fastclosingnow: Why a Detached Garage Can Drastically Improve Your Resale Price - 09/18/14 05:10 AM
Before you make a major structural change to your property, it is important to consider how this will affect your resale value. While there are many steps that you can take to improve your property, the addition of a detached garage may be beneficial to you and may drastically improve your resale price when you are ready to sell.
You should always first obtain customized information about how the addition of a detached garage may affect your property's value.
Adding Square Footage to Your Home:
As a property owner, you may be well aware that one of the most common ways … (1 comments)

fastclosingnow: 3 Tips to Help You Secure a Favorable Mortgage Rate - 09/10/14 06:43 AM
The best way to ensure you get a good rate on your mortgage is to become an informed buyer. The more you know about mortgages, the more you'll be able to save, and that doesn't just mean knowing where to find the best interest rate.
While interest rates play an important role in determining the price of your mortgage, there's always more to a mortgage than just the interest rate. Here are 3 things you need to know about mortgages to make sure you secure a favorable rate.
Understand The Fees Involved - And How To Avoid Them:
Aside from the … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: The 5-Minute Guide To Flood Insurance: - 09/10/14 06:31 AM
You've got house insurance, and assume your property is covered for any type of detrimental occurrence that can possibly take place.
However, not all homeowners are aware that home insurance policies don't necessarily cover damage related to a flood, as the risks are too great. As a result, homeowners must purchase flood insurance through a private company.
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the US, costing billions of dollars in damage to properties every year.
What Is Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance policies are typically made available to homeowners in flood-prone areas. The majority of insurance policies cover some … (2 comments)

fastclosingnow: Sellers, Beware: 5 Reasons You Might Not Get Top $ For Your Home. - 09/10/14 06:12 AM
For most people, their home is their largest asset, so they want to maximize that asset by getting top dollar when they sell. Here are a few reasons you might not get top dollar when you sell - and how to avoid them!
Selling At The Wrong Time:
From early spring to late summer is home-buying season for most people, especially those with children. Putting your house on the market during this period is when you are likely to get top dollar for it. Early fall is also a good time to list your home. Winter - especially December - is … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Can One Missed Mortgage Payment Affect Your Credit Rating? Yes! - 09/10/14 05:42 AM
Most people don't know whether or not a single missed mortgage payment can have serious consequences for their credit score.
The good news is that there are things that can be done to mitigate the damage and help anyone who has missed a payment repair their credit. What are some options to help homeowners get back in the good graces of their creditors?
Own Up To The Mistake:
The best thing to do is to admit that the payment was missed and immediately make amends for it. For the most part, mortgage lenders are sympathetic to the fact that people miss … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: An Insider's Guide to Reducing Your Remaining Mortgage Years. - 08/20/14 06:43 AM
Is it always the best idea to pay off a mortgage over 30 years? While it may help a homeowner lower his or her monthly payment, it can mean paying more in interest and waiting several more years to build sufficient equity in the home.
The question is...how can a homeowner reduce the amount of time it takes to pay off a mortgage by refinancing his or her loan? A few methods for reducing your mortgage term are explained below.
Refinance From A 30-Year Mortgage To A 15-Year Mortgage:
For those who don't want to wait any longer than necessary to … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: How Much is Your Home Worth in Today's Market? - 08/20/14 06:08 AM
If you're thinking about putting the house on the market, or are simply curious about its value in the current economic atmosphere, it's essential to get an honest assessment of its value. An overly inflated figure won't hold up and will only turn potential buyers away.
It's best to get a fair assessment in order to ask a reasonable price or avoid over-extending oneself when it comes to taking out a home equity loan. Consider these three key tips to get a true assessment of a home's value.
Identify Positive Features About The Home And Property:
When seeking an appraisal for … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: 3 Ways That Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage (and Your Chance of Obtaining One!) - 08/13/14 07:14 AM
If you're thinking of buying a home, you've probably been thinking a lot about your credit score as well. Credit scores control so much of what we do in the world of finances, but what does your credit score really have to do with your mortgage? Here are three ways that your credit score could impact your mortgage application.
Your Credit Score Affects Your Ability To Get A Mortgage:
The first thing your credit score tells a lender is whether they should lend to you at all. In some cases, if you have a very low credit score, you may not … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Feng Shui 101: How This Ancient Art Can Help Improve Your Home Staging - 08/13/14 07:02 AM
It is a buyer's market, making home selling a challenge that can range from relatively simple to downright frustrating. Boosting ones' chances of selling their home can be done in a number of ways. One simple way is to utilize the art of Feng Shui - an ancient Chinese art, used to manipulate the flow of energy in your home.
Feng Shui can be as inexpensive or as costly as you would like. Using what is already on hand is one way to keep it free, but sometimes a simple coating of paint on the front door or a few decorative … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Nearing Retirement? 3 Reasons Why You Might Consider a 'Reverse Mortgage' - 08/13/14 06:49 AM
 
If you are nearing retirement, a reverse mortgage might be right for you. This type of mortgage essentially allows you to turn your home equity into cash. If you find yourself with little money, a reverse mortgage could be the perfect solution, and here's why.
No Worries About Monthly Payments:
After taking on a mortgage, there are many costs that you have to worry about. One of these problems is mortgage insurance premiums. Add interest and fees from lender service providers to the mix, and you've got yourself many costs.
All of these fees can create tremendous headaches, as a … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Assessing Your Home's Foundation for Cracks - What to Do if You Find Them? - 08/13/14 06:42 AM
When purchasing a home, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account. One of those considerations is the foundation of the home. No matter how perfect or suitable a property looks, taking the time to properly inspect the property for foundation problems can save you thousands of dollars in repairs later on.
While foundation cracks are usually present in older homes, that does not mean that newer and even brand new homes are not susceptible to them. When choosing a property, the following tips can help homebuyers find signs of foundation problems and take the right … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: How to Determine What You Can and Can't Afford? - 08/07/14 04:32 AM
When taking on a new mortgage, it is important to know that you can afford to carry the debt load involved, as many people find themselves in financial trouble by spending more on real estate than they can comfortably maintain. Your mortgage budget can be calculated to determine just how much you should spend on your next mortgage.
Mortgage Rates And Today's Market Conditions:
Mortgage rates change every day, and in times of high volatility can even fluctuate more than once in a twenty-four hour period. The market reflects a number of economic variables, including relevant world news and events. Wall … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Here Are Three Traits You'll Want in Your Real Estate Agent. - 08/07/14 04:26 AM
For both buyers and sellers, choosing the right real estate agent is an important and difficult decision, but making the right selection is critical. Consider the following essential characteristics for a real estate agent before signing a contract:
Experience:
An agent must understand the real estate market as well as the practices and processes of buying and selling. While a new agent may have energy and desire, experienced agents will be able to offer insights and experiences which are likely to give their clients the edge in their deal. Experience also indicates negotiating skill.
Of course an agent must be licensed, … (1 comments)

fastclosingnow: Why the Terms of a Home's Sale Are Far More Important Than the Price Paid? - 08/07/14 04:16 AM
One of the most significant factors home buyers and sellers focus on when buying real estate is the negotiated sales price in the purchase contract. While the sales price is undeniably important, the reality is that other terms in the sales contract may have more far-reaching and significant effects on the transaction.
In fact, with a closer look at some of the most important terms, you will see why you and your agent should actively negotiate for improved terms rather than a lower sales price.
Closing Costs:
Some buyers and sellers will haggle over a few thousand dollars in the sales … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: A 'Qualified Mortgage' or QM & Why It's Important to New Home Buyers? - 08/06/14 09:02 AM
Are you shopping for a home or a new mortgage? If you are interested in finding the best possible financial product, it is important to consider the benefits of selecting a Qualified Mortgage. With so many different types of loan products to choose from and financial terms to learn, schooling yourself on the mortgage market before you buy your first home or apply for your first refinance mortgage may seem like a daunting task.
Luckily, there are resources that are designed to help you learn the basics of products and terms so that all consumers have the power to inform themselves … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: A Guide to Selecting a Home and Property That Will Suit Your Growing Family - 08/06/14 08:45 AM
Both seasoned homeowners and first-time buyers know making the decision to purchase a new home is not one that is taken lightly. There are so many things to consider, from choosing a home with growth potential to finding a community to support a family's interests and lifestyle.
While the decisions may seem endless, don't be discouraged. Develop a strategic approach to buying a home with our definitive guide to selecting a home and property that will suit a growing family's needs. Use this guide, along with advice from a trusted real estate professional in your area, to get started on the … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in April. - 07/30/14 06:28 AM
The S&P Case-Shiller Index for April shows that while home prices continue to grow, they are doing so at a slower pace as compared to April 2013. The Case-Shiller 20 city index reports that home prices expanded at a year-over-year annual rate of 10.80 percent as compared to 12.40 percent in April 2013.
Month-to-month data showed that home prices rose for the second consecutive month. The seasonally- adjusted month-to-month growth rate for the 20 city home price index was 0.20 percent against March's month-to-month home price growth rate of 1.20 percent.
Slower Home Price Growth: A Silver Lining?
According to the … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Starting to Shop for a Mortgage? - 07/30/14 06:00 AM
Those who are looking to buy a home may want to start by shopping for a loan first. Having financing ahead of time may make it easier to get sellers to take a buyer seriously and help move along the closing process. For those who are looking to get a mortgage, the most important factor for having a mortgage application approved is the debt-to-income ratio of the borrower.
What Is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio is simply the percentage of debt compared to the amount of income that a person brings in. If a person brought home $1,000 a month … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: The FHA Hawk Program for New Homebuyers is Coming: - 07/30/14 05:43 AM
The FHA offers many new programs and incentives for new homebuyers to take advantage of so that they can be part of the effort to ease the credit crisis. If you are in the process of shopping for a mortgage prior to shopping for your new home, it can benefit you to learn about programs that you may qualify for that are being created by the Federal Housing Administration and piloted.
One such plan, which is has been approved as a four-year pilot program, is referred to as the FHA HAWK Program. Read on to learn how this program works and … (0 comments)

fastclosingnow: Dos And Donts Of Buying Distressed Real Estate. - 07/28/14 07:05 AM
Distressed real estate is real estate in need of serious repairs. These properties are often called "handyman specials." If you have the skill or the money to complete the repairs, you can often find great deals. Here are some dos and don'ts of buying distressed real estate.
DO Get A Home Inspection:
Distressed homes need repairs. Some of these repairs, like broken floor tile, are easy to see. Others, like water damage in the attic, can be easily hidden. The only way to know for sure what you're buying is to have the property inspected by a professional home inspector.
DO … (3 comments)