george maynes: What to Do Before You Start Looking for a Home
- 11/01/11 03:47 AM
Now is a great time to consider buying a home in the Philadelphia. Whether youre relocating, purchasing a vacation house or looking to become a homeowner for the first time, there are certain things you need to do before you even begin to look for a new home. Doing your homework before plunging into the house hunt can save you valuable time and energy. Set a time-frame. When do you want to move? When do you want to start looking for homes? If you are renting, when does your current lease expire? How long will it take you to save for … (4 comments)
george maynes: Pros and Cons of a Condo
- 08/30/11 03:05 PM
Is the condo lifestyle right for you? Owning a condominium is different from owning a single-family home in many ways. Here is a list of the basic advantages and disadvantages of condo living to help you make your decision. Advantages: Location: There is often a high concentration of condominiums in center city where land is at a premium. If you want to be in the heart of the city, a condominium may be a good choice. Security: Having neighbors around makes it a lot easier to lock up and leave for a vacation or an extended period of time. Also, condominium … (1 comments)
george maynes: Energy Saving Tips
- 08/09/11 02:20 PM
Each year, Americans spend thousands of dollars on energy in their homes, much of which is wasted. Here are some easy ways to go green and save green at the same time.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use up to 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when shopping for home appliances. They meet strict guidelines set by the U.S Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Consider investing in solar powered outdoor lighting. While it may cost more upfront, there are no confusing wires, which means … (1 comments)
george maynes: How to Sell Your Home in a Buyer's Market
- 07/25/11 03:28 PM
Price the Home Right It is this simple. A properly priced home should sell quickly. An overpriced home may not ever sell. If your home is priced too high, interested buyers may never even tour your listing. A house priced at just below market value piques the interest of real estate professionals and buyers An overpriced home turns away potential buyers It is true that you can always drop the price, but the first 30 days are the most critical. That is when interest is the highest, and it can be difficult to recapture people's interest later on. The longer the … (5 comments)
george maynes: Difference Between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection
- 07/25/11 03:28 PM
What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?What Is A Home Appraisal? According to the Appraisal Institute, the role of the home appraiser is to "provide a professional opinion, usually an estimate of market value, to be used in making real estate decisions." Typically, appraisers are employed by lenders to estimate the value of real estate involved in a loan transaction. An appraiser hired by a lender works in the best interest of their client, the lender. What Is A Home Inspection? A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a … (0 comments)
george maynes: Preparing for an Open House
- 05/17/11 08:08 AM
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for an open house. 1. Make sure your home is clean and organized. Get rid of the clutter. Hire a cleaning service if necessary. 2. Think Curb Appeal. You don't want a buyer to rule out your home based on the outside appearance. The lawn should be trimmed, bushes and shrubs pruned, and leaves raked. And don't forget to put away bicycles, toys, and other items that may make your property seem cluttered. 3. Put out fresh flowers. 4. Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and … (2 comments)
george maynes: Buyers: How Much Should You Offer?
- 04/24/11 01:33 PM
When buying a home, buyers want to get the best deal but they may need to juggle some numbers in order to reach an amount that seems fair to both parties. Deciding what to offer a seller for their home is a delicate process. Before making an offer, there are some items you should analyze. A comparative market analysis (CMA) is a popular method for estimating the true value of property. Similar to comparison shopping, a CMA will examine the home in terms of number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and total square footage. Realtors can find similar homes that have recently sold … (1 comments)
george maynes: Benefits of a Home Warranty - for both Buyers and Sellers
- 04/07/11 05:26 PM
What is an HSA Home Warranty? A HSA home warranty protects you from the high cost of unexpected failures to the major systems and appliances in your home by repairing or replacing covered items that break down due to normal wear and tear. How does the HSA Home Warranty work? A HSA Home Warranty provides the convenience of one source for most repairs. When a covered failure occurs, all you have to do is contact HSA. Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week who will discuss the failure with you and work with you every … (1 comments)
george maynes: Are Your Paying Too Much in Property Taxes?
- 03/16/11 02:00 PM
There are several steps every homeowner should take to investigate whether or not their property taxes can be lowered: Get your detailed property tax assessment record online or from your assessors office. Its possible your entire neighborhood has been over-assessed. Check the accuracy of the details about your home used in your tax assessment. Determine if your propertys size and description are accurate. Errors are commonly made in transferring data from paper to online. Make sure details like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is correct. If errors have made your assessment higher than it should be, try working informally with the … (4 comments)
george maynes: FHA to Increase Mortgage Insurance Premiums
- 02/22/11 01:44 PM
FHA to Increase Mortgage Insurance Premiums Buy now BEFORE interest rates and mortgage insurance premiums INCREASE! Effective April 18, 2011 the FHA will increase the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) on all FHA loans by twenty-five basis points. What exactly does this mean for a home buyer? The payment on a thirty year FHA loan with a case number issued on or after April 18th will increase by $33.00 on a sale price of $163,000. A case number is assigned when the client is under contract and there is a written mortgage application on file. Why Wait? Mortgage Rates … (2 comments)
george maynes: Top 8 Reasons to Purchase a home in 2011
- 01/12/11 08:00 AM
Are you thinking about buying a home within the next year or so? Don't wait much longer. 2011 is the perfect time to take advantage of the Buyer's Market in Philadelphia. Top 8 Reasons to Purchase a home in 2011: Mortgage Rates are exteremly low. My clients have recently obtained rates as low as 3.75%. Rates are increasing so don't delay much longer. There are a huge selection of homes for you to choose from in most areas and price ranges. I am sure there is something available that meets your needs. Sellers are eager to negotiate and often accept prices well below their asking price. Sellers are … (3 comments)
george maynes: Tips for Hiring a Contractor
- 12/07/10 01:54 PM
Top 10 Tips for Hiring a Contractor 1. Get at least three written estimates. 2. Get references and call to check on the work. 3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business for complaints. 4. Be sure that the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled. 5. Make as small a downpayment as possible so you won't lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job. 6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance. 7. Be sure that the contract states when the work will … (2 comments)
george maynes: Philadelphia Home Improvement Loan
- 11/16/10 03:42 PM
Is your Philadelphia home in need of some repair or improvement? If you own and occupy your home in the City of Philadelphia, a Philadelphia Home Improvement Loan(PHIL) is a great opportunity to make those needed repairs and improvements! No equity or home-appraisal requirements so you can apply even if you just bought your home. With great low rates and expanded income guidelines, now is the perfect time to take advantage of this offer made available to Philadelphia homeowners. What are the features of a Philadelphia Home Improvement loan? Features include: Low fixed rates, 3% APR and 5% APR* Interest is usually … (1 comments)
george maynes: PHFA Mortgage Rates at Historic Lows
- 10/19/10 09:02 AM
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) announced new interest rates for the agency's home loan products - offering the lowest rates in the agency's 38-year history. The following table shows the new interest rates for PHFA's 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage products in comparison to the previous rates.
Descriptions of each of these PHFA loan products are available in the "Homeowner" section of the PHFA Web site at www.phfa.org. Search the site using the keywords: homeownership loans. Income limits and loan limits do apply. Buyers interested in taking advantage of these new lower interest rates can feel free to contact me at … (0 comments)
george maynes: Pricing Your Home to Sell
- 10/05/10 12:13 PM
The price you ask for your home is the most important decision you will make when deciding to sell your home.
It is this simple. A properly priced home should sell quickly. An overpriced home may not ever sell. First let's review what factors do NOT affect the value of your home: The profit you wish to make from the sale. The buyer doesn't care about your profits. They only care about getting a home for a fair price. The amount of money you've spend on improvements. Although the condition of your home does affect its value, you often do not get … (1 comments)
george maynes: How Much Home Can You Afford?
- 09/14/10 01:12 PM
In addition to your income, lenders consider the current interest rate, the amount of cash you have available for down-payment, your debt, real estate taxes, and home owners insurance rates when calculating the amount of home you can afford. Income - Typically, most people can afford to purchase a home 2.5 - 3 times their annual income. Mortgage lenders normally consider not only your salary or hourly wage but also retirement, disability, child support, alimony, commissions, and bonuses when calculating your income. For example, if you and your spouse have a combined household income of $100,000 then you can typically afford a home … (1 comments)
george maynes: Improve Your Credit Score
- 08/31/10 01:31 AM
Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you qualify for a mortgage loan. Here are some tips to help improve your credit score: Check your credit report for errors. Mistakes happen and you could be paying for someone else's poor financial management. You are able to get a free credit report each year at www.annualcreditreport.com. Checking your own credit report does not affect your scores. Dispute old negatives. You can continue protesting the charge with the lender/company or you can try disputing the account with the credit bureaus. The older and smaller … (3 comments)
Now is a great time to consider buying a home in the Philadelphia. Whether youre relocating, purchasing a vacation house or looking to become a homeowner for the first time, there are certain things you need to do before you even begin to look for a new home. Doing your homework before plunging into the house hunt can save you valuable time and energy.
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