I wanted to take a minute to make a quick recommendation for the guys at Stewardship Mortgage. I’ve been working with Grant Botma and Mike Zins over there collectively for about 4 years and I have to say, I’ve never worked with a lender with a bigger heart for service and stronger desire to benefit the consumer in what they do.
The guys at Stewardship are faith centered and live by it in everything they do. I rest easy knowing my clients are well taken care of by Grant and Mike. And never mind that you just about can’t find a better deal in the business on a loan!
Call ‘em. You won’t be disappointed. Oh, and they do Home and Auto Insurance too! Brandon Ream can give you smokin’ rates, and of course, great service.
Victor Encinas is a good friend of mine, and a great life coach! Recently he wrote this post that outlines some great starting points to help get you into the house hunt! It is a great read, and definately worth your time. Take a look, and let me know what you think.
Here is a link to read Victor’s post on his website, or you can read his 8 Steps below!
1. Get out of debt first. I cannot emphasize this enough. Never, never, never buy a home until you are out of debt and have a full emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses) saved up. You should also have a 20% down payment saved so you won’t have to pay private mortgage insurance. It seems impossible to save so much, I know; but I can show you how. It also seems ridiculous to spend hundreds and thousands on rent that could be spent towards owning a home, but remember: hidden costs can kill you. A $900 rent payment and $900 mortgage payment are not equal. Just for starters, new homeowners have to consider utilities and phone hookups, yard maintenance equipment and/or services, new furniture (even if it’s used), window treatments (do you realize how much those cost??), appliances, painting supplies for the orange bathroom that came with the otherwise perfect house, pictures for the extra wall space, you name it. And if you are already in debt and have no savings when you purchase the house, and little Ian drops his rubber ducky in the toilet and it floods the house, you have to borrow the money to fix it. Wham, more debt. Murphy moves in and unpacks his bags. Get serious, get a second job, do what it takes but get out of debt first.
Buyers only get one first look at a property, and they don’t want to use their imagination. They assume the house they see is as good as it’s going to get. If you want your home to sell, step out of your comfort zone and think like a buyer. Here are three ways to help you turn your house into the home of someone else’s dreams. We’ve broken down each category into low-cost, “Basic” tips and tricks, and an “All-Out” blow-the-budget transformation. How far you take it is up to you. Continue reading →
Here’s how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible.
Getting the loan that suits your situation at the best possible price and terms makes homebuying easier and more affordable. Here are seven ways to boost your credit score so you can do just that. Continue reading →
Your first home purchase is exciting, but it can also be stressful. Here are some tips to limit the trauma and help you find the home of your dreams the first time around.
The most important step in selecting a home is knowing how much you can spend. If you already use an electronic budgeting system, you’re ahead of the game. If not, track your expenses for the past several months to a year. Try to quantify the “gray areas” of cash withdrawals that disappear on small purchases. Now add up your current rent and other related expenses. If you’ve been saving money toward your down payment, note that, as well. Finally, ask yourself where you can tighten your belt with your existing discretionary purchases. This is the maximum amount you could pay per month. Now ask yourself if this is reasonable, given your current savings and possible expenses. Only you know the answer to that. When you’ve arrived at a comfortable number, write it down, and save your calculations. You’ll take this to the bank when you apply for loan preapproval. For now, you have an estimated payment you can use while shopping online. Continue reading →
By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-10 11:12:47
Working to get your home ship-shape for showings will increase its value and shorten your sales time.
Many buyers today want move-in-ready homes and will quickly eliminate an otherwise great home by focusing on a few visible flaws. Unless your home shines, you may endure showing after showing and open house after open house—and end up with a lower sales price. Before the first prospect walks through your door, consider some smart options for casting your home in its best light. Continue reading →
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum massa risus, condimentum sed pellentesque ut, venenatis in dolor. Duis vestibulum purus vel sem malesuada sed fermentum enim ultricies. Vestibulum consequat dignissim lacus, sit amet sodales augue dignissim ac. Nulla non iaculis massa. Donec in diam varius nibh interdum posuere non ac velit. Suspendisse potenti. Mauris quis vulputate sapien. Sed egestas posuere vestibulum. Pellentesque dui lacus, egestas a porta vel, lobortis sed nisl. Cras ac dui a tortor luctus elementum. Fusce augue nunc, ultricies quis commodo id, vulputate et risus. Nulla eros arcu, elementum vel ornare vitae, tincidunt vitae nulla. Phasellus tristique ipsum et nisi ultrices rhoncus. Curabitur aliquet erat et nibh ultricies tincidunt rutrum ligula adipiscing.
More Options
Buyers only get one first look at a property, and they don’t want to use their imagination. They assume the house they see is as good as it’s going to get. If you want your home to sell, step out of your comfort zone and think like a buyer. Here are three ways to help you turn your house into the home of someone else’s dreams. We’ve broken down each category into low-cost, “Basic” tips and tricks, and an “All-Out” blow-the-budget transformation. How far you take it is up to you.
By: G. M. Filisko
Your first home purchase is exciting, but it can also be stressful. Here are some tips to limit the trauma and help you find the home of your dreams the first time around.
By: G. M. Filisko
What is This?
