Did your 2012 New Year’s resolution involve buying a home?
The reason that I ask is because I just read an article over the
holidays that stated that four out of five people who make
New Year’s resolutions eventually  break them and one third
won’t even make it to the end of  January?

With all the daily distractions and constant demands,  we often
neglect things we know are most important.. things like settling
for “resolutions” rather than “results” when  it comes to buying a
home that we desire and deserve.

So, why do we keep making ourselves the same promises over
and over—and risk ending up disappointed and discouraged?

It’s simple, really:

Resolutions require only words.  Results take action!

And everyone knows, taking action is easier when you have help, so,
we are going to host a FREE First Time Home Buyers
Workshop on Saturday, January 28, 2012 to help you learn
exactly “what” action you need to take to get into a home of
your own in 2012.

Learn how to buy foreclosures, short sales, bank owned properties, & for sale by owners

Join us at Hale Tax Solutions, 1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Suite 10,  Charleston South Carolina 29407. Workshop starts at 10:00 a.m.  and will end at 11:30 a.m. Seating is very limited…because we only  want people who will take action…not make resolutions. (Promises) 

To reserve your seat(s) just call/text 843-200-5617 or email: 
bobby@anchor-mtg.com  

If you want to become a homeowner in 2012, I urge you to act now
and RSVP for Our FREE First Time Home Buyer’s Workshop.

Oh, by the way, as you may know, we have many
Charleston investors and Owners (427) who sell
their properties THEMSELVES  without listing
them on the on the local Charleston MLS (they’re
called ”For Sale By Owners ….and you can meet
with them directly at this home buyer’s workshop
about their properties!

Charleston Foreclosures, Bank owned properties, Short Sales, For Sale By Owners

So, if you’ve made a resolution to purchase a Charleston  home in 2012 and want to do it in the fastest, most convenient  manner, (without a lot of B.S.) make sure that you do not miss
this FREE workshop! Call us today to reserve your seat(s)  843-200-5617

If you guessed rent, you’d be wrong.

Recent surveys have shown that when you factor Charleston home prices “re-adjusting” substantionally to early 2000-2003  prices and interest rates at historical lows, many potential buyers are re-examing the numbers and taking the following into consideration:

• People in higher tax brackets, for example, may get more bang for their purchase
  buck because they’re able to deduct more interest costs and property taxes.
• Buyers often feel more invested in their communities, more likely to put down
  roots, make friends and join local organizations. Home ownership often brings
  them pride and joy.
• And, once people purchase, their home-buying costs tend to be fairly stable.
  Fixed-rate loans don’t go up ( although taxes and maintenance costs can.)
  Rents usually do.

Check out the chart below:

Is it better to rent or buy in Charleston, SC?

What do you think?

Rent or Buy?

P.S. The recent survey also revealed that the top 2 reasons that most people considered renting over purchasing a home was  (1) Lack of down payment and (2) Credit issues…if either or these problems are keeping you from purchasing a home of your own in Charleston, SC call us today @ 843-200-5617.

It doesn’t cost a penny to talk!

Local Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester & Colleton County home owners who are trying to sell without the assistance of a real estate agent now have another option to increase exposure!

HomesByLender.com is a national For Sale By Owner (FSBO) searchable website that allows local property owners to upload information relevant to the property they are
trying to sell. But best of all, Homebuyers who are searching for a home can easily locate 200+homes that are generally not available on the MLS (and get “tips and “inside loan information these homes from a recommended Charleston mortgage professional.)

With HomesByLender.com, Home sellers also have access to a complete FSBO system
which includes national exposure through the HomesByLender.com site, use of a yard and car window sign, access to Certified Mortgage Planner to assist with any financing questions, and a complete FSBO marketing assistance package with helpful information.

And best of all,this is a no cost, no obligation service for homeowners looking to sell!

How does it work?

For Sale By Owners (FSBO’s) can go to www.homesbylender.com/charleston/
then, in the right side column of the page select “ Add Your Home Free” and
then add your information, photo, etc. ( If you’re ”computer challenged” just give
us a call & we will do it for you!)

Renters, First Time Home Buyers and Real Estate Investors really, really should take advantage of the opprtunity to receive a FREE List of over 245+ Bank-
Owned Foreclosures that you can purchase for pennies on the dollars.!

Registration is FREE -get your list today!

http://www.HomesByLender.com/charleston/

Special new program for Charleston renters makes it easy to own a home!  FREE Educational Report reveals all the details!

CHARLESTON, SC – A special announcement was made last Wednesday that will have hundreds of area of renters moving into homes of their own in the near future. An educational report entitled “Simple, Easy Steps to Owning Your Own Home” has just been released that explains simple and easy steps that can help renters stop paying rent and own a home of their own. Every year renters pay thousands of dollars with absolutely nothing to show for it.

This report shows how your current rent may afford you a larger home and how owning a home takes your rent money and turns it into a long-term savings account. Rent gives you zero return, while owning builds your assets. In today’s economy, regardless of your circumstances, there are plans for nearly everyone, and this free educational report explains all the details. For your own free copy, call the recorded information line below. It’s your money; this report will show you what you can really do. Call now.  For Recorded Information and Your FREE Educational Report Call 1-888-461-8070 Anytime, 24 Hours a Day! Your Report Will Be Mailed to You Within 24 Hours.

Top 10 Credit Dos & Don'ts When Applying For A Home Loan

The following are some helpful tips to avoid the credit mistakes many borrowers make during the loan process:

1. DON’T APPLY FOR NEW CREDIT OF ANY KIND, including those “You have been pre-approved” credit card invitations that you receive in the mail. Every time that you have your credit pulled by a potential creditor or lender, you lose points from your credit score immediately. Depending on the elements in your current credit report, you could lose anywhere from 2-50 points for one hard inquiry.

2. DON’T PAY OFF COLLECTIONS OR CHARGE-OFFS during the loan process. Paying collections will decrease the credit score immediately due to the date of last
activity becoming recent. If you want to pay off old accounts, do it through closing
and make sure that 1) you validate that the debt is yours, and 2) that the
creditor agrees to give you a letter of deletion.

3. DON’T CLOSE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS. If you close a credit
card account it will appear to the FICO that your debt ratio has gone up. Also,
closing a card will affect other factors in the score such as length of credit
history. If you have to close a credit card account, do it after closing, and
make sure it is a more recent account.

4. DON’T MAX OUT OR OVER-CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS. This is the fastest way to bring your score down 50-100 points immediately. Try to keep your credit card balances below 30% of their available limit at all times during the loan
process. If you decide to pay down balances, do it across the board – make an
extra payment on all of your cards at the same time.

5. DON’T CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT ONTO 1 OR 2 CREDIT CARDS. It seems like it would be the smart thing to do, however, when you consolidate all of your debt onto one card, it appears that you are maxed out on that card, and the system will penalize you as mentioned above in 4. If you want to save money on credit card interest rates, wait until after closing.

6. DON’T DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE A RED FLAG TO BE RAISED BY THE
SCORING SYSTEM. This would include adding new accounts, co-signing on a loan, changing your name or address with the bureaus. The less activity on your reports during the loan process, the better.

7. DO JOIN A CREDIT WATCH PROGRAM. If you join a credit watch program, you can check your reports weekly, or even daily depending on the program you select. (When you pull your own reports, you don’t get dinged for a hard inquiry.) This way, if something does show up on your reports that has caused your score to go down, you’ll know it immediately, and you may be able to take care of the problem before closing.

8. DO STAY CURRENT ON EXISTING ACCOUNTS. Like your mortgage and
car payments. One 30-day late can cost you anywhere from 30-75 points.

9. DO CONTINUE TO USE YOUR CREDIT AS NORMAL. Red flags are raised
easily with the scoring system. If it appears that you are changing your pattern, it will raise a red flag, and your score could go down.

10. DO CALL YOUR LOAN ORIGINATOR if you receive something in the mail from a creditor or collection agency that you believe may affect your score during the loan process. Your broker may be able to supply you with the resources you need to stop any derogatory reporting to the bureaus.

Remember that lenders will pull their own credit report at closing, and if your scores have dropped, you may no longer qualify for the rate that was underwritten and the final approval may come back with a higher rate. All lenders use your
credit score to determine which loan criteria you fit and every loan has different
criteria attached (the loan-to-value and debt-to-income ratios, etc.)

Many borrowers do not understand this, and mistakenly think the loan officer is “baiting
and switching.” If an issue comes up and the lender decides you do not qualify for a certain loan, the only thing a loan officer can do is search for other lenders who might be willing to give the rate and program they thought you qualified for.

If you have good credit and know your score, the loan officer can give you an idea of what he or she can offer based on what you state.

Have questions about these tips or need help with your credit score? Give us a call at 843-200-5617 and we will send you a FREE Report that reveals how hundereds of home buyers increased their credit score.

They want INFORMATION!

They want to be able to see, as clearly as possible, what they would be  getting into if they bought a home…..they want to know where/how to get the  answers to 5 basic questions:

1. Is it in my BEST interest to buy a home at this time?

2. How much home can I afford to buy?

3. What does my credit report say and how will a lender look at it?

4. Can I qualify?

5. What’s the next step to finding the RIGHT home…without making a mistake that could
cost you thousands of dollars?

This website was created to help you with the answers to these and any other questions that you night have. If you want to learn home much home you can afford, what your credit score is and which loan programs you are eligible for, give us a call at 843.200.5617 or email your questions: bobby@anchor-mtg.com and we will be glad to provide you with this important information.