Inside Skinny on Using Gifts for Down Payment on Home - 12/15/11 08:52 AM
Use of gifts for down payment.  This topic often confuses buyers and their parents.  I'll reveal the inside skinny on using gifts for down payment on a home.
Down payment assistance programs have gone the way of the dodo bird.  That's not our topic today.  Bartholomew and Patricia's debate revolves around money from mom and dad used instead of son or daughter's own cash for down payment.  Can this be done?
Bartholomew claims that the burst in the housing bubble and the resulting tightening of credit has led to a ban on gifts.  Patricia insists that a friend of a friend … (2 comments)

Does Raleigh Real Estate Market Favor Buyer or Seller in December 2011? - 12/12/11 04:52 PM
Does Raleigh real estate market favor Buyer or Seller in December 2011?  Media sound bite usually based on limited data and normally national in scope. 
Media comments based on what data?  In my experience, it's usually a comparison between the current month and the prior month or the current month compared with the same month a year ago.  More comprehensive data is needed by those who will actively participate in the real estate market.  In response to that need, I present you the following market analysis.

Market divided into four groups:Black Line: Represents Most Expensive HomesOrange Line: Represents Upper Middle … (6 comments)

Buy or Rent Your Home? The NY Times & My Two Cents - 12/08/11 04:32 PM
The debate rages on: Should you buy or rent your home?  Real estate is all in the numbers – or is it?  Let us look at the NY Times calculator plus my two cents.
Buying a home easily qualifies as a big decision.  So it stands to reason that we should run the numbers before deciding.  I went looking for an online calculator to help organize my thoughts and do the math.  The NY Times has a good calculator.  Before I insert my two cents, let's look at the numbers.
My imagery couple, Noel and Bridgette, decided they were willing to … (0 comments)

Pricing Your Home for Sale – the Overlooked Factor - 12/05/11 10:24 AM
Pricing your home for sale – the overlooked factor is personal.  Only the seller can determine the answer.  Real estate agents and appraisers can't.
As the seller, you must do this yourself.  I suggest you do this first before you call an agent.  It's critical.  I addressed the topic of pricing your home and picking a real estate agent in a previous article.  Success from following those guidelines increase when you deal with this personal issue first.
To over-simplify, there are two basic theories to pricing your home for sale:
1. Price high.  You can always reduce and negotiate later.
2. … (5 comments)

How to Shop Online; Protect Your Credit Score & Your Money - 12/01/11 11:30 AM
Companies, legit and not so legit, aggressively hunt for your money & your personal information.  Check out how to shop online, protect your credit & your money.
It doesn't have to be complicated.  It doesn't have to be time consuming.  Anyone can take a few simple steps to reduce their risk.  Mainly, you want to protect yourself from scams.  Keep in mind that even doing business with legit businesses has risks.  Any business transaction can go wrong.  Doing business online can open the floodgates to future marketing promotions too.  Take these steps and improve your shopping experience:
>  Create an email … (1 comments)

 
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Kathy Godin

Raleigh, NC

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Raleigh Mortgage Gals

Address: 5561 McNeely Dr, Suite 202A, Raleigh, NC, 27607

Office Phone: (919) 919-9888

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