Jon Sigler Your FHA Mortgage Loan Expert

Bristol FHA Mortgage - The Benefits of Prequalifying for a Home Mortgage in Bristol, Connecticut

Getting prequalified for your mortgage loan is a measurement of your commitment and dedication to making an actual purchase of a property in Bristol. This also gives benefits to all three players in the purchase of a home: the buyer, the seller and the real estate agent. Here are a few benefits of getting prequalified for a mortgage before you actually take the time to look for a Bristol home.

Benefits to the seller

Knowing that you are able to purchase their home will bring credibility to your offer. A prequalification letter is a big step in proving that point to the seller. When that letter comes from a company that is local, or the agents have experience can bring more value to that offer as well. Far too often everyone has been left hanging when the processes started with an internet lender who didn’t properly pre-qualify the borrower, or maybe they don’t offer FHA Mortgage Loans in Bristol.

The Benefits to the Real Estate Agent

Any real estate agent in Bristol will tell you that it takes a lot of time and energy to help his clients find their perfect home. If the bank does not approve their buyers loan that Real Estate Agent has lost those hours and revenue. By taking the time to get pre-qualified before looking at homes shows your Real Estate Agent that you are serious and also able to buy a home.

Your own benefits

You will find that your Bristol real estate agent is much more dedicated to giving you the time and energy necessary to help you find a great home. Also, the seller will take you much more seriously when you place an offer, because he can assume that you are able to purchase their home, because you took the time to get prequalified for your mortgage.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Bristol real estate. For complete information about the Bristol real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and mortgage options including Bristol FHA Mortgage Loans more please call me on my cell at 860-306-8029.

Thanks to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michiganmoves/ for a great photo.

Getting a Fixer Upper in West Hartford - What to Look for in a West Hartford Fixer-Upper

Have you been thinking about getting a fixer upper in West Hartford as an investment that you can repair and sell later? Maybe you want to buy it to live in it. Either way, finding a good one can be a real money-maker. Here are a few ideas of what to look for when you are searching for a Fixer Upper in West Hartford as your next home.

1. Simple Problems -You need to find a West Hartford house that looks incredibly ugly, yet has very simple problems. Painting, flooring and other superficial problems can be a gold mine in an old house. They can prevent a sale even when the West Hartford home is full of potential. Many buyers are scared by even simple repairs, or they can't see through the "ugly" and see the "beautiful" it can be.

2. No Structural Problems - Structural problems in a home are usually too costly to repair, at least they bring great unknowns to the total costs. Some structural difficulties can be difficult to spot, and you may need to call in a professional for a home assessment in order to find them.

3. A Good Neighborhood - Although it is more difficult to find a fixer-upper in a good West Hartford neighborhood versus a bad one, you can spot some hidden gems that can equate to thousands of dollars in the long run. Are you planning on living in the home after it is fixed up, then you will care about the location of the parks, or proximity to your work, and more. Going to Rent the property after think about access to the bus line, and remember the more bedrooms the greater the rental income.

Financing a West Hartford Fixer Upper can be easy if you plan to live in the property afterward. There is a great program that will provide you with the money to purchase the property as well as the money you need to fix up the property. All with an incredibly low down payment! Let me give you all the details of this awesome loan program.

If you need more free information about selling, buying or investing in West Hartford real estate, feel free to contact me. For complete information about the West Hartford real estate market, including the most recent homes for sale including Fixer Uppers, current property values and more please call me on my cell at 860-306-8029.

West Hartford Green Home - So you want to buy a green home in West Hartford, but don’t know where to start? There are many points to consider when evaluating if a home is environmentally friendly. Being green is more than just using eco-friendly products. Other items to look at include sustainability and efficiency.

Of course using products that were produced with the environment in mind is important. However, sometime it can be green to use an older product. Recycling vintage products such as antique flooring or decorative hardware is eco-friendly because new materials and energy are not being consumed to create the product and the previously used items are not going to the landfill. New homes and newly remodeled homes are using this practice more and more. A great source in the West Hartford area is The ReCONNstruction Center.

When new items are purchased for a West Hartford green home there are several points to consider. Water and energy consumption are big factors. A green home can appear to be the same as a traditional home. Both homes have toilets, water heaters, showers, clothes washers, and garden irrigation systems. The difference between the two houses is the green home chooses environmentally conscious designed appliances to do the job. A tankless water heater uses less energy to heat because the water is heated only when called for. Traditional water heaters use energy to keep the water in the tank hot 24/7. Showerheads in the bathroom and faucets on all of the sinks can be installed with flow restrictors. This will use less water. A front load washing machine uses much less water than a top load machine, in fact the University of Leeds has designed a machine that uses just one cup of water per wash!

The landscape of a home can tell a lot about how efficient and sustainable it is. The orientation of a home on the land should be eco-friendly. When looking at homes in the West Hartford area notice how the home sits on the property. It should make the most out of daylight. This will reduce the need for heating and lighting. Landscaping is important too. Plants that are native to New England have many benefits over other landscaping. Native plants use less water, need less maintenance, and generally are less susceptible to pests. Other green landscaping practices include a system for gathering rain water and grey water to use as irrigation. Well placed trees can make the property look good and also help shield the home from the summer sun thereby reducing your cooling needs and costs.

Green homes help the homeowner’s budget as well as the environment. Looking at a home which needs renovation, consider a “green” renovation and an FHA 203k loan that allows you to finance both the cost to purchase the property but also the renovations. Get the money to install that super efficient furnace, insulation, energy star appliances and more. Ask me for information about how you can finance your “green” renovations.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying a green home in West Hartford. For complete information about the West Hartford real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please call me on my cell at 860-306-8029 or email me.

South Windsor Homes For Sale - A Checklist for the First Time Home Buyer in South Windsor

Buying your first home in South Windsor, may very well be the most important decision you will make in your life. You are in for an exciting journey and adventure. As long as you know what lies ahead you will be well prepared for home ownership and all it entails. Here's a brief checklist of some of the most important things you should keep in mind when looking for your first home in South Windsor.

#1 - How much can you really afford? Before you start looking you at South Windsor Homes for Sale you should have a price in mind that is not flexible and cannot be increased. It is tempting to take a look at South Windsor homes that are more expensive than your budget, but if you fall in love with one of them you may end up buying it and later regretting it. You want to be house happy, not house poor. This maximum price will come from talking about what you can afford and what you feel comfortable paying each month for your house.

#2 - Do you want a home that is in perfect condition or do you mind putting some more work into it after the purchase? You may be able to find a South Windsor home that needs a small amount of work and be able to get it at a decent price because of that. Some people want a home that is perfect and requires no repairs at the time of purchase, while other people want to roll up their sleeves and do their own work. This is a decision you should make before you start looking at houses in South Windsor, because it will narrow down the search for a home significantly. In the end it may be a financial decision, you may need the lower month payment just to afford the home you want, or you may say a certain increase for a perfect home is worth the cost and time of doing so after you purchase the home.

#3 - Although it may seem unimportant at first or even silly, buying a house with two floors or more will mean a lot of stair climbing. Some people really don't mind the stairs, while others prefer all the rooms to be situated on one floor. If you are buying this South Windsor home as a potential place of retirement in the near or distant future, you may want to consider getting a bungalow or ranch style home. Some people really don't mind the stairs, while others prefer all the rooms to be situated on one floor. Think about the life events that could happen for you while you own the home. Make sure it works for you today, but also for you "tomorrow".

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in South Windsor Homes for Sale. For complete information about the South Windsor real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything South Windsor real estate SouthWindsorRealEstate.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 860-306-8029 or email me.

The Longest Dinner Table will be held in South Windsor, CT on September 26, 2009. This is the 3rd annual, and is the signature fundraising event for the South Windsor Public Education Fund Committee.

It will be help from 5:00pm until 10:00pm at The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in Rockville Park (over near L.L. Bean) If there is rain then festivities will move to Nomad's Adventure Quest on Route 5 in South Windsor, on the same date and time.

Back again this year to provide live entertainment is Locomotion. As always groups should decorate their table and awards will be given for the table which is Best Overall, Most Creative, Most Community Spirit, and Most Elegant. Table decorating is encourage! Teacher of the year Janet McEleney and Jeanne Budarz, Support Staff Employee of the Year will be honored at the event.

Check out the silent auction, 50/50 raffel, and fun "Heads or Tails" game.

The purpose of The Longest Dinner Table is to provide funds to support projects and programs for the South Windsor Public Schools, to enhance the learning experience and encourage creativity and innovation both for students and teachers at all levels and grades. The South Windsor Public Education Fund solicits gifts and grants and engages in fundraising to provide resources dedicated to benefit South Windsor public education.

Tickets for The Longest Dinner Table are $25 each, or $200 for a table of 8 and are tax deductible. For more information contact Liza Love at (860) 289-8502, or print out this invitation.