buyer: Missoula FHA Loan Tips & Mortgage Shopping Tips - Don't be caught with your pants down!!! - Part 1 of 2 - 01/04/10 04:16 AM
 
Here is some great information on FHA Loans from our friend Jeff Belonger:
 
 

How many of you feel lost out there or even get help from someone such as a realtor letting you know that they can have their mortgage loan officer help you with your loan, yet you could still be lost. Not all referrals are good ones, just food for thought. I know this, because I have seen it happen more than it should, after a borrower comes to me after they had used someone else that was recommended. No, I am not perfect. But … (3 comments)

buyer: TRADE UP! 5 Reasons why this is the BEST market to upgrade in Missoula MT! - 12/18/09 04:02 AM
 

Have you thought about getting that bigger, better house in a better neighborhood?  


NOW IS THE TIME!
Whether you need more space, want to upgrade your location, or for any other reason, the current real estate market presents a unique opportunity to capitalize by trading up! 
5 reasons why this is the best market to trade up!
1. You will make money NOW on the trade!  

Here's how this works. You currently own a condo that was worth $1,000,000 three years ago, and now it's worth $700,000 (that's right, it's gone down 30%!).  You … (0 comments)

buyer: The Extended First Time Homebuyer & Move Up Buyer Tax Credit for Missoula Real Estate - 11/20/09 01:41 AM
The Extended First Time Homebuyer & Move Up Buyer Tax Credit for Missoula Real Estate
Here's a cute video about the Extended First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and Move Up Buyer Tax Credit that is available to individuals who buy a primary residence by April 30, 2010.
Follow the adventures of Bob and Sally as the learn about the now extended Home Buyer Tax Credit worth up to $8000 for first time buyers and $6500 for existing home owners. It was published by Washington Homeowners.
 
 
Here are some additional articles on the topic:
Move-up Buyers & First Time Home … (1 comments)

buyer: Move-up Buyers & First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Questions & Answers for Missoula Homebuyers - 11/10/09 02:48 AM
Here's a Great Summary of the First Time Home Buyer & Repeat Buyer Tax Credit for Missoula and Western Montana home buyers.

First Time Home Buyer & Repeat Buyer Tax Credit QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Explained  
All new first time home buyer and repeat buyer Tax Credit are effective immediately. It does not have to occur on December 1 2009 in order to qualify. All closings occurred on November 6 2009 qualifies for the new & improved first time home buyer and repeat buyer tax credit.
First Time Home Buyers
The $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit applies to … (3 comments)

buyer: Western Montana & Missoula First Time Homebuyers - Don't Just Check On The Rate! - 09/30/09 01:26 AM
This is great information for all home buyers in Missoula and Western Montana - it's about more than just the rate.


There are tons of first time homebuyers out there negotiating the best deal on their new home, and now it's time to get a mortgage.
Most of them only know how to ask one question:  What's the Rate?
We've been in the mortgage business for over 20 years - and the only thing most people know to ask is - "What's the Rate?" 
While that's a great question, it's kinda' like going into a shoe store and asking … (2 comments)

buyer: Open Letter to Missoula Montana First Time Home Buyers - 08/11/09 06:25 AM
 
Great information for Missoula & Western Montana Real Estate Buyers and Prospective Homeowners:
 
Dear Procrastinating First Time Home Buyers:  
I know you.  I've seen you in the mall on December 23rd. I've watched you race through town en route to the airport; screeching up to the terminal just in time to prevent your mom from giving up and getting in the cab.  I even saw you run over the neighbor's cat on your way to the post office on April 15th.  (Actually, disregard that last one.  I'm sure it was just a large stick).  You excel when the … (0 comments)

buyer: What Is That Seller Thinking? Just Read His Blog to Find Out! - 07/22/09 12:53 PM
What Is That Seller Thinking? Just Read His Blog to Find Out!
Have you ever wanted to know what the "other party" in a transaction was thinking? Well, you may be able to find out, and you won't even need a crystal ball!
We just recently closed on a transaction for a home with a great first-time homebuyer and his family. We looked at several and identified "the one" in a short amount of time. Both the husband and wife are very computer and internet-savvy and do their research.
When they got home, they were able to pull up the property taxes online … (18 comments)

buyer: Profile of Today's Real Estate Buyer - 03/31/09 11:49 AM
The National Association of Realtors(R) published the results to their consumer survey in November.
The results to this survey are helpful when you are marketing a home for sale - who is your target customer for that property and how do you reach them?
I was surprised by a few statistics, including how many buyers are first-time homebuyers but most of the information was on target with what I see in our marketplace. I was also pleased to see that 81% of buyers use a Realtor(R).
Real Estate Buyers
41% are First-Time Homebuyers 81% use a Realtor, Of buyers who used … (3 comments)

buyer: What Are the Risks in Buying a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Home? - 02/17/09 01:06 PM
You're driving down the street and notice a For Sale By Owner sign on a house that looks great from the outside. You write down the number from the sign and plan on calling to schedule a showing as soon as possible.
Before you call the owner, you ask are there any risks involved in a FSBO transaction? The answer is yes, depending on the situation. Some of the things to be aware of include and some of the reasons that FSBO transactions often do not close include:
1.) The homeowner is often the one showing you the property. While most sellers … (6 comments)

buyer: My Dream Home Has Radon!! Tips for Buyers & Sellers - 02/21/08 07:35 AM
We have seen several dream homes with high levels of radon and have worked with both buyers and sellers through this process.
It can be frightening to have your home inspector tell you that your dream home has high levels of radon. Before you put your dream on hold, learn about radon and radon remediation.
According to the EPA, Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that seeps into homes undetected through foundation cracks, and can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. It travels up from underground sources of uranium in the earth's crust. EPA estimates that one in 15 homes will … (4 comments)

buyer: Was That My Buyer's Car That Ran Off the Interstate & Flipped Over in My Rearview Mirror? - 01/29/08 02:41 AM
Yep, it sure was. Now showing real estate in the winter in Montana has its challenges for sure, but this was definitely a first.
We had some clients that were driving through Montana on their way to Arizona. They had called about a beautiful piece of land we had listed and wanted to see it and a few others. I agreed to meet them the next morning at our local restaurant.
When I arrived, I offered for them to ride with me as I have four-wheel drive and snow tires and we were going to look at some recreational properties where … (54 comments)

buyer: 5 Surefire Ways To Lose Your Buyer - Common Seller Mistakes - 01/16/08 04:07 PM
In today's real estate market, buyers can be few and far between. Once you get a buyer who is interested in your home, don't risk losing the opportunity to sell by making some of these common seller mistakes:
1. Get Insulted By an Offer: You may receive an offer that is below your asking price, or may be even significantly below your asking price. Don't take offense. The buyer liked your home enough to put in an offer, so take that as a compliment. An offer is just that, an offer. It is not set in stone. It is however a … (12 comments)

buyer: Contingency Tracking Letter for Buyers - Great for First Time Home Buyers - 05/09/07 04:49 PM
 Here's a letter that I always put together for my buyers when we go under contract. This is especially helpful for first-time homebuyers who are new to the process but experienced buyers also love it. I print a copy of the letter for myself and post it to my bulletin board to track the dates also.
We Did It! Congratulations on the purchase of your new home. Now that we have an accepted contract, there is a flurry of activity that will take place over the next 30 days to ensure that everything moves smoothly. The following list provides the deadlines … (0 comments)

buyer: Tips for Home Buyers - When Buying a Home, Always.... - 05/03/07 02:44 PM
Home Buying Tips
When Buying a Home, Always..
Get a home inspection report Get pre-approved for a loan before finding a home Obtain a copy of the Seller's Disclosure form Review the preliminary title report for liens, encumbrances, or zoning which may adversely affect ownership Have a Comparative Market Analysis performed on the home, followed up by an appraisal in escrow, … (0 comments)