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So, you’re moving to a new home. Congratulations! Whether you’re traveling across town or across the country, here are some tips for making moving day as easy and stress-free as possible for the entire family, including your beloved pets.   Prior to moving day, make sure your pets are fitted with collars and ID tags with your name and current cell-phone number. Micro-chipping is also recommended and will serve as a backup if your pet loses its collar. If your pet is prone to car or airsickness, make sure you visit your veterinarian a few weeks prior to your move to get…

On November 13, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a rule regarding changes to current early disclosure and closing documentation used on mortgage loan transactions. Anyone in the real estate or mortgage industry should understand that new regulations called TRID (TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures) and how they will have an impact on the timing and notifications required throughout the closing process. But what does TRID mean for you as a homebuyer? If you have previously bought or sold a home, you’ll see two main changes: forms and closing deadlines. Forms. The Truth-in-Lending Statement and Good Faith Estimate will be replaced by…

This year is already shaping up to be the year of the boomerang buyer, or the repeat homebuyer.  As it is now seven years since the housing crash, there are many buyers who experienced a financial hardship in the recent past who are getting back into the market to purchase a home again in 2015. There were several changes recently to the waiting periods when a buyer or homeowner can obtain a new mortgage and repurchase a home again after a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy.  Borrowers today essentially have three options when it comes to obtaining financing to purchase…

For most people, buying a home is the largest and most significant purchase they’ll ever make. Hiring a real estate attorney early in the process will protect you against the unexpected, and ensure a smooth and low-stress closing. Every state and sometimes regions within states have differing requirements. Some states leave that as an option open to the buyer and seller while others mandate it as a necessity. Your local real estate agent should be able to advise you what the protocol is in the area in which you are buying. A real estate lawyer will protect your rights and interests in…

  If you are in your 20s and 30s and have ever even considered buying a home, you are positioned to take advantage of record low interest rates. Even if you have just graduated with student loan debt, have not saved the traditional 20% down payment, and worry that there are no homes available to purchase for people in your situation, you may be wrong. Today mortgage brokers, bankers and direct lenders are lending more than ever. Loan options such as those from the FHA (Federal Housing Authority) enable qualifying first-time buyers to purchase with as little as 5 percent down….

Hurricane hazards come in many forms, including storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding.  History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters.  by knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take can reduce these effects.  I hope you find this information informative.  Please bookmark this BLOG for future reference.   Checklists: Hurricane Preparation Tips: https://www.rapb.com/docs/articles/06-28–2015-rslc-article—hurricane-preparation-tips.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Palm Beach County Emergency Supply Kit Shopping List: http://www.pbcgov.com/dem/hurricane/pdf/hurricane_supply_checklist.pdf Red Cross Supply Checklist: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit Digital Engagement Toolkit: www.ready.gov/ready2015 CDC Checklist: 

  Adjustable rate mortgages are loans with variable interest rates that change according to the market rates, as opposed to fixed rate mortgages, which guarantee a set rate for the entire period of the loan. ARMs may seem like a great idea some years, but in other years, you may wonder what you were thinking when you agreed to the loan. Many financial experts advise home buyers to seek fixed rate mortgages. The set interest amount makes it easier to calculate monthly payments with no surprises. An adjustable rate mortgage can leave you with unpleasant surprises if the interest rates suddenly…

5 year fixed mortgage could be a new solution to those who want to avoid long-term loans. As traditional lenders advertise 30, 15, or 10-year mortgages, the new idea has been emerging in the credit union industry – it is a 5 year fixed mortgage. While banks and mortgage companies are limited by the laws and government regulations, credit unions are less tied up by these limitations and thus less restrictive. 5 year fixed mortgage would definitely have higher payments due to the shorter duration of the loan but it will ultimately help the homeowners to become debt-free…

Your home is more than an investment and a place to live-it also can be a valuable source of tax deductions. For many homeowners, one of the biggest itemized deductions on Form 1040 is the one for qualified residence interest (commonly called the “mortgage interest deduction”). In the usual situation, you can write off all, or almost all, of the mortgage interest you’ve paid for the year. Under current law, you may claim deductions for three basic types of mortgage interest, up to certain limits:   Acquisition Debt: This involves mortgage proceeds you use to buy, build, or…