Mortgage Assistance

Short sale experts reveal knowledge behind the industry

By Megan Hopkins
 
With REO sales making up roughly 11% of total sales, it’s important for Realtors to know the short-sale market well, said Ashley Bean, when leading a panel discussion at the REOMAC 2013 Summit & Expo in Dallas.

During the same panel discussion, a number of short sales experts discussed the health of the industry and gave tips to attendees on how to close more sales.

In 2011, the average time it took to complete a short sale was only 108 days, according to Bean. That is a far cry from the 148-day average that came the following year. Now, in 2013, we’ve pushed the time back down slightly, with the average somewhere between 120 and 130 days.

Bean added that Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan and Georgia are the fastest-moving states, which sh… Continue Reading Short sale experts reveal knowledge behind the industry

A moment for Boston

All of us at Your Guy for That and Intown Focus Realty wish to extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to the families, friends, and loved ones of the recent Boston Marathon tragedy.

There is no words, no gesture, and no thing can take the biting sting from loss; and only the honestly offered hand in wanting to help can be shown to help ease this painful path.

We ask all who wish to help in some small way, look to donate through your local Red Cross Disaster Teams, as they struggle to assist those in Boston. The link below will take you to their national donation website.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002

Please take a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost, or changed during this horrific time.

The Boston Marathon tradition… Continue Reading A moment for Boston

7 smart ways to tweak your online home search

Buying Advice: If you’re like most buyers, you start your house hunt on the Internet. Here’s how to pare down those options and find the homes that are right for you.

© Rex Features

Scouring real-estate search engines is a little bit like online dating. An overwhelming number of homes are available, but probably only a few are right for you.

To cut down on your time in front of the computer and to boost your knowledge about the market, we’ve gathered some tips for searching for homes online, as well as some advice on vetting the neighborhoods you have your eye on.

In this edition of Buying Advice, we’ll also check in with the latest housing stats and find out where the biggest foreclosure bargains can be found. (Hint: Think East Coast.)

Use the searc… Continue Reading 7 smart ways to tweak your online home search

How to get a mortgage without a credit score

Here are the alternative routes to approval.
By Michele Lerner of HSH.com

© OJO Images/Getty Images

For many homebuyers, establishing credit came naturally once they began working, applied for a credit card, took out a car loan or paid back student loans. But what about potential homebuyers who don’t have a credit score, either because they are averse to credit cards or have yet to build up a substantive credit history? Can they still apply for a mortgage?

The answer is yes, but “it’s exceedingly difficult to obtain a mortgage without a credit score,” says Tim Ross, president and CEO of a mortgage company, in Royal Oak, Mich. “Lenders use automated underwriting systems that base a loan decision on certain criteria, including a credit score. But there are s… Continue Reading How to get a mortgage without a credit score

Your Information for That!

Did you know…?

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is much more than just a ‘bureau of paper pushers”… it is also a great information resource on buying a home today!

The following link will take you to the GDCA website’s link for Georgia Dream… the housing program that gets people back into a house of their own! http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/Homeownership/programs/RUHomeBuyer.asp

 
And just what is Georgia Dream? Glad you asked!
 

The Georgia Dream Homeownership program that makes owning your own home possible in this economy!

Who qualifies?

• First-time home buyers

• Those who have not owned a home in the past three years

• Those that purchase a home in targeted areas

• have household incomes below the maximum

• ha… Continue Reading Your Information for That!

Fulton County School Board: Reject the proposal to acquire homes for East Point School!

Petition by Jenny Stone, East Point, GeorgiaPetitioning President, Fulton County School Board Friends,
Many of you have been instrumental in communicating to the Fulton County School Board your thoughts on the proposal being made to include our home, and several others, in a land acquisition in order to rebuild an elementary school in East Point. At this juncture, we cannot block the Fulton County land acquisition group from making their proposal. But, we can make strides to encourage the School Board to reject options that would include private land acquisition.  We do not have a firm date on when the proposal will be made to the Board. But, we believe it to be in the new year. As such, we need your help again to ensure that the Board has heard from people that are in objection to ho… Continue Reading Fulton County School Board: Reject the proposal to acquire homes for East Point School!

Ten Commandments When Applying for a Real Estate Mortgage

 Ten Commandments When Applying for a  Real Estate Mortgage
1)  Thou shalt not change jobs, become self employed or quit your job. Lenders like consistency.  Changing jobs within your field shouldn’t be a problem.
 2) Thou shalt not buy a car , truck, van or boat, Or you may be living in it
3)  Thou shalt not use charge cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind
4)  Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing
5)  Thou shalt not forget to file your tax returns, all loans require 2 years tax returns these days, no matter your field of business
6)  Thou shalt not buy any big ticket items.
7)  Thou Shalt not originate any new inquiries into your credit or open any new credit lines.
8) Thou shalt not make large deposits into your checking or saving… Continue Reading Ten Commandments When Applying for a Real Estate Mortgage

Credit Xpert Can Help You

Credit Xpert

The minimum credit score needed to get an FHA loan these days is 640.  It is true that many people have major credit problems and won’t be able to buy anytime soon period.  However, many potential buyers are not far from the 640 threshold and just need a little help and guidance to get over the hump.  Fortunately, at Fairfield, we have access to technology which enables us to inform these people what they need to do to get their score over 640.

The system we use is called Credit Xpert and it uses a “what if” simulator to let us know how much specific actions taken by a potential buyer will impact their credit score.  One of the most impactful things a buyer can do to improve a score is to pay down credit cards.  The scoring model penalizes one’s score… Continue Reading Credit Xpert Can Help You

Home Owner Assistance in Georgia

Georgia has over 300 million dollars from the Federal Government to assist people who are in danger of loosing their homes. If the state does not use this money, it will go back to the Federal Government and be issued to another state.

Details can be found on this link Homes Safe Georgia

If you know of someone who is struggling to keep their home, they may qualify for this assistance. Please forward and share the details.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has partnered with GHFA Affordable Housing, Inc. to deliver a statewide unemployment mortgage payment assistance program to prevent foreclosures, under the name HomeSafe Georgia.

HomeSafe Georgia will help by providing “bridge” mortgage assistance to many Georgians who are unemployed or have seen a dramatic dec… Continue Reading Home Owner Assistance in Georgia