April 8, 2013

Homeowners: Find Out How to Reduce Mortgage Payment

Mortgage insurance is great for helping you purchase a home when having less than 20% to put down, and once you achieve a pre-determined equity level, your lender must cancel coverage – reducing your total monthly mortgage payment! Under the Federal Homeowners Protection Act, coverage must be cancelled once your balance is scheduled to drop to 78% of the original value of your property. Under the provision, the cancellation occurs automatically – freeing up money that is sure to come in handy every month. Have more questions? Need help buying or selling your home? Talk to us: we can help! […]
April 22, 2013
Sustainable Home

10 Tips to Make Your Home More Sustainable

Making your home more sustainable is easier than you might think. Here are 10 easy tips to help you along the way: 1. Use a low-flow or high efficiency Shower-head Using a better showerhead can save you thousands of gallons of water a year. Not only is it better for the environment, it’s better for your water bill. Shower heads are designed for conservation while still providing good water pressure, a marked improvement over Seinfeld-era low-flows. 2. Use a device to recycle water in your bathroom You will be able to take used sink water and inject it into your […]
April 25, 2013
Getting a Mortgage

6 Key Considerations When Applying for a Mortgage

For most would-be homebuyers, making a run at homeownership is going to mean getting approved for a home loan. It’s a process that, at best, can be stressful and confusing. Borrowers can be better prepared by taking steps to study their options and learn what to expect from a lender. “It’s surprising to me that people tend to spend more time in pre-purchase research for a car than they do for a home mortgage,” says Chris George, president of home mortgage lender CMG Financial. Keeping up to date on changes in the mortgage market is necessary, because the government, which essentially […]
January 6, 2014
First Time Homebuyers

5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Are you thinking about buying your first home this year? It has been said repeatedly that this is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. It’s both an exciting and nerve-racking time for perspective homeowners. Setting realistic expectations is a must; rarely do first time home buyers purchase their dream home. That may happen on the second or third purchase. The first step is to save! According the National Association of Realtors, 32% of all buyers cut spending on luxury or non-essential items. Twenty-six percent cut spending on entertainment, 20% cut spending on clothes and 13% canceled […]
July 16, 2014
How to remedy mold

What to Do If a Home Inspection Finds Mold

“Mold” is the last thing you want to hear when you’re making an offer on a house. While this could be unsettling news, mold doesn’t have to be a deal breaker, as Michelle Hopkin ProTec Inspection Services explained to Realtors at a recent visit to Central Properties. When mold is suspected, a home inspector certified to test for mold should visit the property to determine the scope of the problem, and to recommend a course of action for remediation. Have more questions? Need help buying or selling your home? Talk to us: we can help!   1 Step 1 Pick […]
January 12, 2015

Are Mortgage Points Tax Deductible?

When you took out a mortgage to buy your home, did you pay points? You may be able to deduct that prepaid interest on your federal tax return — but only if you meet a long list of rules. The points you paid when you signed a mortgage to buy your home may help cut your federal tax bill. With points, sometimes called loan origination points or discount points, you make an upfront payment to get a particular rate from the lender. Since mortgage interest is deductible, your points may be, too. read more Have more questions? Need help buying […]
March 21, 2016
Home Buyers Seminar

Homebuyer Seminar at The YMCA, Tuesday, April 5th

Homeownership has been a key driver for many to build equity and long-term financial security. DC’s housing market is in demand, and now is a great time to learn more about the home buying process. Are you thinking of buying a home? Get started with tips from real estate and mortgage experts at this Homebuyer Seminar at the YMCA. Free Homebuyer Seminar Thursday, April 5th 6:30 – 7:45pm @ YMCA Anthony Bowen 1325 W Street NW Washington, DC 20009 Have more questions? Need help buying or selling your home? Talk to us: we can help!   1 Step 1 Pick […]
August 5, 2016
Steps to buying a home

5 Steps to Buying a Home: Home Buying Process Explained

While buying a home can be a daunting process, there is plenty of help to assist you along the way. There are a lot of moving parts in today’s real estate market so most homebuyers hire knowledgeable professionals – agents, lenders and appraisers – to assist them in this exciting yet challenging endeavor. While professional assistance is key, personally understanding the purchasing process is just as important. Americans will move nearly a dozen times in their lifetime and equipping yourself with the following information is essential to your success as you search for your next home: 1. Prepare Yourself for Ownership […]