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...]
How To Value A Property That Is Not Yet Built
It's obviously easier to picture the process of estimating value on an existing property in a neighborhood that has a history of home sales, but the task of determining the value on new construction projects does pose some challenges. Appraisals on homes that haven't been built yet generally require the contractor and home buyer to supply more documentation in order to get a more accurate … [Read more...]
Understanding the Difference Between an Appraisal vs Neighborhood Listing Prices
Why is there such a difference between what my appraised value is and the price similar homes are selling for on my street? It’s a great question, and you don’t have to be a mortgage professional or a real estate agent to understand the answer. The distinction lies in the purpose of the two valuations and who is responsible for creating them. Appraisals: The purpose of an appraisal is to … [Read more...]
Is Refinancing Worth It?
As rates are low, many people are trying to figure out if refinancing makes sense in their situation and it can be a challenging task if you do not understand what to calculate. Here is at least one way to figure out if refinancing makes sense -- focus on the net benefits of refinancing from the standpoint of lowering your interest rate. Although there are several reasons to do an AZ … [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...]
8 Questions To Ask About Mortgage Rates
Looking at today's mortgage rates and seeing what is posted may not be the best way to compare rates. The reason is that many factors can cause each individual rate and closing cost scenario to fluctuate. Even though loan officers like to preach communication, service and education all day long, ultimately, it is very difficult to figure out who to trust when going through this complex … [Read more...]
How Much House Can I Afford?
How much mortgage money can I qualify to borrow? This is typically the number one question mortgage professionals are asked by new clients. Of critical importance when considering mortgage financing: There is sometimes a difference between what a client ***can*** borrow and what they ***should*** borrow. In other words, what makes for a comfortable long-term mortgage payment? The … [Read more...]
Sell Your Home Before You Buy Another House?
Although every situation is unique, it is not uncommon for homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage on a new home while still living in their primary residence. Perhaps you are outgrowing your current house, or have been forced to relocate due to a job transfer? Regardless of the motivation for keeping one property while purchasing another, let’s address this question with the mortgage approval in … [Read more...]
What Does Title Insurance Protect Me From?
By including title insurance when purchasing property, your title insurer takes on accountability for legal expenses to defend your property title, should it ever be challenged. Many different occurrences can come into play to warrant the need for title insurance. The title company responsible will then take on the legal expenses to defend the property for as long as you are in possession of … [Read more...]