Common Closing Costs for Buyers - 04/24/07 11:34 AM
Common Closing Costs for Buyers
  
The lender must disclose a good faith estimate of all settlement costs. A check to cover your closing costs will probably have to be a cashier's check. The title company or other entity conducting the closing will tell you the required amount for:
•         Downpayment
•         Loan origination fees
•         Points, or loan discount fees, you pay to receive a lower interest rate
•         Appraisal fee
•         Credit report
•         Private mortgage insurance premium
•         Insurance escrow for homeowners insurance, if being paid as part of the mortgage
•         Property tax escrow, if being paid as part of the mortgage. Lenders keep funds for taxes … (0 comments)

What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through - 04/24/07 11:29 AM
 
What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through
  
Be sure that:
•         Repairs you've requested have been made. Obtain copies of paid bills and any related warranties.
•         All items that were included in the sale price-draperies, lighting fixtures-are still there.
•         Screens and storm windows are in place or stored.
•        All appliances are operating.
•         Intercom, doorbell, and alarm are operational.
•         Hot water heater is working.
•        HVAC is working.
•         No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard.
•        Garage door opener and other remotes are available.
•         Instruction books and warranties on appliances and fixtures are there.
•         All personal items of the sellers and … (0 comments)

Does Moving Up Make Sense? - 04/24/07 11:15 AM
Does Moving Up Make Sense?
  
Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense.
•1.      How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don't build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you've owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.
•2.      Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving?
•3.      Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you've had children, the … (0 comments)

Understanding Capital Gains in Real Estate - 04/24/07 11:13 AM
                                              Understanding Capital Gains in Real Estate
When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain-the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same is true with selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations.
How to Calculate Gain
In real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis. To calculate this:
1. Take the purchase price of the home: This is the sale price, not the amount of money you actually contributed at closing.
2. Add adjustments:
Cost of … (0 comments)

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale - 04/24/07 11:06 AM
 
5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale
•1.      Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property's realistic price range.
•2.      Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
•3.      Be flexible about showings. It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll find a seller.
•4.      Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you'll find acceptable.
•5.      Don't refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market … (0 comments)

10 Ways to Make Your House More Saleable - 04/24/07 11:01 AM
 
10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable
  
•1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
•2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
•3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
•4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate … (0 comments)

Moving Tips for Sellers - 04/14/07 01:54 PM
•1.      Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move.
•2.      Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.
•3.      Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.
•4.      Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.
•5.      Cancel the newspaper.
•6.      Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
•7.      Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
•8.      Note the weight of the goods you'll have moved, since long-distance … (0 comments)

20 Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home - 04/14/07 01:50 PM
Make your home more appealing for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips.
Trim bushes so they don't block windows and cut down on light.Buy a new doormat.Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.Put new doorknobs on your doors.Put a fresh coating on your driveway.Edge the grass around walks and trees.Keep your garden tools out of site.Be sure kids put away their toys.Buy a new mailbox.Upgrade the outside lighting.Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.Polish or replace your house numbers.Clean your gutters.Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.Buy new pillows for … (1 comments)

Common Closing Costs for Buyers - 04/14/07 01:07 AM
Common Closing Costs for Buyers
  
The lender must disclose a good faith estimate of all settlement costs. A check to cover your closing costs will probably have to be a cashier's check. The title company or other entity conducting the closing will tell you the required amount for:
•Downpayment
•Loan origination fees
•Points, or loan discount fees, you pay to receive a lower interest rate
•Appraisal fee
•Credit report
•Private mortgage insurance premium
•Insurance escrow for homeowners insurance, if being paid as part of the mortgage
•Property tax escrow, if being paid as part of the mortgage. Lenders keep funds for taxes and insurance in escrow accounts as they are … (1 comments)

6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home - 04/14/07 01:00 AM
6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home
  
If your income and savings are making homebuying a challenge, consider these options.
•1.      Investigate local, state, and national downpayment assistance programs. These programs give loans or grants to cover all or part of your required downpayment. National programs include the Nehemiah program (http://www.getdownpayment.com) and the American Dream Downpayment Fund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://www.hud.gov).
•2.      Get the seller to provide financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you do a … (1 comments)

5 Reasons You Need a REALTOR - 04/14/07 12:46 AM
 
5 Reasons You Need a REALTORÒ
A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of ____ days. And it usually takes another 60 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.Real estate has its own language. If you don't … (1 comments)

Your Property Wish List - 04/14/07 12:40 AM
 
Your Property Wish List  
While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the homebuying process, use this easy checklist to help you prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming.
How close do you need to be to: (a) public transportation _______ (b) schools _______ (c) airport _______ (d) expressway _______ (e) neighborhood shopping _______ (f) other_______?What neighborhoods would you prefer?What school systems do you want to be near?What architectural style(s) of homes do you prefer?Do you want a one-story or two-story house?How old a home would you consider?How much repair or renovation would … (0 comments)

8 Ways to Improve Your Credit and 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score - 04/14/07 12:36 AM
                                                                  8 Ways to Improve Your Credit
Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you'll qualify for a loan and what loan terms you'll be able to qualify for.
•1.      Check for and correct errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for someone else's poor financial management.
•2.      Pay down credit card bills. If possible, pay off the entire balance every month. However, transferring credit card debt from one card to another could lower your score.
•3.      Don't charge your credit cards to the maximum limit.
•4.      Wait 12 months after credit … (0 comments)

Tips for First Time Homebuyers - 04/14/07 12:25 AM
 
10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers  
Be picky, but don't be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs.Don't wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.Don't ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel … (0 comments)

7 Reasons to Own Your Own Home - 04/14/07 12:19 AM
 
7 Reasons to Own Your Own Home
Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, property taxes you pay, and some of the costs involved in buying your home.Gains. Between 1998 and 2002, national home prices increased at an average of 5.4 percent annually. And while there's no guarantee of appreciation, a 2001 study by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSÒ found that a typical homeowner has approximately $50,000 of unrealized gain in a home.Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you'll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest … (0 comments)

Has anyone marketed Eagle Crest property? - 04/10/07 12:47 AM
I have a land listing in Eagle Crest and it is very difficult to market because my understanding is that only Eagle Crest Realty listings are allowed signs.  I have been thinking about how to market property out there besides mailings to neighbors, cable, Craig's List, and word of mouth.  Are there community bulletin boards or newsletters that accept advertising?  I also wonder how it can be legal to prohibit other realtors from having signs?  Anyone else having issues with this or pursued it?  Do you have any helpful advice?   Would like to find a way to reach people who are … (4 comments)

 
Sept_2006-4 Rainmaker_large

MARIA PEACE, M.B.A., G.R.I.

Bend, OR

More about me…

MORGAN & ASSOCIATES REALTY BEND

Address: 2955 N Hwy 97 Ste 200 , BEND, OR, 97701

Office Phone: (541) 350-2314

Cell Phone: (541) 350-2314

Email Me



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find OR real estate agents and Bend real estate on ActiveRain.