Monday, August 26, 2019

Tips to Secure a Mortgage if You Are Self-employed

If you are self-employed, either as a freelancer or as the owner of your own business, your income can fluctuate greatly from year to year. That can make it difficult to get approved for a mortgage, although there are some things you can do to improve your chances. Here are three tips for securing a mortgage if you are self-employed.

Good Credit Score
While your ability to pay back a mortgage is the most important factor in an approval, your credit score is a close second, and that goes for every borrower, not just those who are self-employed. If you have a credit score in the high range -- something above 750 or 760 -- it will help you get approved for a mortgage. To boost your score, make sure you pay all bills on time, pay down your debt levels and do not make any new big purchases or apply for new credit soon before you apply for a mortgage.

Large Down Payment
The more money a bank lends you to buy a house, the more risk it is taking on that the money will not be paid back. If you are self-employed and considered a higher risk to begin with, one way you can alleviate some of that risk is to be able to put down a large amount of money. Putting down 20 percent is standard for a conventional loan and you should be willing to contribute at least that much. Putting down at least 20 percent also will save you money in the long run because you will not have to pay for mortgage insurance and you will pay less in finance charges over the life of the loan.

Significant Assets
One way to put a lender at ease about your ability to pay for a mortgage is to have significant reserves in the form of assets. If you have large amounts of money in regular savings, brokerage and retirement accounts, it offers a reserve for you to tap should your income take a dive. Other forms of property, such as personal and business property that is paid off and has value, are also good assets to show.

As you can see, when qualifying for a mortgage, in addition to your ability to repay the mortgage which is your debt to income ratio, a lender will also take into consideration a borrower’s credit score, size of the down payment and the amount of assets. A lender may be more lenient with a high debt to income ratio if one of these other positive factors are higher than the average as well!

Today's New Listings!

4803 Highland Drive, Willoughby

280 Mill Morr Drive, Painesville Township

7911 Oakridge Drive, Concord

7310 S Meadow Drive, Concord

7985 Brakeman Road, Leroy

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Open Houses!

Open Houses for August 25, 2019 

10440 Penniman Dr, Chardon 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$409,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-289-8213

6651 Breezewood Rd, Concord 
Open 1-4pm
$260,000 NEW PRICE!
4bd 3ba
Call 440-637-3791

10806 Ellison Creek Dr, Concord 
Open 12-3pm
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-488-1061

6517 Fay Rd, Concord 
Open 12-3pm
$575,000 
4bd 4ba
Call 440-525-3331

6586 Fay Rd, Concord 
Open 12-2pm
$410,000 NEW PRICE!
4bd 5ba
Call 440-537-6671

7550 Sarah Lee Dr, Concord 
Open 12-2pm
$525,000 
3bd 4ba
Call 440-413-1963

12358 Summerwood Dr, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$365,000 
5bd 3ba
Call 440-479-7379

4861 Webb Rd, Perry
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$425,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-537-6671

14665 Shire Ct, Russel Township 
Open 12-2pm
$600,000
4bd 4ba
Call 440-289-8213

11625 Lancaster Dr, Chagrin Falls  
BY APPT
$670,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-296-5006

7934 Sharon Dr, Mentor-on-the-Lake
BY APPT
$239,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

V/L Lloyd Rd, Wickliffe 
BY APPT
$275,000
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Today's New Listings!

34350 Beacon Drive, Willoughby

1601 Trotter Lane, Painesville Township

2 Ava June Trail, Painesville Township

184 Ava June Drive, Painesville Township

7113 Auburn Road, Concord

Monday, August 19, 2019

Should I Sell Before I Buy or Should I Buy Before I Sell?

Should I sell before I buy or should I buy before I sell? This is a common question from current homeowners who would like to move. Sellers are nervous to sell first and then not be able to find a new home that meets their needs. They are also nervous of finding the home of their dreams and purchasing it before they sell and then having two mortgage payments until their first home sells.  Let’s explore the advantages of buying a new home prior to selling your existing home.

Time to Move
One of the advantages of buying a new home prior to selling your existing home is that you will have plenty of time to get the new home ready to move into with updates such as painting and new flooring prior to actually having to move in. This is a nice option rather than having to do the updates while living in the home. Also, you will have time to pack your current residence and move into the new home and can even do it over time if you choose.

Move Only Once
By purchasing a new home first, you will avoid the need to possibly have to move twice. If you sold your home first but had no place to move, you might need to put your belongs into storage and move into temporary housing until you find your new home and close on it. You will likely incur rental charges both with a storage unit and housing. Purchasing a new home first will avoid the hassle of having to move twice.

Disadvantage
In spite of the good things this option offers, the biggest disadvantage of buying before selling is the possibility of paying two mortgages at the same time. This will be the case if you have already bought a new home but you are unable to find a buyer quickly for your existing home. If there is only a month or two overlap, that might be a better option than moving twice and incurring rental charges. If the timeframe is longer than two months, it may not be worth buying before selling.

Summary
You can buy a new home prior to selling your existing home. There are advantages and disadvantages to this option. There are also ways to minimize the risk of buying before selling. A competent real estate agent deals with this situation often and can provide options such as contracts with contingency clauses, rent back options, etc. Contact a Realtor today to help you buy a new home prior to selling your existing home!

Today's New Listings!

38525 Ranally Way, Willoughby

38517 Ranally Way, Willoughby

38568 Fairway Glenn Boulevard, Willoughby

9532 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Mentor

9932 Gabriels Way, Concord

521 Belglove Place, Painesville Township

516 Prestwick Path, Painesville Township

 

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Open Houses!

Open Houses for August 18, 2019 

6430 Murray Ave, Ashtabula 
Open 11-1pm
$147,500 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-344-9567

11625 Lancaster Dr, Chagrin Falls  
Open 12-2pm
$670,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-221-0075

10440 Penniman Dr, Chardon 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$409,900 NEW PRICE!
4bd 3ba
Call 440-289-8213

103 Saw Mill Bend, Chardon 
Open 11:30-3:30pm
$250,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-279-8585

10806 Ellison Creek Dr, Concord 
Open 12-2pm
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-488-1061

7550 Sarah Lee Dr, Concord 
Open 2-4pm
$525,000 
3bd 4ba
Call 440-537-6671

12358 Summerwood Dr, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$365,000 
5bd 3ba
Call 440-479-7379

7934 Sharon Dr, Mentor
Open 12-3pm
$249,900
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-0588

4861 Webb Rd, Perry
Open 12-2pm
$425,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

14665 Shire Ct, Russel Township 
Open 12-2pm
$600,000
4bd 4ba
Call 440-289-8213

3745 Painesville Warren Rd, Southington 
Open 11-1pm
$154,900
4bd 1ba
Call 440-413-1963

V/L Lloyd Rd, Wickliffe 
BY APPT
$275,000
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Price Reduction!

10440 Penniman Dr, Chardon
$409,900 NEW PRICE!

 

Today's New Listings!

1554 Rush Road, Wickliffe

33893 Beachpark Drive, Eastlake

34160 Beacon Drive, Willoughby

8363 Fairfax Drive, Mentor

7391 Truman Court, Mentor

6683 Courtyard Drive #4, Madison

Monday, August 12, 2019

Should I Get Preapproved Before Looking at Homes

If you are looking to buy a home, then you should consider getting preapproved before you even begin your search. There are some benefits of getting preapproved as well as drawbacks for failing to do so.

Benefit of Getting Preapproved. Having a preapproval letter attached to your offer can go a long way to ensure you get top consideration from the seller. This is because some major concerns of the seller are lifted – you are able to pay for the home and you know what the monthly payments will be, so you have all of the financial information you should need to make an offer.

Drawback of Failing to Get Preapproved. A drawback in failing to get preapproved in the first place is that you could fall in love with a specific house or location only to find out later that you do not qualify for that price range. Being preapproved means you know your budget, you know what you have to work with and can target your specific price range rather than wasting time and hoping you will be a match.

Sellers Require Preapproved Buyers. Most sellers today require a preapproval letter with an offer or they will not even consider the offer. Sellers want some assurances that a deal will come to fruition and a preapproval letter goes a long way in meeting this need.

Get Preapproved Right Away. Getting preapproved is a good step to take as early on in the home buying process as possible. It will save you a lot of time by targeting the right properties in the first place and it will add value to your offer with a seller by making them feel comfortable enough to accept an offer and know that the deal will go through. Speak with a mortgage professional today to get preapproved so that you can have the best experience in finding the right home, at the right price with a payment that is comfortable to you. Your dream home is just around the corner!

Today's New Listings!

36658 Valley Ridge Drive, Eastlake

38528 Ranally Way, Willoughby

8356 Dartmoor Road, Mentor

29 Belglove Place, Painesville Township

1691 Muirfield Lane, Painesville Township

12368 Summerwood Drive, Concord

8060 Humphrey Hill Drive, Concord

12355 Concord Hambden Road, Concord

5761 Silvertree Court, Madison

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Open Houses and Price Reductions!

Open Houses for August 11, 2019 

10806 Ellison Creek Dr, Concord 
Open 12-4pm
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-488-1061

7550 Sarah Lee Dr, Concord 
Open 12-4pm
$525,000 
3bd 4ba
Call 440-537-6671

103 Saw Mill Bend, Chardon 
Open 12-2pm
$250,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-413-0588

12358 Summerwood Dr, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$365,000 
5bd 3ba
Call 440-479-7379

14665 Shire Ct, Russel Township
Open 3-5pm
$600,000
4bd 4ba
Call 440-221-0075

4861 Webb Rd, Perry
Open 11am-3pm
$425,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

1601 Rockland Ave, Rocky River  
Open 12-2pm
$224,900 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-221-0075

3745 Painesville Warren Rd, Southington
Open 10am-12nn
$154,900 NEW PRICE!
3bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

15961 Thompson Rd, Thompson 
Open 1-3pm
$200,000
Call 440-413-1963

6586 Fay Rd, Concord 
BY APPT
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-296-5006

V/L Lloyd Rd, Wickliffe 
BY APPT
$275,000
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

V/L Eddy Rd, Willoughby Hills  
BY APPT
$325,000
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Price Reductions

871 E 258th St, Euclid
$64,900 NEW PRICE!

23801 Chardon Rd, Euclid 
$129,000 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

38440 Melrose Farms Drive, Willoughby

9890 Weathersfield Drive, Mentor

9510 Lismore Lane, Mentor

6271 Tina Drive, Mentor

1185 Waterfront Place, Painesville

Monday, August 5, 2019

How Can a Seller Make More Money?

You have decided to sell your home! There are quite a few things that you should consider if you want to sell your home for the highest price the current market can bear in the least amount of time.

Home Improvement Projects

Repairing and updating items in your home that are not working quite right or could benefit from looking more visually pleasing is worth the effort. One of the biggest bang for your buck is painting. A fresh coat of paint does wonders when listing a home and the cost is minimal compared to the return you will receive. Homes that feel well maintained sell for more money and in a quicker amount of time.

Correct Pricing 

This is without a doubt the most important task when listing a home. The price can always compensate the condition, location or market so it needs to reflect these items accordingly. Many sellers feel they should start their pricing higher and they can always lower it later or someone can always write a lower offer. The most efficient way to sell your home is to price it correctly in the first place. Buyers are in the market looking at many homes so they know right away when a home is overpriced as soon as they enter the home. The home is usually below the standards of the other homes they are looking at so they are not even interested in writing an offer. If the home was priced correctly the right buyers would see it and they would write an offer.

Seller’s Role 

You should try to accommodate all showing requests on your home. The buyer may not reschedule to look at your home and may even buy a house the same day they were supposed to view your home. Having your home on the market is not easy. It means having your home show ready at all times and having to leave your home often. The only way to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time is to show it to as many potential buyers as possible.

Get Professional Help

Realtors are your best source for pricing your home correctly, marketing it to the masses, showing the property, negotiating on your behalf and facilitating an on-time closing. The commission paid is well worth all of the knowledge, experience and real estate tools. Realtors often bring in a higher sales price than a for sale by owner listing as well so it is worth talking with a Realtor.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when listing your home for sale. Taking these things into consideration up front can help you sell your home quicker and for more money!

Today's New Listings!

155 Seaborn Drive, Willowick

38356 Piccadilly Square, Willoughby

9360 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland

5738 Grovewood Drive, Mentor

6850 Rolling Acres Court, Painesville

8101 Rainbow Drive, Painesville

7550 Sarah Lee Drive, Concord

7856 Lester Drive, Painesville

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Open Houses and Price Reductions!

Open Houses for August 4, 2019 

6430 Murray Ave, Ashtabula  
Open 1:30-3pm
$147,500
3bd 2ba
Call 440-813-5762

10440 Penniman Dr, Chardon 
Open 12-2pm
$414,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-289-8213

11130 River Rd, Chardon 
Open 12-2pm
$829,900 
4bd 4ba
Call 440-279-8585

103 Saw Mill Bend, Chardon 
Open 12-2pm
$250,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

10806 Ellison Creek Dr, Concord 
Open 12-4pm
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-488-1061

12358 Summerwood Dr, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$365,000 
5bd 3ba
Call 440-479-7379

8941 Billings Rd, Kirtland
Open 12-2pm
$349,900
3bd 3ba
Call 440-413-0588

3745 Painesville Warren Rd, Southington
Open 10am-12nn
$159,900 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

11625 Lancaster Dr, Chagrin Falls  
BY APPT
$670,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-296-5006

6586 Fay Rd, Concord 
BY APPT
$425,000 
4bd 5ba
Call 440-296-5006

V/L Lloyd Rd, Wickliffe 
BY APPT
$275,000
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Old Willoughby #27, Willoughby  
BY APPT
$379,900
3bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Price Reductions

4861 Webb Rd, Perry 
$425,000 NEW PRICE!

871 E 258th St, Euclid
$69,900 NEW PRICE!

1335 Perryville Pl, Ashtabula 
$29,900 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

38355 Hurricane Drive, Willoughby

1588 Westover Drive, Willoughby

34335 Beacon Drive, Willoughby

2479 Maple Hill Road, Willoughby Hills

8400 Cambden Crossing Way, Concord

Today's New Listings!

34645 Willow Creek Pl, Willoughby  - $399,000 1331 Bennett Rd, Madison - $329,900 7165 Hawthorne Dr, Mentor - $274,900 4423 Ashwood Ave...