More than one of us have gotten a contract or agreement and flipped to the last page to quickly sign and date it. When it comes to signing contracts related to real estate, mortgage, leases, Homeowners Associations, etc be sure you know what you are signing.
The fine print of all of these contracts will point out day to day issues and how they are addressed. If you park on the street without a proper permit, you will be towed. Or if you move out earlier than the end of your lease, you will have fines and penalties. Before flipping to the back page, take the time to read each section of the contract. Know what you are signing.
3 Bedroom town home in sought after West Allen. Master, Utility, half bath and Kitchen down. 2 split bedrooms, full bath and a game room up.
Just in time to move in before school starts as unit is ready now.
You will get full access to Award Winning Twin Creeks Amenities including pool, tennis court, sand volleyball, hike and bike, swan lake and much more.
Exemplary rated schools, close to Plano, Frisco, Hwy 121 and I-75
The 2010-2011 school year is fast appraoching. If your child is new to a district or changing schools, be sure to contact your school district administration for paperwork and deadlines. Here are the links to Collin County School Districts:
Allen ISD
Frisco ISD
Lovejoy ISD
McKinney ISD
Plano ISD
Janus Real Estate Group * Heather Anderson * 972-765-3773
Now, when mortgage rates are at record lows, refinancing gives hope of lower monthly payments. But, its a different scenario from years ago, when you received cash back. Instead, you may have to pay cash upfront when you refinance if your loan-to-value ratio is greater than 80%- most lenders will require you to pay private mortgage insurance.
Before you sign a contract to refinance, sit down with a calculator to determine whether the savings from a cash-in refinancing are worth the cost. The most important issues:
•How long you plan to be in your home. With a conventional refinancing, you will generally cover your costs in a few months. But with cash-in refinancing, it could take much longer. You should be looking at spending the next 5 years in your home to reap the rewards of refinancing.
•Where you'll get the money. If you have money in a bank account earning 1% or less, you could earn a better return by buying down your mortgage rate. But the ability to pay down your mortgage is key. You shouldn't spend your entire savings to lower your mortgage principal.
Remember, refinancing to buy down your mortgage comes with potential risks. If the value of your home declines and you have to sell, you could lose the full amount you spent to buy down your mortgage.
Janus Real Estate Group * Heather Anderson * 972-765-3773
Once you have an accepted offer on a house, there are several reports to order: an appraisal and termite inspection are the big two. Beyond that you should decide if you would like to get a home warranty. The purpose of a home warranty plan is to protect yourself against unexpected costs related certain appliances or home systems breaking down.
Depending on the plan, home warranty plans can cover air conditioners, washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc. Every plan is different, and you should be sure to read the fine print of each one you consider. Some plans will cover any and all damage done to a water heater, while others will only cover damage if it was from normal wear and tear.
Home warranty plans are good coverage for unexpected issues. If you do not want to have to worry about paying thousands of dollars for a broken air conditioner out of the blue, a home warranty may be the route for you.
Janus Real Estate Group * Heather Anderson * 972-765-3773
After you have chosen a location and know how much house you can afford, the fun part starts- shopping for your home. Nearly 85% of people begin their home search online, to get an idea of what is available and of houses want to tour.
Your real estate agent can search the MLS- Multiple Listing Service, for all houses listed in your area, that are listed by an agent or broker. Also, one real estate agent can show you all the homes listed on MLS, it is not necessary for you to contact each individual listing agent to set up a showing. Your agent is your go to contact to view houses, assist with contracts and help get you to closing.
When you start the search, know what you style home you are looking for:
- Do you want a fixer upper?
- Do you want a brand new home or previously owned home?
- Is a condo, duplex, or town home an option?
Once you know what you are looking for, the home search process will include: viewing several different homes, comparing them, possible second showings of your favorite house, writing up an offer and signing final contracts once an offer is accepted.
Mortgage Pre-Approval: Your Most Important Phone Call
Purchasing your first home (or second or third) is an exciting decision. But, before you jump the gun, be sure to make a phone call to one of the most important allies during the home buying process: your mortgage loan officer. During this phone call or office visit, the loan officer will pre-qualify you for a home loan.
There are two different initial processes with a loan officer: pre qualify and pre approval. To be pre-qualified, you are providing basic, overview information on your current situation, credit, income,etc. To be pre-approved you will submit documentation showing your assets.It is important to contact a mortgage loan officer first so you know what you will qualify for in terms of a home loan. This gives your Realtor a guideline of the best houses to show you.
Just like finding a real estate agent that meets your needs, you will want to work with a loan officer that is working for your best interest. Ask your real estate agent for suggestions or friends and family for referrals. Be sure to choose a mortgage loan officer that you know will work with you to get you the best loan package possible and who is available to answer your questions.
For most people buying a house is a once or twice in a lifetime experience. This leaves many unanswered questions and lots of confusion. This week, each day we will cover a different area of the home buying process. From choosing a location to choosing a title company and understanding home warranties-each step is important and best for you to know what to expect.
Location, Location, Location.
When you first set out to buy a house there are a number of key elements to get in order at the very start. You must choose an agent you feel comfortable with and that will work for you and your goals, obtain a mortgage loan approval, and finally decide on a location to begin your search.
Deciding on what type of house you want is vital - 3 bedroom, garage, fenced back yard, no pool, etc. Even more important is knowing where you want to live. Location, location, location. If you find the home of your dreams with all of your must haves and most of your want to haves, it will make little difference if every morning you wake up to a train rushing past your bedroom window or if you are unsatisfied with the schools your children are zoned to.
Choose a city, neighborhood (or 2 or 3), or school districts you would feel happy and safe living in first. Then proceed to find your dream house. It will save you a lot of frustration and heart ache in the search.
Until next time, Best Wishes!
If you keep your dog in a fenced in backyard, chances are that he’ll try to dig his way to freedom. Dogs often dig under a gate, since there’s has a gap under it to allow the gate to swing open.
To prevent your dog from digging under a gate:
- Cut a pressure treated 4” x 4” landscape timber so it fits tightly between the gate posts.
- Dig a trench across the gate opening as deep as the thickness of the timber.
- Position the timber in the gate opening so there is just a small gap between the timber and bottom of the gate.
- Secure the timber in place by toenailing galvanized nails or screws through each end of the timber into the gate posts.
- Backfill the trench with dirt so the ground is level.
Dallas-area home values continue to rebound. Home prices in the Dallas area were up 3.3 percent in April from a year ago in the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Index released Tuesday.
It was the 6th consecutive month that Dallas home prices rose from the previous year. Dallas was one of more than a dozen cities that saw year –over-year price increases.
Dallas area home values have been rising in the index since November.
Lots of Upgrades. Wonderful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom town home in Allen's premier neighborhood, Twin Creeks. Great space with master down, two bedrooms and two great loft living spaces up. Bright and open. 2 car garage and nice fenced in yard.
Kitchen has a small breakfast nook plus breakfast bar, walk-in pantry and a formal dining space adjacent to a large family room. Granite counters, stone back splash with top of the line cabinets.
Remember from April 1 - October 31, between 10 am and 6 pm, irrigation is prohibited.
Craigs Ranch is a Master Planned Community in McKinney. The community has a hospital, business district, Country Club and Full Golf Course.
With a 10 year plan, the Community offers its residents the Cooper Fitness Center, weekly community events at Town Square, and The Beach at Craig Ranch with 12 sand volleyball courts.
"Texas-inspired art and sculpture dot the landscape, from dramatic cascading waterfalls to the various western bronze statues encountered along the pathways and greenbelts."
2 Story Twin Creeks Townhome in Allen ISD!
3 bedrooms, master bed downstairs. 2.5 baths. Open kitchen with hardwood floors throughout the first floor and game room upstairs.
Tenants get access to Twin Creek amenities including: swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, baseball field, hiking-biking trails and more!
Twin Creek Villas are located near 75 and 121, Allen Premium Outlets and Watters Creek!
- Turn on the "Standby" power saving feature on your computer.
- Fix defective plumbing or dripping facuets
- Close the damper on your fireplace when you are not using it
- Seal gaps around doors, fans, and vents that can let air escape
- Install a programmable thermosat-- Keep from using energy when you aren't home
- Make sure furtniture, carps, rugs, drapes are not blocking air vents
- Have your appliances and HVAC services annually
- Use bathroom ventilation fans sparingly--in 1 hour this can blow away a houseful of air conditioning.
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