After you get pre-qualified and find the perfect home, it’s time to apply for the mortgage. The lender will request a nice stack of documents from you to prove that you can afford the home you want to purchase. To make the mortgage approval go as smooth as possible, it’s good to be prepared. Here is a checklist of documents …
10 Plants to Improve Indoor Air Pollution
When people hear “air pollution” they usually think of the air polluted by carbon monoxide from cars or sulfur dioxide from factories. They don’t think of the air inside their homes, which can be polluted by mold and pollen, tobacco smoke, pesticides, household cleaners, asbestos, formaldehyde, and lead, to name a few. This can be especially bothersome during the winter, …
Don’t “Trick” Yourself into a Bad Foreclosure Purchase…
…“Treat” yourself to these foreclosure tips and take the fear out of buying! Budget Carefully. Foreclosed homes often need repairs, so you need to factor that in early on. Make sure you have a solid budget. Determine what you can spend on a home without putting any extra strain on your budget. Decide how many and what kind of repairs …
What You Should Know Before Buying in a Homeowners Association
Before you buy in a Wilmington community with a homeowners association, there are a few things you need to know to make sure you’re buying in a community where you will be happy living. But first, you must understand what a homeowners association (HOA) is. HOAs were first created to enforce and improve upon the restrictive covenants i.e. rules written …
5 Myths About Wilmington NC Short Sales
Working with Wilmington sellers, who are underwater on their homes, we often find there are some misconceptions about short sales. They have the potential to prevent home owners from taking the needed steps for protecting their best interests; so, we wanted to take a moment to clear up some of those myths… Myth #1. Short Sales Have the Same Closing …
Will Prepaying On My Mortgage Help Me Save Money?
You’ve taken out a loan to buy a home or you’re considering borrowing money, but the thought of carrying the weight of a mortgage payment for 30 years, the typical length of a mortgage, is feeling daunting. But, what if you paid more than your monthly payment? Where would that get you? Well, if you have a Simple Interest Mortgage, …
5 Tips for Handling Lead-Based Paint
If you’re home was built on or before 1978, there’s a good chance that the home has lead-based paint. It’s important you know this before doing any home projects, because breathing in lead dust or accidentally ingesting lead chips can lead to a myriad of health problems for children and adults, including nerve and kidney damage, developmental disorders, digestive disorders, …
Underwater? What Not to Do with New Found Equity
According to a recent report from CoreLogic, 1.3 million underwater borrowers have been pushed up into positive equity since the beginning of the year. If national prices increase 5%, 2 million more underwater borrowers will join them. If inventory continues to shrink, we may see just that. But, more importantly, this news brings to light an important topic – What …
Featured Community: Tanbridge Park, Wilmington
Hidden just behind Mayfaire Town Center is a quaint and quiet community with sidewalks and tree-lined streets called Tanbridge Park. With back road access to the nearby shopping center, residents can ride their bikes to catch a movie or grab a cup of coffee, or take a short drive down Eastwood Road to Wrightsville Beach. Schools are located nearby and …
When Purchasing a Home for Your UNCW Student Makes Sense
Is your child heading off to UNCW next year? Have you looked into room and board? Now is the time to consider the costs of living. In addition, to the number of months in advance you will need to reserve boarding, you will need a few weeks to research what will work best for your child (and your pocket!). Ask …