Now that you are ready to sell your home you need guidance from a real estate professional. The question is: how do you choose the right agent for you?
Real estate agents and brokers must be licensed by the state in which they work. Each state has minimum standards for education and exams which must be met by real estate professionals. After the license is obtained, most agents and brokers join the National Association of Realtors which has a code of ethics that must be followed by its members.
Many people ask for referrals from family, friends or co-workers who have recently bought or sold a home if they were satisfied with the service provided by their agent. If they would recommend this real estate professional or use them again in another
…Points are sometimes referred to as “loan discounts” or “loan origination fees” and they represent money which the buyer must pay to the lender. Points are not usually included in the total loan amount and are usually paid by the buyer in cash at closing. One point equals 1% of the total mortgage amount. If the total amount of the loan is $350,000, one point on a loan of that size would be $3,500. The amount the buyer pays for points can be deducted in full in the year they are paid.
Most of us live in several different homes over our
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For the first time Texans can vote online for a new license plate design.
From Monday, February 4, until the following Monday, February 11, Texans can vote for one of four new license plate designs or to keep the current general-issue plate.
All of the plates feature the state name on the top and “The Lone Star State” on the bottom. The plate designs were created by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
“We’re excited that the internet makes it possible for Texans to help choose the next general-issue license plate,” said Rebecca Davio, director of Vehicle Titles and Registration, the TxDOT division that oversees the manufacturing of the state’s license plates.
Even if Texans choose to keep the current plate design, they will see
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This topic comes up again and again in real estate and mortgage offices. Buyers get into trouble by changing jobs or buying new cars during the home buying process. Many times they no longer qualify for the mortgage they were originally approved for. This is a big problem if they have not closed on the property yet!
In order to be approved for a mortgage, the lender requires you provide certain information to the underwriter detailing your assets. These include savings and checking account bank statements, copies of IRS forms, proof of Certificates of Deposit, paycheck stubs if you have an employer or business records if you are self employed.
The bank or mortgage company needs this information to ascertain the source of your down payment.
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