How to get your offer accepted as a cash buyer and still finance. Are you a home buyer or Realtor making offers on homes only to be beat out by cash buyers?  I know it is frustrating.  You are a perfectly good buyer with a strong pre-approval for financing. But in today’s market, sellers think cash is better.   In a competitive housing market, cash is king. Buyers who can bring liquid capital to the closing table are 3x more likely to win bids on the homes they want. But what if you don’t have the resources to afford an all-cash offer? No problem.  I have your back and your cash, with my Certified Approved Buyer Program and our partnership with Ribbon, you can now make offers as a guaranteed cash buyer.   The Richard Woodward Team and Ribbon makes you a competitive cash buyer so you can... 04/27/2022

Sign up for your free subscription to Good to Be Home magazine! If you would like to be on my mailing list, please fill out the form.   04/27/2022

Being able to readily speak with a LIVE customer representative on the phone instead of slogging through multiple numeric choices or otherwise being directed to a website for self-service has become a true luxury today. It is actually surprising to us that more companies do not cut right to the chase with a real person instantly available like in days gone by. It certainly can be a brand differentiator within a product or service category.  The good will and word-of-mouth advertising alone would more than pay for itself. Last week we needed a new iPhone and wanted to trade one of our phones in. Fortunately, we have an Apple Store here in Santa Barbara where the service is always spectacular. In less than 20 minutes we had a new phone up and running and we were out the door (with a sizab... 04/26/2022

Special Government Home Renovation Loan Program using Melissa Texas FHA 203k Mortgage Loans. Many are not aware of a special government loan program that is actually a part of FHA (Federal Housing Administration- a department within HUD). Existing home owners or potential home buyers can remodel and update their homes without having a higher cost second lien because of this FHA loan program.  "Luxury items" like a hot tub and a swimming pool are not allowed by this FHA loan program. Repaint, remodel cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, add wallpaper, replace appliances and flooring and even a add a room to an existing structure (which will increase the value of the homes square footage).  One of the biggest advantages to this government loan program is you have all of your acquisition o... 02/02/2022

Special Government Home Renovation Loan Program using Melissa TX FHA 203k Mortgage Loans. Many are not aware of a special government loan program that is actually a part of FHA (Federal Housing Administration- a department within HUD). Existing home owners or potential home buyers can remodel and update their homes without having a higher cost second lien because of this FHA loan program.  "Luxury items" like a hot tub and a swimming pool are not allowed by this FHA loan program. Repaint, remodel cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, add wallpaper, replace appliances and flooring and even a add a room to an existing structure (which will increase the value of the homes square footage).  One of the biggest advantages to this government loan program is you have all of your acquisition or r... 01/20/2022

The Mortgage Business has Changed in 2022The mortgage business is changing in 2022 in a number of different ways. We are going to look at what is coming in 2022 for the mortgage business and the Real Estate business. Forecasting is not easy these days, especially when it comes to economics. For example, many economists who pay close attention to mortgage rates predicted that rates would reach around 3.5% by the end of 2021. In the second week of December, mortgage loan rates fluctuated around 3.1%.  They are rapidly rising and are now closer to 3.375% at the time of this posting.Much of what makes predictions so challenging has to do with the inconsistent recovery from the pandemic. Last year, when mortgage rates started to rise in the summer, the Delta Covid strain came along and mortg... 01/13/2022

Mortgages for people with hard to prove incomeOur no income verified mortgage is perfect for those individuals that have hard to prove income.  Self-employed people often have a hard time showing income if they have a great accountant.   The accountant’s job is to make sure that you pay as little taxes as possible. The problem with that when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage is that when you don’t show a large enough adjusted income and you may not be able to qualify for the mortgage that you are wanting to buy your next home.We now offer a no-income verified mortgage to help those individuals. As long as you have acceptable credit scores and you have verified money in the bank for both the down payment and the reserves, we can now qualify you to purchase a home for loans up to 3 mi... 12/16/2021

No mortgage insurance for you!No MI with just 10% down on your next mortgage is available now for well-qualified homebuyers.  The Richard Woodward Team is here to make mortgages easier – and less expensive.  Get the best program custom-designed for your needs, low rates and cost.What Is Mortgage Insurance And How Does It Work?Mortgage insurance or MI, reduces the risk for a lender to take out a loan, so you can apply for a loan that you would not otherwise be able to get. Typically, borrowers who make a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price of the home will have to pay for mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is usually also required for FHA and USDA loans. Mortgage insurance reduces the risk for a lender so you can put down as little as 3%.  Check out our first-time hom... 11/24/2021

Introducing our Mortgage Rate Lock & Shop Program.Traditionally, home buyers are unable to lock in an interest rate until they have found a home and executed a purchase contract. Most mortgage lenders will not allow you to lock in the interest rate until they receive an executed purchase contract. That’s normally okay in a declining interest rate market but when interest rates are going up, that could cause some problems.I’m proud to introduce our Lock and Shop mortgage rate program. The lock and shop program allows homebuyers to lock in the interest rate once they have completed a full application and provided all the documentation necessary to seek full approval. Once this has happened we will issue a full conditional approval subject to an acceptable appraisal, title report, and surv... 11/09/2021

8 Things to Know About Selling Your House Before or After DivorceThere are many things to consider and decisions to make when going through a divorce process. One of them is figuring out what to do about the house. In some cases, one of the partners keeps the house; however, this can become an increasingly difficult situation to manage, especially when there are debts involved. This is why many couples choose to sell the home and split the money obtained. That said, this is a complex process and there are some things you need to know to make it as painless as possible.Retaining the house is equally complex.  To learn how to divide the equity in a divorce visit our previous blog post. How to divide the equity in a divorce | Here is what to know.Ways to Sell Your House During Divorce 1.  ... 08/02/2021

In a previous blog, I mentioned that as a Real Estate Professional, you file Schedule C, the Tax Form that is the form most audited by the IRS.  The IRS has found that Schedule C’s contain a large number of errors compared to other forms and finds that they are very successful with audit changes to the returns, and able to recover a higher amount of additional taxes to the taxpayer that is audited. If you are one of those unlucky individuals that get an audit invitation in the mail, what do you need to do to make sure that you have documented your return properly?  We’ve already discussed that you don’t want to represent yourself unless you’re an attorney or experienced in handling audits.  In addition, you need to have an effective bookkeeping system and have your records organized in ... 08/01/2021

Refinance rates drop as Fannie Mae removes adverse market fee.Refinance rates drop as #fanniemae and #freddiemac drop the adverse marketing fee.  This will enable more of the 12 million homeowners that have not already refinanced take advantage of these new lower rates.Tumbling mortgage rates just went even lower following news that an unpopular fee on refinances is coming to an end.A surcharge of one-half percent, meant to offset pandemic related losses for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, created a stir when it was implemented last summer; but now homeowners can breathe easy since the charge will be eliminated.Now that lenders don’t have to pay an Adverse Market Refinance Fee, they can pass on the cost savings to borrowers. The Enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) got rid of this fee e... 07/21/2021

Veteran’s Home Loans for Weston TexasIf you are reading this, you or a family member have likely served in our military.  First off, we would like to say a sincere “Thank You” for your service!  We recognize that not only do our Veterans sacrifice by serving, but their families do as well-, and we owe you all a debt of gratitude!One of the best benefits Veterans and their families receive due to their service to our great country is the VA home loan benefits.  We are going to outline just a few of these significant benefits in this article for you. Here are some of the major benefits you may receive by using your VA home loan benefits:*100% financing available- one of the very few loans available with no down payment!*Lower rates available than most loan programs- which saves you money ... 06/08/2021

Bridge Loans | How to Buy Your Next Home Using a Bridge Loan without selling first.A bridge loan is often used in real estate transactions to provide cash flow during a transitional period, such as while moving from your current residence into your new home. Homeowners can use these short-term loans, which can help quickly put more cash in their pockets, to finance the purchase of a new home or pay off an existing debt obligation.For many, it's a common misconception that you have to sell your old home to buy a new one. But with the help of a bridge loan, you can buy your next home without having to worry about selling the current one first. In this article, we'll explore how they work and what they can do for you!The Richard Woodward Team wants to make sure you're well-informed on all ... 06/03/2021

Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 304 E Stone Road 1,076 3 1.1 No $239,500 1205 Quail Meadow Drive 1,630 3 2 No $250,000 522 Stone Circle 1,332 3 2 No $250,000 1805 Eastfork Lane 1,700 3 2 No $275,000 216 Lake Travis Drive 1,634 3 2 No $275,000 1504 Schooner Bay Drive 1,303 3 2 Yes $279,000 918 Ann Drive 1,893 3 2 No $280,000 302 Springwell Parkway 1,775 3 2 No $289,000 1211 Periwinkle Drive 1,872 3 2 No $300,000 211 Forestbrook Drive 2,009 4 2 No $304,000 100 S Rolling Meadows Drive 2,258 4 2 No $310,900 1204 Wyndham Drive 1,412 3 2 No $315,000 307 Lochwood Drive 1,668 3 2 No $318,000 210 Cedar Ridge Street 2,392 4 2.1 No $320,000 1416 Anchor Drive 1,706 3 2 No $320,000 110 Cliffbrook Drive 1,727 3 2 No $335,000 1304 Greensboro Drive 2,343 3 2.1 No $339,900 ... 05/28/2021

Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 2412 Richmond Drive 1,292 4 2 No $235,000 1627 Hawthorne Lane 1,051 3 1 No $235,000 1812 Overglen Drive 1,261 3 2 No $247,000 2701 E 15th Street 2,266 4 2.1 No $250,000 1304 Cherokee Trail 1,872 3 2 No $279,000 2033 Willow Lane 1,887 3 2 No $287,000 924 Longhorn Drive 1,521 3 2 No $310,000 5040 Frontier Lane 1,780 3 2 No $315,000 2524 Laurel Lane 1,863 4 2 No $325,000 1301 Windy Meadow Drive 1,828 3 2 Yes $330,000 409 Ruidosa Circle 2,076 3 2 No $335,000 913 Lombardy Drive 2,113 4 2 No $345,000 6612 Berretta Drive 1,925 4 2 No $349,900 1327 E 16th Street 1,514 3 2 No $349,900 1025 Revere Circle 2,710 4 2.1 No $350,000 3801 Sailmaker Lane 1,444 3 2 No $351,000 3109 Hilltop Lane 1,988 3 2 No $375,000 1413 Amherst Drive 1,911 4 ... 05/26/2021

Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 809 Sunny Slope Drive 1,277 3 2 No $235,000 628 Mountain Side Drive 1,347 3 2 No $250,000 311 N Bonham Drive 1,824 4 2 No $289,000 811 Lake Highlands Drive 1,987 3 2.1 No $320,000 1 Shannon Court 2,064 3 2 No $330,000 1404 Lighthouse Lane 2,167 3 2 No $364,900 1615 Salvia Springs Drive 2,277 4 2 No $369,900 1618 Briarhollow Court 2,211 3 2 No $369,900 1402 Sunderland Court 2,189 3 2 No $373,000 1702 Briarhollow Drive 2,210 3 2 No $390,000 2001 Knights Court 2,474 4 2.1 No $440,000 1939 Palisade Court 2,808 4 3.1 No $450,000 1035 Quail Valley Road 1,642 2 2 No $484,400 901 Charles River Court 2,432 2 2.1 Yes $499,000 1300 Neches Drive 3,103 3 3.1 No $499,900 1041 Quail Valley Road 1,948 2 2 No $519,400 431 Fox Trail 2,940 4 3.... 05/26/2021

Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 207 E 3rd Street 949 2 1 No $249,000 207 E 5th Street 2,016 3 2   $399,000 15932 Placid Trail 2,423 3 2.2 No $435,900 1424 Candler Drive 3,176 4 3.1 No $440,000 2730 Bluegill Lane 3,542 4 3 No $630,000 841 Willowmist Drive 4,142 4 3.1 No $649,900 1051 Lone Grove Lane 2,348 3 2.1 No $664,162 2771 Clarendon Court 3,003 4 3.1 No $665,000 2731 Kingston Street 3,148 3 3 Yes $800,000 1900 Thackery Lane 4,888 5 4.1 No $835,000 3244 E Prosper Trail 3,800 4 2.1 No $850,000 1721 Star Trace Parkway 4,161 5 5.2 No $870,000 1320 Brittany Way 5,136 4 3.1 No $899,900 2170 Ivywood Lane 3,664 4 4.1 No $918,900 2150 Ivywood Lane 3,991 4 4.1 No $963,900 2190 Bryn Mawr Drive 4,861 5 5.1 No $1,040,900 1940 Cattle Drive 4,442 4 4 No $1,149,000 281... 05/25/2021

  Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 621 Pride Court 1,100 3 2 No $215,000 1036 Daniels Drive 1,100 3 1.1 No $219,900 106 Belden Circle 1,272 3 2 No $230,000 404 Short Street 1,781 4 2 No $239,900 2808 Sundance Drive 1,294 3 2 No $260,000 9221 Norfolk Lane 1,458 3 2 No $267,500 313 Franklin Avenue 1,152 3 1.1 No $270,000 1202 1st Avenue 972 3 2 No $285,000 805 Paula Road 1,444 3 1.1 No $290,000 3617 Rand Creek Trail 1,342 3 2 No $295,000 411 S Benge Street 1,158 3 1.1 No $295,000 1804 W Josephine Street 1,464 3 2 No $299,990 8304 Twin Oaks Drive 1,815 3 2 No $310,000 3416 Loblolly Lane 2,904 4 3 No $320,000 3101 New York Avenue 2,064 3 2 No $320,000 2804 Sundance Drive 2,000 3 2.1 No $327,000 5308 Hampshire Drive 1,951 3 2 No $334,500 1000 Greenbriar Lane 2,669... 05/20/2021

Address SqFt Total Beds Total Baths Total Pool Current Price 1648 Princess Lane 1,873 3 2 No $276,900 10699 Keathley Drive 1,883 3 2 No $310,000 9420 N County Road 1,122 3 2 No $329,000 11805 Summer Springs Drive 1,777 4 2 No $330,000 2680 Honeybee Lane 1,549 2 2 No $335,000 1558 Birmingham Forest Drive 1,532 2 2 No $335,000 13325 Duesenberg Drive 1,955 3 2 No $339,000 5517 Baton Rouge Boulevard 2,300 4 2.1 No $347,000 4072 Sun King Lane 2,096 4 2 No $350,000 3801 Blessington Drive 1,758 3 2 No $350,000 11916 Port Road 2,137 4 2.1 No $370,000 9909 Mallory Drive 2,249 4 3 No $389,900 7405 Saint Petersburg Drive 1,920 2 2 No $399,900 11908 Cape Cod Springs Drive 1,794 3 2 No $399,900 1447 Celebration Drive 1,712 3 2 No $399,900 1048 Colleton Lane 2,633 4 2.1 Yes $400,000  *information ta... 05/19/2021