Let’s take a simple test. Think back to the last document signed with an electronic signature. Were all documents read completely on the e signed docs? Or maybe did you just quickly look for the next place to click and e sign? Sound familiar? I hope not. Because, that would mean signatures are all over […]

When Can I Deduct Mortgage Interest? The mortgage interest deduction has long been a favorite tool for many taxpayers and home buyers. If you itemize deductions on your tax return, and have a mortgage on a qualifying home – then the interest is likely deductible. A qualifying home is a main home or a second […]

If You’re a First Time Home Buyer SC Wants You! There are many reasons to purchase a home in South Carolina – the beautiful and relaxing beaches and coastal cities; the many thriving and expanding businesses and employers; the wonderfully mild year-round climate, and so much more. But did you know there are also mortgage […]

So, you have decided to buy a home and started checking into a mortgage. One of the options provided is an FHA loan with minimal down payment and it can even be a gift. The rate looks good and it is a fixed rate too. The lender has even included the property taxes and homeowner’s […]

How to keep your house clean today so it sells in the future Congrats, you’ve just purchased your first home! It’s a life-changing investment, so of course, this calls for celebration. This isn’t where the work ends, though. In fact, it’s just getting started. Caring for your first home in the present is important for […]

Home automation technology has been around for several years now, but these devices have only recently hit the mainstream and have started to get into a substantial number of homes. This technology allows you to do all kinds of amazing things that will streamline your life, give you back some free time, allow you to […]

The business world is changing. With the advent of new innovations and technology, the traditional workplace is no longer as common as it once was. The “rat race” of the past 50 years has been replaced with the “gig” industry, populated by freelancers and work-when-you-want-to jobs. With this changing work culture, the professional service industries, […]

So, the decision has been made to buy or refinance a home.  All of a sudden, the term “mortgage points” keeps popping up in lender conversations.  Lenders provide an interest rate and they keep saying things like zero points or that costs a point.  What does that mean?  In sports, I want as many points […]

If you are buying a condo with a mortgage, you find out pretty quickly about the condo approval process.  Typically, condos go through either a full or limited review.  Of course, limited is easier which we will explain further in this article.  Going through the full condo review process results in more denials because of high rental […]

Oh wow!  An article about taxes!  I know, sounds boring right?  But, if you are considering a home purchase in SC, it is necessary to understand how taxes work in South Carolina!  In addition to South Carolina being such a great place to live, A USA Today article ranked South Carolina as the 7th lowest effective […]

If you have been neglecting the proper maintenance of your house probably it’s time to get your HVAC system checked. Pests like insects and rodents look for warmth in your attics, walls, or basement. Your HVAC system is an easy access point to your home and provides an ideal atmosphere. Pests can not only be […]

A very popular question from a home buyer is “When is my first mortgage payment due after closing?”.  More than likely your mortgage payment is due on the first of each month.  Actually, traditional mortgage loans like conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans require payments due on the first of each month.  But, there are […]

It is flat out guaranteed that if you Google any property address or real estate topic, Zillow will show near the top of the results.  Arguably, Zillow.com has become the biggest name in real estate.  Actually, many buyers start their home shopping process here or other sites such as Realtor.com, Trulia, or Homes.com.  Over the […]

Are you wondering how to start investing in real estate?  Maybe you own a rental property already?  So many choose residential rental properties for investment income for several reasons.  These include potential appreciation in value, income tax write offs, funding retirement, and providing income along the way.  In order to achieve real estate investing success there […]

First Time Home Buyer Can Use New Tax Laws to Make a Home Purchase More Affordable There’s a lot of good numbers flying around these days about real estate!  Existing home sales, new home construction, and other confidence numbers continue to rise.  Actually a recent USA Today article stated, “homebuilder confidence hit the highest level in 18 years in […]

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 offers a lot of changes to many tax payers.  Many are debating the pros versus cons of the new tax laws.  Although, the main goal of the reform appears to be to help the American tax payers and further stimulate the economy.  One area that had many in the real estate […]

After the recent announcement of the conforming loan limits increase, FHA has now announced their own increase.  Housing prices have continued to climb which is a good thing to owners, but can be a struggle for home buyers.  As a buyer sits on the sidelines as a renter or living with family, prices are rising.  […]

In order to get a VA loan, it is important to make sure that the Veteran is first eligible for VA.  Often, we are able to get the VA Certificate of Eligibility for the Veteran within a couple minutes online.  But, there are times that this information is not available online.  Therefore a Veteran has a […]

It has just been announced that conforming loan limits 2018 will increase significantly.  The good news is this will help more buyers with affordable financing.  Affordable financing means great rates and lower down payments, but up to higher loan amounts.  Basically, the surging home prices across the country have allowed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to increase loan […]

Many real estate professionals, lenders, and tax payers fear that the proposed income tax plans could drastically affect the housing market in a negative way.  These fears include more Americans choosing to rent instead of own, interest rates going up, and owners losing a ton of equity.  That is enough to scare anyone!  Although the tax plans […]

Recently a Realtor asked for some creative negotiating items a seller may offer to a buyer.  Basically, what can the seller do to sweeten the deal so the buyer is more willing and/or able to go under contract.  This Realtor, like many, realize that a purchase contract is about more than just the price.  Sometimes these […]