The quick answer: You bet! With record low interest rates, there are a lot of us out there refinancing or purchasing a home. However, so many are wowed by the interest rate and the long term savings that we do not look at the fees charged at closing to get the loan. If lenders are saving the borrower money, they have to make up the profits somewhere and that could be in the fees. This video explains how you should compare and negotiate to get your best deal.
I’m one that really enjoys DIY, or “Do it Yourself” projects around the home. For instance, I’ve changed many a light fixture and painted many rooms in our home. I get real satisfaction from seeing a job well done, and knowing I did it myself. However, a $20 light fixture is dramatically different than attempting making decisions in regards to your largest financial asset without counsel. That’s something I definitely would not recommend at all. Read the rest…
With mortgage rates at all time lows, buyers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to getting a great deal. Or are they? This video from Bankrate.com shows how to compare offers to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible and what to look for. Check it out! Read the rest…
With all the talk of saving money and our environment, how many of us have actually completed an energy audit? Local electric companies will provide on monthly bills a chart showing usage trends. While that information is nice to know, where can you save on electric usage and cut your bills? Read the rest…
2009 has unfortunately ushered in a new buzz phrase: “Loan Modification”. But how does one get a modification? What are the qualifiers? Finally, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced guidelines. Check out this press release on what it all entails.
Somehow watering the yard and saving money never end up in the same sentence. However, with a little help from the folks at the Home Depot, it can. If you water smart and avoid killing your lawn or ornamental plants, you can have a lush lawn that will make you the envy of the neighborhood. Read the rest…
The excitement of owning your first home is a feeling you won’t soon forget. There are a lot of firsts we will always remember in our lifetimes: our first kiss, first car, first love…and our first home. But what’s involved in making a wise first home decision? CNN Money Editor and author Gerri Willis has some great tips in this video.
You see the late night infomercials touting “EASY PROFITS!” But if it was that easy, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? Time to blow away the smoke and mirrors to the truth on short sales, folks. It’s a time consuming process that is a difficult (and not always successful) method to purchasing a home with a substantial discount. Read the rest…
Has the Columbia, South Carolina housing market fully rebounded or is it still in a slump? How does one know when things are improving? According to bankrate.com, there are two key indicators: 1) a decreasing unemployment rate, which shows residents of the area are going to work and companies are confident in their abilities to remain profitable and 2) a decreasing number of properties that remain unsold on market.
I was amazed, but then again, not really so surprised at the latest press release from HUD today. They issued Mortagee Letter 09-ML-15 “Using First Time Homebuyer Tax Credits”. It really tells us the bigger picture with some information, but the really useful details are totally left out. What makes me uneasy is that each state and each lender can really do their own interpretation of the rules here in many ways. Read the rest…
