The Benefits of Credit Repair
Why should you Consider Credit Repair? Discover the Basic Reasons! Do you look at your credit report and think about nothing but credit repair? If yes, then perhaps it’s high time to get your credit repair process started. Anyone with poor credit scores will definitely know what a low credit score can cost you. Wonder how severe the consequences are? Well, high interest rates can seriously damage your finances, period. Imagine the payments you would have to make if your interest rate increases from 5% to 15%. All in all, your poor...
read moreBenefits Of House-Hunting During The Holiday Season
When you’re writing out the holiday shopping list, maybe it’s time to put you on it and a home as the gift. If you’ve been considering buying a home, here are a few reasons why shopping for one during the holiday season can benefit you. Yes, it may involve you really prioritizing your time; the holiday season is a busy time. But if you can make time to house-hunt and you have already been pre-approved so you know how much home you can afford, then this could be a very good experience. And it may lead you to a new home in...
read moreWhat Really Influences Your Credit Score?
by Judy Jones Your credit report overshadows every part of your life. Whether it’s a bank, insurance company or mortgage lender, your credit score is how they figure out whether you’re likely to miss payments or default on a loan. Now, it’s not uncommon for landlords and employers to check your credit before approving an application. No one is exempt from the impact of their credit score. There are five factors that determine a borrower’s credit score – payment history, debt balance, credit history, types of credit and new credit inquiries –...
read moreWhat Your Home Insurance Covers… And What It Doesn’t
by Glen Curry Whenever you purchase a new home with financing, the mortgage company will absolutely require that you also purchase home insurance. Many homeowners view their home insurance as a “necessary evil”, and simply purchase their policy without knowing exactly what it covers. Lenders want to know you’re protecting their investment from harm, such as damage caused by fire, water, a tree falling through the roof, and even vandalism. Don’t wait until something happens and you need to USE your policy to find out. Unless you’ve added some...
read moreCredit Disputes Can Delay Your Mortgage Application Even if they are Legitimate!
by Judy Jones All lenders are requiring any disputed account on a borrower’s credit report to be resolved or the dispute removed before the loan can be approved. The reason for this is that unscrupulous “credit repair” or “credit fixer” companies have told consumers how to use (abuse) the Fair Credit Reporting Act to falsely inflate the consumer’s credit scores. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows for any consumer to dispute any credit account or payment history rating they believe to be incorrect. The Act requires that any account that is...
read moreGo Higher on Your “Higher and Best” Offer!
by Dana Eskridge Not long ago, I was at a backyard barbeque, sipping my drink and idly listening to the various conversations surrounding me. Along with the typical discussions surrounding the NFL, college football and baseball, I overheard an overwrought voice above the fray stating, “We offered full price! And, we didn’t get the house!” Obviously, my interest was piqued! I stood up on my toes to find who owned that voice. I made my way towards her, frantically trying to place in my mind from where I knew her. By the time I got over there, I...
read morePaint it Black!
by Tisha Gay How do you like this black house in Germany? Do you find it spooky or classy? Could black be the new “it” color when it comes to choosing home exterior color? Probably not. This black house in Mohringen, Germany is actually an art installation! The house had been scheduled for demolition, and the artist wanted to do a tribute to the house before it was bulldozed. Guess what they put up in its place once it was demolished – an art gallery! While a black house definitely stands out in the crowd, there are definitely downsides....
read moreEverything You Read on the Internet Isn’t True!
by Glen Curry In a recent report from InsuranceQuotes.com, Georgia homeowners only pay an average of 6 percent more for their homeowner’s insurance after making one claim. That puts Georgia among 18 states that are below the national average of 9 percent. While on the surface this seems like a big relief, tread lightly down the path of filing claims. First of all, I recommend carrying higher deductibles on your policy to discourage turning in small claims. Most property insurance companies now have a minimum deductible of $1,000 on new...
read moreInterest Rates – One Size DOES NOT Fit All
by Judy Jones “What are the current interest rates?” This is a very common question from real estate agents and buyers. Answering the question of what’s today’s interest rate is as difficult to answer as “What’s the price of a four bedroom home in the Atlanta area?” The answer to both of these questions is, “It depends!” There are many factors that impact both of these numbers. The price of four bedroom homes in the Atlanta market area ranges wildly based on location, actual size of the home, amenities of the subdivision, quality of...
read moreLower Inventory Levels Sell Homes Quicker
Low inventory levels are bringing a faster turnaround for today’s sellers. From 1987 through 2011, analysis of the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers series showed the typical time on market was 6.9 weeks, while the existing-home sales series showed an average supply of 7.0 months, just above the high end for a balanced market. Today’s median time for a home to remain on the market is 69 days (July 2012). This is down nearly 30 percent from the 98 days seen in July 2011. The NAR reports that during periods which see close to a...
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