Down Payments Continue to Decline in Third Quarter

Hi Friends, 

I'm eager to share with you this article I found during my reading today. 

"The average down payment on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan in the third quarter of this year was 15.73 percent, according to Charlotte, North Carolina-based Lending Tree an online marketplace connecting potential borrowers with lenders.

The third-quarter average is down 2.74 percent from the previous quarter, according to Lending Tree, which suggested in a press release that the drop is due to a slight loosening of standards by lenders across the nation."

To Continue Reading: 
Down Payments Continue to Decline in Third Quarter

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5 Ways to Slash Your Heating Bills


Hi Friends,

Here is an article I came across in my reading. With the winter months quickly approaching I thought you may appreciate the information found in this article.


"Now that temperatures are dropping across the country, its time to think about how you can slash your heating bills for the season. Here are five low-cost and/or no-cost moves to help you save money while staying comfortable at the same time."


To continue reading: 5 Ways to Slash Your Heating Bills

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Mitigation Can Soften Flood Insurance Hikes

Hi Friends!

During my reading today I found this article and thought you may have some interest in it.

"REALTORS® are reporting dramatically rising flood insurance premiums because of recent changes to the National Flood insurance Program. But while some home owners could see big increases in their costs, the changes are likely to be less dramatic for many — and some increases can be reduced by taking steps to mitigate flood risk, federal officials and private-sector experts said at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo."

To continue reading: Mitigation Can Soften Flood Insurance Hikes
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Neighborhood Preferences 

Are Changing 

Hi Friends,

Here is an article I came across in my reading today that I thought you may have some interest in.

"Americans are increasingly showing their desires for walk able neighborhoods that combine a mix of homes and stores. In fact, a new survey shows that the least popular neighborhood is a suburban one with just houses in it.

Sixty percent of Americans surveyed say they favor neighborhoods with a mix of houses and stores and other businesses that are easy to walk to over neighborhoods that require greater driving among home, work, and recreation, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2013 Community Preference Survey of 1,500 Americans."

To Continue Reading:
Neighborhood Preferences Are Changing


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Home Value Appreciation Set to Ease Over the Next Year

Hi Friends,

I wanted to share with you this article I found during my reading today.

"The recent fast-paced home price appreciation across the country led some markets to the brink of a bubble, but deceleration over the summer months has Zillow analysts breathing a sigh of relief as the bubble threat deflates.

Home value appreciation has declined steadily for three months, according to Zillow, and half of the nation’s 20 largest metros experienced negative appreciation in September."

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Home Value Appreciation Set to Ease Over the Next Year

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Should I Buy a Home Now

or Pay More Later?

Hi Friends,

I came across this information in my reading today and I thought you may have some interest in it.

“With mortgage rates creeping up toward 5% as 2013 draws to a close, potential home buyers have some decisions to make — and soon.
The danger for potential home-buyers isn't that mortgage rates are nearing 5.00%; the real threat is that rates could go higher, to 5.50% or even 6.00% in 2014.”

The article spells out the financials consequences a buyer would face by waiting. ($67,746 on a $300,000 mortgage).
They went on to identify four things a buyer should take into consideration before delaying a decision to purchase.

1. Rates will likely rise — and soon with 5% interest rates right around the corner.
2. The Federal Reserve will stop “tapering” causing rates to return to historically normal levels (6-7%).
3. Home values are rising
4. The autumn buying season is underrated “as you can take advantage of year-end tax breaks and the fall weather makes it an ideal time to move”.

Bottom Line
The financial advice Forbes gave to their readers was rather simple. Buy now or pay more later!!

Let me know if you have any questions!

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional

Hi Friends,

Today during my reading I came across this article that I thought you may have some interest in.

"The real estate market is a place where most people will make their largest investment ever. It is a place where fortunes can be, and often are, made.  It is not a place, however, for you to “wing it”.

While the myriad TV shows about real estate make the process look so simple – it’s not really that simple… they make it seem like all you need to do is slap a for sale by owner sign in the yard, have one open house with fresh flowers and fresh baked cookies and bam! SOLD! in one day.  Well I can tell you that in New Hanover County, North Carolina it takes an average of 121 days to sell a home. An average means that some houses take much longer to sell and some much less than 121 days to sell."

To continue reading:  5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional

Let me know if you have any questions!