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Altamonte Springs, FL Real Estate News

By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Homebuilder confidence is falling -- a good sign for buyers of newly-built homes in and around The Crossings. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the Housing Market Index slipped one point to 16 in April. It's the 5th time in 6 months that the index read 16 -- a figure exactly in line with the 1-year average, but still considered "poor". The Housing Market Index reports on....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: As Buyer Traffic Grows, Homebuilder Confidence Slips
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  There's a long-standing myth that freezer-section produce is "worse for you" than fresh produce from a farm. The truth, however, is often the opposite. Because of upgrades in packaging and delivery methods, frozen produce is often more fresh than "fresh produce", and contains higher nutrient levels, too. The key is to know how to shop for it. The main advantage that frozen produce carries over fresh produce is that frozen produce is picked in its....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Which Is Better : Fresh Produce Or Frozen Produce?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
The VA Funding Fee is a fee that is required in order to receive a VA loan. There are a few exceptions that allow for the fee to be waived: Veterans who are getting VA compensation due to service related disabilities. Veterans who would be receiving VA compensation due to service related disabilities if they were not already receiving retirement pay. Loans for spouses of veterans who passed away in service or because of service related disabilities. VA funding rates have changed over time, but the rates listed in this article are for VA loans that will be closed before October 1, 2011. If you are...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: What Is The VA Funding Fee?  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Foreclosure activity is much slower this year than last. According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, the number of national foreclosure filings plunged 35 percent in March 2011 as compared to March 2010, a statistic that reflects a more healthy housing market and more robust outlook for 2011. A "Foreclosure filing" is defined as....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Foreclosures Drop 35 Percent Year-Over-Year
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  After this week ends, the FHA is raising mortgage insurance premiums on its new Orlando borrowers. It's the FHA's third such increase in the last 12 months. Beginning with FHA Case Numbers assigned April 18, 2011, mortgage insurance premiums will be higher by 25 basis points per year, or 0.25%. Against a $200,000 loan size, the MIP increase....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Get Your Applications In : FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Rising 0.25 Percent April 18, 2011
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Consumer spending is alive and well, it seems -- unwelcome news for today's home buyers.  Wednesday, the Census Bureau will release its March Retail Sales figures and the report is expected to show higher sales receipts for the 9th straight month. A strong reading like...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Retail Sales Report Should Spell Higher Mortgage Rates For Wednesday  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
    Most people spend about one-third of their life in the bedroom. So, how healthy is yours? In this 5-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn about dust mites, mold and the other hidden health risks in your bedroom. Some may be compriming your sleep, and others your well-being. The interview is comprehensive and covers a lot of....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How Healthy Is Your Bedroom?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
The difference between APR and actual note rate is very confusing, especially for First-Time Home Buyers who haven't been through the entire closing process before. When shopping for a new mortgage loan, you may notice an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) advertised next to the note rate.  The inclusion of an APR is actually mandated by federal law in order to help give borrowers a standard rule of measurement for comparing the total cost of each loan. The APR is designed to....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: What's The Difference Between Interest Rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR)?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Mortgage rates may be a function of free markets, but real estate taxes are a function of government. And, depending on where you live, your annual real estate tax bill could be high, low, or practically non-existent. Compiling data from the 2009 American Community Survey, the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan educational organization in Washington D.C., published property taxes paid by owner-occupied households, county-by-county. The report shows huge disparity in annual property taxes by region, and by state. As a percentage of....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How Does Your Real Estate Tax Bill Compare To Other Parts Of The Country?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  The Federal Reserve released its March 15 meeting minutes Tuesday. The notes revealed a Federal Reserve split between optimism and caution for the U.S. economy. The minutes' official name is "Fed Minutes". It's a periodic publication, published 3 weeks after each meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The FOMC meets...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: March Fed Minutes Show Inflation Risks And Rate Hikes On The Horizon  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Which is better -- a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage? It's a common question among home buyers and refinancing households in Florida. The answer? It depends.  Fixed-rate mortgages give the certainty of a known, unchanging principal + interest payment for the life of...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Plan To Sell Within 5 Years? Consider An Adjustable-Rate Mortgage.  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Whether you barbecue for friends or family once annually, or through all 4 Orlando seasons, it's important to keep a clean gas grill. A well-maintained grill will help your food taste its best -- no matter what you're cooking up. Cleaning a gas grill is...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How To Clean A Gas Grill  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
Most people are surprised to learn what appraisers actually look at when determining the value of a real estate property. A common misconception homeowners generally have is that the value of their home is determined after the appraiser has completed their physical property inspection. However, the appraiser actually already has a good idea of the property's value by the time they have scheduled an appointment to stop by the property. The good news is that you don't have to...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: What Do Appraisers Look For When Determining A Property's Value?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  As part of the Census Bureau's data collection activities from 2005-2009, a number of interesting charts have been published at http://census.gov. The data should not be....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How Does Your Work Commute Compare To Other Cities?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
Friday is a pivotal day for mortgage markets and conforming mortgage rates across Florida. At 8:30 AM ET, the government will release its March Non-Farm Payrolls report. More commonly known as "the jobs report", the monthly Non-Farm Payrolls is a market-mover and home buyers would do well to pay attention. Depending on....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Lock Now? Friday's Job Report Expected To Push Mortgage Rates Up.  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index for the month of January this week. The index is a home valuation tool, measuring the monthly and annual changes in home prices in select cities nationwide. January's Case-Shiller Index gave a poor showing. As compared to December 2010, home values dropped in 19 of the Case-Shiller Index's 20 tracked markets. Only Washington, D.C. gained. The results were only modestly better on an annual basis, too. 18 of 20 markets worsened in....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: January 2011 Case-Shiller Index : Weak And Flawed  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
For some, finding this spot, "off the beaten path" will be tougher than ......   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Directions and Tips for the Half Day Event
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  On a seasonally-adjusted basis, the Pending Home Sales Index rose 2 percent last month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. A "pending home sale" is defined as a home under contract to sell, but not yet closed. February's Pending Home Sales Index rebound breaks a 2-month losing streak, and reverses the recent downward momentum in housing. Both Existing Home Sales and New Home Sales volume showed a.....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE Pending Home Sales Rebound; Suggest Brighter Spring For Housing
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  According to the EPA, the average U.S. household spends close to $500 each year on water and sewage bills. But by making just a few small changes, that figure could drop by as much as $170 annually. It's all in how you use your water. In this 4-minute video from Lowe's, you'll learn basic water conservation techniques that you can immediately put to work..  Some examples: Don't rinse food from dishes before putting them in a dishwasher. Scrape the dishes instead. When brushing your teeth or.......          Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE:        Water Conservation Tips For Your Home And Garden  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  It's a great time for Lake Mary buyers and homeowners to look at the 15-year fixed rate mortgage. According to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the relative "discount" of a 15-year fixed rate loan as compared to a comparable 30-year product is the largest in recorded history. The interest rate spread between the two benchmark products is now 0.77%, nearly double the recent, 5-year average of 0.44%. Despite its lower rates, however, homeowners that opt for a 15-year fixed mortgage should be prepared for higher monthly payments. This is.....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages Look Cheap Compared To Comparable 30-Year Fixeds
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