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Four Possible Reasons To Refinance
A mortgage is generally the largest debt most homeowners have to manage. It's a good idea to give your personal real estate finance portfolio a check-up at least once a year. Since there are many reasons a homeowner may choose to ref ...
How Much Can I Afford?
How much mortgage money can I qualify to borrow? This is typically the number one question mortgage professionals are asked by new clients. Of critical importance when considering mortgage financing: There is sometimes a difference between what a client ***can*** borrow and what they ***should*** borrow. In other words, what makes for a comfortable long-term mortgage payment? The Quick Answer: If we're simply considering the financial math, lenders will calculate your Debt-to-Income Ratio and generally allow for 28-31% of your gross income to be used for the new house payment with up to 43% of your gross income to be used for all consumer related debts combined. Sample Mortgage Scenario: Let's use a gross m ... Read More...
8 Questions Your Lender Should Answer About Mortgage Rates
Simply checking online for today's posted rate may not lead to your expected outcome due to the many factors that can cause each individual rate and closing cost scenario to fluctuate. We can preach communication, service and education a ...
Be a Power Agent in 2013
I want you to make more money than ever before this year! We all know that we should have an annual business plan written and ready for implementation by the end of December. Just in case you forgot - procrastinated - or did not have a good format, I have attached a copy of "Be a Power Agent in 2013" for you to use. Let me know if you f ...
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Any Real Estate Benefits from Fiscal Cliff Deal ?
For the most part the Fiscal Cliff solution passed last night by Congress patched a few important issues and then punted the incredibly important long term issues two months down the road. The Real Estate community did benefit from the bill's final passage in three important areas as follows:
1. ...
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Seven Things Your Agent Should Know About Your Mortgage Approval
While many experienced real estate agents have a general understanding of the mortgage approval process, there are a few important details that frequently get overlooked which may cause a purchase to be delayed or denied.
New regulation, updated disclosures, appraisal guidelines, mortgage rate pr ...
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Do I Need To Sell My Home Before I Can Qualify For A New Mortgage On Another Property?
Although every situation is unique, it is not uncommon for homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage on a new home while still living in their primary residence.
Perhaps you are outgrowing your current house, or have been forced to relocate due to a job ...
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What Do Appraisers Look For When Determining A Property's Value?
Most people are surprised to learn what appraisers actually look at when determining the value of a real estate property.
A common misconception homeowners generally have is that the value of their home is determined after the appraiser has completed their physical property inspection.
However, th ...
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Where Does My Earnest Money Go?
Hey, I gave my real estate agent a $5000 Earnest Money Deposit check... Where does that money go?
A basic and very obvious question that most First-Time home Buyers ask once their purchase contract gets accepted.
According to Wikipedia:
Earnest Money - an earnest payment (sometimes called earnest money or simply earnest, or alternatively a good- ...
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Renting vs Buying A Home
Buying a home versus renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration.
While there are several biased sources that can make arguments for or against owning a home, we've found that most home buyers base their ultimate decision on emotion.
Yes, there are some tax advantages of owning real estate, as well as the potential to earn equity ...
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What Does Title Insurance Protect Me From?
By including title insurance when purchasing property, your title insurer takes on accountability for legal expenses to defend your property title, should it ever be challenged.
Many different occurrences can come into play to warrant the need for title insurance.
The title company responsible wi ...
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Understanding the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
* Disclaimer – all information in this article is accurate as of the date this article was written *
The FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium is an important part of every FHA loan.
There are actually two types of Mortgage Insurance Premiums associated with FHA loans:
1. Up Front Mortgage Insurance ...
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First-Time Home Buyer Credit Checklist
Getting a new mortgage for a First-Time Home Buyer can be a little overwhelming with all of the important details, guidelines and potential speed bumps.
Since there are so many rules and steps to follow, here is a simple list of Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind throughout the mortgage approval proce ...
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Bill Phillips
Branch Manager, First Priority Financial Silicon Valley
Mortgage & Loan Calculator
