Philip and Sharon Jones

            Every real estate transaction requires negotiation.  Many factors are written into a home purchase contract, such as price, terms, dates for the home inspection, appraisal and closing, moving dates and what personal property will be included or excluded from the sale.  In coming to terms on these issues, the needs of the parties involved are likely to conflict at some point.  The key to a satisfactory resolution is the willingness to compromise.

            The foundation of a "win-win" negotiation is

  BE SMART ABOUT EXOTIC MORTGAGES  

   

              Traditionally, ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages), also called “exotic mortgages” have been used by experienced investors or wealthy homebuyers, who know how to take advantage of the initial savings of an ARM.  But in the last few years, lenders have offered them to just about anyone looking to buy a home.  This practice has caused serious problems for borrowers because if they don’t understand how ARMs work, they could end up losing a lot of money or even their home.  

Inexperienced

 

 Houses Show Best With Absent Sellers

 

      You just received a call from a Realtor who wants to show your house later in the day.  You hurry around doing last-minute cleanup before the agent arrives with the client.  When the house is ready, what should you do?  Relax and allow your real estate agent to do what you hired them for!  

     It is difficult for an agent or a prospective buyer to deal with a "helpful" seller who wants to make sure that nothing is missed.  If the owners follow the Realtor through the

 

 

 

Lately, the news has been focusing on a five year low in existing home sales, the difficulties in the sub-prime mortgage market, and “jumbo” loans. One would think the whole world of residential real estate is crashing, but that is not true.  The national statistics are just that, “national,” and they reflect conditions in ultra high growth markets where builders have over expanded. Here in Augusta transactions are moderately less and prices are modestly impacted. Don’t panic because of the headlines, there is still good local news.  

    

  Do I Pay Taxes On Sell of My Personal Home?

 

            One of the principal features of The Taxpayer Relief Act is that Uncle Sam takes less of the profits on your investments.  If you plan on selling your home and think that you will make a substantial profit, there is even more good news!

            The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 lowered the capital gains tax rates from 20% to 15% for taxpayers in the higher income brackets and from 10% to 5% for taxpayers in the lower

 

 

 Most people know that a spotty credit history can disqualify you for a home loan. Making monthly payments on credit cards charged up to the limit can do the same thing.  But what most people don't know is that merely having a large number of credit cards, even with low balances and a history of timely payments, can disqualify you for a home mortgage loan just as quickly. 

     According to mortgage home lenders, having a number of credit cards can be just as detrimental to the granting of further credit as a history of late payments.  Lenders look at it this way: