Janet Sebile

Buyer's Get Busy - Higher Mortgage Payments Are On Their Way!

Are you in the market to purchase a home? If you've been riding the fence, you will want to jump off to the right side before your mortgage payments increase. I just received this news from my lender, Linda Davidson of Service First Mortgage.

Linda is an FHA expert and consultant whom I rely on and trust to keep us updated and informed on mortgage matters to let us know FHA buyers will be experiencing an increase in their mortgage payments. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at 214-500-1571.

Yesterday Congress passed H.R. 5981 which will give FHA the authority to change their annual and monthly mortgage insurance premiums. The bill passed very quickly and the changes that are going to take place will be implemented on September 7th with all new case numbers pulled on and after that date. Please take note that the September 7th date correlates to pulling a FHA case number, not contract dates. Monthly Payments to Increase - Read the Rest of the Story.

Garland, TX - Oldie but goodie.  Great deal for area

This home is ideal for starters or just a great place for those who enjoy big trees, well sized back yard with plenty of storage and more.  Call for more info or to schedule viewing.

$10,000 Incentive - New Homes, Wylie, TX Southbrook Community

Search New Homes For Sale in Wylie, TX

Now is a great time to purchase a home. Especially a new home like this one located in the Southbrook Community of Wylie, Texas. Southbrook is a great location hidden just behind the rather large Woodbridge Community. You can access off Pleasant Valley and is a minute to highway 78 also known as Lavon. This makes it great because the neighborhood is quiet. There is still a corn field opposite the community but I don't expect it will be there for long.

What really kool about the location of these new homes. Southbrook is in what use to be considered the country but these new homes for sale provide you with all the comforts and conveniences of modern day living. A quick minute or two down the road and you are at shopping, restaurants and fun. Wylie high school and other schools are also minutes down the street. Locals especially like the closeness of Firewheel Mall which is loaded with shopping, restaurants and movies but you will be right on the George Bush Freeway which gives you access to Central Expressway (hwy 75), The Dallas Tollway and LBJ (635).

The final few new homes for sale are all on well sized lots. There are one and two-story plans and all of these homes are covered 100% in brick, which allows for a beautiful streetscape that will stand the test of time. The floor plans range from about 1700 to 2400 square feet, two to three bedrooms and several elevation choices for each design. These homes need to move and with the $10,000 incentive you can beat the loaded features that you come to expect in new homes for sale.

Just contact us to find out how you can be a new resident of the Southbrook Community. We'll also let you know the latest incentives aside from the $10,000 because they do change frequently depending on the builder.

Looking For A Rental? - Don't Sell Yourself Short

With all the changes in the market today, many people have gone through a loss. You may be one of those who lost your home to foreclosure or a short sale. Now you are in the position or coming soon, you will find yourself in the position of having to rent? If you are in the market looking for a rental don't sell yourself short.

Make sure that you check your rental out before you sign on the dotted line and take precausions to protect yourself. Many landlords apply these rules to their rentals but as the renter, you should also make sure that you have a clear agreement, especially if you are looking for a rental that you may consider purchasing in the future. Below is a short list of things to consider when looking for a rental. I'm sure you will find other items to add to the list but sometimes you just need a place to start.

1. Lease agreement - get a lease agreement contract ahead of time and read it throughly. This will help you formulate questions to ask for and know landlord expectations before you look for a rental.

2. Interior/Exterior - check the home throughly before you rent. Don't let the cosmetics get the best of you. Look for things that might be in need of repair and address them before you rent.

3. Take Pictures - landlords usually take pictures before they rent to know the condition. You should take pictures of the house you are looking to rent so if anything happens you can have a frame of reference. Some renters move in with the landlord promising to fix something after they move in. This can be typical because of time frames, etc. Having pictures can be beneficial if anything futher should happen or arise that may be of dispute.

4. Rental Price - check the neighborhood rentals to make sure that you are not overpaying rent for your area. Ask your local realtor for comps and use this as a negotiation tool.

5. Check Utility Bills - know what the utilities run for the home you are looking to rent. Ask for utility companies name and get the average cost. You don't want to think you've found a good deal only to be ripped off in monthly utilities.

6. Move Into a Clean House. If the house isn't clean you may be getting a message that the landlord doesn't really care and what you can expect for the future. If its a matter that someone just moved out then negotiate for it. You may want to take the house in exchange for a low first months rent.

7. Put Everyting in Writing. Many renters and landlords meet each other and think "Oh, what nice people." When looking for a rental, never let your guard down because you just don't know how people will react after the fact. Put all agreements in writing. This will protect all parties in the end.

8. Dont Be Afraid to Bargain. Finally, don't be afraid to bargain and negotiate with the landlord. Many will appreciate having someone they know will take care of the property and willing to accept less rent or make other agreements for a responsible reliable tenant.

Mom and Dad Chill - Back to School With out the Stress.

Hey Kids "Summer's almost over. Summer's almost over - neener, neener, neener - you gotta go back to school!"

Summer is almost over and it time for those words that kids don't like to hear - "time to go back to school". The closer it get's, the easier for families to become stressed and anxious. Between kid's fears that they won't fit in and won't make new friends, and parents feeling stressed about school supplies, carpools, and after school activities, it's easy to see how stressed levels rise.

But as adults (yes, parents are considered adults too) we can help our kids make this transition by setting a different tone this year. How you say - here are a few tips to help ease your family's back-to-school anxiety.

1. Get Excited - If you are excited about the start of a new year - fresh beginning. If you are excited about going back to school your child will be, too.
2. Prepare yourself. Take advantage of previewing a new school and helping your kids become familiar with their surroundings and the teachers. It will take a lot of the fears away.
3. Start daily routines. Have your kids pack their own lunch and lay out clothes the night before - one less thing to think about. About a week before going back to school try an earlier bedtime so that kids get use to the idea.
4. Photo of the family. Include a photo of the family (and pets) or write a "dorkie" note and put it in your kid's backpack or lunch box. They may find it nerdy but know that you care.
5. Take time to listen. At the end of the workday, talk to your kids about their day and listen. Don't become so consumed with your work that they get left out.

Going back to school can be stressful if we let it. What we have to remember though is the lessons we want to pass along to our kids. If we make everything out of life hard, they will follow in our footsteps. Let's give me an easy road to follow.