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Home Affordable Refinancing Many homeowners pay their mortgages on time but are not able to refinance to take advantage of today’s lower mortgage rates perhaps due to a decrease in the value of their home. A Home Affordable Refinance will help borrowers whose loans are held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac refinance into a more affordable mortgage. Home Affordable Modification Many homeowners are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments perhaps because their interest rate has increased or they have less income. A Home Affordable Modification will provide them with mortgage payments they can afford.

Replacing a home’s windows, appliances, or roofing can be pricey. So knowing approximately how long before the refrigerator is likely to stop working or the roof might spring a leak can have value to buyers and home owners. If you are thinking about buying a home, you may want to factor in replacement costs for aging components when you make an offer. If you already own a home, this information can be helpful when trying to decide whether to replace a component before a move. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders provides some insight that can help you estimate the average useful life of more than 100 household appliances and building materials. Of course, the actual longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality of installation, and climate conditions. So, these averages are only a general guide. 100 Years or More Brick siding: Lifetime of the home All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home Cellulose insulation material: 100-plus years 50-1

The homebuying season has been moved up this year! The springtime spurt in home buying does not seem to be waiting for the snow to melt this year as buyers scramble to meet an April 30 tax credit deadline. The spring buying season typically takes off in March and runs through May. But buyers who want to claim this year's tax credit — up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and up to $6,500 for repeat buyers — aren't wasting any time. They must have signed purchase contracts by April 30 and they have to complete the deal by June 30. So, what are some important things to keep in mind? First of all, be prepared for the amount of time it will take to close a deal. The average time it takes to get a home loan processed is about eight weeks now — two weeks more than it used to be, according to the National Association of Realtors. As we get closer to the deadline, loan processors could get very busy. Plan accordingly. Don't wait until the last minute. Sellers should be prepared to

Here is important informaton you need to know… and you need to tell your family and friends right away! Few people realize that each time their credit is checked, the information provided to the credit bureaus ( Equifax , TransUnion , Innovis or Experian ) immediately becomes a commodity that is sold not only to other lenders but also to companies that sell and resell the same names and personal information. That’s right - the credit bureaus have found a way to increase their revenues at our expense, without our permission! These "inquiry leads" include name, address, phone numbers (including unlisted), credit score, current debt and debt history, property information, age, gender and estimated income. They are marketing personal, confidential information to competing creditors and making millions. Our privacy is being sold, not just once, but over and over again. Lenders that have purchased these leads at a premium will then do everything they can to recoup their investme

As we begin 2010, both real estate professionals and home buyers are "hitting the ground running" — anxious to take advantage of the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit. Everyone I talk to in real estate is busier than usual for this time of the year. Buyers are anxious to make sure that they don't "miss the boat". Originally created in 2008, the home-buyer tax credit has evolved from a $7,500 credit, which had to be repaid by the home buyer over the course of 15 years, to an $8,000 tax credit with no repayment required in 2009. Now, for a limited time in 2010, the $8,000 home buyer tax credit will still be available to first-time home buyers and certain current homeowners will also be eligible for a $6,500 credit. Under the extended home buyer tax credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase a home is in effect on April 30, 2010, and the deal is closed by July 1, 2010, one can claim the credit. For current homeowners purchasing a home it is

As you begin to prepare for "tax time" don't forget about the energy efficient tax credits that may be available to you. If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. Most products are eligible for tax credits at 30% of the cost, up to a total credit of $1,500 and must be "placed in service" between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. Tax credits are also available for some vehicle purchases. Click here for an overview of the federal tax credits for energy efficiency. To Claim Your Tax Credit: Claim improvements made in 2009 on your 2009 taxes, filed by April 15, 2010. Use the 2009 version of IRS Tax Form 5695 Save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement for your records. See the ENERGY STAR FAQ for more information on tax credit amounts.

While lending remains tight in troubled markets, banks are starting to relax standards for borrowers with good credit in recovering areas of the country. In some parts of the country, borrowers with good credit are more likely to be able to borrow 95% of the purchase price than they were just a few months ago. According to The Wall Street Journal, in troubled markets (i.e. Florida) credit remains tight and mortgage companies continue to scrutinize property appraisals, which makes it difficult for some borrowers to get financing. But in most areas of the country where prices are stabilizing or falling only slightly, standards are relaxing. This is great news and another sign that the economy is truly beginning to improve. Visit my website for more up-to-date real estate news.

Things can get crazy around the holidays. All the shopping, decking the halls and visions of sugar plums can cause homeowners to lose focus and overlook issues that can turn a season of joy into a season of “oops.” It doesn’t have to be that way. Here is a Top 10 list to remind busy homeowners that just a few minutes a day can keep the ghost of deferred maintenance away: Clean your gutters and downspouts. They play an important role in diverting water away from foundation walls. That means less damage related to water and moisture. If you clean them before winter weather moves in, you can keep your basement and crawl spaces dry and leak-free. Drain exterior water lines. Frozen pipes that can crack the lines are history if you remove, drain and store outdoor hoses now. Give your garbage disposal a hot water bath. Cooking for crowds puts additional stress on these appliances. Flushing the garbage disposal with one pot of hot water and a half-cup of baking soda now – and again after the h

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a dangerous gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. Carbon monoxide can be deadly. By knowing more about CO, you can protect yourself and your family from CO poisoning. Sources of Carbon Monoxide CO can come from anything that burns fuels, especially if it is not used or vented in the right way. Examples include: • Furnaces • Gas-powered home appliances • Wood stoves • Gas-powered tools • Kerosene heaters • Gas and charcoal grills • Generators • Cars and trucks Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning CO poisoning can feel like the flu without a fever, but in a very short amount of time it can become very serious. CO Can Cause: • Headache • Nausea • Dizziness • Vomiting • Fatigue • Passing out • Shortness of breath • Death! How to Prevent CO Poisoning • Place CO alarms close to all sleeping areas in your home, and change the batteries each time you change your clock for daylight savings time. Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm. • Have appliances, furnaces and

A policy of title insurance is a contract of indemnity between the insured and the insuring company relating to the title to the land described in the policy, protecting the insured against loss of damage by reason of defects, liens or encumbrances of the insured title existing at the date of the policy and not expressly excepted from its coverage. The policy is issued after a complete search and examination of the public records and shows the condition of the record title, including any money obligations outstanding against the property, easements and other matters which may affect the rights of ownership, possession and use of the property. Title insurance protects the "record" title, insuring it is good subject only to the exceptions expressly set out in the policy. lt also insures against certain matters which do not appear of record, such as forgery, identity of parties, incompetence of former owners, interest of missing heirs, and status of individuals not having the &q