Monthly Archives: June 2021

Being a Good Neighbor Could Score You Future Clients

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Mowing the grass for an elderly couple next door. Hosting a neighborhood cookout. Offering someone vegetables from your garden. 

Being a good neighbor is something everyone should focus on. Not only is it just a nice thing to do, but some benefits could come your way as a result of your kindness. 

According to the Realtor.com® Good Neighbor Report results, 77 percent of respondents said they had a good neighbor, while only 7 percent said they did not. Those are encouraging results for everyone. 

As a REALTOR® whose job is to build strong business (and personal) relationships with people – your neighbors, the business community, and potential clients – it’s essential to maintain a neighborly vibe with anyone you meet. This can especially pay off down the road by landing you some potential new clients and referrals. 

Here are some simple but impactful actions you can take to be a good neighbor in your community. You can pass along this wisdom to your clients, too, so they can also keep the peace and make their neighborhoods the envy of the community. Continue reading →

Tell Your Clients: New FHA Loan Policy Eases Student Loan Debt Calculations

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Late last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is being more much more lenient on the rules mortgage lenders must use to assess student loan debt for home loan applicants. The move brings FHA more in line with other government-backed mortgage programs like Fannie and Freddie, which eased their criteria in recent years. 

The new standard removes a requirement to calculate a borrower’s monthly student loan payment as 1% of their outstanding student loan balance instead of the actual monthly payment that could be significantly less than 1 percent of the balance.  Continue reading →

Is Now the Time to Buy or Refi?

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When mortgage rates drop to near historic lows like recently, many homeowners start thinking about either refinancing their current homes or buying a new one.  

According to Freddie Mac and the National Association of Homebuilders, mortgage rates are expected to hover around 3 percent this year. The National Association of Realtors projects the rate will reach 3.2 percent in 2021, and Wells Fargo believes rates will be around 2.89 percent. All these numbers are attractive for both new home buyers and those looking to refinance. 

There are benefits and pitfalls to both that a knowledgeable and professional agent can communicate to put you in the best position possible.  

Despite it being a seller’s market where home prices in many regions are skyrocketing, you could still manage to land the home of their dreams without breaking the bank.  

However, if you aren’t up for getting into possible bidding wars, are still content in your current home, or need to squeeze some money out of your monthly budgets, refinancing can provide some benefits. 

To help you clients determine whether they should buy now or refinance instead, here are some essential considerations to share. 

Continue reading →