Use this great debt calculator from yahoo and find out!

If you are thinking about a refinance here are some things to consider in this article from Yahoo real Estate!

Great article from money.msn.com

A good time to buy?

Market watcher Housing Predictor says that U.S. home prices could keep falling across much of America for years — but that a handful of markets offer great investment opportunities right now.

Read more here

Great article from inman.com

The leaves are turning, the mornings are getting chilly, and winter isn’t too far away. It’s time once again for my annual checklist of important things that I recommend you do to get your home ready for the coming change of seasons.

Great article from Yahoo! Real Estate

Want to qualify for the best mortgage interest rates? You’ll want to know these five things that impress lenders.

Have you been thinking of buying a home or refinancing your mortgage, but wonder what it will take to qualify for those great mortgage interest rates you’ve heard touted in the press?

Well, the quick answer is that it will take a pretty impressive financial history, says Chris Boulter, president of Val-Chris Investments, Inc., a California company specializing in residential and commercial loans.

“You’re going to have to have very good credit and a stable work history,” he says. That could start you toward getting a mortgage interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan that, as of September 6th, 2012, was a low 3.65 percent, according to Mortgage News Daily, an organization that provides housing news and analysis.

Boulter adds that if you don’t qualify for the lowest rates, you could still qualify for rates that are typically a percentage point higher, which is still very good, historically speaking.

So don’t give up just because your credit isn’t perfect. Instead, read on for details on how to qualify for the best mortgage interest rates and what to do if you don’t qualify.

LOCAL news

Job seekers have good reason to stay in Seattle

Seattle Times Monday Morning News Snapshot

MORTGAGE & FINANCE news

Delinquencies drop for fourth consecutive month

Long term rates hold steady and boost market confidence

REAL ESTATE news

Townhomes making a comeback

The finances of Renting vs. Buying

Thinking about doing some updates to your home? This article might surprise you on what is worth it and what is not.  By The Street | Zillow 

Great article from Yahoo! Real Estate today. Check it out!

The foundation of a good neighborhood is the type of relationships established among its neighbors. The first step in building a relationship is respecting those next door, down the street and around the corner. 

To Be a Good Neighbor Do the Following:

•  Cut your grass once a week.
•  Empty excess water collecting in pots, buckets and containers that can attract and breed mosquitoes.
•  Schedule bulky items for pickup.
•  Properly display house numbers.
•  Clean up after your pets.
•  Maintain the appearance of your property.
• Keep your dogs on a leash.
• Maintain trash service.

Maybe you’re not ready to move into it but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take advantage of the present opportunities to acquire the home you want to live in during retirement. The combination of the low interest rates, reduced prices and lower competition may never be this good again in our lifetimes.

The rental market is strong and a tenant could pay for your retirement home. The cash flows are attractive and the yield is bound to be stronger than what you’re currently earning. Even if you don’t retire to this home, it could be a placeholder to control the costs of the home you do move into.

One thought would be to finance it with a 15 year loan that will have a lower rate than that of a 30 year loan and it will obviously amortize in half the time. Even if you don’t have the home paid for by the time you retire, your equity will be larger.

Ideally, if you sell your current home when your move into this retirement home, you may be able to take up to $500,000 of tax-free gain for a married couple. That profit could be used to fund your retirement.

With home prices and mortgage rates certain to rise, this may be one of the best decisions you can make. We want to be your personal source of real estate information and we’re committed to helping from purchase to sale and all the years in between.