February 01, 2010 at 04:46 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
This quick video gives some reasons why walking away from your home may not be a good idea. The financial impact of a foreclosure decision can negatively impact your credit for the next 5-7 years. Short sales are longer and can be more difficult routes, however the negative impact can be as little as 2 years on your credit. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself. If you find yourself in this situation feel free to call me and we can discuss your options.
November 30, 2009 at 04:15 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Congress did extend the first time homebuyer credit but time is running out. Yes you have until April to secure the right home, but beyond finding the right home, don’t let the low interest rates rise before you have time to act. Here is why a small increase in rates can affect your ability to buy that ‘right’ house. Let’s assume that you have your sights on a home for $200,000. You have 5% down or $10,000 saved up. You have calculated that your mortgage payment is $994.57 for a 4.78% interest rate. If the rates rise slightly to 5.5% your payment has just moved to $1,078.80. If your intention is to keep your payment at $994.57 per month your new purchase price is $185,000! The small increase has just cost you $15,000 in purchasing power which could mean the difference between getting the right house, or not buying at all. So before rates go up, and they will, NOW is the time to be out there finding your next dream home. For more information on how to maximize your purchase in a new market call me toll free at 1-888-HEY GLEN
July 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM · Posted under Fair Housing
When pricing your home, it is critical to understand how various factors and trends in the market, may affect your price. At Shorewest, we monitor those trends, and convey the information to our sellers through the use of market absorption graphs, months of inventory reports, rate of sales reports, home value worksheets, and many other tools. By using these items, you can price your home on the cutting edge of the market, increasing your likelihood of receiving an offer, for the highest price, in a timely manner. One tool that is helpful in determining price in conjunction with the items listed above, is a report that tracks sales by price. Attached, is a recent report of sales by price, in the Lake Country area. To learn about the significance of this graph, call me 414.975.9659 or visit my website. I’d be happy to explain how this graph not only maps sales, but also can assist you in pinpointing a sales price
Contrary to the belief of some home sellers, NOW is a good time to sell! Mortgage rates are still at historic lows. Pair the rates with the $8000 first time homebuyer credit, and the climate is very favorable for buyers and sellers.
A tool for home sellers is the "Rate Relief Program", offered by Wisconsin Mortgage, and marketed by Shorewest Realtors. This program is an incentive by the seller, to buy down the interest rate for a prospective buyer. It also can cover some of the buyer’s prepaid and closing costs.
Here is an example of how it works:
The seller commits to pay 3% of the purchase price towards a financing package from Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation.
This provides a savings of over $200 per month, and approximately $77,000 over 30 years.
Obviously, this is a winning scenario for a buyer, but it also benefits a seller. Sellers offering this can receive special marketing, an increased buying pool and less negotiation on sales price…a win/win for everyone.