My New Blog

Historic Springfield in Jacksonville, FL
August 15th, 2008 12:59 PM

Activity is picking up in the Jacksonville, FL market. However, there is so much to choose from on the market that purchasers are having trouble deciding which home to buy. Understandably, they want to be sure that are securing the best opportunity. Now is the time to consider Springfield Historic District!

Eighteen homes have sold or are in pending sales in the last four months priced from $100,000.00 - $385,000.00. These are only the ones that are listed on MLS. Many other homes have been sold that are not listed on the MLS. If you want to purchase a home for half price there are several available that are listed in the $50's and $60's that were bringing $120000.00 before the mortgage melt down. As you all know, what goes down must come up. Now is the time to purchase before prices begin to rise again. There are new and existing homes to choose from. There are also commercial properties and multiple unit rental investment properties to choose from. What about financing?

There are FHA and Conventional renovation loans available if you are a owner-occupant. Contact Lewis Sport at Wells Fargo (904-779-4238) and he can get you pre-approved for a mortgage. Then contact Brenda Gravitt at bkgravitt@comcast.net to find your home. You can select a pre-approved contractor to renovate your historic home and the appraised value will be determined by the homes value after improvements. In Jacksonville there are also opportunities for down payment and closing cost assistance for first time home buyers. Contact Penda Tyson at Wachovia at 904-704-9856 to get pre-approved.

If your interested in increasing your wealth, now is the time to act! Real estate prices are normally on a seven year roll of ups and downs. The market has now been down for approximately three years and has no where to go but back up. The price corrections have been made by the sellers. Banks and mortgage companies are ready to liquidate the inventory off their books. This will allow the new homeowners to profit in the future by increasing values. A national average of increasing home values is usually around 6%-7% depending on your location over a seven year period. This is true even when no improvements are being made. Improvements increase the profit potential.

Contact Brenda Gravitt for more information at 904-573-9638 or 904-238-9314 or bkgravitt@comcast.net.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on August 15th, 2008 12:59 PMPost a Comment (0)

Spring Home Buying Season
April 30th, 2008 1:12 PM

Their is a lot of conflicting information concerning the real estate market in the media these days. Are you unsure if this is a good time to buy? Do you need someone to talk to that can quide you through the decision making process and advise you on your options? Then, give me a call at 904-573-9638 or contact me by email at bkgravitt@comcast.net. We can meet and discuss your particular situation to determine if this is the right time to buy for you.

Tips for Jacksonville FL buyers:

1) This is the first home buyers market Jacksonville, FL has seen since the late 1990's.

2) The buyers market will probably begin converting back to a sellers market in the spring of 2009. So time is limited to make your decision at the best prices.

3) Almost all forclosures are listed with a Realtor in the Multiple Listing Service. These are commonly referred to as REO properties. The sellers are companies and, therefore, they do not have an emotional attachment to the home. They are anxious to get these properties off their books and will consider all reasonable offers. All Realtors have access to show and sell all the listings on the MLS reguardless of the company who has the listing.

4) Short sale opportunities are normally listed with a Realtor as a requirement of the existing mortgage company. A buyer must be prepared to act quickly on these properties in order to purchase the home prior to foreclosure.

5) There are more homes on the market to choose from than normal. This means that you may spend more time in the selection process and preview more homes than buyers in the past. It is important that you set some quidelines on the location, style of home, and condition of the home that you wish to purchase. With the price of gas you may wish to limit your travel time to work. If you have children, the school district will be a concern. Do you prefer a 2 story or a one level home. Are you willing to make some repairs or update the cosmetics of the home?

6) If you have ever considered purchasing rental property and you have some handyman skills, this would be the time to check out those opportunities. There are several properties available under $20000.00 that would make a great starter project to get your feet wet with a smaller investment and therefore less risk. Once completed these homes could be placed on the Section 8 program and the majority of your rental payment would be coming from a government agency instead of an individual.

7) It is essential that you get pre-approved with a mortgage company before previewing homes for sale. This saves you time and the possibility of disappointment by being assured you are looking in the right price range for your budget. Keep in mind that if done correctly this gives you an upper price limit. That does not mean that it is in your best interest to purchase at your highest limit. It is better to seek a home below that limit that will meet your families needs.

8) There are many down payment and closing cost assistance programs available to everyone reguardless of income, home price, first or second time home buyer, and family size. Some of these are the Nehemiah program, AmeriDream, Bond Loans, HomeSteps, Housing Partnership. Look at my previous blogs for more details of these.

9) Historically homes appreciate in value by 6%-7% annually on an average over a 7 year period of time. In addition, your monthly payment helps you build equity as opposed to rental payments that do not. You also, depending on your individual situation, may be able to receive a tax benefit by making a mortgage payment as opposed to paying rent. Occasionally, IRS also offers tax credits or incentives for for certain home improvements. If you own the home for at least a year and a day before selling it, then, your profit will be taxed at a long term capital gains tax rate instead of at an ordinary short term gain rate. Plus you can grow your own vegtable garden!

If any of this sounds like something you may be interested in, then, give me a call and let's see if now is the time for you to buy.

 

 


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on April 30th, 2008 1:12 PMPost a Comment (0)

Jackson Hewitt is offering 50% off your tax return to get the stimulus payments.
February 29th, 2008 10:20 AM

This weekend only, on March 1 & 2, 2008 Jackson Hewitt will be offering 50% off of the tax preparation fee on your tax return.  Hurry in and file so that you will be eligible for the IRS stimulus rebate payments.

The stimulus payments will range from $300.00-$1200.00 depending on your filing status, number of qualifying dependents, and income. The checks will be mailed from IRS beginning in May 2008 - December 2008. The earlier you file the sooner you will receive your tax rebate.

Sometime after you have filed your 2007 return IRS will send you 2 letters. The second one will let you know how much rebate you will receive. Keep this letter and bring it in with you when you file your 2008 return because it will be included as income in 2008. You may owe income tax on the rebate money but the taxes could be as low as 0%, 10%, 15% or 25% depending on your income tax bracket for 2008.

The offer of 50% off your tax preparation fee is only available at Jackson Hewitt for March 1 & 2, so hurry in and file now.

If you are in the Jacksonville, Florida area come to our store on the corner of Roosevelt and Timuquana (103rd). We will be open all day Saturday and Sunday to complete your return. Or call us at 904-387-9000 to schedule an appointment.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on February 29th, 2008 10:20 AMPost a Comment (0)

Market Conditions
November 30th, 2007 12:26 PM

There has been a lot of hype on the news media that has undermined buyer confidence. How do you determine what is true, realistic, or contrary to your best interest? The hype could become a self fulfilling prophesy unless you analyze your position. If you are thinking about purchasing real estate please consider these points. Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed are my own as a homeowner and real estate sales associate.

1. Jacksonville, FL has experienced approximately 15% annual increase in property values from 1999-2005. There had to be a correction eventually or no one would be able to afford a home. While sales have been reduced over the last two years Jacksonville still seems to be experiencing a 3% increase in property values of the homes that have sold. 

2. The buyers market that we are experiencing in this area will probably come to an end in the spring of 2009. Home purchasers and investors have a window of opportunity to build equity that can be realized in as little as 2-3 years.

Some options to realize this gain would be to purchase a home now and refinance it in the spring of 2009 in order to consolidate your personal debt and pay cash for a needed family car. As you know, in most cases, interest you pay on a car is not tax deductible, whereas, interest you pay on your home is, in most cases. Can you imagine being in a position where the only debt you owe is your home mortgage?

Another way to realize your gain would be to sell the property in the spring of 2010 when the market has recovered. Meanwhile, you have the option of renting the property out and either making some income or sheltering part of your job income from taxation due to being able to depreciate your rental property. Depreciate is a deduction that does not come out of your pocket. However, depreciation is an expense that is suppose to allow you to set back monies for home maintenance and repairs.

3. Real estate has always been on about a 7 year cycle of highs and lows. If you average appreciation over a 7 cycle the normal range would be 6-7% annually. That is a pretty good return for an asset you get to use every day to house your family. The 6-7 % appreciation does not include the tax advantages of sheltering part of your job income from taxation. There are other investments you might like to consider like IRA's or stock, however, when the housing industry is negatively effected the value of your IRA's and stock are effected also.

4. There are several programs available to first time home buyers and repeat purchasers to assist with their down payment and closing costs. Contact me at bkgravitt@comcast.net for a list of who to contact. In addition, builders are offering to pay part of the purchasers closing cost whether you are a first time home buyer or not. The AmeriDream program and the Nehemiah program also offer down payment and closing cost assistance to anyone (seller participation is required). These programs usually meet FHA guidelines and apply to purchases of properties valued under $264500.00. FHA programs generally allow the purchaser to finance into their loan part of the closing costs and some prepaid items like the first years mortgage insurance premium. This reduces the amount of cash needed to close on the purchase of your new home. If you can qualify for the payment your down payment can be as low as 3-5% of the purchase price. 5% down payment of a $264500 home would be $13225.00. The Florida Bond Loan Program will loan you up to $10000.00 of that amount at 0% interest with 0 payments. You would have to pay this loan back if you refinance or sell the home. Meanwhile, it increases your leverage and reduces your expenses on the initial purchase.

5. There are a lot more homes on the market now to choose from. In the past buyers experienced a bidding war on almost every property up for sale. This process drives the price of the home up. At present, there is approximately a 17 month supply of homes available. Sellers are more negotiable and their are fewer buyers to compete with. Credit requirements are more stringent which also reduces buyer competition. This drives the prices downward (supply v.s. demand). Builders have lowered prices $10000-60000 per home on their existing inventory and foreclosures and short sales are increasing. For example, you can currently buy a home in the Argyle (westside) area for ~$179000 that has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living room/dining room combo, eat in kitchen, and den with a fireplace.

6. Many homeowners and mortgage companies are experiencing difficulties because of poor investment strategy. This is being blamed on the subprime lending practice. However, their mistakes do not have to be your mistakes. Learn from their experience. Don't agree to loan requirements that you will not be able to afford 3 or 4 years in the future. The average home buyer purchases a home to live in for life but statistics prove they will move again in 5-7 years. Circumstances change that we can not always foresee (death, divorce, job transfer, birth, disability). Be prepared to sell while the market is high in relation to the ups and downs of the 7 year real estate cycle. At present, I foresee the next peak as being spring of 2010. The peak after that might not come until 2017. This means that if you purchase a home now, the best time to sell may be either 3 years from now or 10. Check your personal goals to determine how this relates.

Your primary residence will probably be your most expensive investment. It is also the one that can yield you the greatest overall return for your money. Individuals who choose to rent damage their financial stability in the long run. Check with your friends and you will probably find that the ones that invested in real estate when they were young are probably the ones that are more financially stable after a 20-30 year span of time.

If you would like more information or to discuss your personal situation you may contact me at bkgravitt@comcast.net


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on November 30th, 2007 12:26 PMPost a Comment (0)

Short Sales
November 9th, 2007 8:21 AM

Many of you may not be familiar with this term, however, it will become a common term over the next year. With sale prices dropping, sometimes the homeowner does not have enough equity in the property to cover their expenses of sale. This means that the seller would have to bring additional monies with them to the closing table in order to complete the transaction. In some cases this is not possible. However, some homeowners need to sell their homes anyway because they have been transferred by their company, divorce, death, disability, and other unforeseen occurrences happen.

This is where a "short sale" may come into play. If the homeowner is getting behind on their payments, then the mortgage company may agree to take less money for the payoff of the mortgage than originally agreed to by the homeowner. This helps both parties by allowing the property to be sold instead of going through foreclosure proceedings. This reduces expenses of the mortgage company and, in most cases, saves the homeowners credit. However, it is extremely important for the homeowner to stay in contact with the mortgage company and let them know what is going on.

If you can foresee that you are going to have a problem paying your mortgage you should begin taking steps before you are 30 days late with your payment. I would recommend that your first step should be to contact a Realtor that is familiar with the "short sale" process. The Realtor can assist you in determining the "fair market value" of your home and provide you with the necessary paperwork and advice needed to keep this event from ruining your credit.

I executed my first "short sale" in the 1980's when it did not have a name or specific forms or processes. I recently attended a seminar at the NEFAR offices in order to refresh my memory, get familiar with the new processes, and obtain copies of the necessary forms. Please contact me to assist you if you think you may need to exercise this option in selling your home. In times of financial and emotional crisis you need a friend that is experienced to advise you on your options.

Brenda Gravitt CRS, GRI

904-573-9638  bkgravitt@comcast.net


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on November 9th, 2007 8:21 AMPost a Comment (0)

PRICE REDUCTION! 7599 Old Middleburg Rd. S. Jacksonville, FL 32222
November 9th, 2007 7:40 AM
PRICE REDUCTION
Listings Photo
$259,900.00
7599 Old Middleburg Rd. S.

Jacksonville, FL 32222



Beds: 3.0 Rooms: 3
Baths: 2.00 Sq. Ft.: 1807.00
Garage: 0 Built: 1985
 

Remodeled home on estate lot w/circular drive and stone bldg w/cone roof. No HOA fees in rural residential neighborhood of 1-3 ac tracts. Tack room with horse corrals. Additional storage bldg for hay/workshop. Stainless steel appliances, wood floors, ceramic tile floors, high boy sinks in baths, jetted shower with auxillary shower head and bench, two patios, large front deck, masonry wood burning fireplace, sprinkler system, french doors, walk-in closets, etc. Mini Farm, Home based businesses, d

This listing has been REDUCED in price  and I though you might be
interested. Visit this
listing online to see more
photos of the property,
Google Earth satellite
images, and much more. If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.


 
Brenda Gravitt
Coral Shores Realty Inc
9045739638
www.firstrealestateofthesouth.com



 
  Visit this listing at Here

Posted by Brenda Gravitt on November 9th, 2007 7:40 AMPost a Comment (0)

ACREAGE Just Listed! 8985 Trail Ridge Road Jacksonville, FL 32234
November 5th, 2007 7:41 PM
Header
Header_2
Listings Photo
$150,000.00
8985 Trail Ridge Road

Jacksonville, FL 32234



Beds: 3.0
Baths: 2.00 Sq. Ft.: 1116.00
Built: 1983
 4.15 ACRES with 2 mobile homes

Tired of living in a subdivision? Build your dream home on this 4.15 acres zoned agricultural. Seller will subdivide into a 2.25 ac tract and will finance with 20% down. No homeowners association fees.
This is a new listing that
I thought you might be
interested in. Visit this
listing online to see more
photos of the property,
Google Earth satellite
images, and much more.
 

If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.

Brenda Gravitt
Coral Shores Realty Inc
9045739638
www.firstrealestateofthesouth.com



 
  Visit this listing at Here

Posted by Brenda Gravitt on November 5th, 2007 7:41 PMPost a Comment (0)

Contact Info - Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance
October 22nd, 2007 8:39 AM

For more information on pre-qualifying for down payment assistance contact one of the following organizations:

Housing Partnership Northeast Florida - Barbara Britton - 904-398-4424

AmeriDream - Chuck Hammett - 1-866-263-7437

Family Foundations - David Antico- 904-396-2228 Ext: 174

Wachovia - Penda Tyson - 904-798-6441 or 904-704-9856 or Penda.tyson@wachovia.com

Countrywide - Carolyn Loven - 904-448-9330

SunTrust Mortgage - Bob Gallagher - 904-381-4330 or 904-571-5069 or bob.gallagher@suntrust.com

EverBank - Jeff Lowry - 904-623-8295 or jeff.lowry@everbank.com

In addition, I am always available to answer any questions you may have. I can also assist you with a list of properties available that suit your needs. Almost all foreclosures are listed in the MLS. It is much more convenient to work with one agent and see all the available properties than it is to call 20 different agencies to try and schedule a previewing. It is frustrating to answer the same questions over and over again but it is our job as agents to do a certain amount of prequalifing in order to protect the sellers interest. So choose an agent that you feel comfortable working with early in your house hunting and you will have a more pleasant home buying experience. I can be reached at 904-573-9638 or bkgravitt@comcast.net.

Brenda Gravitt CRS, GRI

Coral Shores Realty

Serving the Jacksonville, FL area.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on October 22nd, 2007 8:39 AMPost a Comment (1)

FHA and down payment assistance programs
October 3rd, 2007 4:19 PM

Many people find it difficult to save money. In most cases it is easier to save money if you own a home than it is to rent. If you are renting, your rent increases every time your lease comes up for renewal but if you have a fixed rate mortgage on your home the only part that can increase is your homeowners insurance premium or your property tax. Also, your income taxes may be lower when you are a home owner than when you are renting depending on your individual tax situation. In addition, the interest rate you pay on your auto loan or your credit cards may be lower when you are a homeowner. Getting into your first home is the most difficult. After the first home is sold you can use the proceeds to cover your down payment and closing on the next home.

Statistics say that an average home these days is around $250000.00. A 5% down payment would be $12500.00. That is not a small chunk of change! In addition, your closing cost and pre-paids will average about 4.5% of the sales price which is another $11250.00. Some loans will allow you to finance-in your closing cost which makes your payment higher. Sometimes a seller or builder will pay 3% in closing cost for the purchaser but financing companies will not allow them to pay your down payment. That is when we all could use a fairy godmother.

Putting fantasy aside for a moment, there are some organizations that can help. There are five organizations listed below. In addition to those there are the Florida Bond Loan Program, Homesteps, FirstStep, SHIP, and others. Some of these programs may be extinct after November 1, 2007. FHA is trying to prevent private non-profit organizations from providing assistance to borrowers.

If you have been thinking about buying a home but don’t have the resources for your down payment or closing don’t wait until it’s too late. In order to be eligible for these programs there is usually a class on home ownership that you are required to attend before selecting a home. You also need to be preapproved by a loan company for financing prior to selecting a home. Contact me and I will give you the names of some loan originators that specialize in these type of programs.

FHA Loan Down Payment Grants


The AmeriDream program offers gift funds up to 10% of the home's purchase price which do not have to be paid back. Buyers must agree however, to return any funds that are not used toward down payments or closing costs and to return the funds if the sale of the home does not close on the scheduled closing date.


The Nehemiah program is a Private California Non-Profit Organization that offers down payment assistance programs to qualified first time and repeat homebuyers. This programs offers free gift funds to be used toward down payments and closing costs for homes purchased through eligible FHA loan programs.


The Housing Action Resource Trust (HART) Program is a 501c(3) non-profit Housing and Community Development corporation that helps potential homebuyers purchase homes by offering down payment assistance programs to those with low and moderate incomes.


Depending on the seller's contribution toward a home purchase, Consumer Debt Solutions, Inc. (CDS) can gift up to $10,000 of the final sales price of a home. Since all the money awarded is in the form of gift funds, it does not have to be paid back.


The Partners in Charity (PIC) is a non-profit corporation that offers financial assistance through programs for qualified low and moderate income homebuyers. Down payment and closing cost assistance is provided as gift funds from 2% to 10% of the home price.

What will be required for me to pre-qualify for an FHA home loan?
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

There are many factors you will need to pre-qualify for an FHA loan. You should be able to demonstrate employability, job stability and reliability. This reliability includes holding a steady job for at least two years with the same company or employer and increasing or at least consistent income. Any foreclosures on your record should be at least three years old. The same applies for bankruptcy. The FHA loan bottom line—make sure you can demonstrate that you have been a good risk for two years or more and you will have a much better chance at pre-qualifying for an FHA loan.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on October 3rd, 2007 4:19 PMPost a Comment (0)

Just Listed & How to choose a Realtor
September 16th, 2007 2:24 PM

Just listed! & How to choose a Realtor.

Just click on "featured home" button on the website to view 7599 Old Middleburg Rd in Jacksonville, FL. You can also see photos and comment on them at myspace.com/bkgravitt.

If you are interested in buying, selling or investing in property in the Jacksonville, FL area please contact me. If you would like pictures of your home displayed here then drop me a message. You can also visit my websites at www.fl.living.net/Realtor/brendagravitt,  www.csrjax.com/bkgravitt, www.coralshoresrealty.com.

If you were listing your home for sale, how would you choose your Realtor? What questions would you ask? What would your fears and concerns be? I am so confident in my ability to assist you in selling your home that I offer a "guarantee of service". This does not mean that I guarantee to sell your home but it does state that if you want to cancel your listing contract at any time and for any reason, you can. I don't believe in holding people hostage with a listing contract. If you think your financial or emotional needs are better met without my services then I will release you from your agreement.

When interviewing sales associates look for experience, educational designations, a written marketing plan, and membership in the local Realtors board. Professional organizations increase the agents sphere of influence and contacts to market your home. There are over 6500 members of the North East Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) that get instant information about your home. One of the agents could be working with your buyer right now! Also everyone needs a plan in order to fulfill their goals. It is an invaluable tool to have a checklist available to you in the form of a Marketing Plan so that you know what activities your agent is accomplishing each week to sell your home. Professional designations like the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and the Graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI) signify that your agent has made a committment to becoming better educated on the real estate industry in order to satisfy your fears and concerns.

During your free intial consultation I can offer you tips on staging your home for sale, provide you with information on the market and homes that have sold recently in your area, and specifics on who your competition will be in the marketplace when you place your home for sale. If you decide to try marketing your home for sale by owner for awhile, that's OK. At least you will have some valuable information to get you started. There is no committment.

If you have a question or comment please feel free to respond to this blog or contact me at bkgravitt@comcast.net. If you subscribe to my blog at myspace an automatic email will be sent to you when a new blog is posted. Good Luck and may the force be with you!


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on September 16th, 2007 2:24 PMPost a Comment (0)

MARKET CONDITIONS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME
September 11th, 2007 11:23 AM

 

SELLING YOUR HOME

The current down turn in the market will probably continue for the next 18 months. The current price of your home in the Jacksonville, FL area has rolled back to its 2005 value. Foreclosures are on the rise and this trend will continue, at least for the next year or so. This creates stiff competition for seller owned existing properties. It is no longer sufficient to put a sign in the front yard and expect a contract within a week. Plan to have your home on the market for at least 6 months. Your home is worth more now than it will be 18 months from now. Therefore, if you are planning to move within the next 2 years, I advise you to get your home on the market now! For the greatest exposure it would be best to list with a Realtor.

Listing with a Realtor in the Jacksonville area gives you immediate exposure to approximately 6500 full time professionals that may be working with your buyer right now. Statistics prove that 70% of buyers come from a sales associates sphere of influence while the other 30% come from yard signs and advertising. Realtors have a greater internet presence at a time when 75% or more buyers are surfing the net prior to previewing homes. Newspaper ads are the least effective source of home buyers. It is more productive to implement target market advertising. This is a time consuming endeavor and requires a full time professional.

Be prepared to offer buyer incentives like help with the buyers closing cost and prepaids (normally approx. 4.5% of the purchase price). Also, it would be wise to offer a seller paid home warranty and get a home inspection prior to finding a buyer. This will give you a "heads up" on repairs that need to be completed prior to closing and it will give the buyer the confidence necessary to choose your home over a new home. Don't be surprised if after 30-45 days on the market the agent request that you lower the price or include additional incentives. The market is changing on a daily basis and your home must stay competitive in the market in order to get a sale.

Historically sales decline during the holiday season, usually from October to mid January. Homes that sale during this period normally yield 5% less than they would during the spring home buying season. However, most of the corporate relocations occur during this period. Corporations relocate their employees during this period because children have an extended vacation period from school and it is the end of the first semester. This allows the parents to preview the area they are moving to or make their move so the children can begin the new semester in their new school and home. If the family can be in their new home by Christmas it helps for the family to begin pleasant memories in their new surroundings.

In addition, if you are planning to purchase another home after your home sales, now is the time to buy. As long as you are planning to stay in your new home for at least 3-5 years, you will probably benefit from the increased equity of rising property values in the future. The real estate market is cyclical and what comes down generally goes back up over time. If you are willing to purchase a home that needs some updating like new carpet, paint and countertops, then your equity will build at a faster rate in most cases. Your Realtor is in the best position to recommend improvements to your prospective home that will yield you the greatest amount of return in the future.

If you are considering buying or selling in the future, please give me a call for a free initial consultation and competitive market analysis. Contact Brenda Gravitt at bkgravitt@comcast.net , phone 904-573-9638, or visit my website at www.myspace.com/bkgravitt


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on September 11th, 2007 11:23 AMPost a Comment (0)

Credit Reports and FICO Scores
August 29th, 2007 1:16 PM

Credit Reports and FICO Scores

The mortgage market is changing and qualification guidelines are becoming more stringent. It is more important than ever for your credit report to be as accurate as possible. Your FICO score determines the interest rate you are charged on mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and much more. It even affects the premium on your insurance policies whether they are home, auto, etc. You can obtain a free copy of your report annually from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax by going to https://annualcreditreport.com.

It would be wise to review these reports and check to see if they are reporting the same information. You could also dispute any inaccurate information they may contain. In some cases, if there is adverse information in the report, you can submit an explanation of the event and have it pulled up along with the adverse info. An example would be if you had several events that occurred within a certain time frame because of a divorce, death, illness, job lay off, or a move and subsequent change of address. Prepare a letter of explanation that you can submit to the credit reports and also to the mortgage company that is trying to get you approved for a loan.

Another reason to review reports at least annually is to watch for signs of identity theft. The earlier you catch the entries the sooner you can start damage control. You can put a “freeze” or a “fraud alert” on your account to prevent further damage to your FICO score. Check out the frequently asked questions at the above referenced web site for more information.

I would recommend reviewing your credit report and clearing up any discrepancies prior to applying for a mortgage. Most sellers require a pre-approval letter to be submitted along with your contract to purchase a home. This gives the seller more confidence in accepting your offer. It also insures that you and your Realtor are shopping for homes that meet your budget requirements.

If you would like additional information you can contact Brenda Gravitt at bkgravitt@comcast.net.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on August 29th, 2007 1:16 PMPost a Comment (0)

Personal Experience
August 25th, 2007 8:29 AM

In 1974, when I was 19 years old, I bought my first home. We used a "seller held mortgage" at 8% interest on an $18000.00 home. We did not have money for a down payment. My Dad went to his credit union and made a $2000.00 personal loan for me. For the first two years I paid my Dad $100.00 per month until the loan was paid back. This type of transaction is more commonplace now but 33 years ago it was creative financing. I have to thank my real estate agent with Mitchell Realty for educating me into the world of real estate. He helped me to see that anything is possible if you think outside the box.

Ten years later when I was ready to move my family to a different area I experienced problems selling my home. Interest rates on homes were 14%-17%. I began to educate myself on the market and in the process, I obtained my real estate license in 1984. I was able to sell my home in 30 days when the average for the market in my area was six months. The new owner was temporarilly disabled and thankful to find a home where his freedom was not restricted. I had placed an assumable FHA loan on the home that could be assumed with no qualifing and no credit check. This made it possible for his family to acquire the property during a financially trying time.

I then purchased a foreclosure with a Bond Loan at 11.25%. It was a contemporary home that needed updating and some TLC. My childrens only request was that the new home have stairs. We completed the move in one day due to advance planning. Five months later my husband was disabled and I became the principal bread winnner overnight. With a new home and three children to support it was a difficult time for me. I only had a high school education but I had a gift for problem solving. I decided that if I could solve my real estate problems that I could help other families also. In 1986 I began selling real estate full time.

I was drawn to the new construction facet of the industry. I had drawn my first house plans when I was in the 8th grade. In high school, I was the first "girl" to ever sign up to take Mechanical Drawing. Therefore, when I could not find an existing home on the market to fit my customers needs I suggested we custom build their new home. At the time builders were not required to be licensed and there were no inspection services. I began to write my own specifications and include them as an addendum to the sales contract. The specifications required the homes to be built according to the Southern Building Code. This provided my customers with quality construction that exceeded the standards of other homes in the area. Of course, I had to familiarize myself with the Code and make regular inspections myself on the homes in order to quarantee that the contract was adherred to but it was a rewarding endeavor.

I then started a plumbing company in order to improve the mechanical aspects of the homes I was presaling. In 1987 I began building "spec homes". I am currently a licensed home builder in the State of Alabama. Look for my next blog as the story continues to see how I ended up selling real estate in Florida.

Feel free to contact me with your real estate questions.

Brenda Gravitt CRS, GRI 


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on August 25th, 2007 8:29 AMPost a Comment (0)

INVESTING AND REHAB
August 5th, 2007 5:32 PM

INVESTING AND REHAB

Flipping house is the new buzz word. Foreclosures are increasing which should provide opportunitites for entrepreneurs. Here are a few steps to get you started:

1.  CHOOSING A REALTOR. Find a Realtor that has a background in construction. If you agree to list the house for sale with them when the project is completed, then, you will have an experienced consultant on your side. They will give you advise on which repairs to do and which improvements will yield you the most return on your money. Remember that they want a listing that is priced right and shows well. These are your goals as well. Plus, they have a pulse on what homebuyers want in your local market. If you hired a consultant for these purposes they would charge you at least $5000.00. So, by agreeing to pay a commission on the sale of the listing you are getting the consultant fees free. In addition, there are no upfront fees to pay to your Realtor and the commission is only paid when the property sales.

2. LINE UP YOUR FINANCING. Get approved through a lender for an investment loan before you start looking for properties. Your Realtor can make recommendations for lenders in your area. They may also have connections in their sphere of influence of other investors you can partner with on a project to do some creative financing.

3. SELECTING A PROPERTY. Crunch the numbers! Once you have decided on an area, your Realtor will set up appointments for you to preview homes. When you have selected a potential property have your Realtor do a Comparative Market Analysis to determine the high and low potential sales price of the subject property. The sales associate can then provide you with a Sellers Net Sheet that gives you an estimate on the amount of profit available after closing cost and selling expenses are deducted. The amount left over is the profit and the limit you will set for your budget on repairs and improvements.

4. GET ESTIMATES. If you know the house needs a new roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or carpentry,get your subcontractors to give you a written estimate of how much the repairs will cost. I would get at least three estimates on each classification until you build a network of subcontractors that you can rely on. You can simplify the process if you choose to hire a contractor. It will cost more but you will have access to his sub base and he will oversee the work allowing you to spend your time on other pursuits.

5. SUBCONTRACTORS. Look for subs that are licensed and can pull permits. Check out their references. Get the quote in writing so you cn compare apples to apples. Ask your Realtor for recommendations. NEVER give your sub the final payment until the work is finished to your satisfaction.

6. CHECK WITH LOCAL BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS. If you pull the permits yourself and you are not a licensed cntractor, you may have to hold the property for a year before you can sell it or rent it to the public. As the owner of the property you may be required to take a test before a permit will be issued to you.

If you are planning to buy sell, invest, or rehab in the Jacksonville, FL area, give me a call. I will be happy to set up an appointment with you to discuss your real estate needs. I can be reached at bkgravitt@comcast.net. Look for Brenda Gravitt when you search for a Realtor.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on August 5th, 2007 5:32 PMPost a Comment (0)

First Blog
August 1st, 2007 11:41 AM

This blog has been initiated on August 1, 2007.

Please check here in the future for information for purchasers and sellers of residential real estate.

If you have any comments or suggestions of information that you would like, please feel free to forward it to me at bkgravitt@comcast.net.

If you are relocating, I can provide information for you through my Certified Residential Specialist Network. I can recommend an experienced associate that services the area you are moving to.

If you are a First-Time-Homebuyer I can recommend several programs and put you in touch with the mortgage originators that service these programs.

If you are planning on selling your home in the Jacksonvlle, FL area I would be happy to meet with you for a free initial consultation and market analysis.

If you are looking for a foreclosure as an investment, rental property or your personal home, give me a call. I would be happy to assist and advise you on a home that will meet your needs.

Coming soon to this site: tips for homebuyers and homesellers, market updates, statistical information, etc.


Posted by Brenda Gravitt on August 1st, 2007 11:41 AMPost a Comment (0)

Recent Posts:

Archive:

My Favorite Blogs:

Sites That Link to This Blog:

Coral Shores Realty Inc
Phone: Toll Free Phone:

My Blog

Copyright © 2008 Coral Shores Realty Inc
Portions Copyright © 2008 a la mode, inc.
Another XSite by a la mode, inc. | Admin LoginTerms of UseSite Map
All rate, payment, and area information are estimates and approximations only.


  Find a Mortgage Professional