About Elkhart County, IN

According to Elkhart REALTOR Evelyn Johnston, you need to Get Pre-Approved First!, and here is why...until you sit down with a reputable Mortgage Lender or Mortgage Broker, you really do not know how much of a home you can afford to buy. After the Mortgage Lender/Broker has reviewed, verified and qualified you as a ready, willing and able buyer, you have P O W E R!

With your pre-approval in you hand you can safely go shopping for a home! Prior to shopping though, you also need to take time to sit down and make a list of the things you want in your new home and the things you need in your home. Armed with both of these things you can shop smarter. There is no pre determined number of houses you have to look at before you find the home that just feels right. When you walk into the home that feels like home you can go over your wants and needs and the pre-approval gives the Home Owner confidence in taking their home off the market while the Mortgage Lender/Broker is processing your application for a Mortgage.

Need a steady supply of listings sent directly to your email as they are listed? Call local Elkhart Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148.

Do you also qualify for the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit? Evelyn has the answers...

Now is the time to take advantage of the current Short Sale market in Elkhart Indiana, says Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty. The selection of homes available for purchase in the Short Sale catagorey is plentiful. Are you Prepared to buy a Short Sale?

The Intrest Rates are favorable, if you are eligible for the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit and you can afford to wait for the Short Sale process, you can come out smelling like a rose. The time is now to buy, but you need to be educated on the Short Sale process.

So, if you would like to take advantage of this market and are not sure how to go about doing it, call your local Elkhart Real Estate Expert and Certified Short Sale Specialist Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148. Hurry now, the end to the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit is over on December 1, 2009. What would you do with $8,000?

According to Elkhart REALTOR Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty, what you do when you can't pay your mortgage payment is call them. Let them know you are unable to pay on time, tell them when you can pay and keep in contact with them. The Mortgage Lender wants constant communication with you, they do not want your house. They are in the business of Lending, now Owning.

If they are not cooperative hang up and call again, you will more than likely get a different person on the other end of the phone and try again.

Perhaps you don't know when you can pay again. Seek an approved HUD counselor to talk to. LaCasa Goshen is approved in our area and is an excellent place to start. What good will they do? Well, for one, thing they are up to date on what programs are available to help you. Two, they are FREE to you, they get grant money according to how many people they help in the community. Three, they will give you their honest opinion on what needs to be done. If they are unable to help you they will tell you that and give you the name of a REALTOR(r) who can help you sell your home. You will need a Certified Short Sale Specialist like Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty. She can be reached at 574-304-7148.

There is no shortage of Short Sales in Elkhart according to Certified Short Sale Specialist Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty. It seems like every subdivision, every income Home Owner has representation in the homes currently listed in the Multiple Listing Service of Elkhart County, Indiana.

Long term unemployment has spread from the labor force on up and through managment and even owners of businesses. When no one is ordering products they affect manufacturerers and suppliers too.

If you have been caught in the crossfire of extended unemployment and your home is in jeapordy, make sure you call a Certified Short Sale Specialist who knows how to help you. Any REALTOR(r) can help you sell your home, but not all REALTOR(r)'s are trained to help you either BUY or SELL a Short Sale. For your personal confidential consultation, call Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148.

The time is running out if you are wanting to buy a home in Elkhart and take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. In order to claim this $8,000 you must:

• Find a Home you want to buy
• Not have owned a home in the prior 3 years
• Single person's income must be $75,000 or less
• Married person's income must be $150,000 or less
• You must live in the home for three years

The of Indiana Association REALTOR(r)'s published this checklist:

1. Get in Order. Have the client complete all the necessary paperwork that will be asked for the the lender. This includes the verification of employment form, recent pay stubs and bank statements, copies of W2 forms, social security cards and any asset statements.
2. Check Your Credit. With lender looking so closely at credit reports it's important to have the knowledge of any mistakes or bad debt as soon as possible. This will give enough time to rectify the errors with plenty of time to spare.
3. Get a Pre-Approval. Once a lender has verified the borrower's credit andother credentials and is committed to making a loan sellers will know your clients are serious and well-qualified.
4. Shop for the most favorable mortgage option. It's imperative for home buyers to educate themselves on the risks of the different types of mortgages and select the right one for his/her family. A difference of even half a percentage point can mean a considerable savings over the life of a loan.
5. Know before you go. Have your clients distinguish the "must haves" for their home from the "wants." This will narrow the focus before the search begins.

By taking these steps you still have enough time to get everything in order and not only the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax credit, but the home of your dreams. Call Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148 to begin your search today!