Affordable Real Estate

Are you still writing those checks to your landlord every month to keep a roof over your head, but not accumulating any home equity? If you are still renting because you think you still need a fortune to get into your own home, you should investigate today's real estate market.Interest rates are still relatively low, which means that mortgage loans are affordable, with payments potentially in the range of your current monthly rent. Qualifying for a loan was never easier, especially since lenders have increased in large numbers and are competing for your business. Even if you couldn't qualify to buy a home just a few years ago, you may be able to qualify today. There are a number of government programs and mortgage packages which require small down payments, in the three to five percent range--and that is not even talking about the tax advantages! Think about it the next time you write a rent check.
Call me today for help in exploring the possibilities for buying your first home at 919-303-3588. You can start searching the market here for all area homes listed in the Multiple Listing Service.

Marketing Techniques

When a seller lists a home with a real estate agent, a lot of brainstorming follows. Who are the potential buyers, where do they live and work? How can they be reached effectively with information that will attract them to this particular property?In addition to advertising each home on the widely used Multiple Listing Service, professional real estate agents employ marketing techniques tailored to the individual home they are selling. An agent will review various buyer lists to find potential purchasers. They will use telephone and direct mail marketing, produce property flyers and advertise on the Internet, in the newspaper, in community publications and in real estate magazines. Contacts will be made to other agents who sell homes in the area to encourage them to show the home to prospective buyers. Real estate agents combine pro-active marketing with realistic pricing to generate results for their home sellers.

Insuring Your Home

Many home buyers are concerned about whether they have an insurable interest in the property before the actual closing. The answer is an unqualified "yes". Although the buyer is not yet the recorded owner of the property, he or she has an insurable interest in the property as soon as the agreement of sale is executed by both the buyer and seller.Should you get hazard insurance before the closing? It depends. Buyers do not usually insure a property until the title passes to them from the seller. However, it's wise to know what the agreement between you and the seller stipulates with regard to insurance.Most agreements state that the property will be insured for a specific amount. This is very important to both parties. From the buyer's point of view, it is also critical that an adequate sum or full replacement value be stipulated. Watch out for agreements which read "as now insured". This is an all-too-common practice which usually indicates that the seller does not to want to increase inadequate insurance coverage.
A qualified real estate agent can help you with many questions you may have about buying or selling a home. Call today. 919-303-3588

More Down Payment Help

One of the most common deterrents to first-time home buyers is the lack of a down payment. However, the home loan industry has practically re-created itself in the last ten years, making it easier than ever to obtain a mortgage, and new mortgage programs are always cropping up. Some states sponsor loan programs that allow buyers to purchase a home without putting any money down. A parent or other relative can guarantee repayment of ten percent of the loan if the buyer defaults. The only cash needed is for the closing costs, which typically run about three percent of the loan. Parents can also give their children down payment help through a personal note or second trust deed. The terms can be set up for monthly payments or annual payments amortized over a period of time. You could pay the interest only, and have the payoff due when the property is sold. With so many alternatives, doesn't it make sense to call your real estate agent for a free consultation? You may be closer to home ownership than you think.