Fight Your Real Estate Property Tax Bill Without A Lawyer

April 22, 2010

More than 60 percent of U.S. homes are “over-assessed”, says an industry trade group. It causes homeowners to pay more in property taxes than they otherwise should have to. You might be one of them. Have you considered fighting it?

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How Iceland’s Volcanoes Are Helping Mortgage Rates Fall

April 21, 2010

Volcanic eruptions and like natural disasters remind us: mortgage rates change for all sorts of reasons. Some we can predict, most we cannot. There’s literally thousands of influences on the U.S. mortgage market. If you’ve been shopping for a home or floating a mortgage rate, luck’s been on your side.

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Housing Starts Data Hints That Housing Will Expand Even After The Tax Credit Expires

April 20, 2010

A Housing Start is a new home on which construction has started and, over the last 6 months, home builders are averaging one half-million starts per month. This marks the highest 6-month average since 2008 and a reading one-fifth percent better from 12 months ago. Revisions to prior data have all been higher, too.

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : April 19, 2010

April 19, 2010

Mortgage markets improved last week for the second week in a row. And, also for the second week in a row, rates were down on “safe haven” buying — just not for the same safe haven reasons as before.

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It’s A Good Time To Look At Adjustable Rate Mortgages

April 16, 2010

Each week, government-led Freddie Mac publishes a weekly mortgage rate survey based on data from 125 banks across the country. According to this week’s results, the relative rate of a 5-year ARM is extremely low versus its 30-year fixed-rate cousin.

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How To Buy Bank-Owned Homes In A Period Of Rising Inventory

April 15, 2010

California, Florida, Arizona and Georgia accounted for more than half of all bank repossessions in March 2010. It’s a disproportionate distribution of foreclosures. Together, the 4 states represent just 23 percent of the overall U.S. population.

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Why You Shouldn’t Schedule Your Closing For May 28, 2010

April 14, 2010

If you’re under contract for a home and plan to close in May, consider a closing date other than Friday May 28, 2010.

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Home Renovations That Increase Your Resale Value (2010 Edition)

April 13, 2010

Not all home improvements are created equal. Especially if you’re looking for “resale value” back from your work. An article from the Wall Street Journal lays it out cleanly. Function beats flash these days so be wary of where you spend.

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : April 12, 2010

April 12, 2010

If you’re floating or shopping a loan right now, be wary of market volatility. Rates have been jumpy since April 1 and mortgage rates are changing quickly. This week, locking in before Wednesday may be your safest, near-term rate locking strategy.

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It’s Time To Re-Approve Your Pre-Approval

April 9, 2010

If your pre-qualification and/or pre-approval letter is more than 8 weeks old, it would be prudent to have your lender “re-pre-approve” you. Mortgage guidelines have been in flux and your original lender letter may now be invalid.

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