Category Archives: Real Estate

“It’s impossible to get low down payment loans.” – MYTH! FHA down payments are 3.5% and VA is 0%. In some areas, there may be some 0% down payment USDA loans available. FNMA and Freddie Mac have 3% down payment … Continue reading →

Every year, it seems like the same things are on the list but this could be the year you really do invest in a rental home. Rents are climbing, values are solid and mortgage rates are still low for non-owner … Continue reading →

People across the country are beginning to think about what their life will look like next year. It happens every fall; we ponder whether we should relocate to a different part of the country to find better year-round weather, or … Continue reading →

Saving the down payment may be unnecessarily keeping would-be buyers from getting into a home. They may be unaware that the funds might be available. The NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reports that 81% of first-time buyers got … Continue reading →

“It’s not far, if you know the way.” What this expression implies is that you could have a long way to go if you don’t know where you’re going or how to get there. Just like reading a map, there … Continue reading →

Special consideration is made by IRS for the sale of a jointly-owned principal residence after the death of a spouse. Surviving spouse may qualify to exclude up to $500,000 of gain instead of the $250,000 exclusion for single people if … Continue reading →

Real estate lost a lot of value during the recession but most areas have rebounded considerably. In some cases, the homes are worth more than they were before the housing bubble burst. The dynamics are classic for this type of … Continue reading →

There is an infrequently-used mortgage program available that could be the solution to a buyer’s or seller’s problem. A temporary buydown is fixed rate mortgage that the seller has prepaid interest at closing to lower the payments for a number … Continue reading →