cracks in the venting systems can cause CO to reach ...
Renting vs. buying a home: Which is right for you?
November 16, 2020
By Jennifer Bradley Franklin Renting vs. buying a home is a big decision, and there are pros and cons to each option. In recent years, a higher percentage of U.S. households were renting than at any point since 1965, according to a Pew Research Center report.Renting vs. buying PROSCONSBuying• May build equity and credit• No landlord ...
35 Money-Saving Household Habits
November 16, 2020
Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. But wait. There are plenty of expenses that are simply a waste.Here’s how to save money each month without putting a dime of home value at ...
Appraisals can make or break
November 15, 2020
Buying real estate often requires some serious haggling between home buyer and seller, to arrive at a price that they're both willing to accept. But even if you reach an agreement, the negotiations may not be over. If you're a buyer who needs a mortgage, most lenders will require that you obtain a home appraisal. So that ...
5 Tips for a healthy home
November 15, 2020
As we’re now in the cooler months of fall (and not to mention flu season), we all feel a responsibility to keep our families healthy where they feel the safest: at home. So, what makes a home healthy, and what can you do to make your home a safe haven for loved ones? Use these ...
3 Things You Want To Know Before Buying A Home This Fall
November 12, 2020
If you are planning to become a homeowner this year, these three facts about fall real estate will help you make an informed decision.Image by Jens Neumann from Pixabay 1. Price Fluctuations. Zillow reports show that around the same time last year, there is a 4.1% increase in the median home value in the USA. With ...
Woodruff Ranked #1 Best Up and Coming in the Housing Market in South Carolina
November 12, 2020
Woodruff Ranked #1 Best Up & Coming Housing Market in South CarolinaCredit goes to Nicole Collins from The Woodruff Times...
You Can't Bury Your Problems!
November 12, 2020
Prior to the late 1960's, most homes were heated with an oil furnace. As such, most homes of this age have or had a non-commercial UST (Underground Storage Tank), typically of 1,100 gallons or less. The NC EPA rules on buried oil tanks on residential properties changed in 2015. As of Oct. 1, 2015, no ...
Homeownership Is a Key to Building Wealth
November 10, 2020
For years, real estate has been considered the best investment you can make. A major reason for this is due to the net worth a household gains through homeownership. In fact, according to the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finance Data from the Federal Reserve, for the average homeowner:“…a primary home accounts for 90% of ...
Home Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter
November 09, 2020
The cold season has already arrived in many parts of the country. Here in ,
Things to do in NC in the fall!
November 09, 2020
If you're looking to relocate to NC, here are some great reasons NC is a wonderful place to reside in the fall!Blue Ridge Parkway - ride the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway when the leaves start turning to see some spectacular colorful viewsSpeedway Christmas - starting in late November, the Charlotte Motor Speedway opens up for cars for ...
Buying Your First Investment Property: A Step-by-Step Guide
November 05, 2020
by Matt Frankel, CFPBuying an investment property can be a great way to generate income and build wealth over time, but getting started can be intimidating. When we use the phrase "investment property," we're referring to a property that you plan to buy and rent out for the purpose of generating income. If you're thinking ...
HUD Disclosures Enhance HUD property Desirability
November 04, 2020
HUD is the only seller that I know who provides 2-3 disclosures on all its properties. No one else that I know has the disclosures that HUD provides for anyone's viewing. I feel that the PCR is perhaps the most important. This allows the list agent, sell agent, buyers, lender, title company to be on the same page. ...
Home heating safety
November 04, 2020
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone that can read this. We truly live in a magnificent country.That being said, we are quickly approaching the cooler days that indicate Winter is coming. During these times, some people find it necessary to cover windows with plastic sheeting to stop heat from leaking out of their homes. While this may ...
Closing Costs 101
November 03, 2020
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Buying Land With An FHA Loan
November 03, 2020
Buying land with an FHA loan is mostly done in conjunction with an FHA construction loan, and it is a common feature of FHA Stick-Builds, Modular and mobile home loans-the buyer takes the necessary steps with a builder or manufacture dealer which will include the land it is situated upon or will be situated upon.HUD 4000.1 has ...
