April 2012 Archives - San Antonio Real Estate and Homes for Sale

News

Americans Still Prefer Buying a Home to Renting

Owning a home still has more appeal than renting for Americans, according to Fannie Mae. A sign of stability, safety, family and community, home ownership is an essential component of the “American Dream” of success and happiness and has been for many generations. The recent National Housing Survey (Q4, 2011) conducted by Fannie Mae found…Read More »

Consider Safety When Showing Your Home For Sale

When a potential buyer considers a home for sale, they are looking for more than a home that “feels” good, they also want to make sure their needs and wants now and in the future can be met. One of these needs is often a concern for safety. Whether it is safety in regards to…Read More »

How Buying a Home is Like Finding the Perfect Shoe

The adage “one shoe fits all” does not work when buying a home. It doesn’t work when shoe shopping, either, for that matter! Homes, like shoes, are very personal, and often are emotionally-based purchases. Try as they might to create a home that will meet every need and every taste, home builders are aware that…Read More »

Buying a Home? Don’t Forget the Inspection!

You’ve finally found the home that is just right and made an offer and it was accepted. Now you just wait for escrow to close, right? Wrong. Now is the time to have the home inspected to make sure you are aware of any possible issues in the home before it’s too late and the…Read More »

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan – IRRRL Facts for Veterans

You may see it referred to as a “Streamline” or a “VA to VA.” IRRRL Facts For Veterans|Dept. of Veteran Affairs
An IRRRL may be done with “no money out of pocket” by including all costs in the new loan or by making the new loan at an interest rate high enough to enable the lender to pay the costs. (Remember: The interest rate on the new loan must be lower than the rate on the old loan unless you refinance an ARM to a fixed rate mortgage).
Personally, I prefer making the new loan at an interest rate high enough to enable the lender to pay the costs. Which allows me to get a better interest rate and lower my monthly payments, without rolling into the loan thousands of dollars in closing costs.

Is earnest money required to make a contract effective? | TAR Blog

Is earnest money required to make a contract effective? I sent my client’s offer to purchase a home to the listing agent. The agent said he wouldn’t present the offer until I sent an earnest-money check.