One of the latest updates in the Mortgage world is the HomeReady loan program. This program was created by Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae). Home ready loans were created to be an affordable means to a mortgage for creditworthy borrowers who may have a diverse range of financial situations. This is done through the flexibility of fund source for the borrower. Unlike most … [Read more...]
Choose Your Dream Home
If you are thinking about buying your dream home, a Realtor can help. Consider these five things as you choose your dream home. The first consideration should always be location. Are you looking for Tempe homes for sale or Gilbert? Chandler or Surprise? What are your family’s wants and needs? What neighborhood do you want to live in? Do you want an historical home? Do you want a new home in a … [Read more...]
The Home Buying Process is Simple – Follow the Formula
I don't know how many posts I have read that start out with "Buying a home is a big deal...blah...blah...blah." I wish I could have been there to write some of these posts because they are boring as heck and rehash the same old "blah, blah, blah." Fortunately for me, what is missing in these posts is a little personality. Sure buying a house is a big deal, but people, we don't have to be so … [Read more...]
Arizona Home Inspections: What You Want To Know
Congratulations on finding a house! You now have only a few days from when you signed the purchase and sales agreement to have a home inspection. Chances are your real estate agent made the offer contingent upon a satisfactorily home inspection and obtaining mortgage financing. What Is A Home Inspection? According to Wikipedia, a home inspection “is a limited, non-invasive examination … [Read more...]
The Players Helping You Buy Your Home
When you buy a home, there is a team of players on your side helping you through the transaction -- it is a team sport since there are so many tasks, important timelines, documents and responsibilities that all need special care and attention. Besides working with a professional team that you trust, it's important that the individual players have the ability to effectively communicate and … [Read more...]
HOAs In Arizona Things To Be Aware Of When Buying A House
In Arizona, HOAs are popular and a Home Owner Association (HOA) can have a huge impact on your life when you buy a home in a PUD (Planned Unit Development) or Condominium Project. According to Wikipedia: A homeowners' association (abbrev. HOA) is an organization created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a development of homes. It allows the … [Read more...]
First-Time Home Buyer Credit Checklist
If you are in the market for a new home, you probably already know that getting a new mortgage for a First-Time Home Buyer can be a little overwhelming with all of the important details, guidelines and potential speed bumps. Yes, we know that there are plenty of rules to follow -- but here is a simple list of "Do's" and "Don'ts" to follow when shopping for a mortgage for the first time. … [Read more...]
Earnest Money: Where Does It Go?
I have a question... if you give your Realtor a $5000 Earnest Money Deposit check, where exactly does that money go? A basic and very obvious question that most First-Time home Buyers ask once their purchase contract gets accepted. According to Wikipedia: Earnest Money - an earnest payment (sometimes called earnest money or simply earnest, or alternatively a good-faith deposit) is a … [Read more...]
Renting vs Buying A Home
When making the decision to rent or buy a home - it is a big decision. While there are several biased sources that can make arguments for or against owning a home, we've found that most home buyers base their ultimate decision on emotion. Yes, there are some tax advantages of owning real estate, as well as the potential to earn equity or pay a mortgage note off after several … [Read more...]