Prairieville, LA

Few homebuyers today would consider buying a home without first having a home inspection completed. A home inspection should cover the major systems crawl space to the roof and everything in between. While most states require a disclosure of any known issues with the home, there may be something the seller is unaware of. Though the buyer has some favor in disclosure disputes, buyers are wise to protect themselves by having a professional inspection of the home completed.

One way to insure a thorough inspection is to find the best home inspector you can. A real estate agent can give you a few recommendations. You may ask recent buyers in your area who they used for a home inspection. Ask them if they were happy with the inspection or if there was anything that was not found in the inspection but was found later. There are two major home inspection industry trade associations who require members to meet a certain standard of care; the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). There are some states that have local trade associations as well. Again, you real estate agent will be able to help you know what certifications may be available in your area.

Remember, home inspectors aren't there to comment on cosmetic issues. It's the home inspector's job to point out things that may not seen by the average person walking through the home. It's important the buyers be there for the inspection. Depending on the age and size of the house, a home inspection can take several hours. Even if you cannot be there for the entire inspection, it is crucial you are there at the end. The inspector can walk through the property to point out his findings for you. A buyer should request the seller and their agent not be in the home during the inspection. You will also need to ask they provide easy access to the attic and crawl space and that the utilities be turned on. Most home inspectors aren't licensed to inspect for wood-destroying pests, so you may need to consider an additional inspection for pests.

If a problem is found, you have to take a few things into consideration before completing the purchase. What is the seriousness of the issue? How much it will cost to repair and how soon it needs to be done. You may have your inspector prioritize any issues by price and severity. Make sure to follow up the inspector's recommendation for any further inspections needed. Normally you will want to start the inspection process as soon after your offer has been accepted. A home inspection is not a step to skip on the road to home ownership!

Are you looking for a home to call your own? Give Sandy's Team a call at (225) 677-SOLD or email info@sandyco.com. We are here it help you in East Baton Rouge, Livingston Parish, and Ascension Parish.

If you're looking to refinance your mortgage, you might want to think about a loan backed by good ol' Uncle Sam! The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is where some people are turning to for their refinancing needs. If you're a U.S. military veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may have a loan that fits your needs and budget. Loans backed by these two federal government agencies are attractive because not only have the loan amount limits have been raised, but some loan programs are open to homeowners who have little to no equity or credit that is not perfect. At the end of last year, government-backed loans accounted for 30 percent of the total loan applications received by lenders.

Could this be of some help to you? It is a possibility. Not all lenders and mortgage brokers are able to offer FHA and Veterans Affairs loans. Greg Gwizdz, national sales manager at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage says, "If the lender you choose doesn't offer FHA, you might not be getting the right loan." So how can you know if these are the right loans for you? Whether you would be better off with an FHA-insured loan or a conventional mortgage depends in part on the loan-to-value ratio. You should talk to a loan officer or mortgage broker to figure out whether an FHA-insured loan or conventional loan would best fit for your situation. You will want to compare the interest rate, terms and costs. Another thing to consider is if you have a lower credit score or want to take out cash, some lenders will tack on a "price adjustment" in the form of additional points

So what are the benefits to one of these loans? Interest rates may be more competitive, qualification guidelines are easier, credit standards are more flexible, and your closing costs may be lower. In addition to that, you can have a loan to value ratio of almost 97 percent on some homes. One of the drawbacks is FHA-insured loans require mortgage insurance for at least five years. You pay for this with an upfront fee and monthly premiums that are added to your house payment. You may be able to finance the upfront portion of the mortgage insurance with your loan, but either way it adds the cost of the loan. Again, talk to your loan officer or a real estate professional to determine if you may qualify for an FHA refinance loan.

We are here to help you with all your real estate needs! Give Sandy's Team a call at (225) 677-SOLD or email info@sandyco.com. We are here it help you in East Baton Rouge, Livingston Parish, and Ascension Parish.

It wasn’t that long ago that you could purchase a home with no down payment. It was the thing to do! Find your dream home, make an offer, and move in. It was almost as simple as that. Times have changed. After the recent economic crisis, lenders have strengthened their standards. Not only is a down payment expected, it is required. With this change come several questions for home borrowers.

The first question maybe simply, “Why?” For a lender the down payment is a way to make sure the person borrowing the money is borrowing within their means. It is a way for them to tighten their standards. Part of the crisis we are facing came from home owners who borrowed more than they could handle and who have no equity in their home. Having someone bring a down payment to the table gives them a cash stake in the game. A down payment is good for the person buying the home because it will lower their monthly payments. Another advantage is the down payment gives home owner instant equity in their home. There are situations where you can even borrow against that equity to make repairs to the home.

The second question may be, “How do I get my down payment?” There are several ways you can go about it. You can save up your down payment through an automated savings plan. You can also sell some assets or liquidate stocks, mutual funds or other investments. You can receive it as a gift from a friend or relative. You can also look for programs that help with obtaining a down payment. Many programs that offered down payment assistance are no longer in effect, but there are still programs around for teachers, law enforcement officers, fireman and others in a public service field. Some towns and some states have down payment programs. It may take some legwork on the part of the borrower but it would be well worth your time to check into what may be available.

If you need help “getting down” with all the changes that are taking place in the real estate market, we will be glad to help!! Give Sandy's Team a call at (225) 677-SOLD or email info@sandyco.com we are here it help you in East Baton Rouge, Livingston Parish, and Ascension Parish.

For those moving to Prairieville, or Gonzales, or other areas of Ascension Parish, the school's website is a great source of information on public school district boundaries. You can click on and view the attendance boundaries of various public elementary schools and feeder schools for the high schools.

There are numerous sources such as Standard and Poor's or paid webistes to get a comparison of school performance, but be aware many of these ratings are based on past statistics so be careful as you evaluate various choices. Last August ACT Scores Properlled Ascension into the Top 5 ranking in the state of Louisiana. "When compared to the 70 public school districts across the state, Ascension scored exceptionally well ranking fifth. St. Tammany led the state with a score of 21.7, followed by Lafayette, Central Community, and Catahoula. Livingston and Ouachita parishes also ranked fifth with a score of 20.7." In Feb. 2009 Gonzales Middle School and Lowery Elementary School were both named as Top Implementation Schools for PBS (Positive Behavior Support) statewide.

Ascension Parish is a growing area with much to offer its residents.

Well, it is not a leap year according to the calendar, but it looks like February decided to make it a leap month anyway. Existing home sales took a surprising leap in February and offered a possible sign the real estate market may be stabilizing. The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes grew 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.72 million last month, from 4.49 million units in January. It was the largest monthly sales spike since July 2003, with first-time buyers accounting for about half of all transactions.

We may continue to see small increases. The figures from February do not reflect the new $ 8,000 stimulus for first time home buyers. This credit is helping first time home buyers feel a little more secure in taking the leap into home ownership. One of the biggest things holding the market back is many are unsure of their job situation and fear purchasing a home and then losing their jobs. The tax credit is helping them feel more comfortable with making that big purchase.

More good news is that in some areas like San Diego and Orange County, CA, sellers' asking prices are starting to rise again. This may be an early indication prices are starting to stabilize in the hardest hit parts of the country. As more people are starting to buy again, the big difference is they are avoiding the riskier loans. This will help keep the market stable as we climb our way back out of recession.

There is more great news for buyers. They are seeing the most attractive prices we have had in years. Add to that, interest rates are at historic lows, with the national average for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage now at 4.98 percent. The Federal Reserve two weeks ago, moved to reduce already low rates by printing $1.2 trillion and pumping it into the economy through the purchases of mortgage-backed securities and Treasury debt. With spring upon us and summer on the way, it looks to be a good year for first time home buyers!!

If you are ready to "leap" into your own home and don't want to leap before you look, we will be glad to help!! Contact Sandy's Team at (225) 677-SOLD or email info@sandyco.com. We are here it help you in East Baton Rouge, Livingston Parish, and Ascension Parish.