Judy's Blog

How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford? Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too. This calculation assumes a 28 percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be, too. Rent: _________________________ Multipli...

10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership 1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.  2. Develop a wish list of what you'd like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.  3. Select three...

Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR 1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.)  2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, suc...

  Reasons  Why You Need a REALTOR 1. A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide thro...

The Pros and Cons of Condos Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy. 1. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.  2. Outdoor space. Yard...

Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps. 1. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You'll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.  2. Stay in close touch with your real estate sales...

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle-safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part. 1. Make a list of the activities-movies, health club, church-you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See...

Your Property Wish List While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the homebuying process, use this easy checklist to help you prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming. 􀂃 How close do you need to be to: (a) public transportation _______ (b) schoo...

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score. 1. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.  2. How much you owe. Owing a great...

8 Ways to Improve Your Credit Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you'll qualify for a loan and what loan terms you'll be able to qualify for. 1. Check for and correct errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for...