Get the Most Benefit Out of Refinancing Your Mortgage

In order to get the most benefit from refinancing your mortgage you should continue to make your mortgage payments every month and hold out as long as you can in order to build up enough equity so that your loan to value remains below 80%.  If your loan to value is over 80% the mortgage company will charge you PMI which is private mortgage insurance. Private Mortgage Insurance only covers the costs incurred to the mortgage lenders in case you default.  Private Mortgage Insurance is charged monthly and can turn out to be a hefty number when it is added to your monthly mortgage principal and interest.  Alot of timesthe borrower’s think that PMI is helping them but it’s not it only helps the mortgage lender who is refinancing your mortgage.  In order to figure out whether or not you need PMI is quite simple…. all you have to do is take your balance for example let’s say the balance of your mortgage is $150,000 and divide that by your value.  So, in this case let’s say your value is $300,000.  In this case your loan to value would be 50% which is less than 80% so in the above case you would not have to pay PMI. 

Tax Breaks

Most homeowners are keenly aware of the interest tax deduction on their home loan, but there are many other tax breaks which are often overlooked at income tax time. Pro-rated property taxes and mortgage interest in the year of sale are deductible. You will find these amounts listed on your closing settlement statement. If you paid off your mortgage and had to pay a pre-payment penalty, it qualifies as tax deductible interest. If you paid an “acquisition mortgage loan fee” on a home loan, this fee can be deducted as itemized interest. Home improvement loan fees are also deductible. Any remaining loan fees from re-financed or paid-off mortgages are fully deductible at the time of the mortgage payoff.
Certain items don’t qualify as deductions, but can be added to the cost basis of your home, such as transfer taxes, recording and title fees, and special local property tax assessments for new sidewalks, streets, or sewers.
Don’t be intimidated by the tax code! A little research or consultation with an expert can help you maximize your real estate tax advantages. For more advice, tools and tips visit: http://www.ratesarehot.com

Broom Clean

Most purchase agreements contain language that requires a home to be free of trash and debris and “broom clean” at closing. While this language is not precise, the general idea is that you should convey a clean house to your buyers, one in the same condition that you hope to find your new home.

When the movers leave with your furniture, you may even want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service to thoroughly clean the home. It is crucial to leave your house as pristine as possible for the new owners. This includes getting rid of any leftover junk in the storage spaces. When the buyers show up for their final walk-through, they will feel much better about finalizing the sale if everything sparkles. This will set up a positive mood for completing the transaction and help to minimize any disputes at the closing.

Maximize Your Homes Appeal

Sometimes a real estate agent will walk into a home that is basically attractive, yet communicates the feeling that something is lacking. Then the agent notices that all of the drapes are closed, interior lights are off and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sunlight that might otherwise pour through the windows.

A dark house is not as appealing to most buyers as one that is flooded with light. As a part of your preparations to market your home, try to maximize the light in your home. Make sure that all the windows are clean and the drapes are open when the house is being shown. A fresh coat of light paint can do a lot to brighten up the interior. If your house has very dark paneling, and you do not wish to repaint the walls, you may want to consider adding additional lamps. Your real estate agent may be able to provide other simple and cost-effective ideas about how to maximize your home’s appeal. for more tools, tips and prequalification advice, visit: http://www.ratesarehot.com

Yard Beautiful

Many people wait until they are about to sell their home before they put energy and attention into improving the landscaping. Then in a desperate attempt to create instant curb appeal, they call in a professional landscaper and spend a lot of money making the yard beautiful for the next owners to enjoy.

Why wait until you are ready to move to enhance your surroundings? Even if you don’t want to take on a major project, you can plant a few bushes and bulbs each year. You can get plants that bloom at different times of the year, many of which don’t need a tremendous amount of care. There are several benefits to this approach. You will be able to enjoy your improvements yourself, and you will profit more from your sale if you haven’t invested a lot of money in your yard right before the transaction. Well-landscaped lawns tend to increase the real estate values in the whole neighborhood, and can result in a more rapid increase in the equity you have in your home!

For more tools and tips visit: http://www.ratesarehot.com where anyone can prequalify themselves for a mortgageloan.

“Houses and Pets”

Houses and Pets
Many home owners are animal lovers and have cherished pets that are part of the family but you can’t afford having potential buyer’s fingers or ankles nipped by furry creatures during a showing. You have opened the front door to the home only to have a purebred Persian kitten scoot toward the nearest busy street.

If you have pets and are going to put your house on the market, be sure to work out the showing arrangements carefully. It is rare for pets to pose significant problems, but big dogs can be menacing. Buyers or agents may be allergic or even a little phobic about dogs or cats. For more tools, tips advice and to get prequalified for a mortgage visit: http://www.ratesarehot.com

It is difficult to get a buyer excited about your home if he or she is sneezing continuously or unwilling to cross the threshold because your dog is barking away intruders. If your agent knows there might be a problem, they can arrange ahead of time for you to walk the dog, vacuum the cat dander or do whatever is necessary to make sure that the showing goes smoothly.

Make the kitchen in your home a “real asset”

There’s no doubt about it–the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the whole house for many prospective buyers. Smart sellers will take a close look at how they can make their kitchen a real asset when it is time to sell.

Your kitchen doesn’t need to be state-of-the-art to be attractive. The first step toward enhancing your kitchen’s appeal is a thorough cleaning. This includes the walls, cabinets (inside and out), floors, and appliances. Keep the counter tops as clear as possible of small appliances and gadgets. Consider low-cost improvements which can make a big difference, such as a coat of paint, fresh wallpaper, or new floor covering. Be sure to keep the kitchen sparkling when the house is being shown. This means no dirty dishes in the sink or moldy cucumbers in the refrigerator. This extra effort will pay great dividends! To get pre-qualified for a home loan go to: http://www.ratesarehot.com! It’s quick, free and Easy!

Use your imagination when buying a home!

Houses that are spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated tend to sell quickly, and for top dollar. There can be substantial savings for home-buyers who are willing to purchase a property that needs cosmetic improvements.

When you look at a house that needs work, try to imagine it with fresh paint, refinished floors and new carpet. Consider the attractive features of the home. Would it get more sunlight if the draperies were opened and the windows cleaned? Does the back yard have potential?

Try to distinguish between the cosmetic condition of the house and the state of its structure and major systems. Some fixer-uppers need a lot of professional attention from electricians, plumbers and other expensive professionals, while others are true bargains that can be transformed with a little elbow grease, a paint brush, and your imagination. To aid you in the prequalify for a home loan process and for the best mortgage rates go to: http://www.ratesarehot.com

The advantage of buying a home rather than renting!

Are you still writing those checks to your landlord every month to keep a roof over your head, but not accumulating any home equity? If you are still renting because you think you still need a fortune to get into your own home, you should investigate today’s real estate market.

Interest rates are still relatively low, which means that mortgage loans are affordable, with payments potentially in the range of your current monthly rent. Qualifying for a loan was never easier, especially since lenders have increased in large numbers and are competing for your business. Even if you couldn’t qualify to buy a home just a few years ago, you may be able to qualify today. There are a number of government programs and mortgage packages which require small down payments, in the three to five percent range–and that is not even talking about the tax advantages! Think about it the next time you write a rent check.
For more information and to get pre-qualified check out http://www.ratesarehot.com

VA Mortgage Rate Information

VA mortgage rates refer to the rate of interest applicable to a mortgage loan provided to veterans who have served the nation in the call of duty. Mortgage loans from mortgage lenders are guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA) for military veterans in order to help them buy a dream home or invest in real estate property. This is for military veterans who have exited honorably.
Special Features for Veterans
VA guaranteed mortgage loans can rise up to 100% of the cost of the home or property for the home they are going to purchase. Veterans need not pay any private mortgage insurance (PMI) in order to acquire this loan. Apart from this 100% finance, these VA mortgage loans come at extremely attractive (lower) VA mortgage rates.
Down Payment
VA loans (Veterans Administration) come either in a 15 year fixed interest rate or a 30 year fixed interest rate. However, there is a maximum limit for the loan amount given to the veterans under this formula. One hundred percent financing is provided only for purchases up to a maximum of $417,000. For a purchase exceeding this amount, the military veteran is required to pay the difference as a down payment.
Reaping Full Benefits
There are numerous online VA loan service centers that primarily focus on the processing of VA loans. Getting and seeking the assistance of such services will help you to obtain VA loans quickly without facing any problems. They also help you to locate qualified and approved VA loan lenders.
To become prequalified for a mortgage and for further information visit http://www.ratesarehot.com; this fabulous service is free to all consumers.