Ann Underwood
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
402.643.3300 Office | 888.635.1409 eFax
Home Real Estate | Underwood Team, PC
655 South St, Seward, NE 68434 | 7211 So. 27th
St, Lincoln, NE 68512
Friday, June 28, 2013
Party in the Park
Ann Underwood
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Housing Prices Rise, along with Mortgage Rates
But, that’s not necessarily good in the long term. Mortgage rates are beginning to rise as well, which is cutting into the purchase power of potential buyers. The National Association of Realtors warned last week that “home price growth is too fast.” They say the market needs more new home construction and easier access to credit for buyers.
Another factor to consider are the changes to mortgage industry mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. Nearly a dozen new regulations totaling almost 4,000 pages are scheduled to take effect at the beginning of next year. Among the regulations are definitions of a Qualified Mortgage and a Qualified Residential Mortgage. Writing in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Bankers Association CEO Rose Oswald Poels says this will mean “Fewer, more difficult to obtain loans, which are more costly and statistically less risky, but also less helpful for consumers.”
And although you may feel the need to buy now before prices rise too much, many experts advise caution. Amy Hoak of The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch offers five excellent tips for avoiding “buyer’s remorse.” She says you need to consider a home’s location and potential hidden costs. You need to confirm the house is what you really want and really need at this time. And she writes that you have to balance between a home’s cost, function and delight.
The decision to buy or wait is yours. But, don’t feel like you have to make it alone. Give me a call and I can help you put everything in perspective and help you find a home that meets your needs, fits your budget, and that will make you happy for years to come.
Ann Underwood
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
402.643.3300 Office | 888.635.1409 eFax
Home Real Estate | Underwood Team, PC
655 South St, Seward, NE 68434 | 7211 So. 27th
St, Lincoln, NE 68512
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Friday Night Live in Lincoln
Come and enjoy live R&B, rock and jazz every Friday for the next 9 weeks. There will be music that’s . It's the perfect way to end your busy week! Enjoy on-site grilling by Famous Dave's or takeout from your favorite SouthPointe restaurant plus Tropical Sno shaved ice and Roca Berry Farms kettle korn. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome; kids under 10 welcome in the SCHEELS Kids Zone (parent supervision required). Admission is free but your donation is strongly requested to benefit the Child Advocacy Center . The event is at SouthPointe Pavilions in the Center Courtyard from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.Ann Underwood
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
402.643.3300 Office | 888.635.1409
eFax
Home Real Estate | Underwood Team,
PC
655 South St, Seward, NE 68434 | 7211 So. 27th
St, Lincoln, NE 68512
Friday, June 14, 2013
Be Prepared To Find Your New Home
It’s not hard to see the signs. The housing market in some regions is roaring toward a
complete recovery. It seems every week brings new, positive reports on housing starts, sales and other statistics. So if buying a home is on your agenda this year, you’ll need to be prepared.
Know What You Can Afford
This part of the process can be difficult, because you have to be painfully honest with yourself or you risk problems down the road. You know how much you make. What you need to know is how much of that is available for a mortgage payment and insurance every month, as well as annual taxes and fees. Sometimes, it can be easier to work from the other direction and determine how much you have left over after other expenses are accounted for in your plan. These are things like car payments, monthly food purchases, and school related expenses. However you can get there, you need to have a number to represent how much you can spend each month to pay for your housing. You won’t be the only one doing this, of course. Your lender is also going to make the same assessment when they decide how much they’re going to be willing to lend you!
Know What You Want
Here’s where you can go a little crazy. You want to make a list of all the things that would make a new house perfect for the life you envision living in it. Don’t add things unless they really would make you happy. This isn’t about what you can afford, this is about what you’d like to have if you could get it. A media room? A three-car garage? A hot tub and his and hers closets in the master? Write it down. A list like this can really help you narrow potential choices down as you compare what’s on this list to the features of houses you’ve seen.
Know What You Need
This one is a little harder, because you have to take the list you just made and take out everything that isn’t essential to the life you want. While the list above is what would be nice to have, this is the list of things that a potential new home must have. You might be able to live without wood floors, but what about central heating and air? Or access to top notch schools and medical care. Handing this list to a real estate professional means you’re going to only see houses that have already passed an essential screening.
Having thought through these elements before you begin searching can save you a lot of time. When we begin looking at houses, you’ll see the benefit of this preparation right away. And with some luck, we’ll have you in the perfect new home in no time!
Call us today and let's discuss your real estate needs!
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
Know What You Can Afford
This part of the process can be difficult, because you have to be painfully honest with yourself or you risk problems down the road. You know how much you make. What you need to know is how much of that is available for a mortgage payment and insurance every month, as well as annual taxes and fees. Sometimes, it can be easier to work from the other direction and determine how much you have left over after other expenses are accounted for in your plan. These are things like car payments, monthly food purchases, and school related expenses. However you can get there, you need to have a number to represent how much you can spend each month to pay for your housing. You won’t be the only one doing this, of course. Your lender is also going to make the same assessment when they decide how much they’re going to be willing to lend you!
Know What You Want
Here’s where you can go a little crazy. You want to make a list of all the things that would make a new house perfect for the life you envision living in it. Don’t add things unless they really would make you happy. This isn’t about what you can afford, this is about what you’d like to have if you could get it. A media room? A three-car garage? A hot tub and his and hers closets in the master? Write it down. A list like this can really help you narrow potential choices down as you compare what’s on this list to the features of houses you’ve seen.
Know What You Need
This one is a little harder, because you have to take the list you just made and take out everything that isn’t essential to the life you want. While the list above is what would be nice to have, this is the list of things that a potential new home must have. You might be able to live without wood floors, but what about central heating and air? Or access to top notch schools and medical care. Handing this list to a real estate professional means you’re going to only see houses that have already passed an essential screening.
Having thought through these elements before you begin searching can save you a lot of time. When we begin looking at houses, you’ll see the benefit of this preparation right away. And with some luck, we’ll have you in the perfect new home in no time!
Call us today and let's discuss your real estate needs!
The Underwood Team, REALTORS®
402.643.3300 Office | 888.635.1409 eFax
Home Real Estate | Underwood Team, PC
655 South St, Seward, NE 68434 | 7211 So. 27th
St, Lincoln, NE 68512
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)