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Showing posts from November, 2018

Before You Choose a Mortgage Lender, Read This Post

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Shopping for a mortgage takes time and sometimes stressful especially when you don't have any idea on the process. So, here's the list of the things you have to know before you sign anything with any lender. Determine if you want a small or large lender Do you prefer a small or large lender? If you care on customer service, you may want to choose a smaller lender. If you care on the right interest rate, large lender may be the best option. Ask around for mortgage companies One the best way is to ask around your friends or family member who has purchased a home in the last few years. Getting referrals can help you prospect to find someone that you can trust. What are the loans that they offer? There are many different types of mortgages. Just to name a few, there are available low credit mortgage loan options , HUD-184 Programs for Alaskans and many more. It is important to know the loan options each lender can offer you. Take time to ask an

Alaska Real Estate Market Update as of November 10th to November 16th2018

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Here's Alaska real estate market update as November 10 th to November 16 th 2018. Still, on the top of our list is the  Anchorage market . During this week, 574 are currently active listings where 24 of which are new listings. 33 listings were pended and 22 were sold. Next is  Wasilla market , 397 are active where 21 are of which are new, 18 pended and 12 were sold. Compared to the  previous market update , you can see that there are less active and more sold and pended listings in Anchorage for the week. See full report: If you want to know more on the latest real estate market update and is interested in buying or selling, give me a call (907) 570-6757 or 907-720-4663.

7 Easy Ways to Winter-Proof Your Home on a Budget

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Despite everyone, especially Alaskans, loving the sun, winter is here. Keeping our homes warm can cost a lot of money, especially as fuel prices rise. So, here are some ways to keep your home as warm as possible without breaking the bank. 1. Shut the doors of rooms you don't use That extra space that you don't even use is waste of energy. Turn off radiators in rooms that aren't in use, and make sure you keep the doors shut to keep the heat in vital areas. 2. Close all of your curtains at night If your windows aren't double-glazed, closing your curtains can help you keep the warmth inside. You can use thicker curtains to make it more effective. 3. Let the light in When the sun goes up during the day, keep the sun shining through your window and let the warmth of the sun enter your home. This will help you keep your home warmer without relying too much on your heater. 4. Mind the gaps in your home Any cracks and gaps between your

3 Questions to Ask When Buying a Home in Short Sale

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Short sale is real estate lingo for a house that is being sold for less than the amount the homeowner owes on the mortgage to try avoiding a foreclosure. If the homeowner is behind payments, experiencing financial hardships with no significant assets, and the house is underwater, they can pursue a short sale. It is usually an option for lenders to save the time and fees that a traditional foreclosure would entail, so they accept the short sale. The remaining balance is shouldered depending on the agreement made by the lender and the homeowner. So if you are buying a home in a short sale, what's in it for you and what are the things you need to know? How to make an offer on a short sale? The best tip is to choose a right real estate agent who's knowledgeable and have already dealt with the process before. You both need to find out how much the homeowner still owes on the property and find out if you can match your offer to at least 80% of that amoun

Alaska Real Estate Market Update as of October 27 - November 2, 2018

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Here's Alaska real estate market update as October 27th to November 2nd, 2018. Still, on the top of our list is the Anchorage market. During the week of 10/27/2018 to 11/02/2018, 622 are currently active listings where 1 of which is a new listing. There is no listing pended and only 3 were sold. Next is Eagle River market, 130 are active where 4 of which are new, 5 pended and 11 were sold. Compared to the previous market update , you can see that there are less active and less sold listings in Alaska for the week. See full report: If you want to know more on the latest real estate market update and is interested in buying or selling, give me a call (907) 570-6757 or 907-720-4663.

6 Keys to A Good Home Buy

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How can you say that a property is going to be a good buy? Do you have a specific thing you are looking for in mind? Or are you just looking at a bunch of homes to see if you like them? One of the best practices you can do is to make a list of the property's must-haves. A house may not have all the criteria you are looking for, but through a list, you can make sure most of your expectations are met. Here are the keys that will indicate the home is a good purchase: It is within your price range Everyone has to set their own budget when buying a house. This is very important to keep you on the right track. At some point, you may debate stretching your budget to get that master suite, but it is imperative to keep your budget in mind. In the long run, you're less likely to enjoy that master suite if you are putting ALL your money in the mortgage. It is in the right location It should be on your preferred location. How good is a dream home if it is too fa

Why Buying is Better than Renting a Home

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Is buying a home better than renting in Alaska ? Renting a home has its own advantage such as it’s easy to move out when your lease is up and there is less upfront investment. However, when you actually look at it from different angles, buying a home might be a much better option for you than renting in Alaska. Forced Savings Everyone wants to save but only a few are the ones who actually do it. But when you get a home, you will have to pay for consistently. But worry not because it is an investment and you can earn from it either by selling, renting it out or giving it to your children in the future. Long term benefits In renting, you will pay for it monthly and that's it. It will directly go to your landlord's pocket. I have a friend who bought a starter home years ago. He had a stable job and earned some money to be able to buy a new and bigger home. So he decided to put his house up for sale. He kept it nice and neat over the years so guess