| |
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac - 09/11/08 11:04 AM
Fannie, Freddie Takeover Keeps Mortgages Flowing The federal government's sweeping takeover of mortgage market giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is expected to have positive short-term benefits to the real estate market and opens the door for the industry to shape the restructuring of the companies. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® commended the Treasury Department's decision, which it said will bring much-needed stability and continued liquidity to the nation's mortgage market."This demonstrates that the government is clearly committed to keeping the flow of capital uninterrupted, which is crucial to the housing sector and the economy," NAR President Richard F. Gaylord said … (0 comments)
|
buying: Naperville IL, Plainfield Illinois Real Estate - Should you buy a home in today's market? - 06/26/08 10:01 AM
Should You Buy a Home in Today's Market? Before we start, let us give you one reason to not buy a new home right now.
How long do you intend to live there?
A rule of thumb is that it rarely makes sense to buy if you expect to move within two years. That's because when you do sell, there are costs associated with selling. We're not just talking about sales commissions to the buying and selling real estate brokers. Most owners rely on home appreciation to pay those costs and to provide the down payment and closing costs when they buy … (1 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - How much house can you afford? - 05/09/08 10:09 AM
Deciding how much house you can afford
Before you start house hunting, you need to determine how much house you can afford, which will entail getting either prequalified or preapproved for a home loan. A real estate agent can help you find a mortgage broker to begin the process. While getting preapproved is a more in-depth process, a preapproval letter lets both real estate agents and sellers know that you're a serious shopper who means business.
What do I do to get prequalified?
A prequalification can be done online or over the phone and does not require your submitting financial documents. … (1 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Financing Solutions - 05/06/08 08:56 AM
Overcoming the misconceptions about the "credit crisis"
You've watched the news and read about it in the papers. You know, the "credit crisis" and how buyers need 20 percent down in order to buy a home? And even if you found a buyer with 20 percent down, lenders aren't making loans anyway. So, why bother, right? Wrong!
We're right smack in the middle of what just might be the biggest disservice ever perpetrated on potential home buyers. It seems the press just can't get enough of all the gloom and doom in the housing industry. The fact is that mortgage money is as available … (1 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Mold Must Go (6 Things to Know) - 05/02/08 08:27 AM
Mold is a potential health danger for any family and also a legal liability for sellers. Because of the fear over mold contamination there are so many lawsuits flying around today that sales of resale homes are in jeopardy -- and insurance companies are scrambling to avoid liability, with some U.S. insurers refusing to write any new homeowner policies. So what do you need to know about mold .....
1. Molds are everywhere and have been around forever. Many people have the impression that this is a new problem -- think, "Attack of the killer molds!" -- and that we now must arm … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Aurora Townhome - 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom in Oswego School District 308 - 04/30/08 08:55 AM
… (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - If You Think You're Saving Money Renting ... Think Again - 04/29/08 09:57 AM
If You Think You're Saving Money Renting ... Think Again
A new report by the National Association of Realtors shows the real reason why home sales don't crash for long -- rents. When purchase demands slow down, rentals speed up. Rents provide the floor that stops housing prices from major declines.
Home prices going down has been the big news lately, but in the shadows is a statistic that may surprise you. The first quarter of 2008 makes the 24th consecutive quarter that rental prices have escalated nationwide.
According to Reis Inc., a New-York based research firm, the soft home market and … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Reasons to buy a home - 04/28/08 07:24 AM
Pride of Ownership
Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It's making an investment in your future. Appreciation
Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Getting a loan in a tight credit market - 03/27/08 12:09 PM
How to get a loan in a tight credit market.
While there is home financing available for people with good credit, the options are fewer if your credit score is less than stellar. If someone has a credit score below 680, they will pay more private mortgage insurance on loans above 80 percent LTV. Below 620 it's going to be extremely difficult. Mortgage insurance companies that typically do loans for people with lower credit scores aren't offering it without extremely high monthly premiums. If the client has face-to-face counseling, most mortgage insurance companies will lower the cost of private mortgage insurance … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Larger Loan Amounts, Lower Interest Rates - 03/27/08 09:31 AM
Larger Loan Amounts. Lower Interest Rates.Now Available On FHA Loans.
Good news! Qualified customers can now borrow loan amounts from $417,000 and up to $729,750 without paying a typically higher jumbo interest rate. The new FHA loan amounts are only available in certain metropolitan areas.
That means, for a limited time, purchasing or refinancing a home:
• Is more possible• For more people• In more metropolitan areas.
If you've been waiting for a better time to explore your options -it's here!
Get More Details Right AwayFind out soon if one of our government-insured FHA loans is right for you. Contact me today for a free no … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - How to get the perfect hard boiled egg. - 03/22/08 10:22 AM
How to get the perfect hard boiled egg.
Start by placing the eggs in an empty pot. Then fill with cold water until the water is about an inch over the eggs. Place pot on stove and turn to high heat to boil eggs. When the water begins to boil, turn down burner to medium heat. Boil for 10 minutes. Once the eggs have finished boiling, remove the eggs from boiling water and place them in a bowl of ice water. Let the eggs sit for 3-4 minutes and remove from ice water. Now you have the perfect egg......and the yolk will … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Homes for rent - 03/21/08 08:49 AM
Did you know that I can help you find a home to rent?
In the multiple listing service, there are rentals available. Contact me today and we will work together to find a home for you to rent. Whether you want a month-to=month lease or a one year agreement, I'll be sure to find you something. With so many homes on the market today, many home owners are looking for other options like renting out there homes.
"That sounds great, Cheryl, but I can't afford to pay you!"
No problem, as the renter, you are not responsible for my compensation. The landlord would be responsible … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Should I refinance right now? - 03/21/08 08:40 AM
The economy is going through a rough patch, and the stock market is well below its all-time high. Mortgage rates have been dropping since the end of last year. For homeowners, that can mean only one thing: It's time to think about refinancing your mortgage.
If you can save on the interest you're paying, then it's time to do a mortgage refinance. For some homeowners whose adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) interest rates are rising, the low interest rates on 30- and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages offer an opportunity to refinance into something that's a known quantity. If you have a mortgage that's going to … (2 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Am I eligible for a short sale or is my only option foreclosure or bankruptcy? - 03/18/08 12:23 PM
I owe more than my home is worth. Am I eligible for short sale or is my only option foreclosure or bankruptcy?Always consult your lender as to what your options are. The options usually are: a short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (basically an accelerated voluntary surrender), and foreclosure. The banks like to prevent foreclosure when at all possible. They've even been known to lower people's rates and/or payments because of all the new defaults in the past few years. Either way, your first stop should be to get information from you lender on what options they provide.Contact me for an assessment of your costs. … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Will my mortgage insurance cover the difference if I default on my loan? - 03/18/08 09:29 AM
If I pay mortgage insurance and default on my loan, why wouldn't that cover the deficiency amount?The mortgage insurance is not there for your protection, just the lender's. If you are paying PMI (private mortgage insurance) it is there to protect the lender in case you default on your loan. You can usually get the PMI removed after you have enough equity in the home. The lenders will not remove this for you. It is your responsibility to get this removed. Afterall, why do you want to be paying PMI if you don't have to. It doesn't protect you, it protects … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - What is this I hear about Radon? - 03/11/08 11:48 PM
A state law requires radon disclosure as of January 1, 2008. What do you need to know?
When a buyer and seller sign a contract on residential real estate property in Illinois on or after January 1, 2008, the new Illinois Radon Awareness Act will apply to the sales transaction. According to the new law, the seller must supply the buyer with two documents before the buyer will become bound on a contract to purchase the property. The first is a pamphlet from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) entitled "Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions." The second is a form to sign called "Disclosure … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - Sell your home by pricing it correctly - 03/11/08 11:38 PM
The secret to selling your home is pricing it correctly. If you are serious about selling then price your home below the comparable homes. A properly priced home will attract buyer showings. The correct price and good condition will cause a buyer to write an offer on a house. It's that simple!
I suggest sellers start by pricing their home below the other comparables. Then, slowly reduce the price until they begin getting buyer showings and an offer is negotiated. This is the simple answer to selling a house; however, it's not that easy since we are dealing with human emotions.
It is a buyer's market, and today's buyer doesn't tolerate improper pricing and … (0 comments)
|
buying: Plainfield IL, Naperville Illinois Real Estate - ATTENTION SELLERS: Is your home easy to show? - 03/08/08 07:12 PM
If your home is on the market, you better make it easy for buyers to see!
I was showing homes yesterday and I had problems showing 3 of the 7 homes I was to show my buyers.
At the first home, the home owner was there and unaware of the showing. I guess the realtor never told them. (It's never a good idea to have the home owner at home when the buyers are there.) The whole situation was awkward and the buyers just rushed through the home.
At the second home, there was a combination lock box on the home. When I … (0 comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cheryl Bowers, Plainfield, Naperville, IL. Real Estate
Plainfield,
IL
More about me…
Keller Williams Realty
Address: 608 S. Washington Street, Suite 100, Naperville, IL, 60540
Cell Phone: (630) 712-1921
Email Me
 Listings
Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
;)
