Steve Douglas' Real Estate Blog

Mortgage Rates Continue To Fall

srd007 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:38:31 +0000

Rates for 30-year home loans dropped for the third-straight week, inching toward a record low reached earlier this year, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Buyers continue to have a great opportunity to “BUY LOW” and “LOCK IN” an all time low 30 year mortgage rate.

Click Here To Read This Informative Article

Florida’s $8k Program Takes Effect

srd007 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:07:04 +0000

Florida’s $8K program effective today but not available yet

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 1, 2009 – Florida created a program to help first-time homebuyers get their federal tax credit early, allowing them to use up to $8,000 toward a downpayment. The effective date for the program is July 1; however, it will probably be another few weeks before the funds are available. As a result, some Realtors struggling to help homebuyers find the system confusing.

Click Here To read this very informative ARTICLE

Click Here To view the 1st time home buyer VIDEO

Todd Powell – Home Warranty Executive

srd007 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:55:01 +0000

Todd Powell (video – 1:27 mins)

Home Warranty Executive

Old Republic Home Protection

Direct Line (800) 282-7131 Ext. 1203

Service Line (800) 972-5985

Email toddp@orhp.com

Web Site www.orhp.com

Old Republic has been in business since 1974
Known for their Great Customer Service & Local Support
Coverage is for one year beginning on home closing date
The cost of home repairs can range from $200 to $8,000
You should protect major systems and appliances with a plan

Major items to consider protecting are :

Heat & Air Conditioning, Water Heater

Plumbing, Kitchen Appliances, Septic Systems

Washer & Dryer, Pool & Spa Equipment

Click Here TO VIEW WARRANTY PLANS

Jeff Mioduszewski – Home Mortgage Consultant

srd007 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:22:07 +0000

Jeff Mioduszewski

Home Mortgage Consultant

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

138 Island Way

Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Cell Phone (813) 300-7610

Direct Line (727) 298-5571

Office Phone (727) 441-7869

EFax Line (866) 619-7421

Email jeffm@wellsfargo.com

Web Site www.wfhm.com/jeffrey-mioduszewski1

Online Preapproval Process
24 Hour Turnaround on Preapprovals
Conventional Loans ( in 50 States)
Government Loans ( FHA, VA, 203K, USDA )
Loan Refinancing
OBama HARP Refinancing
$8,000 1st Time Home Buyer Credit

Loan Preapproval – The Key To Buying

srd007 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:57:01 +0000

The absolute first step to purchasing a home is to meet with a Mortgage Lender and get preapproved for your loan. This is a simple process that will supply you with all of the information you will need to purchase your next home.

After the Preapproval is granted you will receive a preapproval letter. We will use this letter when viewing and making offers on properties. This preapproval letter shows the seller that we are qualified to purchase their home.

There are several other benefits to being preapproved for your loan…

Save Time by Looking at the Right Homes

We will be concentrating on homes you can afford and are able to purchase. Our MLS home search will be much more effective and productive. We will locate the perfect home quickly and be in position to jump on great deals.

Spend More Time Examining the Right Homes

We will be able to devote our energy to viewing homes that are properly targeted to your wants and needs. This will allow you to pay attention to the little details and not be rushed to view more homes than are necessary. Remember, the great listings don’t stay on the market for a long time.

Gain Confidence & Avoid Disillusionment

You will minimize anxiety and remove last minute loan surprises that could disqualify you. When we find your perfect home you will have peace of mind knowing that when our offer is accepted, nobody can take it away from you and the loan will definitely close.

Increase Bargaining & Negotiating Power

Sellers will take our offer seriously because they know that they are dealing with a qualified buyer and if they accept our offer their home is sold. They can then confidently place their listing under contract and take the home off the market.

Enjoy a Faster Closing Period

Since you are preapproved, the lender can speed up the entire loan approval process. The home appraisal and survey can be ordered immediately. It’s possible to shorten a 30 day closing to 2 or 3 weeks. This can come in handy if the seller needs a quick closing and they are trying to decide which offer to accept. Our offer will move to the front.

I work with several quality Mortgage Lenders that I can refer to you. Contact me today and let’s get started.

How I Advertise Your Home For Sale

srd007 — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:05:56 +0000

It is extremely important that your home gets maximum advertising and Realtor exposure when you list it for sale.

I wanted to take a moment to show you the outstanding exposure that I supply to my clients when they list their home for sale with me.

Recent surveys have shown that 91% of all home buyers search for their next home using the Internet.

I represent Charles Rutenberg Realty. We currently have 1,500 Licensed Agents and approximately 1,700 Listed Homes.

I also provide my home buying clients a Free LISTINGBOOK Account to search for their next home on-line using the MLS. They receive daily email updates concerning their Property Inquiries, New Listings, Open Houses and much more.

This allows them to search for properties using the Pinellas, Pasco & Hillsborough County MLS (Multiple Listing Service). This is the same system that over 19,000 Licensed Real Estate Agents use on a daily basis.

All of my home selling clients get a Free LISTINGBOOK Account that allows them to communicate with me on-line. They also get up to the minute updates on New Listings in their area, Price Changes in their area and how many Viewing Hits their home is receiving.

Click here to view the Advertising Coverage my clients receive.

MLS Advantage ( 104,000 participants )
MLS Pinellas & Pasco Agents ( 11,500 participants )
MLS Hillsborough Agents ( 9,000 participants )
100 TV & Radio Stations
25 ListHub Websites
20 Network Gateways
Realtor.com ( The #1 Nationwide Home Search Web Site )

Home Staging Videos

srd007 — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:46:46 +0000

Click on the links below to view several informative videos on Staging a Home for Sale.

Staging your home will elevate your listing above the competition.

Your home will show more effectively during buyer viewings.

Listing photos on internet web sites will entise prospective buyers to visit.

You will be able to achieve a higher price because your home will be in demand.

Video Topic Minutes

The Staging Advantage 2:43
Stage For A Quick Sale 2:01
Staging A Small Home 3:45
Staging Your Kitchen 2:14
Staging Your Living Room 2:56
Bathrooms & Bedrooms 2:14
Unclutter Your Home 2:18
9 Simple Things To Do 4:27
Tidy Up In 3 Minutes 2:24

Homes Sales On The Rise

srd007 — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:17:03 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. – May 27, 2009 – Florida’s existing home sales rose in April – the eighth consecutive month that sales activity increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). April’s statewide sales showed gains over the previous month’s sales level in both the existing home and existing condominium markets.

Click here to read the entire article

Policy Change To $8,000 Tax Credit

srd007 — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:54:56 +0000

The $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home purchasers

is about to morph into a ready-cash down payment source,

thanks to a new federal policy change. This article gives us an

updated account to my previous Tax Credit posting.

Click Here to read this informative article.

1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

srd007 — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:36:12 +0000

There is a lot of confusion as to who qualifies for the new

Government Stimulus Law that allows a 1st time home buyer

tax credit of up to $8,000. This article will inform you.

Click here to read the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit article.