Oklahoma City residents: Know your mortgage Do's and Don'ts. Mortgage foreclosures have
contributed to the current state of our economy. Many people struggled to pay mortgages or were looking for a way to refinance. In many cases, these foreclosures could have been avoided.
What causes such mortgage issues? It can be any number of mortgage loan choices someone has made.
Homeowners look for a low payment, especially during the first few years of homeownership. Those who look for these lower payments early on often turn to an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). The first few years of an ARM allow you to have low payments, and perhaps a much larger home than you planned on. Sounds great to many until housing prices drop, and you are unable to refinance your home that you are now paying a much larger rate on.
Many people look for a loan which allows them no down payment. A down payment is important when obtaining a new home. It increases the amount of equity in your home, and makes your loan payment lower. By getting around a down payment, you could owe more money in the end than the house is worth.
A not so popular loan is called a “liar loan” in which very little documentation is needed to obtain a mortgage, therefore many applicants will lie about their financial situation. If you do not have the income you stated on your application, it is going to be very difficult to make the monthly payments.
There are many ads on TV running today on reverse morgages for those over the age of 62. It allows homeowners to receive equity from their home as a form of income. There are high upfront costs. Origination fees, mortgage insurance, title insurance, appraisal fees, attorney fees and miscellaneous fees can quickly eat up your equity, and worst of all: you lose full ownership of your home.
Loans with longer terms are also available, but you will be paying on your home longer. This will cost you more interest in the end. Let's not forget the exotic mortgages being offered today as “interest only” loans for a few months. The problem here is you are not paying anything on the principal, which will accumulate into a huge amount after a while.
Oklahoma residents and home buyers - do your homework when looking for a loan! If it sounds too good to be true, or you fear it will put you under water down the road, do not sign the papers.
When you find your ideal home and need help securing the best mortgage, please contact me at (405) 366-1111 or check out my website at www.Ohttp://www.okhomesnow.com/buy/kHomesNow.com.
Update Your Oklahoma City Home to Appeal to the Masses
Residents of Oklahoma City are always updating their homes to make them more attractive to potential buyers when the time comes to sell. However, many make an update that appeals to themselves, but may not be what the average buyer is looking for. To help your home sell more quickly and get the best return on your remodeling dollar, update your home so it appeals to the masses and you will not go wrong. Status quo may not be what you had in mind for your personal home, but in the case for resale value, it is a safe bet.
Why? Well...home improvements are a lot of hard work and can be quite costly. If your home improvements are money and time costly, then it will not be worth it to you if the home does not sell.
Most people feel bigger is better when it comes to an upgrade, but this is not always the case. A large bathroom complete with jacuzzi tub, two sinks, and a separate shower maybe be too much compared to other homes in your area. Keeping it simple and affordable is the way to go.
Many people are starting to work from home, and this entitles them to a great tax deduction. However,
it is not necessary to turn a once good-sized spare bedroom into a customized technological workplace. You may think it looks fantastic and makes it easier for you to get work done, but a potential home buyer may need that extra room for children or guests. Plan your home office so it can be easily turned back into a bedroom when you are ready to sell.
The summers are changing, and the temperatures have been rising throughout the country, so you decide to put in a new pool to keep cool and relax. Sounds great! It may not be so great for the buyer, because many people do not want the added expense of upkeep, and may also see it as a potential safety hazard for children.
If your roof needs repair, be sure to keep it simple. Building an architectural structure that mimics homes in Venice will not make your home sell. Buyers are only concerned their roof will not leak.
Many homes are now boasting media rooms, libraries, and wine cellars. Although this is very appealing to some, most home buyers want to be able to make that kind of decision for themselves. Improvements like this might not discourage buyers – but buyers may not want to pay extra for these things either.
Remodeling a home is a decision only you, the current homeowner, can make for yourself. If you really want that pool or hot tub installed, think it through carefully before calling the guys over to start digging up your backyard! Try to think long-term about what a typical buyer in your neighborhood would want. If you only plan on staying in your home a short time, it might not be worth the impact on sales value if you add an improvement buyers may not want. Update your Oklahoma City home so that it is appealing to the masses and you will be safe, not sorry.
Please call me at (405) 366-1111 or check out my website at www.OkHomesNow.com if you need to sell your home, or start searching for that perfect home in Blanchard, Moore, Norman, Edmund and Oklahoma City.
Do not let fear of a down market and less than encouraging statistics deter you from selling your Oklahoma City home. Many people feel with the tax credit ending, and no renewal as of yet, a lack of home buyers may be the result.
However, there are many people who DO sell their homes successfully and have been able to approach the situation with patience and determination, resulting in success.
The first and maybe the most important decision you will have to make is to find the perfect broker. Many sellers select the agency with the highest amount of homes listed. This does not always work out, as they will be assigned any available realtor, and not always to the top realtor. Be sure to do your home work, and request the person you would want to work with.
After finding the broker you want, you might request your agent to negotiate his or her fees, but realize that as a professional he or she might not be able to. The less commission an agent takes, the more flexible you can be on price...and the less you may be able to ask for your home.
Many sellers make the mistake of putting a random price on their home – perhaps the amount they owe
or hope to make. It is important to get your home appraised first to be sure you are not overpricing (or severely underpricing) a home for your area. This will surely dissuade buyers. As we noted in our previous blog How to Sell Your Premium Oklahoma City Property in Today's Market, pricing is the key to successful selling.
The appearance of a home is extremely important in today's market. Aesthetic changes or alterations need to be made before you put up that “For Sale” sign. Also, be sure to make the outside look warm and inviting. Mow the lawn frequently, plant more flowers, hang a season wreath on the door, and add a fresh coat of paint; all these things may help you sell it more quickly.
If you can afford a stager, go for it. A stager is someone who can decorate your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. They know what people are looking for in a home, and know how to strategically place items such as pictures, decorations and furniture.
Still looking for that perfect agent? Please contact me at (405) 366-1111 or check out my Oklahoma real estate website, and you can learn how I sell Oklahoma homes here...start selling your home today!

Recognized as one of the "10 Great Neighborhoods for 2010," Paseo residents should be proud of the revitalization and welcome changes in their area.
Residents are thrilled their home was awarded this honor by the American Planning Association, because this area was less than desirable to live in just three decades ago.
Susan Miller, Oklahoma City city planner, is excited by the news and feels the city's objective to make changes has been successful. "Hopefully the Paseo can build off this distinction and bring more residents and businesses into the area," she said.
This area attracts artistic expression and activities, a variety of food and nightlife to choose from, historic architecture and brightly colored, Spanish-influenced storefronts. Because of the positive changes in the past few years, property values have skyrocketed.
Residents are thankful because the area affords them more opportunities for employment and places to live. To be chosen for this honor, neighborhoods are rated on attractiveness, historical culture, and a true sense of community involvement. The Paseo exudes all of these qualities.
Hailing as the oldest art district and one of the first sub-divisions in Oklahoma City, the Paseo has surely come a long way. It was considered an exclusive neighborhood in the 1920's. Today the area attracts artistic personalities and is a conclave of quaint eateries and clubs.
The 1980's oil downturn and poor economy caused many properties to be abandoned, paving the way for crime and resulting in an overall decline in the area. In late 1987, a revitalization project began as an effort to rebuild this once fine neighborhood and surrounding areas. Now that the Paseo is alive and thriving again, residents and planners are optimistic that surrounding neighborhoods will follow suit.
Looking to find a home in The Paseo? Please contact me at (405) 366-1111 or check out my Oklahoma real estate website, and start searching for that perfect home!
You have a beautiful home with many added features. The sun room is relaxing, the vaulted ceilings are elegant. With a "premium property" like this, you may want to overprice, which will scare perspective buyers away.
Today is a strong buyers market, even though there are many well-groomed homes out there for sale. Homes that show well and are in top condition will field the most offers, but pricing the home too high will stop the sale.
"In most areas, the pressure is still 100 percent on the sellers because there's a lot of property on the market, including foreclosures," says Tom Early, real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.
There are still many ways you can you can capitalize on your picture perfect home.
Be sure to put a modest price on the property: Yes, your property has a master suite, and extra walk-in closets, but if it is priced higher than your neighbor's, a perspective buyer may move on. Be sure to determine local market values before deciding on a price.
Choose a Listing Agent who knows how to do a good visual presentation: If you feel your home is above the rest, make sure all the marketing material suggests that. Nice clear photos of every aspect of the home will help it sell.
Have an Open House: Many realtors feel open houses are a waste of time as they only attract your neighbors and not serious buyers. However, if you ask your Realtor® to encourage agents representing sellers in your neighborhood to have an open house the same day, traffic may increase and your home with all the extras will surely stand out.
If you would like to find one of these magnificent homes in South Oklahoma City, where you will have access to many local highways, please contact me and we can go over 11,989 listings in our many gorgeous neighborhoods.
Please contact me at (405) 366-1111 or check out my website at www.OkHomesNow.com, and start searching for that perfect home in South Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.
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