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When it comes to real estate, there is reality and then there are myths. One myth is that it is hard to get a mortgage nowadays, even with good credit. In reality, safe and secure mortgage money is readily available. A good agent can introduce you to a mortgage expert who can help you with your financial needs. With interest rates at (modern era) historic lows, NOW is the time to buy or sell your home! Contact me today for more information at bhelman@weichert.com.

Jan 04
2010

Warning: Mortgage Rates Going Up

Posted by becky in Washington DC Real EstateWashington DC Home PricesSilver Spring Real EstaterealtyrealtorReal Estate Insiderreal estate agentReal EstatePrimary Mortgage Market SurveyPowell Financial GroupPotomac Real EstatePotomac Home PricesPat PowellNew York Real EstateMortgage SurveyMortgage Market SurveyMortgage Interest RateMortgage CostMortgage Commitment RateMortgageMontgomery County Real EstateManhattan Real EstateLong Island Real EstateInterest RateHoward County Real EstateHoward County Home PricesHomes for saleHome PricesGreen MortgagesGreen MortgageGoing Green with your MortgageGeorgetown Real EstateFreddie MacFixedRate MortgagesFixedRate MortgageFixed Rate MortgagesFixed Rate MortgageCommitment RateChevy ChaseBuying a HomeBrooklyn Real EstateBethesda Real EstateBethesda Home PricesBecky Helmanagent38year Historical Low30year Mortgages30 year Mortgages30 year Mortgage

Warning: Mortgage Rates Going Up

My last blog on November 29, 2009 I told you “Now Is The Time For Real Estate Decisions”: I hope you listened to me.  Back then you could have secured a 30-year mortgage for 4.71%, which was the lowest rate since 1971 when Freddie Mac began keeping record of mortgage rates. WELL THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.  According to Freddie Mac, the year ending December 31, 2009, mortgage interest rates rose to 5.14%.

Why are mortgage rates going up this fast?  According to Pat

Nov 29
2009

NOW IS THE TIME FOR REAL ESTATE DECISIONS

Posted by becky in Washington PostWashington DC Real EstateWashington DC Home PricesWashington DCWashington D.C.Silver Spring Real EstateSilver Spring MDSaving MoneyrealtyrealtorReal Estate Insiderreal estate agentReal EstatepropertyPrimary Mortgage Market SurveyPotomac Real EstatePotomac Home PricesNew York TimesNew York Real EstateMortgage SurveyMortgage Market SurveyMortgage Interest RateMortgage CostMortgage Commitment RateMortgageMontgomery County Real EstateMarylandManhattan Real EstateLong Island Real EstatelistingslistingLess is GreenInterest RateHoward County Real EstateHoward County Home PriceshousinghousesHomes for salehomesHome PriceshomeGreen MortgagesGreen MortgageGreen IdeasgreenGoing Green with your MortgageGoing Green with your MoneyGoing Green TipsGoing Green IdeasGoing Green at HomeGoing GreenGeorgetownFreddie MacFixedRate MortgagesFixedRate MortgageCommitment RateChevy ChaseBuying a HomeBrooklyn Real EstateBethesda Real EstateBethesda Home PricesBecky Helmanagent38year Historical Low30year Mortgages30 year Mortgages30 year Mortgage

CAN I GET YOUR ATTENTION? 

DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY OR SELL A HOME?

Can you afford NOT to buy or sell a home now? 

According to Freddie Mac, Monthly Average Commitment Rate And Points On 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages are at their lowest since 1971.

FREDDIE MAC SAYS, MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES ARE AT A 38-YEAR HISTORICAL LOW!  By far, the major cost of owning a home IS THE COST OF THE MORTGAGE.  Home prices are in your favor AND mortgage costs are at an all time (modern era)

Sep 18
2009

Going Green: One Room at a Time

Posted by becky in Top LoaderSaving MoneyReal EstateLaundry RoomLaundryhome remodelhomeGreen IdeasgreenGoing Green TipsGoing Green IdeasGoing Green at HomeGoing GreenFront LoaderEnergy Starenergy efficiencyelectric billDryer

   

This is a first in a series about going green at home.  I have decided to focus on each room and concentrate on ways to use less energy.  I think you will find that these going green tips are useful and in most cases easy to implement but not neccessarily inexpensive.  If you have any green idea's you think I should talk about, please let me know.

The laundry room is a good place to start since a lot of energy is used by the washer and dryer.  If you have not upgraded your washer and dryer

Jul 31
2009

Mortgage Lenders Under Tighter Rein

Posted by becky in Untagged 

 

Lenders will be subject to new disclosure requirements for mortgage loans under the Federal Reserve Board Truth in Lending Regulation (Reg Z).  

The new requirements apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30, 2009 (about two months earlier than originally planned).  

Although the new rules are complex, the lenders will have no choice but to comply.  Here are key

Jul 18
2009

Attic Management

Posted by becky in Untagged 


Most Homeowners do not realize how much of their hard earned cash is flying out of their pockets every month because of poor attic management.  The potential savings for you and your family is simply too great to ignore your attic.  In the summer months, a poorly ventilated attic will cause the temperature inside your home to rise on average 12-15 degrees.  Properly sized attic fan(s) will remedy this problem.  Several years ago, I installed attic fans in my home and I can tell you the

May 13
2009

Your Home's Curb Appeal

Posted by becky in Untagged 

You've heard the saying "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." This is especially true when it comes to your home. Potential buyers are highly influenced by how a home looks the first time they get a glimpse of it.

Here are a few simple tips that can positively affect your home's "curb appeal" and perhaps even its value.

  • Clean Up and Repair -- Clean windows and siding, make sure outdoor lighting works, stow away yard tools and equipment and clean up dead branches
Apr 30
2009

Uptick in Home Sales

Posted by becky in Untagged 

Spring market has been here and is alive and well. In our office we are receiving multiple contracts on properties and the number of visitors to open houses has significantly increased. Every week at our Tuesday morning meeting we talk about the absorption rate, which is the number of months it would take to deplete the current inventory of homes for sale. We look at zip code 20854 and homes priced from $500,000 to $1,500,000. Tuesday, April 21, the absorption rate was 4.45. This past

Apr 25
2009

An Energy Efficient Home

Posted by becky in Untagged 

Energy efficiency seems to be the new buzz word. Homebuyers are more interested than ever in purchasing an energy efficient home. Now that the warm weather is upon us, buyers will be looking at a home's cooling costs and energy-saving features. I have listed a few simple improvements to help you lower your monthly utility bills and reduce the impact on the environment.

  • Contact your utility company to arrange for an energy audit that will show you where your home is energy
Feb 13
2009

Spring Market is Here

Posted by becky in Untagged 

Sorry for my delay in writing but I had hand surgery the end of December and my blogging days were interrupted! The Spring market has officially started in the real estate world. Open house traffic was up 36% from January to February!! Houses are selling and multiple contracts are being presented. As a seller get rid of the clutter. Buyers like to imagine their own "stuff" in the house. You may love the blue walls in your bedroom but a potential buyer may not. I'm not saying you have to

Dec 17
2008

Fed Rates

Posted by becky in Untagged 

In a bold move, the Federal Reserve unanimously voted to set a target range for its federal funds rate so that it will hover between 0.25 percent and zero. The federal funds rate, the interest banks charge each other on overnight loans, had previously stood at 1 percent and is now at a record low.

Interest rate cuts are seen as beneficial to the economy since they typically lead to more lending by making it cheaper to borrow money. In addition, the Federal Reserve said it would "employ all

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