Shopping for Your Home

Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Benefits of Credit Repair

The Benefits of Credit Repair
      Written by Debra Bigler on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 12:43 pm
 
 
 
 Why should you Consider Credit Repair? Discover the Basic Reasons!
Do you look at your credit report and think about nothing but credit repair? If yes, then perhaps it's high time to get your credit repair process started. Anyone with poor credit scores will definitely know what a low credit score can cost you. Wonder how severe the consequences are? Well, high interest rates can seriously damage your finances, period. Imagine the payments you would have to make if your interest rate increases from 5% to 15%. All in all, your poor credit score can make you pay thousands of dollars additionally per year. This is the primary reason why it is critical to look at your credit report and repair your credit score. After all, it will not only lower your interest rate, but will also help you get loans.

Credit Repair - Is it Really Helpful?
When it comes to credit scores, a single mistake can cause you serious trouble. A recent research suggests that almost 79 percent of all Americans have some type of inaccuracy, miscalculations, and negative accounts in their credit reports. A majority of these errors can hurt their credit scores badly. In these situations, credit repair is the ultimate option they can get to bring their finances back on track. The process of credit repairing is used to identify mistakes, correct the relevant information, remove negative reporting and monitor the creditors to ensure that your credit report is as accurate as possible and corrected accordingly.

Better Insurance Policies
The policies most insurance companies offer are based on the clients' credit reports. For instance, you will not get a reasonably priced insurance policy if your report suggests that you are late with paying other accounts. Thus, credit repair can clean up your credit rating and help you get substantial savings over the duration of your policy.

Better Job Options
Nowadays, many employers check an applicant's credit history as an essential step of the employment screening process. Wonder why? Well, credit reports usually disclose what resumes may never tell. Employers check credit reports to determine if an applicant has unpaid child or spouse support, has a verdict against him or her, or pays bills promptly. In instances like these, you can get a fresh start by opting for credit repair.

Better Loan or Mortgage Facilities
A low credit score can have a negative impact on your ability to get different loans. You may not get the desired loan amount or may have to make greater interest payments on the lifetime of your loans. If lenders find a poor credit score on your report, they can lower your credit limit, thus making the loan even more expensive for you. If dealerships turn you down for loans or offer very high interest rates, you have to consider going for credit repair. This will increase your chances to get your desired vehicle or own your dream home.
Since credit scores and credit reports can affect you and your loved ones in a number of ways, it is important to keep your credit score in superb condition. Credit repair doesn't only benefit individuals with a low credit score, but can do wonders for people with average credit by getting negative items off of the reports, disputing late payment information and correcting any inaccuracies on your report.


 
CONTACT ME FOR A TRUSTWORTHY REFERRAL
(562) 507-0754

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

How To Buy In A Seller's Market

How To Buy In A Seller's Market
      Written by on Sunday, 10 November 2013 11:31 am
 
 


Prices are rising and perhaps there are fewer homes for sale where you want to live. What can you do to put the odds in your favor?

First, get preapproved by a lender. That means sharing your financial information, going online and playing with a mortgage calculator. Give the lender the documentation she needs, such as salary stubs, revolving credit obligations, and bank statements. You'll know for certain how much you can afford, how much you need to put down to qualify and what your interest rate will be.    
 Make your must-have and wish list realistic, beginning with price. Be prepared for compromises - a bigger home vs a longer commute, or a smaller home in a preferred school district.
 
Shop for homes with your real estate professional. He knows the market and will give you preferential treatment if you sign a buyer's representation agreement. The agent can tap into a vast network of contacts to get the right home for you - especially homes coming onto the market before others get the chance to view them.

In a seller's market, homes sell quickly, so the homes you find online or by driving the neighborhood may already be under contract or sold before you even get the chance to see them.

Homes in the best condition will sell for top dollar. Consider homes in need of cosmetic updates or repairs. The average home purchased in 2013 was about 20 years old, up from 11 years old at the height of the housing boom. You may be able to buy at a discount, make the updates you want, and bring your home to neighborhood standards - a quick route to building equity.

When you visit open houses or new builder homes, tell the listing agent or builder's representative that you are represented by your buyer's agent. If you decide to make an offer, your buyer's agent can be instrumental in helping you negotiate.

Don't get caught up in the buying frenzy. If you need to make a full price offer or get in a bidding war, stay within your budget. Don't let yourself become house-poor; your house payment including principal, interest, taxes and insurance should be no more than about 28% of your gross monthly income. That's the conforming loan standard and it's a good guideline for homebuyers to help them buy safely within their means.

Plan to stay in your new home at least five years. To buy and sell a home at break-even or with a profit, means you must be able to pay back typical closing costs, approximately 14 percent of the buy side and sell side transactions combined.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

20 Questions To Ask Before You Pick a Home Loan


20 Questions To Ask Before You Pick a Home Loan

 

Written by Lending Tree on Wednesday, 16 October 2013 1:09 pm
 
Home loans can be complicated. But choosing one that meets your needs can be much easier if you gather enough information before you make a decision. Here are 20 questions that might apply to your situation.
Rate, term and payment
The most fundamental questions about any loan concern how long you'll have to repay the amount you borrowed, how much interest you'll be charged and whether the interest rate and payments are fixed for the entire term or subject to periodic adjustments as market interest rates fluctuate.
Here are four questions to ask 

1. What is the term of this loan?
2. What is the initial interest rate?
3. Is that rate fixed or adjustable?
4. How much would my initial monthly payments be?
Adjustment periods, caps and negative amortization
If the interest rate on the loan is adjustable, your monthly payment likely will change in the future and could be much higher than your initial payment.
Here are some questions to ask on this topic:
5. When can the interest rate be adjusted?
6. How will the interest rate be calculated?
7. What is the maximum interest rate increase for each adjustment period?
8. What is the maximum interest rate increase over the lifetime of the loan?
9. How much would my payment be today if the interest rate were calculated as it will be at the first adjustment period?
10. How much would my payment be at the maximum interest rate?
11. Could the amount I owe increase over time?
Costs and fees
Along with the interest rate and payment, you'll want to consider the upfront and ongoing fees and costs you'll be charged in connection with the loan.
Here are some questions to ask regarding costs and fees:
12. Can I see a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) for this loan?
13. Which of the costs on the GFE might change and by how much?
14. Are there any other costs that aren't on the GFE?
15. Does this loan have a prepayment penalty?
16. Would this loan require an escrow account for homeowner's insurance and property taxes?
17. Would I need to pay for mortgage insurance on this loan?
Needs and qualifications
Not all loan products are available to all borrowers, so you'll want to explore your options before you decide which loan would be right for you.
Here are three questions that may help:
18. What are the qualifications for this loan?
19. Why would you recommend this loan for my needs?
20. Which other loans might also meet my needs?
These 20 questions can help determine if a loan is right for you. Don't be afraid to ask your lender these and any other questions you may have. The more you know, the better equipped you'll be to choose your loan.

Monday, September 30, 2013

California Court Allows Weekend Open Houses For Tenant-Occupied Properties

California Court Allows Weekend Open Houses For Tenant-Occupied Properties Written by on Monday, 30 September 2013 12:53 


                                     
Section 1954 of the California Civil Code provides that a landlord may enter a leased or rented dwelling to "exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers." Such entry may not be made "during other than normal business hours" unless the tenant consents to entry at some other time. Provided that the tenant has previously been given notice within the past 120 days that the property is for sale, 24 hours is presumed to be reasonable notice, and notice may be given orally. (§1954 (d)(2))

While that civil code section clarifies a number of issues, some questions have remained. What, for example, are "normal business hours"? Also, might exhibiting the dwelling to prospective or actual purchasers include holding open houses?
A recent California Appellate Court decision (Dromy v. Lukovsky,Second Appellate District, August 30, 2013) provides some answers. To some they may be surprising.
Landlord Dromy leased a Santa Monica condominium to Lukovsky (Tenant) in 1994. In approximately 2010, Dromy entered into a listing agreement to sell the property. The Tenant allowed the agent to conduct individual showings, but she refused to permit open houses on the weekends.
Dromy filed a motion in Superior Court based on Civil Code 1954 and sought declaratory relief against the tenant. In a declaration supporting the motion, his real estate agent stated: "In my professional opinion, Ms. Lukovsky's refusal to permit weekend open house showings at the subject property has made it much more difficult to find a prospective purchaser. The custom and practice in the residential real estate community is to conduct weekend open houses in order to market properties more effectively and expose listed properties to the general public." The statement was not contested.
The Superior Court ruled in favor of the landlord; but it did not grant an unrestricted right to hold open houses. Indicating a desire to fashion an order that was fair and reasonable to both sides, it came up with the following:
  1. The agent could hold two open houses per month.
  2. They could be on weekend days between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  3. The agent must be present, and the tenant may be present, during any open house.
  4. The agent must give 10 days advance email notice to the tenant of proposed open house dates, and the tenant has 48 hours to acknowledge or to propose an alternative weekend date.
The tenant appealed.
The Appellate Court noted that the phrase normal business hours, though not defined in the statute, was meant to strike a balance between two competing policies: (1) the tenant's right of quiet enjoyment of the property, and (2) the landlord's right and ability to sell his property. The Court noted that, at the time the legislation was enacted, the current edition of Black's Law Dictionary defined "business hours" as meaning: "In general those hours during which persons in the community generally keep their places open for the transaction of business." The Court then went on to say, "For our purposes, the relevant community consists of licensed professionals working in the residential real estate business." Moreover, "It is undisputed that the custom and practice of [that community] is to hold open houses during weekends…"
Thus, the Appellate Court held that the judgment of the Superior Court was "reasonable under the facts and circumstances and that it complies with the requirements of section 1954, subdivision (b)."
California real estate agents will no doubt wonder how this decision applies to their business. The legal department of the California Association of Realtors® (CAR) had this to say in its realegal publication. "…landlords and their listing agents who want to arrange weekend open houses should obtain the tenant's consent or comply with the reasonableness standard required by the Dromy court." To help insure that what they schedule is reasonable, landlords and agents "are strongly encouraged to, depending on the circumstances, pattern your weekend open house arrangements in a similar fashion to what the trial court ordered in Dromy…" (See the 4-point requirement that was stated above.)