First Time Home Buyers still Getting Great Deals!

Great week in real estate! successfully helped 2 first time home buyers get offers accepted. One house has an inground heated pool (I'm jealous!) the other is a beautiful single family home. you'll never believe how affordable these places are! Thanks to the 1st time home buyer credit, their closing costs are getting paid + some money down monthly payments around $800-$1000 (including taxes & insurance)

screen tenants

If you are thinking of becoming a landlord, screen your tenants carefully. If you use the same rules as the banks do to give a loan, you will few problems. 1. Do they have a source of income (job) 2. Do they pay their bills on time (good credit) 3. Do they have a little bit of money (at least first month and security deposit).

Updated Loan Preapproval

real estate lesson: Just because you hav been preapproved for a loan in the past don't assume you will get preapproved today (your situation might have changed and the bank's criteria). make sure to get an updated preapproval letter if you are thinking of buying a house now.

First Lesson--Getting a Loan

getting a loan (mortgage from a bank). Typically it is not that hard, but requires the following: 1. a source of income (AKA a job) 2. Proof that you pay your bills on time (decent credit--according to lenders I spoke with--at least 620 at this time). 3. Some money (varying amounts, but not 0). Remember, the bank is taking a big risk on you and after what happened the past few years is more cautious