The Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act has passed the House and Senate and is on the way to President Obama for approval. This is great news for anyone who has sold their home in a short sale. Common practice is that
…Dollars and Sense
Found 24 blog entries about Dollars and Sense.
Do I Need a Pre-Qualification Letter to Buy a Home?
Yes, you do!
A pre-qualification letter is a letter from a mortgage broker or lender which shows that they have reviewed the borrower’s financials and that they qualify for a loan up to a specific amount. A pre-qualification
…Landscaping Pays Off!
By Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree Landscape Designer, LEED GA
Q: I’d like to put my home on the market, but I need to update it before I list it for sale. What’s the best investment to recoup my money?
A: Luckily, the Southwest Florida market is on a
…FHA 203(k) Loans-Which One is Right for You?
The main reason to secure an FHA 203(k) loan is when the buyers wish to repair, upgrade, or improve the home they are purchasing. FHA 203(k) loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), who have insured more than 40 million mortgages since 1934. The two primary versions are:
FHA 203(k) Streamline
…Title Insurance Costs in Home Purchases
Title insurance is an essential element in purchasing a home. Home buyers make a substantial emotional and financial investment in their home. Even the most careful and savvy purchasers can fall victim to challenges
…How Much Did You Really Save?
Inventory vs Price Comparison
The real estate market is constantly changing and strategies on how much to offer when purchasing a home vary in different markets. As the Broker for Gulf Shores Realty, I have seen many buyers refuse to increase their offer a couple of thousand dollars to
…Inventory of Homes Hits Bottom
Inventory of Homes Hits Bottom
The inventory of homes available to purchase in Venice, Florida has been in a serious decline creating a Sellers Market. Other nearby market places are reporting a comparable reduction in inventory. This reduction is causing corresponding
…Sarasota’s Housing Recovery
Sarasota County, of which Venice, Florida is a part, is showing obvious signs of a housing recovery. The latest Sarasota County Monthly Economic Report clearly shows that a recovery is in progress. Unemployment is down, building permits are
…Turnabout is Fair Play-A Must Read
Tired of being treated more like a nuisance than a valued customer, than read this.
According to an article published by Florida Realtors.org, Bank of America (BOA) had wrongly foreclosed on a home owned by Warren and Maureen Nyerges. The ironic thing is they paid cash for the home and did
…The Retirement Phenomena
Incredibly low prices and record low interest rates have created a new phenomena in Venice Florida real estate. Record numbers of our northern friends who are anywhere from one to three years from retirement have been coming to Venice Florida to secure their retirement home now.
…Baby Boomers on the Move!
The baby boomers are on the move. As a matter of fact, most of America is on the move. According to the Internal Revenue Service Data in 2008, more than 10 million Americans moved from one county to another. Forbes.com has created an interesting interactive map which shows visually the number of people coming to the
…Existing Home Sales Jump 10 Percent
The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes jumped 10 percent from August to September 2010. This represents the largest monthly gain in 28 years, rising to an annual rate of 4.53 million units. This was considerably higher than expected but economists
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