FHA Mortgage Insurance Changes & How They May Impact a Sale
September 27, 2010 by Gabrielle · 1 Comment
You may have heard that costs surrounding FHA loans is changing in October, reducing the dollar amount needed at closing for Upfront Mortgage Insurance, while increasing the monthly portion of mortgage insurance that is added to a homeowner’s payment. If you have previously been approved for an FHA loan but haven’t yet found a home, you’ll [...]
Investor Alert: FHA Financing for “Flipped” Houses
September 23, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
In mid-January, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a temporary waiver (good until February 1, 2011, or until extended or withdrawn) to give FHA borrowers the ability of obtaining an FHA-insured mortgage on a home that was purchased less than 90 days previous. What this means is that a Buyer can [...]
There is NOT a 3.8% Sales Tax on All Home Sales Starting in 2013!
September 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Over the last several weeks I’ve had a number of clients and contacts email me with a “Is This True?” question about the rumor of a 3.8% “sales tax” to be added to the sale of a home after 2012. With the passing of President Obama’s Health Care bill, some people are digging deep for [...]
Engaging and Vital Real Estate Statistics for Kent, WA
August 28, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Over the last few days, I’ve blogged a bit about market updates: Boring but Invaluable Statistics for Auburn and Tedious but Crucial Statistics for Maple Valley, Washington. After yesterday’s Maple Valley post, one reader from another site where I also post these stats, chimed in to say “why are you calling these Tedious?” Hmmm. With [...]
Tedious but Crucial Real Estate Statistics for Maple Valley, WA
August 27, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Similar to the Boring but Invaluable Statistics for Auburn posted yesterday, Maple Valley, WA where my office resides and located about 15 minutes northeast of Auburn, has it’s own set of Tedius but Crucial Statistics. Tedious but Crucial Statistic #1: As with much of the area, home prices have fallen a bit in Maple [...]
Boring But Invaluable Real Estate Statistics for Auburn WA
August 26, 2010 by Gabrielle · 2 Comments
Yeah, I know … stats are boring. Especially putting them together every month. But when helping a seller understand what they need to do to sell their house … or why they’ll likely get the price under discussion, or why a buyer could/should pay a particular price for a home, they’re invaluable. So here’s boring, [...]
Buy Now? … or Wait?
August 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I bought my first home in the mid-’70′s, and then bought again in about 1983. Even though interest rates were “obscene,” (seems like ours was somewhere around 17.5%) somehow we managed to make it work. Builders and sellers routinely bought down rates and prices were considerably lower. I was reminded of this fact this morning when receiving [...]
How Much House Can You Afford?
August 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Like most agents, I talk almost daily with folks considering a home purchase. We talk through all of their wants and picture their dream house in vivid color. Within a very few minutes, however, I start asking the tough questions: “How much can you afford?” “Have you been preapproved?” “With whom?” “May I refer a [...]
15 Things Your Buyer’s Agent Should (Will!!) Do For You
August 21, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
My daughter is currently shopping for a house outside of Washington State, where I’m licensed and practice. Although I cautioned her and her husband against making sign calls and suggesting (strongly!) that she work with a Realtor I interviewed on her behalf and recommend, they decided to make a sign call and then moved forward [...]
Another Transaction Closed!
June 30, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
There are some transactions that are particularly satisfying when they finally close. I have to say that this Listing is one that took exceptional effort, but after visiting the home to drop off keys to the new buyers, their palpable excitement and relief about being in their new home just left me with such a [...]
6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale
June 3, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I was recently forwarded this article about buying short sales and thought it was good enough to share! Thanks to BuyAndSell.HouseLogic.com, By: G. M. Filisko, Published originally on March 19, 2010 By preparing for a real estate short sale, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price. When sellers need to sell their [...]
4 Reasons Why Those Who Wait to Buy a Home Will Pay Thousands More This Spring
January 28, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Like most real estate professionals, I receive information weekly from the loan officers with whom I’ve worked or have an association about their latest mortgage programs, interest rate adjustments, changes in the bond market, whatever. Lots and lots of information; almost every bit of it is useful and timely. Some of it I understand; some if [...]
Get Paid $6,500 to Buy a Home!
<&h=100&w=150&zc=1" alt="Get Paid $6,500 to Buy a Home!" />January 13, 2010 by Gabrielle · 2 Comments
Repeat or Move-Up Home Buyer — Get Paid $6,500 to Buy a Home!! Repeat or Move-Up Home Buyer Tax Credit Eligibility Requirements: Buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years and purchase a replacement primary home. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent [...]
Will Short Sales FINALLY Become Reasonable?
December 3, 2009 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
As a busy agent in the south King County area and down into the Tacoma/Puyallup Pierce County areas, I both list properties for Sellers and assist Buyers in finding their “dream home,” whether it be a first time purchase or a repeat purchase. While definitely not unique to these geographic areas, price points and demographics of buyers and [...]
8 Requirements for the New Homebuyer Tax Credit, Effective NOW!
November 8, 2009 by Gabrielle · 2 Comments
Okay all you first time homebuyers, you’ve been given a second chance! The Homebuyer Tax Credit passed and was signed into effect on Friday, November 6th! What GREAT news! And it gets even better! Not only do first time homebuyers benefit from the tax credit … to the tune of $8,000! … any homebuyer could [...]
