Mortgage & Finance
STEP 2 – FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE: IS IT REALLY LIKE DOING THE LAUNDRY?
August 15th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
[NOTE: Rob Martinson continues his series on getting the home mortgage process right for home buyers in Northern Virginia. His previous installments are in our Mortgage & Finance archive.]
Now it is time for you to get some real work done on the streets. You know how much you can afford; now you need to find a home in that price range. Stick with it, sportsfans, it can be a pretty crazy ride. Read the rest of this entry »
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STEP 1 – DON’T GET PRE-QUALIFIED FOR YOUR LOAN! LET ME EXPLAIN…
July 29th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
[NOTE: Rob Martinson continues his series on getting the home mortgage process right. His first and second installments are in our Mortgage & Finance archive.]
So you want to buy a house in Northern Virginia do you?
For years I have been getting phone calls from borrowers telling me they are looking to get pre-qualified for a loan. My response? “No you don’t.” (Confused silence usually ensues). Read the rest of this entry »
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THE PRE-CLOSING PROCESS – KNOWING THE BASICS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE TABLE
July 27th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance, Seller Strategies
[NOTE: Drawing on several decades of experience as a real estate attorney, John Pitrelli contributes articles of interest for home buyers and home sellers. To view John's other posts please click here.]
As a home buyer, one of the most important parts of the transaction is the closing. What are some of the pitfalls of the closing process and how can you avoid them? In my next few posts I hope to describe what should happen and what you can do to avoid problems. Read the rest of this entry »
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UNDERSTANDING THE MORTGAGE PROCESS – FIVE STEPS AND YOU ARE HOME
July 20th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Let’s get into it then. I promised in my initial posting that by the time I was through, you would understand the mortgage loan process (whether you are a home buyer or a seller) from beginning to end. I think I also mentioned something about an exciting ride. I will do my best to attempt a perfect two for two, but sometimes batting .500 is not so bad. I’ll let you be the judge.
So, first things first. Read the rest of this entry »
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UNDERSTANDING THE MORTGAGE PROCESS – LET’S START HERE
July 5th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
[NOTE: In this post, Robert kicks off a series on how mortgage finance works. This will be especially helpful for first-time home buyers in our local area of Chantilly, Centreville, and the Western Fairfax region, but anyone who has not gone through the process in awhile will find his insights helpful. If you have particular aspects of the mortgage process that you'd like Robert to address, please let us know.]
“I don’t know where I’ll be in five years” is something I hear almost daily from many friends and potential clients. They are answering the question I usually ask, “Why are you still not a homeowner?”
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BANK OWNED FORECLOSURES – NOT ALWAYS A SMOOTH DEAL, HOWEVER…
July 2nd, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
The idea of getting a foreclosure property for an absolutely incredible price might seem like a dream come true. The emphasis should be on the word “dream!” There are some deals, but along with the occasional dream there are also potential and real nightmares. May I offer a few observations based on what I see as a working real estate agent. Read the rest of this entry »
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HOW WILL REAL ESTATE PLAY INTO YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?
June 25th, 2008 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance, Seller Strategies
As you look forward to a later time in your life, have you thought much about how real estate will (or won’t) contribute to your overall financial security? Most people would welcome not having a mortgage to pay, especially at a time in their life when they are at or near retirement. Read the rest of this entry »
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