Here’s another awesome article from the KCM Blog! This is a must read article for those planning to purchase a home! Your life will be so much easier if you are prepared ahead of time!

With good preparation, most things are easier. That works in mortgages too! Today, I want to give you some ideas that can make your mortgage experience less painful… continue reading

Compliments Of The KCM Blog
by Dean Hartman on April 12, 2012

I learned a long time ago that “common sense is NOT common practice“. This is especially the case during the emotional time that surrounds buying a home, when people tend to do some non-commonsensical things. Here are a few that I’ve seen over the years that have delayed (and even killed) deals:

Don’t deposit cash into your bank accounts. Lenders need to source your money and cash is not really traceable. Small, explainable deposits are fine, but getting $10,000 from your parents as a gift in cash is not. Discuss the proper way to track your assets with your loan officer… continue reading

Compliments of the KCM Blog – March 22nd 2012. Here comes Spring, historically the time of year when buyers awake from the winter slumber of the holidays and snowfall, and go on their pilgrimage to look for new housing. Houses look better in Spring with green grass, blooming trees, and flowers.

Plus, buyers who find a home in the next 60 days can close after the school year ends and enjoy the summer months in their new backyards. It’s almost a rite of passage; baseball teams go to spring training, buyers go look at homes, and the birds fly back north… continue reading

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” You may believe that selling your home is impossible in today’s market. You may feel powerless to the process. What could YOU possibly do to turn this housing market around? There is no doubt that today’s real estate market is extremely difficult to navigate. However, we want you to know that thousands of homes sold yesterday, thousands will sell today and thousands will sell each and every day from now until the end of the year… continue reading

Given that it’s Superbowl Week (Go Pats!), I thought we might go with a football theme today. I can’t tell you how many different people I hear proclaim that they are the quarterback of the real estate transaction – the agent, the loan officer, an attorney, accountant or financial planner. But for goodness sake, the buyer/borrower had better be the one calling the shots. Not that everyone else doesn’t play an important role, but the buyer/borrower is the one most impacted by the choices made. Here’s my opinion of how the team works best:

Offensive Coordinator (Your Real Estate Agent) – Your real estate agent is your offensive coordinator. Armed with the game plan…continued

I have seen estimates stating that 29% of deals that go to contract and require a mortgage, don’t close. That number boggles my mind. It means that even after a buyer and seller come to terms on a sale (not an easy feat these days), 3 out of 10 transactions fall apart. What are some of the more common reasons?

Appraisal issues – In many markets, we are still seeing declining values. Appraisers are in a difficult position, and with so many transactions (including seller’s concessions to assist buyers with closing costs) values aren’t always coming in at sales prices. …continue reading

In 2011, we experienced one of the most volatile housing markets in American real estate history. Things we never anticipated happened. Events we were sure would take place didn’t. Today, we want to review the five headlines we think had the biggest impact in 2011.

1.) Interest Rates remained at historic lows

In order to help stabilize the economy in 2010, the Fed took certain actions which kept mortgage rates at or near historic lows (approximately 4%). Most felt this would be a short term tactic and once abandoned would result in rates returning to long term averages (6-7%)… continue reading

With the residential real estate market clearly at a low, real estate agents are turning to new strategies to help home sellers protect their investments and to sell homes quickly at the highest price. The biggest development… continue reading

Once your house is correctly priced and in its best presentable condition, it’s time to tell the world about it. You might have the most beautiful home at the best price in town, but if no one knows about it, or if it’s not marketed effectively, neither price nor condition will matter … continue reading

Shopping for a mortgage is one of the most important steps involved in purchasing your next home. Since the terms and conditions that you agree to will impact your financial future for years to come, it is vital that you take the necessary time to research and compare the best packages available to you.

Many buyers tend to primarily focus on obtaining the best interest rates; and though this is an extremely important piece, there are a host of other factors to consider. …continue reading