Monthly Archives: September 2013

In addition to your monthly mortgage payment (which includes loan principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and perhaps mortgage insurance), check out these other real costs of home ownership before you purchase a home to see if you really can … Continue reading →

Usually you choose to visit and look inside a home if the outside is attractive to you at first glance. But take a little time when you drive past or visit the house to look at some things you can … Continue reading →

Apparently, according to price-to-rent ratios (home price divided by average rent per month), homes in fourth quarter 2011 were the cheapest since 1987…but the ratios have risen since. In June, it was close to 23 vs. about 20.5 long term … Continue reading →

No and yes… 3-15-2015: Is your state or local Governmental property taxing authority using using AVMs (software creating automated valuation models)? One problem cited in this article is that these computerized systems are notoriously inaccurate. So how are you challenging … Continue reading →

California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) announced a new fixed-rate mortgage program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, providing thousands of dollars in down-payment assistance. Source: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/business/20130905/new-loan-program-for-first-time-buyers

The definition of a price to rent ratio is a mathematical calculation used in the Trulia Rent Vs. Buy Index that compares the totals costs of homeownership with the total cost of renting a similar property. The total costs of … Continue reading →

Ever wonder if there are laws or rules governing what’s homeowners association can and can’t do in the state of Georgia?… Well here is the Official code of Georgia – http://http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/Default.asp Search for Title 44, Chapter 3, and Article 6 … Continue reading →

If only non-US citizen DNA can be patented, that way immigration reformers can approach the International Trade Commission to stop illegal immigrants at the US border! But seriously, according to Wall Street Journal article “A Backdoor Move to Shut Out … Continue reading →

These are good videos to pass onto someone you know who may be behind or getting behind on their mortgage payments and need to avoid getting caught in a scam. Freddie Mac videos on homeowners handling foreclosures and distressed sales … Continue reading →

I had a recent former client throw an absurd figure on Zillow’s “make me move” option and he got a reply…but sorry, no sale – just testing the waters. But apparently, of the 150,000 or so people who posted their … Continue reading →