by Irene Moustakas | Dec 4, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
Beginning December 11th, it will officially be harder to qualify for a home loan. In the past and up until 12/11/09, lenders allow(ed) your qualifying ratio to go up to 55%, at least with compensating factors of good credit and 20% equity or down payment in a home....
by Irene Moustakas | Nov 9, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
The $8000 federal tax credit has been extended and expanded! The credit, which was supposed to expire 12/1/09, has now been extended to 4/30/10. In addition, there will be a 60-day extension if you go into binding and official contract prior to April 30th. In addition...
by Irene Moustakas | Nov 3, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News, Loan Programs and Products
Congress voted and approved a one-year extension on the temporary FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits. The loan limits vary by county, but are established by taking 125% of the county’s median home price and determining that as the upper limit, with $729,750...
by Irene Moustakas | Nov 2, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers
There are rumors that the 1st time homebuyer tax credit will be extended, but at this moment, it is technically expiring on November 30th (must close escrow before 12/1/09). In fact, I think that Congress will be voting this week on whether or not to extend it, but...
by Irene Moustakas | Oct 7, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers
After your initial conversation about prequalifying and after determining what you feel comfortable with as your “max purchase price,” it is strongly recommended, if not necessary, that you get preapproved for a loan. This is not just getting credit-approved, like...
by Irene Moustakas | Oct 5, 2009 | 1st Time Homebuyers
It is much better and much more important to get preapproved. Let me start out with the details of a prequalification first. The first thing you are going to do when you start thinking about buying a home is to call a bank or a mortgage broker to see what you can...