buying a home: Historically Low Interest Rates Mean Historically High Buying Power
- 03/22/11 01:40 PM
Historically low interest rates - we keep hearing the words, but what do they mean? Is there really that big of a difference when the rate goes up a few points? And what are interest rates doing now? Interest Rate Trends 1963 to 2010 Without seeing this chart, it's hard to picture how truly compelling interest rates have been over the past year. The graph shows interest rate trends over the past 47 years - and it's obvious that rates are the lowest they're been for half a century! National Average Contract Mortgage Rate 1963 to 2010
buying a home: New Appraisal Guidelines from Fannie and Freddie 6-30-2010
- 07/19/10 12:55 AM
Having an appraiser that actually understands the property you intend to purchase (or sell) makes a big difference! Whether you're considering buying or selling a home in the Raleigh/Fort Bragg area, these changes will make the process less stressful. And Eleanor is a wonderful resource for any of your financing questions.
On February 15, 2010 The Federal Housing Administration adopted new appraisal guidelines that include "geographic competency" requirements. Effective June 30, 2010 Fannie Mae adopted similar requirements, a move that we think is important. The HVCC ruling came from NY Attorney General Cuomo and it is intended to protect appraisers from coercion from lenders. … (0 comments)
buying a home: How to save money when you build your new home - Top 5 Questions for the Family Room
- 03/22/10 06:03 AM
What to upgrade now - and what you can do later - from a Custom Home Builder Smart home building tips for the Family Room and Living Areas You can save money and build your new home the way you want it - by doing some of the final details later. Here are the top 5 questions that will help you decide what's a must and what can wait - along with our suggestions and tips. 1. What kind of flooring best fits your lifestyle? Will babies be crawling? Will children be working on crafts, or playing with toys … (6 comments)
buying a home: Top 7 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your New Home - Kitchen
- 02/22/10 07:59 AM
Wondering how to save money in your new home? Tips on What's Worth Upgrading - From a Custom Home Builder Smart home building tips for the Kitchen This questionnaire will help you determine where to spend your money in the kitchen as you build - and what you can do differently, later. 1. Where do you spend your time in the kitchen? Factor in ease-of-use and functionality. 2. Who hangs there with you? Do you need an island, breakfast bar , or conversation corner? Do the countertops need to incorporate extra width or arches, or will something simple do? 3. How important is the overall … (51 comments)
November 30, 2009, 1:30 PT RATE LOCK ADVISORY Lock Advice: FLOAT With CAUTIONThe Float with Caution recommendation is because rates have been down for a while and they almost always adjust in the other direction after a long run.MBS prices are up 2/32. This morning, the November Chicago PMI national manufacturing index rose to 56.1, the consensus forecast was 53.0 RATE NOTES:When MBS prices are up, Rates are down.Lock advice can change throughout the day … (2 comments)
buying a home: 2009 Property Tax Guide - Wake County NC (Cary, Raleigh, Apex)
- 07/07/09 10:46 PM
Raleigh Relocation Information Package 2009 Property Tax Guide Wake County NC Property Taxes - How to Find out How Much You'll Pay Whether you're considering relocating from one side of the Triangle to the other, or coming to Raleigh from Florida, New Jersey, New York, or elsewhere, you've probably wondered what the yearly property taxes might be for your new home. When were property values last adjusted (assessed)? Wake County reassessed property values on January 1, 2008. Many homes saw an increase of value, particularly since it had been 8 years since the last reassessment. View up-to-date Wake County property tax rates here … (0 comments)
buying a home: Rent Vs Buy Calculators - How Accurate is Trulia's New Calculator?
- 03/26/09 02:39 AM
Renting vs. Buying Trulia Offers Rent vs Buy Calculator Here's What You Should Know Before You Use It! Trulia is focused on promoting their Rent vs. Buy Calculator. Here's some things to think about: $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit The calculator does not take the $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit into account. This can make a big difference, particularly if you would have had to dig into savings (or use a credit card!) to pay your tax bill without the credit. Record Low Interest Rates Be sure to change the default interest rate from 6% (which was much more standard a year ago!) to today's rates, … (7 comments)
buying a home: Interest Rates Hit Record Lows! Applications Are Flooding In...
- 03/25/09 01:30 AM
Buying a New Home Interest Rates Hit Record Lows Mortgage Applications Surge 30% Thought this CNN Money article was very interesting: - Record low interest rates last week produced a 30% increase in applications - Borrowing costs on a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 4.63%, down .26% from the previous week - One mortgage company alone has hired over 100 people over the past 3 months to keep up with mortgage demand. Read Interest Rate Article Here As many experts have said, there is no guarantee that rates will continue at this level, and as a matter of fact, they rose again … (3 comments)
buying a home: Property Taxes - Easy Guide to the Cheapest (and Most Expensive) Places to Live in the Triangle!
- 03/18/09 03:04 AM
Raleigh Relocation Package - Property Tax Rates Compare Property Taxes for Top Triangle Counties and Cities! Who Has the Best Property Tax Rates: Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or Surrounding Areas? Property tax rates can vary quite a bit per city and county location in the Triangle NC area. To make it easy to compare different counties and cities in the Triangle NC area, we've created this handy property tax comparison reference guide. Click on the links to find property tax rate charts for each city within the county, plus county-only rates. We've also included information on how to find out where … (2 comments)
buying a home: Mortgage Rates Reach Close to Record Lows This Week - Applications Jump 11%!
- 03/11/09 12:04 AM
Mortgage Rates Raleigh NC Buying a Home in the Triangle? Lock Your Rate, Quick! Mortgage Rates Reach Close to Record Low - But Not Expected To Stay! Mortgage applications jumped 11% last week, as homebuyers and homeowners jumped on an unexpected dip in already very low rates. Mortgage Rates Touch Below 5% - Briefly! During the week ending March 6th, borrowing costs on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.96% (excluding fees). This is down 0.18 percentage point from the previous week. And, this is the SECOND LOWEST RATE on record since the weekly MBA survey began in 1990. The record low … (1 comments)
buying a home: $8,000 Available to First Time Homebuyers - Tax Credit Helps Homeowners
- 02/19/09 03:04 AM
Tax Credit - Buying a Home $8,000 Tax Credit Now Available First Time Homebuyers and Others Qualify The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," passed the House and Senate on Friday, February 13, 2009 and was signed into law by President Obama on February 16, 2009. An $8,000 tax credit (NOT a loan) is now available to many homebuyers. Quick Facts - Homebuyer Tax Credit - Homebuyer must be a first time homebuyer OR have not owned a home for the past 3 years - Purchase must be for a principle residence (no investment homes) - Home must be purchased on or after January … (4 comments)
buying a home: Classes on How to Buy a Home - Step by Step, Making the Right Decisions!
- 01/29/09 11:10 PM
Buying a Home in Raleigh NC Raleigh Teaches How to Buy a Home Classes on Mortgages, Home Buying, Making Good Decisions I just found out that there are some great classes available through RADA, the Raleigh Area Development Authority! There are 10 classes altogether, with about 12 hours worth of great learning time. Potential homebuyers can learn about - Qualifying for a mortgage - Shopping for a home - Applying for a loan - Closing on a home There are also other programs for employer-assisted homebuyer education, mortgage assistance, senior computer literacy, and financial literacy. One of RADA's primary goals is to … (0 comments)
buying a home: Should You Take The $12,000 Financing Package Builder Pushes???
- 01/14/09 11:11 PM
New Homes Raleigh NC If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Check carefully into any "free money" offers for new homes - and it sure doesn't hurt to get a second opinion before you sign on the dotted line. The newspaper and internet ads seem to leave off the fact that you're still paying, just in a different way! It's easy to be mesmerized by the ads. Your mortgage rate will be 3.5% the first year, 4.5% the second year and then FIXED at 5.5% for the rest of the time you own your home! You get a … (1 comments)
buying a home: How Tall Should Ceilings Be for Best Resale Value?
- 01/05/09 11:25 PM
Custom Homes Raleigh NC As home builders in the Raleigh, NC area, we are often asked for advice on what to include in a new home. Ceiling Height in New Homes - 8 Ft or 9 Ft? What Ceiling Height is Considered Standard? "Which is better in the long run, 8 ft or 9 ft ceilings? Many builders charge to increase ceiling height from 8 ft to 9 ft on the first floor. Is it worth the investment, or am I better off spending that money elsewhere in my new home?"
Increased Ceiling Height is Worth the Investment An 8 … (0 comments)
Related Links:
Stanton Homes
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina
Historically low interest rates - we keep hearing the words, but what do they mean? Is there really that big of a difference when the rate goes up a few points? And what are interest rates doing now?
;)
;)
;)
