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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Home Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter
November 09, 2020
The cold season has already arrived in many parts of the country. Here in ,
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
Closing Costs 101
November 03, 2020
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Home Values Projected to Keep Rising
November 02, 2020
As we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices. Looking at the big picture, the rules of supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what is to come.Due to the undersupply ...
REAL ESTATE NEWS MarketWatch U.S. Home Prices Rise at Fastest Pace in Two Years
November 02, 2020
By Jacob Passy | Oct 28, 2020 The numbers: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city price index posted a 5.2% year-over-year gain in August, up from revised 4.1% in the previous month, according to a report released by S&P Dow Jones Indices on Tuesday. The gain was in line with expectations of Wall Street economists surveyed ...
4 Reasons Why the Election Won’t Dampen the Housing Market
November 02, 2020
4 Reasons Why the Election Won’t Dampen the Housing MarketTomorrow, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market will not be one of them.Analysts will try to measure the impact feasible changes in regulations ...
Self-Employed and Applying for a Mortgage? Here's What's Changed Since COVID-19
November 02, 2020
The gig economy has blown up in the past few years, with more and more people choosing to work as freelancers, either by starting their own businesses, or by picking up nonsalaried jobs from bigger companies. According to the Freelancers Union, over 50 million Americans worked this year as freelancers, a number that represents roughly 35% of the ...
Real-Estate Tips for Assisting Millennials Buying Their First Homes
November 02, 2020
Right now may seem to be one of the worst possible times for millennials to invest in their first-ever homes. And yet, the real estate market is booming for millennials. According to Realtor.com’s 2020 Housing Market Predictions, millennials will comprise the largest percentage of home buyers this year. This shouldn’t seem too surprising, as the millennial ...
Two Important Impacts of Home Equity
October 26, 2020
Equity continues to rise, helping American homeowners secure a much more stable financial future. According to the most recent data from CoreLogic, the average homeowner gained $9,800 in equity over the past year. In addition, experts project 2020 home prices to continue rising. With prices going up, equity gains will also keep accelerating. Black Knight just reported:“The ...
