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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)
The VA Funding Fee is an essential component of the VA home loan program, and is a requirement of any Veteran taking advantage of this zero down payment government loan program. This fee ranges from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount, depending upon the circumstances. On a $150,000 loan that’s an additional $1,875 to almost $5,000 in cost just for the benefit of using the VA home loan. The good news is that the VA allows borrowers to finance this cost into the home loan without having to include it as part of the closing costs. For buyers using their VA loan guarantee for the first time on a zero down loan, the Funding Fee would be 2.15%. For example, on a $150,000 loan amount, the VA Funding Fee could total $3,225, which would increase the monthly mortgage payment by $18 if it were finan...
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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 year is half-over. It's an opportune time to take stock of analyst predictions made at the start of the year, and to recognize that the "experts" can be wrong as often as they are right. For as much experience and authority an expert brings to the conversation, though, nobody can.... Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Mid-Year Review : Were The Experts Right About The Market?s 3.7 Million Homes For Sale. Is Yours Standing Out From The Crowd?
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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 morning, at 8:30 AM ET, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its June Non-Farm Payrolls report. If you're currently shopping for a mortgage, or floating a mortgage rate, be prepared. Mortgage rates can change following the monthly report's release. Often, by a lot. More commonly called "the jobs report", Non-Farm Payrolls reports on the U.S. workforce by sector, summarizing its findings in terms of total workforce size, and as a....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE Economy Expected To Have Added 80,000 Jobs In June
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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 home buyers in the Longwood area , we tend to research homes a lot. We look at square footage; at upgrades; at landscaping; at community statistics; and, at every other "number" on which we can get our hands. But those are just statistics. What about the home's "feel"?  In this 5-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn a dozen complementary home-shopping techniques to help you review and evaluate a home for...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: What To Know Before You Move To A New Neighborhood
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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 ENERGY STAR®, the typical household spends close to $2,000 per year on heating and cooling, and up to $600 of those costs are a waste; the result of energy inefficiencies in every U.S. home. With the hot months of July and August ahead of us Orlando in , therefore, consider these simple-to-follow, cost-saving tips for keeping your home cool. None are expensive and each can yield quick results. First, convert your home's light bulbs to.... Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: This Summer, Cool Your Home For Less Money
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  A report issued Monday by the U.S. government showed core inflation rising 2.5 percent in the last 12 months for its biggest one-year gain since January 2010. Everyday living is becoming expensive, it seems. But there are some U.S. towns in which the cost of living remains affordable -- and downright cheap -- as....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Top 25 Least Expensive U.S. 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)
  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are widely praised for their energy-efficiency and relatively low price points. However, unlike traditional light bulbs, they pose a specific health risk to humans and pets. Most compact fluorescent light bulbs are loaded with mercury vapor and mercury is poisonous -- even in... Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How Do I Clean Up A Broken Compact Fluorescent Bulb?
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
Buying a home versus renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration. While there are several biased sources that can make arguments for or against owning a home, we've found that most home buyers base their ultimate decision on emotion. Yes, there are.....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Renting vs Buying A Home
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By Dennis Burgess, Orlando Property Manager and Realtor
(AmeriTeam Property Management)
Tito's Pipe & Drain, Inc., Altamonte Springs, FL  32701 (407) 331-8486 I've used a number of vendors in the last 10 years- appliance folks, pool guys, electricians, painters, roofers, carpet cleaners, general cleaning folks and more lawn guys than I can remember.  Some have been great, some good, some fair and a few that were nothing short of pitiful.  We all know the stories of the jacklegs that prey on the unsuspecting and wary alike. Tito's Pipe & Drain, Inc., Altamonte Springs, FL  32701 (407) 331-8486 is the exception.  I can say unequivocally that Tito, the owner of the company, is the best and most trusted contractor/vendor I've ever used- period. So what makes Tito's Pipe & Drain, Inc., Altamonte Springs, FL  32701 (407) 331-8486 the best vendor I've ever had- and the only one I...
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
Congratulations on finding a house! You now have only a few days from when you signed the purchase and sales agreement to have a home inspection. Chances are your real estate agent made the offer contingent upon a satisfactorily home inspection and obtaining mortgage financing. What Is A Home Inspection? According to Wikipedia, a home inspection “is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. This is usually conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform such inspections. The inspector prepares a written report, often using home inspection software, and delivers it to a client, typically the home buyer. The buyer uses the knowledge gained from the home inspection to make informed decisi...
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The vote was 10-0 -- the fourth straight unanimous vote for the nation's Central Bank. In its press release, the FOMC said that the economy is recovering, although "somewhat more slowly" than what was expected. Labor markets have been weaker than anticipated and the Fed believes that is, in part, a result of higher food and energy costs, and....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (June 22, 2011 Edition)
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Home resales slipped 4 percent in May, falling below the 5,000,000-unit mark on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis for the first time since February. April's resales were revised lower, too. Analysts were surprised by the figures because it runs counter to the National Association of...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Existing Homes Sales Slip In May
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  Despite rising new home sales and an increase in building permits nationwide, home builder confidence slipped to a 9-month low in June. The monthly Housing Market Index from the National Association of Homebuilders registered 13 this month -- three ticks lower than last month, and its lowest level since September 2010. June's 3-point drop from May is the biggest one-month move since May 2010, the month after the expiration of the federal home buyer tax credit. The retreat could signal favorable pricing for new home buyers in Longwood in the months ahead. When builders get less bullish on....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Homebuilder Confidence Slips To 9-Month Low
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
    This week marks the official start of Summer in Lake Mary. If your home's outdoor area has furniture in it, you'll want to make sure that your furniture is clean. In this 4-minute video from Lowe's, you'll learn tricks to keep your outdoor furniture clean, and protected from the elements. All types of outdoor furniture are covered in....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How To Clean Outdoor Furniture : Resin, Wood And Metal
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
A Home Owner Association (HOA) can have a huge impact on your life when you buy a home in a PUD (Planned Unit Development) or Condominium Project. According to Wikipedia: A homeowners' association (abbrev. HOA) is an organization created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a development of homes. It allows the developer to exit financial and legal responsibility of the community, typically by transferring ownership of the association to the homeowners after selling off a predetermined number of lots. It allows the municipality to..... Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: HOA Hurdles to be Aware of When Looking at New Properties  
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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 housing market received a jolt of good news Thursday. The Commerce Department reports that Single-Family Housing Starts improved in May. As compared to April, last month's Single-Family Housing Starts rose 4 percent to a seasonally-adjusted, annualized rate of 419,000 units, a figure slightly better than the 6-month average and the highest tally since January. A "housing start" is defined as..... Housing Starts Climb Unexpectedly In May  
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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 rates are falling. According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, monthly foreclosure filings fell 2 percent in May to just under 215,000 filings nationwide. A foreclosure filing is defined as any one of the following: a default notice, a scheduled auction, or a bank repossession. On an annual basis, foreclosure counts have...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Monthly Foreclosure Count Drops For 16th Straight Month  
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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 jobs market is recovering slower than expected, and so is housing. But neither condition has slowed U.S. consumers. According to the Census Bureau, Retail Sales rose for the 11th straight month in May. Excluding cars and auto parts, sales receipts climbed to $322 billion last month. It's an all-time high and another example of the U.S. economy's resiliency. Wall Street didn't expect such results. As a result, mortgage rates worsened...   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Mortgage Rates Surge On May Retail Sales Figures
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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 are falling, falling, falling. On a wave of uncertainty about Greece and its debt; and weaker-than-expected economic data at home, conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates have fallen to levels not seen since December 2, 2010. Mortgage rates have dropped 8 weeks in a row. Not even last year's Refi Boom produced an 8-week winning streak. This season's streak is....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Is This The Start Of A Refi Boom? Mortgage Rates Fall For 8 Straight Weeks.  
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By Chris Brown- Florida Home Loan Specialist | Certified Mortgage Planner, Chris Brown 407.367.2974
(Chris Brown | Certified Mortgage Planners)
  If you have a flair for home decoration projects, Better Homes & Garden has some terrific ideas for you on its website. Titled "Fast and Fabulous Decorating Projects", the lifestyle company offers inspiration for 20 do-it-yourself art projects that can breathe life into old furniture, and add pop to your home. Published in thumbnail format, the guide is....   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: 20 Craft Projects To Spice Up Your Home
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