Home buying

10 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Home

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Make sure you are credit worthy. Check your credit history, build up your rating if needed, and fix any errors on your credit report. Consider buying vs. leasing. With costs of buying and selling, plus time needed to build equity, you could end up losing money if you move too soon. Buy a home you can afford. The rule … Continued

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

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For the first time this year, Year to Date Units Sold exceed total units sold in 2010-3379 in 2011 to 3356 in 2010, but total volume sold still lags because Median Sale Price this year is lower, $163,00 to $173,000 last year. We still expect by 2011 year end, total volume may exceed last year. … Continued

With unpredictable weather comes unpredictable water damage. Homebuyers should be vigilant about finding moisture hotbeds.

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Weather is unpredictable, regardless of the nightly forecasts. We checked the 2012 issue of Farmers’ Almanac as backup and, for the Midwest, predictions are average temperatures (whatever that is) and wetter than normal. Looks like our friends in the Northeast are going to take a pounding again this year. For potential homebuyers, weather can play … Continued

Are mortgage interest rates really ‘historic’ now?

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We hear it all the time. Headlines trumpet “mortgage rates at historic lows!” Could this really be true, or is it hype? Curious to find out, we researched mortgage rates way back to 1981 to find out the real story. Which is to say, yes, our current interest rates are historic. Back then, some 30 … Continued

Mortgage Lender

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How do you find an honest mortgage lender? Start with personal recommendations, and set up some appointments with certified lenders. Call me today and ask about Shawn Tihen at iBeria Bank. I can recommend him with full confidence. The Grant Hickman Team314.265.1531