Archive for the ‘Hixson Real Estate’ Category

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Was Your Hixson Real Estate Financing Declined?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

If you’ve recently applied for credit to finance a Hixson home purchase, and were declined, you might be wondering why a lender would deny you credit.  Most lenders have a checklist of qualifications necessary to get approval for a home loan, and some don’t have anything to do with what your credit score is.  Here are the basic reasons a lender may deny a mortgage loan:

  • Little or no credit.  You may be under the mistaken impression that no credit is better than bad credit, but you’d be wrong.  A blank credit history is not something a mortgage lender wants to see.  A lender needs some idea of how you make payments.  You can build your credit history by getting a department store credit card, and only using thirty percent of your available credit to make a purchase.  Making regular payments will soon add up to good credit, and lenders will look more favorably at your loan application.
  • Bad Credit.  It’ll be difficult to find a lender that will approve a person with bad credit.  It’s not the end of the road.  You can improve your credit score with a little hard work and still buy that Hixson home you want.  You’ll want to get a copy of your credit report from all three of the major credit bureaus.  If you have frequent late charges or many items in collections, you’ll need to call each company and arrange to get your accounts current.  You’ll be surprised at the difference each timely payment makes on your credit score.
  • Credit-to-Debt Ratio.  Most mortgage lenders will decline a loan application if your credit to debt ratio is too high.  The ratio is figured by dividing the amount of credit available to you by the amount that you are actually using.  Using all or a high percentage of the credit available to you may leave the impression that you are short on money and will have trouble making loan payments.

Let me help you get on the road to a Hixson real estate loan.  Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

Keyword/Tag: Hixson real estate

LINKS:

Build your credit history:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/MoneyInYour20s/9waysToBuildAKillerCreditScore.aspx

Improve your credit score:

http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/ImproveYourScore.aspx

Credit-to-debt ratio:

http://michaelbluejay.com/house/debt-ratio.html

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Get Rid of Clutter in Your Hixson Home

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Getting rid of clutter in your Hixson home can be a challenge for anyone.  We are overwhelmed with junk mail, paper from our children’s school, bills, magazines, trinkets, toys and clothes.  It can be difficult to sort through the mess to determine what we really need.  Even when the clutter is all sorted, new clutter seems to replace it overnight.  There are several ways that you can get rid of the mess in your home.

  • Start in one room and finish it.  It can be overwhelming to try to organize a whole house.  Start in one room and go through it.  Discard things that you have not used in the last six months.  If you have not worn it or used it in that time, then you don’t need it.  Discard all broken or stained items.  You aren’t going to fix them, or you would already have done it.

 

  • Throw things away.  Don’t set things aside to sort later, just in case you may need it.  When sorting, make a bin of items to keep and a bin of things to throw away.  Getting in the habit of discarding unneeded items can be difficult at first, but it will drastically cut down on clutter in your Hixson homes.

 

  • Give things away.  Get rid of clutter and help those in need by donating items that you’re no longer using. 

 

  • Label your storage bins.  Many times clutter develops because there is no set place to put things.  For instance, in the toy room, have individual storage bins for toy cars, railroad tracks, dolls and crayons.  Each bin should be clearly labeled so that all family members can participate in putting things where they’re supposed to go.  With young children, it may be helpful to take a picture of the items that go in the bin, and tape it to the front of the container.

It’s easy to have clutter free Hixson homes using these organizing tips. 

If your home is already organized, but you still don’t have enough room, it may be time to buy a larger home.  I can help.  Call me today at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com  for more information.

Keyword/Tag: Hixson homes

 

Links:

 

Organize – http://www.lifeorganizers.com/

 

Donating items – http://home-organization.suite101.com/article.cfm/where_to_donate_items_after_decluttering_a_home

 

Bins – http://www.ehow.com/how_5680172_use-stacking-storage-bins-organized.html

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Hixson Homes for Sale: 2010 Market Forecasts

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Those with Hixson homes for sale are buckling down for the long haul, but exactly how long will that be? I spent a little bit of time roaming the Internet to get the general “feel” from people on the housing market. It turns out that the answer all depends on who you ask…

 

Housing Predictor

Housing Predictor.com says, yes, the housing market appears to be making a rebound. However, that rebound, says economist, John Hines, is a false front. The government is pushing the rise in sales to make the housing markets look good and increase buyer confidence. Will the market ever get back on track? According to Hines, if Congress can get the lending pipeline going again, we might finally see a bottom around the third quarter of next year.

 

The Ledger

According to an article at The Ledger, Stephen Blank of the Urban Land Institute isn’t at all optimistic. Blank says there’s no quick fix, and that 2010 will be sobering. While the housing market is being helped by various factors, the foreclosure rate probably isn’t going to drop and lenders aren’t lending. Blank worries that financing may be lacking, even for those wanting to buy. He doesn’t see the market doing much for another year.

 

CBS Money Watch

The best article I’ve come across so far, however, was written back in June at CBS MoneyWatch. The article says give the market at least seven years to recover. The author doesn’t just quote doom and gloom, however. She has some great points for people with Hixson homes for sale. I highly recommend the read, but here is the quote that stuck firmly in my mind:

 

“If you are a seller, get realistic about what you can get for your house. With so little upside in the foreseeable future, you may be better off to sell, even at a loss, since you can probably get back into a similar house at a lower price and very low interest rates.”

 

It’s a buyer’s market; the supply of empty homes is much higher than the demand for them. If you have one of the Hixson homes for sale and it’s not selling, you may need to change your mindset a little. In this buyer’s market, sellers may just have to bite the bullet.

 

Ready to buy or sell?  I can help.  Give me a call today at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com .

 

Keyword/Tag:  Hixson homes for sale

 

Links:

Housingpredictor.com

http://www.housingpredictor.com/bottommarket.html

 

The Ledger

http://www.theledger.com/article/20091122/REPORTER/911225006/1035/BUSINESS?Title=Experts-No-Quick-Fix-for-Market&tc=autorefresh

 

CBS MoneyWatch

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/retirement-planning/article/real-estate-forecast-3-things-to-know-about-the-housing-market/315696/

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Does Your ARM Increase Mean Hixson Foreclosure?

Monday, December 7th, 2009

With the current Hixson home foreclosure woes, and the strains of the economy these days, many people are worried about what they’ll do when their ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) resets.  Here are a few suggestions to help you weather the current financial storm:

 

What is an ARM?

ARM refers to a mortgage loan that has a variable interest rate.  The amount of the monthly payments will change several times over the life of the loan.  ARMs usually have a lower introductory interest rate than a fixed-rate mortgage.  After a period of time, the interest rate is recalculated, resulting in a higher interest rate and monthly payment.

 

Get Out Your Loan Paperwork

Many homeowners are worried about what will happen to their monthly payments when the ARM resets.  Foreclosure is a real worry.  The best way to avoid Hixson home foreclosure is to know exactly what the terms of your loan agreement are.  Look for the date that the interest rate is set to change.  Find out what the cap is on each interest rate adjustment, and what the cap is for interest increases throughout the life of the loan.

 

After you have gathered that information, you can calculate what your ARM will reset to.  It’s best to know what the worst-case scenario payment could be when your ARM adjusts.  This information can help you determine if you are going to need help getting your loan payments manageable.  The next step is to make a detailed list of your current and future income and bills.  This will give you a better understanding of your financial status.

 

Call Your Mortgage Company

If, after you make this list, you can see that you are going to have trouble making the difference in the monthly payments, call your mortgage company.  It’s best to call them before you miss a payment.  They may be able to renegotiate the terms of your loan for you.

 

If you’re ready to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

KEYWORD: Hixson home foreclosure

 

LINKS:

 

Foreclosure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreclosure

 

ARM:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_rate_mortgage

 

Financial status: http://financialplan.about.com/

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Should You Get a 15-Year Mortgage on Your Hixson Real Estate?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

 

There are a lot of financing options to help you buy Hixson real estate, if you can meet the credit guidelines. 

 

Most lenders prefer to use 30-year mortgage loans.  With a longer loan term, the lender can collect more money in interest over the life of the loan.  For those who are credit-worthy, a 15-year mortgage term may be offered.  So, what is the difference between the two?  Here are a few guidelines:

 

What About a 30-Year Mortgage?

Thirty-year mortgages are becoming the normal term for Hixson real estate loans.  The payments are usually more affordable and lenders are quick to recommend them.  Lenders are more likely to offer you a higher loan amount with a 30-year loan, but the trade off is usually a higher interest rate. 

 

What Are The Benefits Of A 15-Year Mortgage?

Signing up for a 15-year mortgage can save you a lot of money in interest payments.  True, your monthly payments will be higher than with a 30-year loan, but the impact on your long-term finances may be worth it.

 

After just 16 years, you can start investing the money that you’re no longer spending on your mortgage into other real estate properties or investment opportunities.  You can build your investment portfolio with just the money you would’ve spent on your monthly mortgage payment.

 

What about Prepayments?

Even if you do decide to take out a 30-year loan, you can still have some of the same benefits of the 15-year loan.  By making prepayments, you can take years off a 30-year loan and still have the freedom of making smaller monthly payments, if you need to.  Before finalizing your decision, ask your lender if there are any penalties for making prepayments.

 

A 15-year mortgage is usually the better financial decision, because you can save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.  The interest on a loan may be halved by choosing a 15-year loan.

 

No matter how you choose to finance your Hixson real estate, I can help you find the home that meets your needs and budget.  Call me today at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com  for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag: Hixson real estate

 

LINKS:

Benefits of a 15-year mortgage: 

http://financialplan.about.com/lw/Business-Finance/Personal-finance/15-Year-Mortgage.htm

 

Investing:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investment

 

Prepayments:

http://www.mortgageqna.com/mortgage-terms-glossary/prepayment-definition.html

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Holiday Candle Safety in Your Hixson Condo

Friday, November 20th, 2009

More festive candles are used in your Hixson condo during the holidays than at any other time of year, so it’s important to review the safety rules.  Here are few tips to keep your condo safe:

 

Candle Placement Preparation

It may sound silly, but you need to prepare before you light that candle.  First figure out where you want to place the candle in your Hixson condo. 

  • Find a heat resistant surface. 
  • Make sure there aren’t any books, papers, curtains, or bedding nearby. 
  • Watch out for flammable holiday decorations. 
  • Keep the candle away from windows and vents, and check for signs of a draft. 
  • Place the candle where children and pets can’t reach and where it isn’t likely to be bumped into.

 

Getting Ready to Light the Candle

  • Before burning the candle, review the manufacturer’s instructions.  Most recommend that the wick be trimmed to ¼ inch before lighting. 
  • Make sure to use only approved candle holders.  Using an unapproved glass holder could cause it to burst and send glass everywhere. 
  • Place candles at least three inches apart so the additional heat doesn’t cause them to melt improperly.

 

Burning the Candle

Now that the candle is lit, make sure to never leave it unattended.

  • Watch the candle to see if it smokes or flickers a lot.  This could be a sign that the candle isn’t burning properly. 
  • Leave about two inches of wax when you extinguish the candle.  Most manufacturers recommend that you don’t burn the candle all the way down. 

 

Putting the Candle Out Safely

The safest way to put out a candle is with a candle snuffer. 

  • Don’t use your fingers or blow out the candle; the flame may travel and cause a fire.
  • Never use water to put out a candle; the wax may splatter and burn you. 
  • Wait until the wax is cooled before you move the candle.

 

Candles are a beautiful way to decorate for the holidays in your Hixson condo.  By following these simple safety suggestions, you can help to ensure that your holidays are happy and safe. 

 

If you’d like to be in a new condo before the next holiday rolls around, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com  for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag: Hixson condos

 

Links:

Heat resistant: http://www.candle-safety.org/

 

Candle holders: http://www.ehow.com/articles_4355-candles-candle-holders.html

 

Candle snuffer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle_snuffer

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Helping Families Save Their Hixson Homes

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

By now, everyone knows that, just like the Dot Com bubble, the real estate market grew its own bubble to a degree that it finally popped.  Foreclosure numbers went up, sales went down and everyone, from the government to lenders to John Q public, started looking around for someone they could point a finger at and blame.

 

The hard truth is that placing blame doesn’t do anyone any good, especially those trying to save their Hixson homes. The truth is that it’s time to do what Americans have been doing since the country was founded – picking ourselves up off the ground, dusting off and working with what we still have. Thanks to new acts such as the “Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009,” it’s even more possible to do that.

 

If you’ve been dealing with the possibility of foreclosure, you may have missed the news, so here are a few uplifting highlights that can make all the difference:

 

  • If you rent your Hixson home and the home is foreclosed upon, you have to receive a 90-day eviction notice. You can’t just be preemptively kicked off the property. As well, if you have a lease you have to be allowed to live on the property until the lease is up unless:

 

a)      the new owner wants to move in and make it his or her residence or

b)      state law says the lease can be terminated on notice.

 

Although three months doesn’t seem like a lot of time, that’s three months you wouldn’t have had in most states before the Act was passed.

 

  • Lenders and homeowners are now receiving incentives for successful loan modifications and refinancing under the Making Homes Affordable Program. According to the White House government website, “Servicers covering more than 75 percent of loans in the country have now begun modifications and refinancing under the Administration’s MHA Program.”

 

  • One of the biggest challenges to homeowners is finding out who owns the mortgages on their homes.  This can make it incredibly difficult to discuss refinancing or modification with the mortgage owner. Thanks to the Act, you have to be informed whenever your loan is sold or transferred to another party. Now, you always know who has control of your mortgage and who you need to talk to.

 

Dealing in the current real estate market can be hard. If you’re already struggling financially, it can be even harder. Try to keep abreast of the current laws that can help homeowners and families keep their Hixson homes!

 

If you can’t qualify for loan modification or refinancing, and are considering a short sale, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com  for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag: Hixson homes

 

Links:

Foreclosure numbers went up

http://www.realtytrac.com/foreclosure/foreclosure-rates.html

 

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009

http://www.zillow.com/blog/mortgage/2009/05/21/president-obama-signs-helping-families-save-their-homes-act/

 

White House government website

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/reforms-for-american-homeowners-and-consumers-president-obama-signs-the-helping-families-save-their-homes-act-and-the-fraud-enforcement-and-recovery-act/

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Top 3 Real Estate Calculators for Buying Chattanooga Homes for Sale

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

If you’re looking at one of the many Chattanooga homes for sale (and especially when reading about buying a home), you’ve probably already read articles that ask, “How much house can you afford?” and “Can you really afford the mortgage for a new home?” From beginning to end, to get a good estimate, you’ll need to figure monthly payments, loan qualification guidelines, closing costs and much more. Frankly, all those calculations can set your head to reeling.

 

To cut down on some of the frustration, save a few trees from the paper you’d use up and help give you a better guestimate, I’ve decided to go looking for the best real estate calculators I could find on the Net. Here are my top 3 picks I’ve come across:

 

#3. Real Estate Calculator Suite – This product seems to be an excellent choice for anyone, whether you’re a homebuyer, seller or even, yes, a real estate agent like me. Sixteen different real estate and mortgage calculators can help you figure out refinancing costs, amortization schedules – even whether it’s better to rent or buy one the [city] homes for sale. Although it’s $40.00, which might seem rather expensive to many, it could more than make up for the time you’d spend staring at a sheet of paper and numbers. To top it all off, it even includes a home inspection form and to do list for movers, tying your buying or selling experience up nicely.

 

#2. Yahoo! Real Estate Calculators – You can’t beat a search engine for information, and the Yahoo! Real Estate really does a thorough job in collecting a fantastic amount of calculators. Budgeting and finance, mortgage refinancing, deciding fixed or adjustable rate mortgages and more are all available on this one page. The major upside as compared to the Real Estate Calculator Suite is that it’s free.

 

#1. CNNMoney.com – CNN isn’t a worldwide news network for nothing, and they’ve taken their complete coverage to calculators. On one page, you have over thirty calculators to figure out everything. Compare costs of living for any area, figure out how much house you can afford, calculate the gain or loss on your home and more. As a bonus, it’s all free, too.

 

I ranked CNNMoney.com as the top due to the amazing amount of information you can gain in one place. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t try one of the others, or even all three. If you want one of the Chattanooga homes for sale, get to calculating, get informed and see what you can accomplish.

 

Or, you can contact me, and I’ll do the figuring for you.  Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag:  Chattanooga homes for sale

 Links:

Real Estate Calculator Suite

http://www.realestatecalculatorsuite.com/index.htm

 

Yahoo! Real Estate Calculators

http://realestate.yahoo.com/calculators

 CNNMoney.com

http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/

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4 Things That Can Stop You from Closing on a New Hixson Home for Sale

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Purchasing a Hixson home for sale, especially as a first-time buyer, is incredibly exciting. However, just because your offer is accepted doesn’t mean the deal is done. Lots of things can still cause the deal to fall through. Here are just a few things that might slow or stop your purchase:

 

  1. Termites – Most lenders will insist on having a pest inspection to make sure termites or carpenter ants haven’t seriously damaged the home. Even if your particular lender doesn’t require an inspection, it’s best that you get one done anyway. If the pest inspection shows there is a severe problem, you can either ask the seller to pay to have the problem fixed or walk away if your purchase agreement allows it. At less than $100, a pest inspection is definitely worth the cost.

 

  1. Bad Title – During the escrow process, have a title search done by a title company and purchase title insurance. The search makes sure that there isn’t a lien or claim against the property, while the title insurance guarantees that there aren’t any issues with the title. If there are issues, they have to be taken care of before you can receive the keys to the Hixson home for sale.

 

  1. House Defects – Make sure that your purchase offer has a home inspection contingency. If the inspection reveals big issues, you can back out without any penalties. Otherwise, you might lose your earnest money. If you don’t want to back out, you’ll have to negotiate the cost of the repairs with the seller. This can delay closing.

 

  1. Uninsurable Home – Sometimes previous homeowners will have made a major insurance claim, which shows up on insurance records. In this case, insurance companies may claim the house to be uninsurable, which means you won’t be able to get a loan for the home.

 

Before looking at a Hixson home for sale, make sure you’re acquainted with the closing and escrow processes, and be prepared for any problems that may arise. The more equipped you are for any eventuality, the better your chances of moving into the home you want.

 

If you’re in the market to buy a home, let me help you negotiate a contract that protects you from potential problems. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com  for more information.

 

Keyword and Tag:  Hixson home for sale

Links:

 

Pest inspection:  Link to a page on your website about this or to your preferred pest inspection company.  Or, link to http://www.pestinspection.net/

 

Title search:  Link to a page on your website about this or to your preferred title company.  Or, link to http://www.titlesearch.com/

 

Home inspection: Link to a page on your website about this or to your preferred home inspection company.  Or, link to http://www.ashi.org/

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Don’t Forget to Inspect the Hixson Homes for Sale!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Just because you’ve found some interesting Hixson homes for sale doesn’t mean your house hunt is up. There’s much more to do before signing those closing papers, and one of the biggest is having the home inspected. In fact, getting a home inspection will probably be drilled into you by your real estate agent. Yes, it’s that important.

 

What can you find out from a home inspection report?

Although many people do get a home inspection, just as many have a difficult time deciphering the reports to find out what’s serious and what isn’t. To make it worse, inspections vary from state to state. Fortunately, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, who has a list of inspectors all around the United States and Canada, has a specific set of guidelines.

 

General Inspection

A general inspection doesn’t require a specific license. It covers such things as:

 

  • Structure – how well the walls, ceiling, foundation and more are put together
  • Exterior evaluation – landscaping, elevation, drainage, windows
  • Plumbing – Checks the condition of piping and identifies the materials used
  • Roof and attic – framing, flashing, gutters, ventilation
  • Systems – water heaters, duct work, air conditioning, chimney, furnaces, sprinklers
  • Garage – Slab, firewall, garage door
  • Appliances – including smoke detectors
  • Electrical – main panel, types of wiring, grounding, circuit breakers, light fixtures and more

 

The inspection reports will state whether the Hixson homes for sale have serious health and safety issues, bad or old roofs, systems malfunctions, foundation problems, and moisture and drainage problems.

 

Special Inspection

Some things require a specific license for inspection. Although you may not want to spend the extra money, these things can cause the “sick house syndrome” (people getting sick a lot for no recognizable reason). These problems should not be ignored:

 

  • Asbestos
  • Radon
  • Formaldehyde
  • Mold, mildew and fungi
  • Rodents
  • Lead
  • Methane
  • Radiation

 

Some issues aren’t big and can be dealt with fairly easily. Other things, however, are expensive fixes and usually deal breakers. Before you sign closing papers on one of the Hixson  homes for sale, get that inspection done to find out what you’re really getting.

 

If you’re looking for a healthy home in good condition, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

Keyword and Tag:  Hixson homes for sale

 

Links:

 

National Association of Certified Home Inspectors:  http://www.nachi.org/

 

Structure

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/home-inspection/

 

Sick house syndrome

http://www.avianweb.com/sickhousesyndrome.html

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