Mortgage rates and the major stock market indices rose last week in response to a strong jobs report and lower national unemployment rate. The Department of Labor's Non-farm Payrolls report for February surpassed expectations with 236,000 new jobs reported against expectations of 170,000 new jobs expected by Wall Street. This stronger than expected showing in jobs numbers points to a stronger economy and may lead to less pressure to hold mortgage interest rates lower. The Dow Jones Index also reached record levels last week. This strong stock market performance is to be expected with better than expected employment reports. February's numbers also exceeded January's reading of 157,000 new jobs added to the economy. Lower Unemployment Rates Help Economy, May Push Interest Rates Higher Th... 03/10/2013

Although the financial markets have tightened lending guidelines and financing requirements over the last few years, the right advice when applying for your loan can make a big difference. Not all loans are approved. And even when they aren't approved immediately, it doesn't have to be the end of your real estate dreams. There are many reasons why a mortgage loan for the purchase of your real estate could be declined. Here are a few things to understand and prepare for when applying for a mortgage: Loan-to-Value Ratio The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the real estate that you are trying to finance. For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is 75%. Lenders generally don't like a high ... 03/07/2013

The previous couple of years' doom and gloom outlook is looking like it is turning more upbeat and robust for the rest of 2013. Home Prices Climb Nearly 10% Over Past YearIn fact, a recently released report by CoreLogic stated that home prices were up 9.7 percent from one year previously. That kind of increase is a very good sign that the momentum may be building for a strong real estate market this year. Many other economic experts are predicting that things might be improving this year, including increases in both home prices and sales. Here are some of the ways that these positive changes may impact home buyers and sellers this year. For Buyers: Attractive Financing Options Interest rates could remain at the lowest levels they have been in years, which can make purchasing a home more... 03/06/2013

The Standard and Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released February 26 show strong growth in the majority of 20 cities and corresponding metro areas tracked during 2012. The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices measure home prices nationally and locally by compiling data from individual indexes including a 10-City Composite Index, a 20-City Composite Index, and a 20-Metro Area Index that includes metro areas for each of the 20 cities used in the 20-City Composite. Metro Areas Show Nearly Universal Growth 19 of 20 metro areas showed higher home prices in Q 4 2012 with the New York metro area showing a decrease in home prices; this could be due in part to the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Highlights include: The Atlanta and Detroit metro areas saw Q4 2012 Atlanta home prices increase by... 03/06/2013

With spring right around the corner, you might be thinking about sprucing up your Parkland home. However, it may not yet be time to work in the garden or on other outside endeavors. If cabin fever (well not really in Florida, even though it has been pretty cold lately) has been setting in, this is a great time for indoor improvements to brighten your living space and get you warmed up to work outside when the seasons change. Whether it's over-stuffed closets or cluttered garages, everyone has a problem area or two on their property that has not been touched in a while. Below are 5 simple ideas to get you started. Maybe you can even get the kids to lend a hand! Organize That Closet Clear out the things you don't need and make it easier to find the things you do. You can build a closet sy... 03/05/2013

U.S. Budget Stalemate, Italian Elections Stir Concerns Mortgage rates were lower last week as investors sought safety in bonds in the wake of US legislators' failure to agree on budget cutbacks, and after Italy’s elections failed to reveal a leader committed to continuing economic reform. When bond prices including Mortgage Backed Securities rise, mortgage rates typically fall. While the March 1st deadline for passing budget cutbacks for the U.S. government passed without a resolution, emergency legislation passed last year will keep the government running until March 27. If a budget is not passed by then, the federal government could face shutdown. As it stands, $85 billion in cuts are scheduled over the next seven months, but this represents only about 2 percent of the federal budget.... 03/04/2013

April 15th seems a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Now is the perfect time to start getting your paperwork in order. Owning real estate can make a big difference on your tax return, so make sure that you're taking advantage of all the deductions you're entitled to. We've outlined a few below: Mortgage Interest Unless you paid cash for your purchase, you probably took out a loan to buy your Parkland or Coral Springs home. Mortgage interest is one of the best tax deductions available, so be sure to hang on to that 1098 Mortgage Interest Statement from your lender. You can almost always deduct the entire amount of interest paid per calendar year. Real Estate Taxes Depending on where your property is located, you are likely paying real estate tax, either to the state o... 02/28/2013

Home sales rose for the 11th consecutive month according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing Home Sales Report for January. This is the first time this has occurred since the period between July of 2005 and May of 2006. National Average Home Price Up Over 12% Annually The national average home price in January was $173,600, which is 12.3 percent higher than for January 2012. Calculated on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, Existing Home Sales data is compiled using completed sales of single family homes, condominium units and co-ops. January's existing home sales rose by 0.4 percent to 4.92 million sales nationally as compared to December's revised annual rate of 4.90 million sales nationally. National sales of existing homes increased by 9.1 percent as compared to Januar... 02/28/2013

The real estate market has started to recover from the downturn over the last few years in many areas of the country, and more people are thinking about buying a new home. With this new energy in home buying, an interesting trend seems to be developing. Instead of going for larger homes, which was an overwhelming trend in years past, many people are choosing micro-dwellings. What is a micro-dwelling? There are a number of different styles of micro dwellings being built. This is a relatively new concept for homes in the United States and individual creativity abounds in this space. The most common factor in micro-dwellings are their size. They tend to be less than 500 square feet of living space. Some densely populated metropolitan areas like San Francisco & New York City are planning ap... 02/26/2013

Ideally, when you are moving to a new home, you will want to do it on a pleasant and sunny day which makes everything much easier. However, if you are moving in the winter, or an unexpected deluge shows up on your pre-arranged moving day, it can really dampen your enthusiasm and throw a wrench into your plans. It can also make you worry about your possessions being damaged as you move them into your new home. Don't worry; it's still possible to move your possessions in the rain, or cold. All you need is a little bit of technique, forethought and planning. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you are moving on a day with terrible weather: Dress For Success Make sure everyone in the family is dressed warmly. You will be going back and forth from indoors to outdoors a lot, so it might ... 02/26/2013

A quiet past week in economic news caused mortgage rates to worsen slightly. This week, however, will be packed with economic reports which may have an impact on interest rates going forward. Freddie Mac reported that the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose by 3 basis points from 3.53 percent to 3.56 percent with borrowers paying 0.8 in discount points and all of their closing costs. The average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage was unchanged from last week at 2.77 percent with borrowers paying 0.8 in discount points and all of their closing costs. In other economic news, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January fell slightly to 0.0 percent as compared to Wall Street expectations of 0.1 percent and December’s reading of 0.1 percent. The Core CPI, which measures co... 02/25/2013

Have you heard the term Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) when looking to finance real estate? You may be wondering what PMI is and how you know when you need to purchase it. These answers can be hard to find among all the real estate jargon you might be hearing lately. Below is the short version of what you need to know. What is Private Mortgage Insurance? Private Mortgage Insurance is an insurance premium required by some lenders to offset the risk of a borrower defaulting on their home loan. When you put down less than 20 percent of the real estate's purchase price, the lender will generally require that PMI is added to the loan. It is usually added into the monthly mortgage payment until the equity position in the real estate reaches 20 percent. However, there may be other options a... 02/22/2013

There is a lot of misleading and incorrect information about Parkland & Coral Springs real estate short sales. Many people don't have a clear understanding of the purpose of short sales or how they actually work. Essentially, a short sale is when one sells their home for less than the balance remaining on the mortgage attached to the property. The proceeds from the sale are used to repay a pre-negotiated portion of the balance to settle the debt. A short sale can be a solution for homeowners who really need to sell their home but owe more on the mortgage than the home is worth. Understanding the short sale process can help make the most out of a real estate sale. Here are some common myths and why they are false: A short sale damages one's credit record as much as foreclosure In many ca... 02/20/2013

Many times real estate market experts point to the feelings of the nation's home builders as a bell-weather signalling the health of the housing sector. This month's reading indicates that home builders are feeling pretty good. The National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for February changed by one point to 46 as compared to 47 for January's reading. Over the last four months, HMI readings have stayed within a three-point range between 45 and 47, indicating a plateau after rising from 25 to 45 in 2012. Housing Market Index Near Highest Levels Since 2006 The good news is that February's reading remains near the HMI's highest level since April 2006, when the HMI reading reached 51. Some builders may be taking a wait-and-see stance in their confidenc... 02/20/2013

Moving everything in your house to your new Parkland home can be an overwhelming task. You never realize how much stuff you actually own until you try to fit it all into boxes and move it somewhere new. When you are packing up your things to relocate, here are some helpful tips to make your moving experience much easier: Start Packing In Advance You don't have to wait until the day before you move to start packing everything in your house! As soon as you find out that you are moving, you can start packing the items you don’t often use, such as your seasonal decorations, photo albums and family keepsakes. If you pack a few items per week, you’ll have almost everything packed by the time you are ready to go except for the essentials you use every day. Establish A System Rather than random... 02/18/2013

Buying Parkland real estate doesn't just give you a place to live; it can also be a very smart financial move. This is because owning a home can be like having a forced savings account, which you are committed to for the long term. Consistent Saving On Autopilot Sometimes saving money on our own each month is difficult. It takes a lot of discipline to maintain a consistent savings plan. However, paying your mortgage every month means that you are paying down the principal and working toward eventually owning the property outright. In the early years of the mortgage, the payments will go primarily to the interest on the loan. But over time, the portion of your payment dedicated to principle increases, which accelerates paying off the entire mortgage. Make Yourself Wealthy Instead Of Your... 02/15/2013

The National Association of Homebuilders recently released its Improving Markets Indexfor the month of February. The report attempts to identify U.S. metropolitan areas in which the economy is improving, demonstrating "measurable and sustained growth". 259 U.S. markets are qualified as "improving" this month, a 17-market jump from the month prior and includes participants from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. Experts point to improving market conditions in at least one market in all 50 states as a strong indication that the housing recovery is gaining substantial momentum. This increasing momentum may suggest that now may be a very good time to purchase a home. Compared to September 2011, when there were just 12 improving metro market areas, the widespread positive mov... 02/14/2013

How to Save Money on Energy Costs in Your Home Many communities in Florida and around the US are seeing their energy costs increase; sometimes dramatically. Whether you are energy conscious or just trying to save money, there are many steps you can take to lower your Parkland and Coral Springs home bills while helping the environment at the same time. Below are several energy-saving measures to help you save money either in your current house or future residence. Heating and cooling Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature uses more energy than anything else. To save energy, install a programmable thermostat to adjust the inside temperature when you are not there for long periods of time. Seal windows and doors to prevent air leaks, and close doors and air vents to rooms that are ... 02/12/2013

The perfect combination of coastal living and suburban experience await any family who is considering homes for sale in Parkland, Florida. Just a short drive to the dozens of beaches along the Atlantic Coast of western Florida, including Deerfield and Pompano Beach, Parkland offers wholesome small town living for individuals of all ages. From the local Barkland Dog Park and Parkland Family YMCA to the weekly Farmer's Market and Parks and Recreation system that culminates at Pine Trails Park, Parkland has the activities, facilities, and amenities for a family of any size. Ultimately, Parkland is perfectly situated away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal communities, but it is close enough that a day at the beach is literally only moments away. For those craving the excitement of t... 02/12/2013

Paying off the mortgage on your Parkland and Coral Springs home faster not only means that you’ll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with completely owning your property earlier, but you may also save thousands of dollars in interest payments. Below are seven clever tips to help you get your mortgage payments on the fast track. 1. Save for a large down payment Pay as large a down payment as you can reasonably afford. The more you can put down, then the less you’ll have to borrow from the bank. 2. Read the fine print When you are choosing a mortgage, look at the fine print to find out if any restrictions apply to paying early. Some lenders will charge you for making extra or early payments. 3. Prepay early in the life of the mortgage This is when the loan is the most interest... 02/11/2013