Find the Right Lender for You with These 10 Questions

September 2, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

The right mortgage lender for you is the one which can give you the best possible interest rate and lowest fees.  You could find one in banks, credit unions, trust companies, life insurance companies or a private company that lends money to buy land, houses and other real estate.

Yup, they are many—literally thousands just in the United States.  So if you have the luxury of time, we highly recommend that you compare mortgage rates and cross-examine prospective companies for you to find a loan that fits your needs.  Don’t miss asking them any of these comprehensive questions:

1. What are the…

Home Buyers in Canada Get Cash Back at Closing

September 2, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Good news for home buyers in Canada! Now you have something to look forward to while you are paying for your mortgage.  You can receive as much as 7% of the mortgage amount paid to you at closing.  For instance, if you’ve been paying for a $200,000 mortgage, you’ll get paid $14,000.  There’s a lot you can do or buy with that amount, such as spending it for closing costs, appliances and/or furniture, reduction of other debt, or making a prepayment on your mortgage following your closing.

Although this program has been originally designed for first-time home buyers, now it is…

For $3.595M, Actor Brad Sherwood’s Re-Lists His House in Los Angeles’ Encino Area

September 1, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

For $3,595,000, Actor Brad Sherwood’s 3,348-square-foot house in Los Angeles’  Encino area has just been re-listed.

On July 31, Sherwood’s house in Encino came back on market.  The four-bedroom house was originally listed for $4,000,000 last year.

Sherwood’s single-level house, which is located inside historically celebrity-heavy Encino’s Royal Oaks area, was built in 1962.  According to listing information, features in the house include four and a half baths, a “dramatic” media room, floors made of bamboo and slate, walls of glass, an open floor plan, a remodeled granite kitchen with stainless steel appliances, an oversized family room, a “massage room”  or office,…

Actor David Hasselhoff’s House in Los Angeles’ Encino Area Re-Listed for $4.195M

August 31, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

If you saw actor David Hasselhoff ‘s 6,148-square-foot house in Los Angeles’ Encino in the market before and was interested in buying it but the hefty price just won’t permit you to, then this is good news for you!  He has just re-listed that same house for $4,195,000, after first having it on the market at the start of the year for $5,950,000.

Records show that Hasselhoff listed the house with the new, current and greatly reduced asking price on August 3. The house is on the market as part of a divorce settlement between Hasselhoff and his former wife, Pamela…

What Your Real Estate Agent Can and Cannot Tell You

August 31, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

To maintain a harmonious relationship with your agent, you have to understand that he or she cannot disclose every information that you ask for—even if he or she knows about it.  This is to abide by the laws stated in the Fair Housing Act.  So the next time your agent refuses to answer a particular question of yours, refer to this article and check if he or she is simply being prudent and obedient to the law.

For a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of an agent, you may want to look up federal and state regulations.  Here are…

The Advantages of Locking a Loan

August 31, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Once you’ve made a mortgage loan, the next wise thing to do is to lock it.  But of course, you may want to wait a while ‘til the interest rate goes a bit lower, but the important thing is that you lock it.

In doing this, you should expect that there will be times that you’ll feel lucky (when the interest rate go up) and there will be moments of sadness when the interest rate goes below the rate you have locked your loan in.  But in the end, locking your loan will still be advantageous for you because you will…

Why Inspect the Attic before Buying a Home

August 28, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Horror flicks usually have creepy scenes in the attic.  And why not, the attic is a pretty dark, cold and gloomy place which usually serves as a storage room.  Ghosts must be enjoying their stay there.  If we can remember it right, Casper and his family lived in the attic.  Good thing he was a “friendly ghost” though.  But right now, we’re urging you to inspect the attic of your prospective home not for the presence of supernatural creatures, but for defects that might need repairing before you finally purchase the house.  A deteriorating attic can be just as scary…

Singer Lisa Loeb Purchases a Cape Cod-Style House in Los Angeles’ Valley Village Area for $1.125M

August 28, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

It seems that Lisa Loeb does not mind having her fans flock around her new home as news came in about where her new house is located.  It’s in Valley Village, an area in the San Fernando Valley, north of Studio City, west and south of North Hollywood, and east of Sherman Oaks.

For $1,125,000, singer Lisa Loeb has purchased a four-bedroom, custom-built, Cape Cod-style house in Los Angeles’ Valley Village area.

The house measures 3,229-square-foot and is a sure addition to our list of celebrity big time listings.  Records say that the deal closed in June and then Loeb transferred the…

China Investment Corp. to Invest 2 Billion in Mortgage Backed Securities

August 28, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Although most of us are doubtful about the real estate market in the United States, it seems that it is still an attractive investment in the eyes of people overseas.  In fact, the China Investment Corp. is planning on buying 2 billion dollars worth of mortgage backed securities.  Apparently, the US real estate market appears to be a worthy investment international-wise.

We have all witnessed and felt the downturn in the US economy but very few expect that this is lasting.  Even though the other aspects of the economy have plummeted and have lost the confidence of investors, the US real…

Why Sell First Before Buying a Home?

August 26, 2009
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Earlier, we discussed the scenario when you buy a house first before you sell your current home.  This is really a dilemma as what you might think is the right thing to do is different from what your real estate agent is telling you.

It is still smarter to sell your home first before buying a new one.  But your real estate agent will tell you to do otherwise: Buy first before selling.  But why is that?  –Because if you buy, you will need to sell, and the agent will be guaranteed two sales, regardless of how much it cost you…