Eight Ways to Improve Your Credit #RealEstate #Realtor #Homes #credit

Courtesy of Patti Duty, REALTOR® Eight Ways to Improve Your Credit   Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you’ll qualify for a loan and what loan terms you’ll be able to qualify for.   Check for and correct errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for someone else’s poor financial management. Pay down credit card bills. If possible, pay off the entire balance every month. However, transferring credit card debt from one card to another could lower your score. Don’t charge your credit cards to the maximum limit. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a mortgage. You’re penalized less for problems after a year. Don’t order items for your new home you’ll buy on credit—such as appliances—until after the loan is approved. The amounts will add to your debt. Don’t open new credit card accounts before applying for a mortgage. Having too much available credit can lower your score. Shop for mortgage rates all at once. Too many credit applications can lower your score, but multiple inquiries from the same type of lender are counted as one inquiry if submitted over a short period of time. Avoid finance companies. Even if you pay the loan on time, the interest is high and it will probably be considered a sign of poor credit management. This information is copyrighted by the Fannie Mae Foundation and is used with permission of the Fannie Mae Foundation. To obtain a complete copy of the publication, Knowing and Understanding Your Credit, visit http://www.homebuyingguide.org/ Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. GET MORE TIPS AT: www.WiseAgentOnDuty.com

Your Property Wish List #Realtor #RealEstate #homs #forSale

Courtesy of Patti Duty, REALTOR Your Property Wish List   While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the homebuying process, use this easy checklist to help you set your prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming. How close do you need to be to (a) public transportation _____ (b) schools _______ (c) airport ___________ (d) expressway _________ (e) neighborhood shopping________ (f) other________. What neighborhoods would you prefer? What school systems do you want to be near? What architectural style(s) of homes do you prefer? Do you want a one story or two-story house? How old a home would you consider? How much repair or renovation would you be willing to do? Do you have special facilities or needs that your home must meet? Do you require a fenced yard or other amenities for your pets? Prioritize each of these options into Must have Would Prefer Yard (at least_________)     Garage (size________)     Patio/Deck     Pool     Bedrooms (number_________)     Bathrooms (number_________)     Family room     Formal living room     Formal dining room     Eat-in kitchen     Laundry room     Basement     Attic     Fireplace     Spa in bath     Air conditioning     Wall-to-wall carpet     Hardwood floors     View     Light (windows)     Shade       http://www.wiseagentonduty.com/articles/Your-Property-Wish-List Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.

 

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Five Factors that Decide Your Credit Score

Courtesy of Patti Duty, REALTOR® Five Factors that Decide Your Credit Score Scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score. Your Payment History. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time How Much You Owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended. The Length of Your Credit History. In general the longer the better. How Much New Credit You Have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly. The Types of Credit You Use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example. For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com/?lpid=NARI3.   GET MORE TIPS AT: www.WiseAgentOnDuty.com

Tips on Buying in a Tight Market #RealEstate #REALTOR

Courtesy of Patti Duty, REALTOR®

Tips on Buying in a Tight Market

Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps.
Get prequalified for a mortgage. In this way, you’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.
Stay in close touch with your real estate sales associate to find out first about new listings that come on the market. And be ready to go see a house as soon as it goes on the market.
Scout out new listings yourself. Look at Internet sites, newspaper ads, and drive by the neighborhood frequently. Maybe you’ll see a brand-new “for sale” sign before anyone else.
Be ready to make a decision. Spend lots of time in advance deciding what you must have so you won’t be unsure when you have the chance to make an offer.
Bid competitively. You may not want to start out offering the absolutely highest price you can afford, but don’t try to go to low and get a deal. In a tight market, you’ll lose out.
Keep contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as needing to sell your home before you move or wanting to delay the closing until a certain date can make your offer unappealing. In a tight market, you’ll probably be able to sell you house rapidly. Or talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages for a short period.
Don’t get caught in a buying frenzy. Just because there’s competition doesn’t mean you should just buy anything. And even though you want to make your offer attractive, don’t neglect inspections that help ensure that your house is sound.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights

reserved.

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Buying a Home? Budget Basics Work Sheet #RealEstate #Realtor #Tax #Budget #homes #buy #sell #ForSale

Budget Basics Work Sheet

 

The first step in getting yourself in financial shape to buy a home is to

know what you make and what you spend now.

List your income and expenses with link below.

 

http://www.wiseagentonduty.com/articles/Budget-Basics-Work-Sheet

#RealEstate #Realtor #Tax #Budget #homes #buy #sell #ForSale

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