6 Smart Ways to Save for a Starter HomeMany people dream of stepping up to home ownership. They’d love to purchase a starter house but worry about breaking the bank. It’s a valid concern, considering the cost of housing, the difficulty of salting away a down payment and then meeting a monthly mortgage.Adopting a few money-saving strategies and sticking with them over time can help turn the dream into a reality quicker.Almost one in five prospective buyers polled are actively looking to buy their first home, with 62 percent (67 percent among millennials) looking to purchase in the next two years, Yet, 64 percent and 45 percent of respondents, respectively, listed “needing to save money for a down payment” and “needing to pay down debt” as major barriers.“A majority of first-time buyers ... 07/05/2016

   Confusing Real Estate Terms Decoded Whether you're looking to sell your home or want to explore buying options, you're going to be faced with real estate terminology you may find confusing. Here is a quick guide to help you become better prepared for your transaction. Absorption Rate - The rate in which available homes in a specific market are selling. To calculate an area's absorption rate, divide the total number of available homes in that area by the average number of sal...es seen per month. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) - A report prepared by a real estate broker to determine a listing's market value by comparing it with similar properties (called comps) that are currently for sale, have a contract pending and have been recently sold. Properties used as comps are of similar ... 03/02/2016

 E-OSCAR If you put your mind to it you can do anything. For example, I can fix the engine in my car all day long; the problem I run into is the inevitability of breaking down alongside the highway on the way to work. Credit restoration is another most certainly not a do-it-yourself project for the home handyman. The credit bureaus try their hardest to make you believe otherwise, BEWARE! Disputing credit report errors using the often-recommended method of going online to the credit bureaus’ websites to file disputes could sabotage any efforts to improve your loan capabilities and personal financial situation. Playing on the credit bureau’s game board with their rules is like playing against a home town referee, you’re not going to win. Certain restrictions of the Electronic Online Syste... 01/26/2016

 Retirement Rules: America's Seniors Hold $5.76 Trillion in Home Equity The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association reported recently that an estimated$147 billion increase in the aggregate value of homes owned by seniors drove their share of home equity to $5.76 trillion and rocketed the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI) to an all-time high in Q3 2015 of 200.19 from 195.42 in Q2.  Mortgage debt held by seniors increased slightly from $1.45 trillion to $1.46 trillion last quarter, but the uptick was barely a dent in home equity levels, which have climbed steadily for 18 consecutive quarters.  The Q3 numbers are based on a revised methodology that includes data from the 2013 American Community Survey and the Federal Reserve's Z.1 Release to estimate the value of a... 01/20/2016

Happy New Year from our Diamond Residential Family to yours! May 2016 bring you health, happiness & prosperity! Here's to 2016!!!   12/30/2015

      Be Happy In Your Home             Are you feeling a little bored with your home? Do you have a touch of HGTV envy? Before you spiral into depression at the length of your to-do list, take a moment to reflect on all the things you love about your home. Remember why you bought it in the first place. Did you fall in love with the built-in shelves? Did you envision children playing in the backyard? Did you adore the tree-lined streets? Find your favorite spot in the house to curl up and recall some of the features that drew you to it in the first place. It could make you fall back in love with it again. Look for little décor changes that can make a big difference. Painting a bright accent wall or buying new linens for your dining room can make things seem new. Rearrange the furniture... 08/14/2015

  The Secret of SuccessWhy are some people so successful in life? What is the secret behind their success? Research indicates that there are ten common traits that appear to contribute to a person’s success:1. Pay attention to your thoughts as they determine your future: Always be positive and develop a “can do” mind set. Steer clear of negative people who would seek to undermine your commitment to your goals. Focus on success, and not on failure. 2. Be concrete and specific when you dream and set goals: Write down the steps that will lead you there, then track your progress and make changes if needed. 3. Take action: Goals are just words until you actually do something. Every day take a step that moves you in the right direction. 4. Be a life-long learner: Get more training, take a cla... 06/05/2015