Let's face it - we can't all be experts on living structures. We may know some of the things to look for, but a lot of significant problems go right past our eyes. That's why I think it's a good idea to pay a home inspector to thoroughly go over any house you're planning to buy … [Read more...] about The Skinny on Home Inspections
Blog
It’s a Good Time To Buy
If you ask me, this is a good time to buy a home providing you can afford it. If we've learned anything about the current disaster in the home-buying market, it's that buying a home you can't afford inevitably leads to disaster. And in this case, the disaster is not only in the … [Read more...] about It’s a Good Time To Buy
The Story This Past Month
For those of you who like me are visual, I'm posting a simple graph that shows what the mortgage backed securities have done since May 12. They hit their low point on May 14. Don't forget, rates move inversely with the price of the security so you can see how dramatically they … [Read more...] about The Story This Past Month
Not everyone loses
Ok, I admit this has nothing to do with mortgages and real estate, but all of us who tend to get caught up in how awful things are right now, could take a lesson from these giants. It all comes from having a vision and believing in yourself. We can all learn to rise … [Read more...] about Not everyone loses
Anticipating Settlement Costs
For first-time home buyers, all the fees and extra costs beyond what they are paying for their new house may come as a shock. So it's best to know about them upfront to avoid being caught off guard. One of the most common questions asked is, "Do I pay the realtor?" And the answer … [Read more...] about Anticipating Settlement Costs
Understanding Loss Mitigation
While there is much said these days about foreclosure there is little said about avoiding foreclosure. Part of the reason is that the media has a tendency to center on the worst case scenarios associated with a problem. This is unfortunate because it leads to a situation where … [Read more...] about Understanding Loss Mitigation