It’s easy to scrutinize a home during a careful walk through all the rooms and the yard. What’s not so easy is determining the condition of the roof based on how it looks. Fixing a roof can be the most expensive house repair an owner may face, with a full replacement ranging from $2,000 to $12,000. That means an inspection can be well the investment. Your seller may or may not pay the $200 to $400 in… Full Article
Selling a house with a messy interior or unkempt exterior isn’t easy. No matter how sturdy, secure or cozy a house is, it needs to look nice to draw attention and get offers from prospective buyers. When military families are on the move, staging the home for open houses can become an afterthought. Follow these tips to ensure your home is ready to show. Depersonalize It seems silly, but prospective buyer… Full Article
In the end, the home will be yours. But until the sale is complete and closing papers get signed, a host of people will help you use your VA home loan benefits to purchase a home. Here’s a breakdown of some important folks who will guide you through the home-buying process. Real estate agent This home expert has insight about houses, neighborhoods and details that matter to your family, such as nearby s… Full Article
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in a home’s features when you’re house hunting. Many times, a homebuyer is told to consider the additional costs of utilities and maintenance some features require, but extra safety and inspection concerns are often neglected. Here are a few instances where a little more consideration is helpful: Fireplaces People know to use caution with fire, but a fireplace comes … Full Article
Even before you finance your dream home with a VA loan, you’re entitled to think about some of the changes you want to make around the house. Not every military homebuyer settles into a home that fulfills expectations down to the last detail. Whether it’s the landscape you plan to alter or the interior décor, here are some environmentally friendly things to do that also benefit you as a homeowner: Pl… Full Article
The past few years have seen an enormous number of foreclosures. The common wisdom has been that a leading cause of default was payment shock, a swift and sizable increase in adjustable monthly payments. Now, however, Paul S. Willen, a senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, says payment shock is little more than an urban myth. "Contrary to popular belief," explained Willen before a congre… Full Article
From handling all of the maintenance to homeowners insurance, there are as many new responsibilities that come with owning a new home as there are benefits. Although property taxes increase drastically with a home purchase there are a number of tax benefits offered to homeowners that you’ll want to take advantage of. Itemized If you’ve made the leap into home ownership in the past year, you’ll pro… Full Article
The federal government will receive $45 million from the JPMorgan Chase Bank to settle allegations in a lawsuit that it overcharged military borrowers. Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans (IRRRLs) are a form of refinancing which allows qualified personnel to take current VA loans and refinance to a lower rate. They're also known as VA Streamline loans. One of the many protections offered to VA-qualif… Full Article
Active military members nationwide are still tweaking budgets and otherwise dealing with adjustments to Basic Allowance for Housing rates that took effect at the beginning of the year. Basic Allowance for Housing rates increased by 2 percent on average. Subject to change annually, these housing allowances vary depending on several factors, including geography, rank and family size. Service members considering … Full Article
First-time homebuyers are often shocked when they discover that the list price isn’t exactly what a new home will end up costing. Securing a home loan comes at a price beyond the loan amount. That price comes in the form of closing costs, which are fees and charges you pay in order to obtain a purchase or refinance loan. But what exactly are closing costs and how will they affect your purchase? &nb… Full Article