Did you know that there are many moving scams out there? It is a real thing! Unfortunately, we have heard from many of our clients that they have struggled with getting their belongings from a company that was suppose to help them move. We just want to spread the awareness and make sure you know that this is something to potentially look out for. Also, if you have a specific name of a company that you have had this type of problem with, please let us know so we can pass the information on to our clients.

We have heard stories like this…unless the client pays more money, the mover will not open the truck and you cannot get your belongings. It has been said that one in ten consumers fall for this type of scam, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Wow…that is a lot of people! There is a way around this – make sure you have a contract written up and the terms are in writing! Be sure you have a copy of what both you and the company signed. And be sure that the contract is very specific and does not include a clause with any potential additional fees.

Speaking of hidden fees, this is very important to mention! There are scams out there were a breakdown of costs are not on an original quote. Before the move occurs, the company will send a new quote that includes costs that were not on the original quote. These types of fees may be: gas fees, assembly, disassembly, bulk items, supplies, storage fees, weight, etc.

We also want you to look out for quotes that seem too good to be true! If you get a quote from a company that does not seem right because it is so inexpensive, there is a reason to be concerned! After you have paid a deposit, there are some companies that will sell your information to another company.

We hope you have never been a victim of one of these types of scams! But now that you are aware of them and know what to look for, you should feel more safe and secure in choosing a moving company.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2021 Profile of Home Staging, the most popular room to stage is the master bedroom. The second most popular room to stage is the living room. This takes us to the third most popular room to stage – the kitchen! For some, that is where a whole lot of time is spent and a very important area for many families. Just like with any trend, they change with the times. This includes what is popular with kitchens.

If you want to update your kitchen, we have some ideas to share with you. This is especially important if you are in the process of selling your home. It will help make the kitchen more desirable for potential buyers.

To start with, take a look at the countertops! A simple idea which would give you more options for creativity, is to do with a simple countertop but spruce things up with a fun and vibrant backsplash! The opportunities are endless when it comes to backsplashes. If you want to take a different approach, marble countertops that are heavily veined and quartz countertops are both “in” right now.

This year, when it comes to colors in the kitchen, dark colors are popular, especially blacks. This includes black walls, cabinets, and other accents. The contrast helps to give the kitchen a more glamorous type of look.

Unique and special lighting can also have a profound effect on a kitchen. There are many different fun options to choose from – and many different places to accent. As of now, the globe shaped lighting and sphere shaped lighting are two very popular options. Either option will look classy.

The last idea we have for you as to how to show off your kitchen, is to show off your shelving! Instead of having a cupboard that is behind a door, show it off! This trend is to help you stop hiding behind a digital lifestyle and sharing decorations, art, books, etc. that are important to you and show others your personality a bit more.

Have you come across any other current kitchen trends that you have fallen in love with? We would love to share them with our readers!

Is your home considered a historic home? Or are you interested in purchasing a home that is considered to a historic home? Many people like to purchase and remodel historic homes for the vintage feel of the home. However, this can cost a pretty penny. There may also be some other red tape you have to cross. One of the positives is that there are some grants, loans, and even tax incentives that are available to restore historic homes. As with any program you have to apply for, some are more difficult to qualify for than others.

For the most part, historic home grants are usually not available to individual people, but rather nonprofit organizations or other types of groups. As an individual person, there may be some grants available from your county, state, or even national level. These grants are usually pretty competitive and require details from the homeowner as far as what they propose to get done.

Renovation loans are also available for historic homes, just like any other renovation. This loan may be part of your mortgage and backed by the federal government. This type of renovation loan is called a FHA 203k rehab loan – it is the most popular. Mortgage insurance is something you will have to have with this type of loan. However, you will be able to bundle everything together if you are purchasing the home for the first time. For example, you will be able to include both the cost of the home and the renovation into one loan. This will make it much easier and less confusing when it comes to the details and specifics of the loan.

Be sure to also take a look at any tax breaks you may be able to save on! There are quite a few tax break incentive options out there.

No matter which route you want to take, be sure you look into all options available and talk to someone qualified and knowledgeable about the subject matter. You would even recommend you speak to someone who has done it before so you can get an idea as to how the experience was for them.

Buying your first home can be stressful, especially when you do not know what to expect! Be sure you work with someone who helps you throughout the process and answers all of the questions you get along the way. To help alleviate some of your stress now, we will go over some basic requirements and things to think about when it comes to buying a home. Most of these requirements are fairly easy to meet – especially if you are able to prepare for them ahead of time.

To start with, having a decent credit score to qualify for a mortgage program is something that will be looked at. You do not necessarily have to have a high score, as all loan types have different requirements. Scores between 580 and 640 are average credit score minimums. It is possible that you qualify for a mortgage with a lower score, as there are other things that are taken into consideration as well.

Having a steady income and employment may be an obvious, but necessary mortgage requirement as well. What may not be as obvious is that most lenders want you to have the same employment for a minimum of two consecutive years. If you are self employed, make sure you are able to shower a consistent amount of income for two consecutive years as well. The income amount should be stable or increasing.

Another requirement is being sure you are able to make a minimum down payment. The down payment amount will depend on the final cost of the home. There are also some lenders and programs that do not require a down payment. With down payment costs, there are also closing costs! Be sure you are saving enough money for both.

Your debt-to-income ratio will also be looked at and a factor in qualifying for a mortgage. The ideal debt-to-income ratio is 36%-43% as it depends on the loan you decide to go with.

You will also need to supply documentation to your lender to purchase a home. This documentation includes, but may not be limited to: past tax returns, past paystubs, W-2s, employment verification letter, bank statements, other asset statements, identification, rental history, etc. If you are self employed you will need to provide a year-to-date profit and loss statement.

We hope that by laying this out for you, you will be less stressed and anxious when it comes to being a first time homeowner!

Summer is coming! At least here in Florida the weather is already summer-like. And no matter where you live, summer will be on its way to you shortly. With long summer days in your mind, swimming pools may be on your mind as well. The cost of in-ground swimming pools can be a minimum of $50,000 – it depends not only where you live, but what type of pool you want as well. There are a handful of options for you if you need to finance your swimming pool.

To start with, as mentioned a few posts ago, a cash-out refinance is an option. If you have a decent amount of home equity, you will be able to get cash back when you refinance your mortgage. The cash that you get back can be put toward a swimming pool. This will also add great value to your home as well. You can borrow up to 80% of your home’s equity.

You also have an option of a home equity line of credit. This type of credit is a revolving credit line that your home’s equity secures. This line of credit is very much like a credit card. As long as you are approved and you have enough credit to make the purchase, the credit can be used to finance a new swimming pool. Since the debt is secured by your home, the interest rate is typically lower than a regular credit card or even a personal loan.

You can also take out a home equity loan. It is basically a second mortgage. This type of loan gives you all of the money upfront, unlike a home equity line of credit. This type of loan does come with a closing cost and uses your home as collateral. If you stop making payments for any reason, you may lose your home.

If none of the options mentioned sound good to you, you also have the option of applying for a personal loan. Some institutions label them as a “pool loan” – as that is exactly what it is.

If your dream is to have a swimming pool in your home, just be sure you are not taking on too much of a financial burden. Make sure it makes sense for finances.

Assumable mortgages are not very common. The majority of people likely has not heard of it. It is a type of mortgage where a new borrower has the ability to take over the loan that is existing from the current borrower. To put it in simple terms, a new home buyer takes over the mortgage of the home for sale. Terms and conditions do not change for the new home buyer – all terms and conditioners are the same. This includes the mortgage rate. The remaining balance of the mortgage stays the same, along with the remaining time left on the mortgage.

Although it sounds like an assumable mortgage is fairly simple – the someone is effectively just taking over the mortgage for someone else, it is not the simple. To start with, not all loan types are assumable. For example, conventional loans cannot become an assumable loan. This may come as a surprise, but you still have to make a down payment for an assumable mortgage. The amount may be more than you expect. You also still have to apply with the mortgage lender and be sure you are qualified to do so.

Some people like to do an assumable mortgage when interest rates rise. The person who takes over the mortgage has a mortgage rate of what the original mortgage rate was on the house – not what the current going rate is. This can be a great deal of savings for someone, especially if you look at the bigger picture.

Just like any other situation that requires decision making, we want to make sure you look at all of your options and look at what all is involved in an assumable mortgage. You need to also make sure you take into consideration the circumstances of you wanting to apply for an assumable mortgage and any needs you might have with the mortgage.

Applying for a mortgage can feel very intimidating and scary. But we can assure you that it is not! Especially when we are there for you every step of the way. We want to set you up for success and take your stress away!

Before you apply for your mortgage, we recommend you check your credit. We recommend you allow enough time to be able to increase your credit score if it is too low to qualify for a mortgage. You will not know where you stand until you get your credit check. It can hurt you if you wait too close to when you apply for your mortgage.

Just like any other business relationship, it is wise to get multiple quotes instead of going with the first one you get. Mortgage rates are not completely set in stone – there is some wiggle room as far as any associated fees and the interest rate. You can also be transparent with any companies you get quotes from. By being transparent, they may be able to work some magic with a decreased interest rate or fees.

Before you decide to make an offer on a home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage can give you a competitive edge that other people may not have. You may also be surprised with the amount of money you get approved for – which may increase your options of homes to look at.

These two pieces of advice may come as no surprise, but we want to make sure you are aware of it! It is important that you are not late on any of your rent payments. Mortgage lenders always go back a minimum of one year on your rent payments to see if you were on time. Also, make sure you do not make any big purchases around the time you are applying for a mortgage.

Are there any other tips you would recommend be shared with first time home buyers? We would love to share it with them!

As you are likely aware, when you own your property, there is a title. The title is proof that you own the property. Title insurance is great protection to anyone who may try to claim ownership. There are two different types of title insurance – lender’s title insurance and owner’s title insurance. Lender’s title insurance is required – it protects your mortgage lender’s financial stake. Owner’s title insurance is optional – it protects your financial stake. Even though the owner’s title insurance is optional, it is still highly recommended. It is quite possible that having owner’s title insurance can protect you greatly.

Title insurance protects both homeowners and mortgage lenders from any potential financial losses that may come up. Title insurance can covering unknown liens, omitted heirs, mistakes in the public record, or even fraud

The cost for title insurance varies. – it can be from $300 up to more than $2,000 The price will fluctuate based on the value of the property and where the home is located. On a positive note, title insurance is not a recurring payment but a one-time payment that is made at the closing.

The chance of you actually needing to use the title insurance is slim – but it could definitely happen. At the event you do need to use it, it would save you quite a lot of money – legal fees included.

Most people do not realize it, but if you decide to refinance your home, you will need to purchase a new lender’s title insurance policy. This even holds true if you decide to use the same lender. Also, title insurance does not transfer to a new homeowner.

Another positive about the process Is that you have complete control over who you decide to use as the title insurance company.

There are many programs available for those who have a disability. There are some people who think that it is not possible – but that is ja common misconception. It is also easier than traditional home loans. Some of them also have lower interest rates as well. Even if you were turned down in the past, we suggest you still apply.

If your main income source is from: long-term disability income from an employer or insurer, supplement security income, or social security disability income, you may qualify. All major home loan programs accept these types of incomes. If you get denied due to your disability income on your home loan application, try applying with a different lender. Someone else may accept you.

Just like any other income source, you will need to document it properly for a mortgage lender. The requirements will differ depending on who is applying for the loan and the mortgage lender requirements. (A parent is able to buy a home for their disabled child – they just need to present certain documentations. There are actually special programs available for these types of situations.)

As with any mortgage loan, there are different requirements that exist. If you are interested in specifics, we would be happy to work with you and discuss your options. There are even options for disabled people who may have a low credit score.

Many grants also exist to help disabled home buyers. These grants may be a down payment grant or a down payment loan. Depending what state you are in, it is their housing finance agency that typically offer these types of programs. Sometimes local non-profits will offer it as well. Habitat for Humanity is a very well-known program that offers help.

As with any situation you are in, we always recommend you explore all of your home buying options. There may be more options available than you realize!

If you are a first time home buyer and just beginning your research on mortgages, you may not be familiar with what escrow is. Although, let’s be real, you may have a mortgage now and not completely understand what escrow is. Am I right?

Going the definition route, escrow is when you put something of value in the care of a third party who is neutral. The valued item is there until certain conditions are met. In regards to real estate and mortgages, it makes transactions safe for all parties involved. An escrow company holds on to all funds involved until the final transaction comes to be. This process makes the real estate transaction safe for all parties involved.

Another escrow account that comes to be is ongoing escrow. The company you hold your mortgage with is who manages this escrow. This escrow helps with property tax and insurance bills that come up. The escrow company distributes funds as needed to the appropriate parties – like your local tax authority or homeowners insurance premiums. The funds that go into this account may also be called “impounds.” Keep in mind that this will increase your closing costs since the escrow company will make sure the first six months are taken care of.

Escrow companies can also order home inspections, surveys, title searches, etc. As you can see, they deal with more than just money. They certainly wear many hats! The costs of their services can vary. They tend to vary depending what states you are in. Ultimately, they are an important part of homeownership.