Dave and Jenn Snell

With the passage of our slurpy, squishy mud season we can see our driveway dry up, our walkway accessible just in time for the daffodils,hiacinths, and crosuses to crop up. What a long winter in more ways! Now we've seen an increase in lookers. Buyers seem more motivated and sellers more agreeable. Hurrah for sunshine and lollipops here in the Granite State!

Plywood painted hearts with messages of love appear down the length of the snow covered banks of a New Hampshire highway. These signs popped up shortly before Valentine's Day along Route 28S beginning after the Alton Circle. A new sign appeared every two miles or so. Traffic jams were caused by these trinkets of love messages. Envious wives, girlfriends and/or lovers drove the length of 28S simply engaged in the unfolding love story of Doug and Dianna.

"A love story takes time to write" Doug posts to his sweetheart Dianna. He writes that he misses his love.

In each one of hearts, we'd all like to have a romantic Doug in our life. But we must not be remised in the little things that our sweethearts do like warming the car or wiping off the snow. These understated shows of love can get missed. They may not be as flashy as a big cutout heart but the sentiments are all the same.

PMI- Private Mortgage Insurance

•· PMI based credit score

•· All transactions as of March 9 will require 2 months of PITI at closing

•· 2^nd Homes not eligible, Manufactured Homes not eligible

•· 20% or below on down payment incurs PMI

•· All PMI companies have Restricted Markets- min. 700 credit score

•· www.mgic.com has PMI zip code finder

•· Not always accurate as there may be pockets of decline within a town

•· April 6 -- PMI rate will change

FHA updates supplied by Chris Guilmett of Laconia Savings Bank

3.5% down payment

• Can be all gift money. Sources: Relative, Applicant's employer, Close Friend, Charitable organizationg, government Agency
• Musts how transfer of funds to borrower either prior to closing or at closing.
• 1 - 4 Family Owner Occupied
• Seller contributions: Up to 6% of sales price
• Can only go towards prepaids & closing costs, not down payment or concessions
• Qualifying ratios: 31/43
• More liberal with past credit problems, beyond control, not neglect
• No minimum credit score--Judgments must be paid
• No income limits
• Appraisals
• Safety soundness issues Testing requirements (water/termite) only required if appraiser comments that there is a current problem.
• On single family homes (only) a non-occupying co-borrower can be added to a borrower with weak income.

Check out hud.gov for more info.

Dave and Jenn Snell are certified as real estate agents serving Alton, New Durham, Barnstead, and the surrounding area have chosen to join the team in the Alton office at Maxfield Real Estate.

Jenn applies her creative energies to marketing, special events and research abilities that benefit real estate clients. Her skills complement realtor husband Dave's extensive experience in residential, commercial and investment properties and property management. The Snell's are active members of the National Association of Realtors, the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and the Lakes Region Board of Realtors.

We believe that a good agent should know their community inside and out. We will keep abreast of the latest market happenings so that we can answer all your questions - especially the hard ones! This is one reason we have chosen Maxfield Real Estate as our team. In Maxfield Real Estate, we have over 100 years of experience available to us for consultation. Maxfield has the reputation for being a top producer and the tools to take advantage of today's marketing technology.

We enjoy living in the Lakes Region and take pride in knowing we can serve our neighbors in all their real estate needs. You may call on us with a simple real estate question, or request a free market analysis of your home. Please visit us at daveandjennsnell.com or maxfieldrealestate.com.