Deb Still - Mortgage Planner - Blog

 If you are currently paying mortgage insurance, you might want to think about this strategy if you plan on being in your home long term - more than 7 years, and you have some cash in savings.  Rather than continuing to pay the mortgage insurance, and with rates as low as they are, consider refin...

Budgeting for a remodel can seem overwhelming. But at Gaspar's, we have plenty of experience helping customers do exactly that. Unlike shopping for a car or taking a big vacation, setting a remodeling project is a lot tougher because of the many variables involved. However, before talking to a co...

I find it very, very interesting that many people who are slightly underwater (they owe more on their homes than what the home is worth) looking to refinance their mortgages, are being told by a variety of lenders, that they can't do anything.  This simply isn't true in all cases.  I have found i...

Selling a home is all about getting top dollar for your property in the shortest time possible. Getting the home ready to list indeed takes a lot of time, and certainly involves careful planning, but is a sharp move and in doing so gives potential buyers the impression that the home is well cared...

I wanted to reach out to you before it's too late. You may have heard that home loan rates improved, reaching some of the best levels so far in 2011. In fact, I've been slammed with emails and phone calls from people just like you who wanted to take advantage of this wonderful situation.But there...

We are often asked whether it is better to rent or buy in the current housing market. The answer to that question is: "It all depends." There are certain situations where renting short term probably makes sense. It may make sense if you are retiring to a different region of the country and are n...

Last month, the world watched in horror as another tsunami brought immense devastation, this time to Japan. In light of the tragic earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the editors of YOU Magazine wanted to discuss a topic that's important to all homeowners: homeowners insurance. Let's start with s...

Nearly a full third of households are still renting. If you're one of them, you could be paying a hefty price. Before talking about purchasing a house, it's important to note two things. First—and this is extremely important—the housing market is actually localized. So the outlook in your hometow...

  The elevator pitch, or EP, describes what you do or tells a short story about your product, service or business experience. The goal is to get someone interested in hiring you or otherwise helping your business.  You should be able to deliver an EP in the time it takes for an average elevator r...

  Fannie Mae has announced that it will do 97% LTV loans and the 3% can be gifted! A buyer can essentially buy a home with $0 down payment out of their own pocket if they can get a gift. Mortgage Guarantee Insurance Company (MGIC), has announced that it will issue mortgage insurance for the 97% ...