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Easy Ways To Get The Best Deal On Real Estate

by Brande Bryan on October 17, 2011

In the world of real estate purchasing, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced buyers alike. There are many websites, e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good buyer become a smarter buyer.

Fireplaces are to be considered when choosing a new home. They can serve as the focal point in the family, or living room, and can also increase the retail value of the home. Wood or oil burning fireplaces can save you money by providing heat during the cold months, as a viable alternative to electric heating devices.

Choose the best time to view a house. While most people wait until the ‘open house’, normally on a Saturday or Sunday, in reality you can request to see the house at any time. Choose a day in the middle of the week when the sellers aren’t there. The realtor will be happy to show you the house, and this way you aren’t looking at the same time as lots of other people. If you decide to make an offer on the house, you can be sure that you are the only one.

To get the best loan when buying a house, ensure that you are aware of your credit score. If your score is above 720, you may qualify for lower-interest loans and if your credit score is below 620, you may have difficulty qualifying for a mortgage loan in the first place. Knowing where your credit stands and when it needs to be improved, is essential to qualifying for a mortgage that you can afford.

Make sure that you carefully read and understand all aspects of your lease agreement before signing it. Many people assume that all that is on the lease is what the landlord has mentioned and many times there are other things there that are written in fine print. Once you sign it you will have no legal recourse, so read it thoroughly.

When you are searching for your potential future home, try to concentrate on the things you can not change. This is because something like the color of the walls or the type of carpeting is easy to deal with and change. However, you can not change the layout of the house or the neighborhood you live in. All this is what you will have to live with for the time you are there.

It is important that you visit a home more than once so that you get a true feeling for the neighborhood. A neighborhood may be completely different depending on the time of the week or the time of the day. It is necessary that you understand what you are getting yourself into.

After reading these tips, you can understand what it takes to be a smarter property buyer. There is lots of information out there and you need to know how to use it. With this in mind, you can refine your own strategy and research information that can help you avoid scams and buy the property you’ve always wanted.

Buying A House Again After Having Collections

by Brande Bryan on May 10, 2011

I was working with a client who was shopping for various properties in the Paradise Valley real estate market and they asked a question about buying again after collections.

Getting a collection item reported in your credit history will greatly impact your FICO score in a negative way. There are ways you can take control of the situation and remedy or remove the collection account altogether from your credit history. Let’s start here:

  • What is a collection item?
  • Can I fix a collection item?
  • How does a collection item affect my FICO score?

Collections: What Is a Collection?
An account is in “collections” when the past-due amount is purchased by a credit agency who will attempt to collect the balance. Agencies buy them at a reduced rate, and they have the ability to find out your residence and place of employment. A collection item stays on your credit report for 7 years, even if it is paid off at a later date. It’s a good idea to read all comments placed on your credit report by creditors and collection agencies with great care and attention.

Collections: How You Can Fix Them
If you have an account in poor standing, the collection agency will likely contact you by mail. You usually get 30 days to dispute the information in the letter, so make sure to read the letter in the event there are mistakes. It is also a good idea to keep notes and copies of all correspondence and communication between you and the creditor and/or collection agency. Creditors, being the ones with the negative record in their system, are best to negotiate with because they can choose whether or not to notify the credit bureaus to remove the collection status from your credit report. You should make sure to get any agreements in writing before paying the debt. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Act.

Collections: How Do They Impact Your Credit?
Remember, an account in collections will remain on your credit report for 7 years—even if it’s paid. Once paid, the collection account will reflect as “paid in full” and will no longer continue to pull your FICO score down. Even after the debt is paid, you can still dispute the item if you want. The best way to prevent collections is to stay on top of your bills, update your postal address and information when you move, and habitually track your credit report for any changes.

Buying Again After Collections
Buying a home again after collections is something that can be done, but you will want to work closely with a loan officer who can help you get approved. It is still possible to buy again after collections, but there are widely different rules about how to deal with them between lenders. You should try to find the right loan officer at the right lender if you plan to buy again after collections.

Making a Change: Refinancing Your VA Mortgage Streamline Style

March 19, 2011

In my experience, one of the reasons why people have financial problems is because they don’t like to change. Silly as it sounds people in some cases would rather suffer through a problem than making some type of change to alleviate that pain. Same can be said for refinancing your mortgage. It is a hassle [...]

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Short Sale or Foreclosure?

December 2, 2010

East Valley Team member Dean Ouellette sits down with Kevin Hardin of Thomson Law to talk about how a short salemay be better for most sellers compared to a foreclosure. Why should I short salemy Mesa home? A foreclosure and short saleare really identical right? Maybe it will postpone by buying a house if it [...]

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Arizona FHA Streamline

September 13, 2010

Are you looking for lower interest rates and to reduce your monthly mortgage payments? This may be possible even if you are upside down on your current FHA loan. There is now a FHA Rate Reduction Streamline Refinance available for people with existing FHA loans. This was designed to permanently lower your monthly payments and [...]

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A Dangerous Possibility – Deflation

September 1, 2010

As of late, it seems like the word “deflation” is being used daily by even the most reliable economists. At first it seems safe to think everything we buy tomorrow will be less expensive than last year. If we listen to the most popular subjects for the last couple of years like housing, cars, appliances, [...]

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Best Three Strategies for Effectual Jumbo Loan Search

August 17, 2010

Tips and helpful advice will help you, regardless of what task you may have to accomplish. Having a guide, a “track to run on” will help immensely to get it done. 3 super strategies set forth in this article can help you to complete your project Follow these tips and you will likely get a [...]

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Ever Considered Applying for a VA Loan?

July 23, 2010

Ever considered applying for a VA Loan? They offer great benefits for veterans.

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Mesa May Hold Lenders Responsible for Abandoned Homes

July 20, 2010

The City of Mesa is trying to figure out code compliance issues on abandoned properties, and lenders may be held responsible.

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Mortgage Rates Continue to Hit Record Lows

July 17, 2010

Once again, mortgage rates have fallen, extending their record lows another week.

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