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5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional Before Entering the Market!

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Whether you are  buying  or  selling  a home, it can be quite the adventure. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can ‘For Sale by Owner’ or ‘ FSBO ,’ but it’s not as easy as it may seem. That’s why you need an experienced real estate professional to guide you on the path to achieving your ultimate goal! The  5 reasons you need a real estate professional in your corner  haven’t changed but have rather been strengthened by the projections of higher mortgage interest rates and home prices as the market continues to pick up steam. 1. What do you do with all this paperwork? Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true real estate professional is an expert in his or her market and can guide you through the stacks of  paperwork  necessary to make your dream a reality. 2. So you fo...

Millionaire to Millennials: Owning Your Home Can Help You Retire Sooner!

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In a CNBC  article , self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “Buying a home is the escalator to wealth in America. Homeownership can also help you retire early, that is, if you pay your mortgage off.”  Bach suggests that homebuyers should, “Take out a 30-year mortgage, but with the intention of paying it off in 25, 20 or ideally, 15 years.” How does he suggest you do this?  Here’s the secret: “…If you were paying $1,000 a month, now you’re going to make $1,100 payments every month. Inform the bank that you are doing this and that you want the extra $100 a month to be applied to the principal (not the interest).” What will happen to your mortgage? Bach explains that, “If you keep this up, you’ll wind up paying off your 30-year mortgage in about 25 years. Increase your monthly payment by 20 percent, and you’ll have that mortgage retired in about 22 years.” Bottom Line Whenever a well-respected millionaire gives investment advice...

Are Lending Standards Propping Up Home Prices?

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Back in 2005, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan  described  the dramatic increases in residential real estate values as a  “froth in housing markets.” Greenspan went on to say: “The increase in the prevalence of interest-only loans and the introduction of more-exotic forms of adjustable-rate mortgages are developments of particular concern…some households may be employing these instruments to purchase homes that would otherwise be unaffordable, and consequently their use could be adding to pressures in the housing market.” Greenspan was warning that the loosening of lending standards could lead to disaster. And it did. With home prices again appreciating at percentages well above historic norms, many are wondering whether the market is again becoming “frothy.” Mortgage standards are much stricter now, however, than they were in 2005. The  Urban Institute ’s  Housing Finance Policy Center  issues a monthly index which measures the perce...

Buying Is Now 26.3% Cheaper Than Renting in the US

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The results of the latest  Rent vs. Buy Report  from  Trulia  show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting, with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, in 98 of the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. In the six years that  Trulia  has conducted this study, this is the first time that it was cheaper to rent than buy in any of the metropolitan areas. It’s no surprise, however, that those two metros are San Jose and San Francisco, CA, where median home prices have jumped to over $1 million dollars this year. Home values in San Jose have risen 29% in the last year, while rents have remained relatively unchanged. For the 98 metros where homeownership wins out, 97 of them show a double-digit advantage when buying. The range is an average of 2.0% less expensive in Honolulu (HI), all the way up to 48.9% in Detroit (MI), and 26.3% nationwide! Below is a map of the 100 metros that were studied. The darker the blue dot on the metro...

You Need an Agent Who Will Always Put You First

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Whether you are a rookie homebuyer or have gone through the process many times, having a  local real estate expert  who is well versed in the neighborhood you are looking to move to, as well as the trends of that area, should be your goal while home shopping. One great example of an agent who is in your corner and is always looking out for your best interests is one of the main characters on  ABC’s  Modern Family ,  Phil Dunphy. For those who aren’t familiar with the character, Phil is a REALTOR ®  with a huge heart who always strives to do his best for his family and his clients. In one episode, he even shared an oath that he created and holds himself accountable to: “On my honor, I promise to aid in man’s quest for shelter, to recognize I’m not just in the business of houses — I’m in the business of dreams in the shape of houses. To disclose all illegal additions, shoddy construction, murders, and ghosts. And to put my clients’ needs befor...

The #1 Reason to Put Your House on The Market TODAY!

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The  National Association of Realtors  (NAR) released the results of their latest  Existing Home Sales Report  which revealed that home sales declined 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.38 million in June from 5.41 million in May, and are 2.2% below a year ago. Some may look at these numbers and think that now is a bad time to sell their house, but in fact, the opposite is true. The national slowdown in sales is directly tied to a lack of inventory available for the buyers who are  out in the market  looking for their dream homes! In fact, the inventory of homes for sale had fallen year-over-year for 36 consecutive months before posting a modest 0.5% gain last month and has had an upward impact on home prices. NAR’s  Chief Economist  Lawrence Yun had this to say, “It’s important to note that despite the modest year-over-year rise in inventory, the current level is far from what’s needed to satisfy demand levels. Furthermo...

Americans Rank Real Estate Best Investment for 5 Years Running! [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Some Highlights: Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 5 years! The generations agree! Real estate is the best investment! Generation X leads the way with 37% believing in real estate as the top investment. Powered by  WPeMatico For More Info : Visit Here : Home For Sale NC