Wayne 's Blog

I Want to Buy A Home! How Can I Improve my Credit?

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:12:17 -0500

As with many things - just asking the question - is a good first step.

1) Contact a mortgage professional in the town you wish to purchase in.

The reason I have this as the first step is that a mortgage professional can pull your credit and advise you on where you are at and how to get where you want to go. I adivise either sticking to a major bank lender like Wachovia, Wells Fargo, or GMAC in your local area because it will keep you away from the scam artists. There are mortgage brokers not with the major banks who are awesome but there are some real scam artists who will take you for a ride.

2) Keep credit balances on revolving lines like credit cards as low as possible.

Credit scores are higher when you use a low percentage of your available credit. So, if possible keep credit card and other revolving credit lines below 30% of available credit. In other words if your credit card has a credit line of $5000 - keep the revolving balance below $1500. This gives you plenty of room for emergencies and keeps your credit score high.

3) If you want to buy a house - don't go buy all new vehicles.

Debt to income ratios are very important for determining what kind of home you will qualify for. 2 new vehicles with $500+ per month payments on each will take a chunk out of your income leaving less to use for a home. Make your new home a priority and buy a home - then determine if you have enough available to purchase a vehicle. Sometimes it is smart to save up or just have one nice car and one that will just "get you by".

4) Pay on time!

This seems like common sense but it is important that you pay attention to your bills and get them in on time. Nuff said about that. :)

5) Correct any mistakes on your credit report.

When your mortgage professional pulls your credit report - look for mistakes - and enlist their help in correcting any mistakes.

6) Find a Good REALTOR

Now that you have your credit ready to go - call me and we will find you a home that your family will enjoy!

I Want to Buy a Home - What are the Steps?

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:14:39 -0600

Your first home purchase can seem like an overwhelming task but it is really not that hard. Here we go.

Step 1 - Research professional Realtors in the area you would like to find a home. That is a pretty easy task now with the internet. Just Google your City, State, Real Estate and then begin to check out their websites. You will want to look for several items on the website:

a) A good Realtor website will have an excellent search engine capabilities for you to search all the homes listed on the MLS - not just that Realtors' listings. It should have mapping and ease of use!

b) Info about the agent - not just that he or she is a nice person and the "best" agent - but info about their accomplishments, education, and experience. Even time as a Realtor can be a poor indicator as their spouse may bring home the paycheck and they only work "part time". You want a Realtor who is full time, does lots of closings every year, and has the education and experience to protect your interests.

Step 2 - Let your Realtor help you select a local Mortgage professional who can help you get pre-qualified for a loan.

a) I said local Mortgage professional for a reason. You want someone local for several reasons but most importantly because you and your Realtor will be able to hold their feet to the fire. It is hard to hold someone off in cyber space accountable. Someone who never has to see you or the Realtor again is much more likely to over promise and under deliver. In addition the local lender will know all the parties to the transaction like the attorney, appraiser, and processors. They are much more likely to be able to call up the appraiser and say hey "Bob" could you go ahead and get the appraisal done for us because we are in a time crunch.

b) Use a major bank Mortgage department for your loan rather than a loan broker. A broker is really just a middle man. At one time a broker could sometimes find a "special" loan product to fit you but not anymore. Everyone basically has the same loan products so I recommend going with a major player like Wachovia, Wells Fargo, GMAC, or Suntrust in our area as they have the resources to close your loan fast and on time. You will be dealing with the people making the loan and not a middle man. Ask your Realtor who to use - they should know who can close a loan smoothly.

Step 3 - Go find a house! Use your Realtors home search website to find homes you might like and show these to your Realtor. This will help him/her understand the type of home you like but don't fall in love with these because they may look different when you get there. Let your Realtor suggest other possibilities that they think may fit you as well. It is a collaborative effort. Keep an open mind! Only so many homes will fit your criteria and price range - so once you establish which ones those are - it is simply a matter of choosing the one that fits you the best.

Step 4 - When you find your home - make an offer! Have your Realtor pull up area comparables and talk about negotiating strategies and what things are important to you like time frame, seller paid closing costs, home warranties, and other items that are important to you in the purchase.

Step 5 - Contract to Close - If you have chosen a good Realtor and Mortgage team this portion should go smoothly. Most of the horror stories you hear are because the client chose some fly by night mortgage broker who couldn't deliver what he promised. Things to remember here are:

a) Go ahead and get the lender all the documentation they ask for as soon as possible. They cannot submit your loan without all documentation.

b) Cooperate with all inspections and other items in a timely manner. Real Estate contracts are time sensitive.

Step 6 - Close and move in your new home - Closing is simply a 1 hour process at the lawyers office where you sign all documents to take responsibility for paying your mortgage loan and the seller gives you good title to the house. The lawyer is there to make sure everything is done in proper and legal manner so that everyones interests are protected and you receive clear title to the home.

Congratulations! You are new homeowner!

When is the best time to buy a Home?

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:28:28 -0600

Most successful investors say to "buy - low and sell - high"! This is always easier said than done but if you ask when would be the best time to buy real estate in our area - I think it would be when the following criteria is in place.

1) Low interest rates

2) Plenty of inventory

3) Motivated Sellers

4) Off season.

Wow! I think those criteria are in place now. :) I really do think it is an excellent time to buy a home as interest rates have just fallen and we are at point where sellers are willing to make a deal. I don't know exactly when this buyers market will turn but I know that it will turn and I think we will all look back and say 2007 was a great time to buy a home! Use this link to search the homes in Columbus Ga and the surrounding area.

Troy State Business School in Phenix City

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:29:31 -0500

Phenix City cleared a major hurdle for the Troy State University Business School to locate along the River in Phenix City. The Office of Housing and Development approved the purchase of the Triangle property at the 700 and 800 blocks of Phenix City. This is the land designated to be used for the new business school. The new business school coupled with the construction of the Phenixian along the Riverfront will be a huge step in the revitalization of downtown Phenix City.

Phenix City is working to revitalize much like Columbus on the other side of the river. Columbus State University has moved their art and music schools downtown and rehabbed several downtown buildings in the process. Coupled with the new streetscapes and the RiverCenter - downtown is becoming a great place to hang out, work and live!

Thank you for inviting me

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:13:27 -0500

Thank you for inviting me to this group! I look forward to interacting with you guys. Wayne

Cessna breaks ground for new plant in Columbus GA

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:13:11 -0500

More good economic news for Columbus is that Cessna broke ground this week for a new manufacturing plant. The 100,000 sq. ft. plant will be located on 40 acres of the technology park in east Columbus. Officials said that the business climate in Columbus coupled with a willing and able work force helped them make the decision to locate here. The Witchita based company started in Columbus in 1996 with 60 employees. They now have about 600. The new plant should be completed the later part of 2008. Cessna Aircraft is the largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft in the world. This is more good news for a thriving Columbus Ga economy.

General Patreaus Visits Fort Benning

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:16:25 -0500

General Patreaus is visiting Fort Benning this weekend. Friday he honored the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. They were African American Paratroopers in WW11. Saturday he will be attending the Airborne graduation of his son Steven. General Patreaus says that he will have the honor of pinning Steven's grandfathers jump wings on his son. Steven is an ROTC student at MIT.

From here the 4 Star General will be testifying before congress concerning future troop strength in Iraq.

23 Ton Bradley - One of the focal points of the Fort Benning Infantry Museum

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:48:20 -0500

Recently a crain set into place a restored 23 ton Bradley Fighting Vehicle at the Fort Benning Infantry Museum. The Bradley will be one of the focal points of the 170,000 sq. ft. Museum adjacent to Fort Benning GA. This particular Bradley was used by the 4th Infantry Division in Iraqi Freedom.

The new museum is set in a 200 acre park and will include an 3-D IMAX theatre, interactive displays, set in several sections designed to highlight variouse periods of our history and the contributions that the infantry has made in keeping our country free.

Fort Benning - Financial Impact to Columbus GA Area

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:14:56 -0500

Fort Benning Ga is the largest employer in the Columbus Ga and Phenix City area. I thought I would post a little about the impact Fort Benning is having and will have in the area.

Fort Benning Payroll is approximately $88 million dollars per month or 1.1 Billiion dollars per year

33,000 Active Duty

7,000 Supported Reservists

9,000 Civilian Employees

7,000 Family Members on Post

15,000 Family Members off Post

43,000 Retired Military Personel

Additionally Fort Benning will soon have the Armor School in Addition to the Infantry. The expected impact is as follows:

5500 more permanent Soldiers

5500 more civilian Jobs

8000 Spouses

14,000 Children

These numbers do not include the supporting businesses that may locate to the area. It also does not include the impact of the construction on Fort Benning to support this increase nor the construction and jobs created in building schools, houses, and other infrastucture for the influx. Do you think the Columbus Area could be a good place for Real Estate Investment over the next couple of years?

Georgia Bulldogs - who says were too young to win?

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 07:27:50 -0500

Our Georgia Bulldogs got off to great start by taking out Oklahoma St 35 -14. The Dogs had to defeat one of Columbus Ga's own as running back Dontrell Savage is a star running back and was prominent in the game. Even Dontrell was not enough to overcome the young Georgia team. UGA looked really sharp and has a tremendous amount of talent. The Sophomore quarterback Mathew Stafford is amazing combined with some strong receivers and a backfield full of star running backs. The University of GA is going to be hard to handle this year and the next couple of years to come.

Georgia wins the Little League World Series Again!

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:16:27 -0500

Columbus Ga had the winner of the Little League world series last year so we know how elated Warner Robins Ga is this year! It is fun to be the best in the world at anything and I know those boys are still floating on cloud nine after there walk off home run against Japan.

We love baseball in this area if you cannot tell. Phenix City won the national little league championship a few years ago! Columbus and Phenix City have produced some great ball players including big Frank Thomas and Tim Hudson!

Crack the Credit Score Code!

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:05:16 -0500

Everyone wants a great credit score but do you know how to get one? Follow these few guidelines and you will have a great credit score.

1) Pay on time! Did you know that 35% of your credit score is based on your payment history? One payment 30 days late can drop your credit score like a rock. What if you have not paid on time in the past? Start paying on time now! As time passes those late payments will become a distant memory for you and your score will steadily rise.

2) Keep your balances below 30% of your credit line. Your debt to credit limit ratio is another 30% of your score. If you have a $5000 dollar credit line - don't let the balance go above $1500. This will keep your credit score high! What if my balances are high now. Reduce them! Every time you do - your score will go up.

3) Don't take out new credit unless it is absolutely necessary. New lines of credit may lower your score but this factor is only about 10% of your score. If you are in the process of getting a mortgage - do not apply for any additional credit. If you need a new car also or a new refrigerator - wait until after the closing on your house.

4) Use credit for important stuff like Mortgages, vehicles, and business expenses. The type of credit you use effects your score. Many people don't realize this.

5) Keep accounts open! Length of time your credit lines have been open is worth about 15% of your score. If you pay off an account the best thing to do is leave it open for 2 reasons. For one this keeps your total credit line higher and makes your ratio of credit available to credit used better. 2nd the longer these accounts are open the better for your score.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will have a great score and will be able to have a low interest mortgage. Using credit wisely is a key to having stress free life. It is also one of the keys to building wealth!

New Schools in Columbus GA

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:15:58 -0500

We have 2 new schools opening this year joining Northside High School. Veterans Memorial Middle School is going to be open for business on time on Aug 13th. It is a 13 million dollar project paid for by the 2003 splost and will be a great addition to the already open Northside High School as we have had tremendous growth on the North side of Columbus.

Additionally Eagle Ridge Academy will open on Schomberg road a little late at the 1st of October. This is also a 13 million dollar project and will house approximately 750 students in 2008. For this year the school will only be at about 50% capacity.

Both schools are welcome additions and should help to alleviate some of the overcrowding in our current schools.

Cindy Sheehan to visit Fort Benning

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:18:31 -0500

Controversial "Peace Mom" is scheduled to be at the main gate of Fort Benning today at 10am. She is not very popular in our area. Most say they understand her grief but don't understand her views and criticisms of the war effort. It will certainly be a potentially explosive visit as the Humanity Tour passes through Columbus.

$11 million Dollar investment and 140 new jobs

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:27:11 -0500

A press release late Tuesday says that Harric Co. which adjoins Columbus to the north has a commitment from 3 businesses to the NW Harris Co. business park. One manufacturing plant and 2 other businesses intend to invest $11 million dollars and hire 140 people. This is the beginning of some of the hoped for spin off from the new KIA plant coming to West Point. This continues the trend of positive economic news for the area!

Columbus Georgia Real Estate - Fort Benning GA Real Estate

4th of July at Callaway!

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:53:44 -0500

There are a lot of great things to do around Columbus on the 4th of July. For example we could go down to "Thunder on the Hooch" at the River downtown. It is a family friendly art, crafts and fireworks event. We chose to go to Callaway Gardens today. The will have a flying circus with performers from Florida State University along with all kinds of beach activities and fair like fun. We will eat some barbeque and Corn cooked in the shuck slathered with butter. Tonight the Swinging Medalions will play beach music and fireworks will begin at dark. Callaway is definitely one of the 10 best things about living in Columbus GA.

Wherever we are we all need to remember the men who risked their lives and continue to risk their lives so that we can be free.

Columbus Georgia Real Estate - Fort Benning Realtors

Columbus Home Town Boy Frank Thomas hits 500th

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:20:33 -0500

Columbus Ga native and Columbus High Graduate hits his 500th Home Run. This is probably his ticket to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Columbus Ga has a proud baseball tradition with World Series little league champs in 2006. National Little league Champs. High School national Champs. Even Columbus State University played in the College World Series for division 2. We are proud of our home town slugger!

AP/Jeff Chui

Columbus Georgia Real Estate - Fort Benning Realtors

Fort Benning "View from the Top"

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:14:13 -0500

Fort Benning Commander - Maj. Gen. Walter Wojdakowski - gave an update on the progress of the Armor School's move to Fort Benning. He says that environmental study is "on track" for completion so construction of the facilities to bring the school to Fort Benning can start soon. General Wajdakowski says that the $1 Billion dollars will be spent on the facilities and roads to bring the school here. The impact for the Columbus - Fort Benning area will be tremendous. Maj. General says "Follow Me".

Columbus Ga MLS Search

Find a Home at Fort Benning

Is this a good time to buy a home?

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:28:37 -0500

I think this is absolutely the best time I can remember to buy a home. Why do I say that?

Interest Rates

Interest rates are great. They are up about 1 point to a 1.5 points above their absolute lowest level. When they were at that very lowest level there was a frenzy to purchase and so buyers were paying a premium for homes and not getting any concessions. They got a slightly lower interest rate but more than made up for it in other costs.

Builder Concessions

Some builders right now will pay your closing costs and throw in other concessions like a new fence, refrigerator or other upgrades at no cost to the buyer. Some will even pay your mortgage for you for 6 months. So right now you could move in a home with virtually no money out of your pocket and not have to start paying for your home until 2008. This sounds like some furniture liquidation deal but it is really an inventory liquidation for builders so they can stop paying the bank interest.

Resale Concessions

Home sellers know it is a tough market out there and are pricing their homes more competitively and are also willing to help with closing expenses and other costs.

This situation will not last forever!

Housing starts have slowed considerably and at some point the slack will come out of the chain for the abundance of inventory. Also at some point these interest rates will go up. They have already begun to start up.

Columbus Ga MLS or Find a Home at Fort Benning

New Home Starts in Columbus GA

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:57:58 -0500

This week the federal government will come out with a new report giving national numbers for the housing segment. I thought I would run down a few local numbers for Columbus, Phenix City and the surrounding areas. The following are new home starts based on building permits.

Muscogee Co. (Columbus GA) housing starts are down 29% from 2006 which was down 21% from 2005. This means we have about 50% less housing starts this year than 2 years ago.

Harris Co. is down 42% this year but was only down 6% last year. This still is a total drop of 48% since 2005.

Lee Co. AL is down 55% in 2007 but was actually up in 2006 about 8% for a total drop of 47% since 2005.

Many builders jumped the gun in building for the impact expected from the growth at Fort Benning and are now having to slow up and wait on the expansion - probably beginning in 2008 and going thru 2011.

Search the Columbus Ga MLS or Find a Home at Fort Benning

AFLAC opens first phase of expansion.

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:41:44 -0500

The Columbus area has had an abundance of positive economic news in the last year or two. AFLAC has been a part of the positive news with their intention to add 2000 employees. The first phase of this expansion is now complete with their new building that will house approximately 550 employees. The new building is out at the corporate ridge campus. 2 of my current clients work there and say that the expansion is job security for them as they are both trainers.

Find a Home in Columbus Ga or Fort Benning Home

Listing Searches in Columbus Ga

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:24:15 -0500

We are always searching for new ways to improve our website to provide better service to our clients. We recently added a Search and Mapping system that is well above anything in our area. The system allows Google mapping of all the properties and you can search in several ways from price range to area to all the other criteria that is important to you. Here are some examples of area searches. If you wish to do an advanced detailed search. We can do that also.

Phenix City AL , Columbus GA , Midland GA, Ellerslie GA, Upatoi GA, Cataula GA, Smiths Station AL, Smiths AL, Fort Mitchell AL , Cusseta GA , Box Springs Ga , Hamilton Ga, Buena Vista Ga,Pine Mountain Ga. Fortson Ga

For detailed Searches go to our Advanced Search!

Fort Benning Infanty Museum

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:28:42 -0500

It is great to see industry get behind the new Infantry Museum at Fort Benning - Home of the Infantry. We had an anouncement recently of AFLAC donating $1 million dollars and then Synovus came in with $1.25 million. Just in the last few days in Texas $1 million was given as a grant and then Ross Perot chimed in with another $1 million. The private sector has really gotten in behind this project to honor the troops on the ground who have and are fighting to keep our country free. The state of the art museum will cost a total of $86 million to build of which about $70 million has been raised.

Search the MLS in Columbus GA or Fort Benning Home Search

Get out of Columbus

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:03:55 -0500

One of the great things about living in Columbus is the location and ability to get to other locations quickly. Our Company gives the top producers in the company a trip each year and this year we took a cruise to Key West and Cozumel - leaving from Ft. Lauderdale. It is only about 1 hour and 15 minutes to the Atlanta Airport (busiest airport in the world). Then only 1 and 1/2 hours to Ft. Lauderdale and we were getting on the ship. Off to relax with friends and co-workers.

We first docked in Key West and ate a Cheeseburger in Paradise and washed it down with a Margarita in Margaritaville. It was 5 o'clock in Key West. From there we cruised on to Cozumel, Mexico where we snorkled, repelled down a 60 ft. tower (the Rangers at Fort Benning would have been proud!) and zip lined. Nothing to a Ranger but fun to us.

We work for a great company that works hard and plays hard together!

Search the Columbus Ga MLS or Find a Home at Fort Benning

Masters Ski Tournament at Callaway Gardens

Wayne Long (Columbus Ga Real Estate, LLC - Fort Benning - Phenix City ) — Mon, 28 May 2007 14:39:41 -0500

The 48th annual masters ski tournament is the place where the top water skiers in the world congregate to show of their skills. This year has been no different. We had beautiful weather with temps in the low 80s and sunshine all around.

Located only 30 miles north of Columbus - Callaway Gardens is a great place to hang out year round. Fantasy in Lights at Christmas - Azaleas in Spring - Masters Ski tournament on Memorial day - 4th of July on the beach with live beach music - and the Hot Air Balloon Festival in the Fall. A season pass costing only about $100 buys a lot of fun!!

Search the Columbus Ga MLS or Find a Home at Fort Benning