The NMWelcomeHome Team Blog - June, 2010

This Month In Real Estate - June 2010

1416 Views, 0 Comments

Wondering How Much Your Home Is Worth?

How has the price of your home changed in today’s market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for?

If you're wondering what's happening to prices in your area, or you're thinking about selling your house, I'll be able to help.

Just give my office a call for a no-fuss, professional evaluation. I won't try to push you into listing with me or waste your time. I'll just give you the honest facts about your home and its value. And maybe I'll also give you the "inside scoop" on what's happening in the housing market near where you live!

Just give my office a call at 505-350-8184 to arrange an appointment or use this contact form to give me the specs of your home and I will get you a report right away.

1394 Views, 0 Comments

Buying a Home? Find Out What an Agent Can Do For You

Thanks to the Internet, virtual tours and Google Maps, it’s easier than ever to locate prospective properties when searching for real estate. But before you try to go it alone, it’s essential to understand the other advantages real estate agents bring to the table.

Experience: One of the biggest benefits of working with a local real estate agent is the level of experience brought to the table. Agents make it their business to know upcoming changes, the latest listings and even important trends that can influence your purchase.

Excellent Service: From skilled negotiations to compiling a list of prospective properties, real estate agents save time and money throughout the entire transaction. The average real estate agent is often able to negotiate…

1276 Views, 0 Comments

No Longer a Distressed Market

Some good news to report – effective this Friday June 18th 2010 Bernalillo County is no longer considered a distressed market. Although credit score requirements still remain starting at 680, the CLTV for owner occupied transactions now are back up to 95...%. More importantly, PMI is now again available for 2nd homes at 90% LTV.

Call me to find out more...505-350-8184

1404 Views, 0 Comments

FHA Reform Act

The most common type of loan today is an federally backed loan know as FHA. The bill presented will most likely affect you the borrower because chances are if you are going to buy a home this will be the loan for you.  For many reasons its the best. Low down payment, credit guidelines not as strict, low mortgage insurance and so on.

This bill has passed the house and will likely become law as part of the Financial Regulation Overhaul Package being debated in Congress. A few highlights: 

1) FHA’s annual insurance premium was .55% will now be raised to 1.55%. This is the CAP, not where it’s going to be. That being said… 

2) The annual mortgage insurance premium will rise to .85% for loans up to and including 95% LTV and to .90% for loans above 95%. Most…

1230 Views, 0 Comments

Avoid Vacation Hassles

With These 4 Travel Tips

Travel troubles come in all shapes and sizes - from natural disasters to sickness or schedule changes. The following tips will help you minimize the impact of any problems:

Reservations: When making flight, hotel or car rental reservations, search for vendors that allow last-minute changes. Pay careful attention to fees charged by the booking agent or online site compared with the provider. In many instances, charges may apply from both vendors. Remember, it may cost a bit more to assure maximum flexibility, but it’s often worth it - especially when traveling with children or others where schedules are subject to change.

Natural Disasters and Other Acts of God: Some situations are beyond the ability to predict. Whether you are…

1278 Views, 0 Comments

4 Tips to meet and mingle without the stress

Many people are uncomfortable walking into a big room full of people they don’t know. That’s why business and social networking events tend to be viewed as little more than a necessary evil.

Unfortunately, networking events can be vital to the development of personal and professional goals.
Learn the art of stress-free mingling with these tips:

Stand and Smile: Not only does standing up and smiling when first meeting someone put the other person at ease, but it establishes an egalitarian position right from the start.

Practice: It might sound counterintuitive to practice a spontaneous introduction - but it actually works. Avoid an unpleasant pause and social uneasiness by using a simple but effective introduction such as “I’d like to introduce …,” then…

1474 Views, 0 Comments

Can you tell me what HAFA is and what it means for homeowners?

HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, is part of the part of the Makeing Home Affordable Programed which helps homeowners during this current economic crisis through short sales and deeds-in-lieu.

The programs gives a $3,000 cash incentive to homeowners to avoid foreclosure and successfully complete a short sale or deed-in-lieu.

Probably the most appealing part of the HAFA program is the lender agrees to forgive the remaining mortgage debt for which the home sells for or for the deed to the home.  Note: New Mexico law allows for a deficiency judgements which can be brought by the lender to the borrower for the difference from the mortgage balance to what the actual selling price was and closing cost.  The HAFA program specifically waives a…

1477 Views, 0 Comments