How to Keep Up Curb Appeal in the Fall and Winter

When selling a home, curb appeal is the first view buyers will see prior to entering your home. Often times, a prospective buyer will decide whether or not they even want to get an inside look based on what they see on the outside. How to keep your home looking attractive in the fall and winter months can be a challenge. But with every challenge, there is an affordable solution saving time and money.
Never assume the market is slower in the fall and winter months. Preparing the exterior of your home during these months will enhance the home’s first impression all the more.
In the fall, colorful leaves are beautiful. But once they start falling and covering the lawn, it is a distraction. It is very important leaves do not get in the way. Keep the lawn and sidewalk clear of leaves along with keeping your lawn mowed. Remove dying and/or overgrown plants along with keeping your shrubs trimmed and shaped. A twice a week effort can result in a higher sales price.
In the winter it is obvious that once the snow falls, the lawn and flower beds are covered. Make sure to keep the snow off the driveway, walk way and any entry location from the outdoors. Brush the snow off the shrubs to allow the shrubs to appear standing tall without the snow weighing the shrubs down. If you are selling your home during the holiday season, try to use very little lights and holiday yard décor. You don’t want to over clutter the exterior. Keep it simple.
Bringing the home’s curb appeal to life in the seasons of fall and winter is just like preparing your home’s exterior in the spring and fall. How a home’s exterior is maintained is equally as important no matter what the season. A little effort goes a long way when selling during the fall and winter months.
For more advice in selling a home, contact Guerra Realtors, a member of Realty Group CT, for a consultation, free home value market analysis or search for homes in your area at 203-466-7653.

Let's Talk Relocation! - Simple Tips To Prepare to Relocate

By: John Guerra

Here Are a Few Helpful Tips When Deciding to Make a Relocation Move To Another State

Relocating to another state can be a stressful decision. Knowing what steps to make prior to making this decision is a vital part of relocating. Once your decision is made to relocate, it is important to know the time frame to prepare your relocation and services, both local and in the area you are moving. Most important, if your relocation is based on an employment reasons, find out the details in the relocation package your company is giving you to make that move.

If you own a home, many times your company will reach out to a relocation company who will assign a real estate professional that will determine the value of your home and market it for sale. There are also times where you can choose the real estate professional to help you locally. Through this process, a relocation department that works for you or your company will also connect with a real estate professional in the area you are moving to. This process is done to help you find a new home prior to your move.

Once the above steps are taken, it is time to prepare to move. If you currently own a home, it is advisable to clear the clutter and stage the home for sale. Pricing is an important. Through the real estate professionalize advice, you will be provided a CMA to determine the home's current market value. Use the suggested list price rather then over price the home. Over pricing will result in less results which can hurt your time frame decision.

When relocating with children, the relocation company and real estate professional assigned to assist you when purchasing a new home in the area you are relocating, will provide you information relating to demographics, schools, area activities and events that take place in the area you are searching for a new home and more. Although at times relocating can be difficult for people with children, introducing the new area to them by information is a step to prepare them to be excited about this move.

Begin getting estimates from movers to assist you and guide you in a state to state move. Once you chose a professional moving company, determine what belonging will actually go with you and what belongings need to be packed.

Once your home sold locally, and you are pending a purchase of a new home in another location, the professionals assisting you in both transactions will work as a team to make your move go smoothly as well. This includes the time frame of closing both your transactions.

If you are currently renting and relocating, the same applies in leases by Rental specialist as well.

It is time to make that move. You already decided how you will transport your belongings, however it is important to go through them again, including all the items you will not be disposing of. Once you've done that, write down a list of your belongings and call it "my inventory". How are some belongings being shipped, what you will be carrying and what items are staying.

Your travel arrangements, including temporary accommodation in the area you are relocating to, should remain with you. If you decide to move yourself and/or your family by plane, a travel consultant will help you with this area of your travel needs.

It is important that you begin to take care of all your required documentation as soon as your move date is official. Paper work documentations such as school and medical records for you and your children, insurance policies, all papers relating to your real estate transactions, contact numbers, change of address forms and anything else that is important.

On the day of your move, it's advisable that you (or an authorized representative) are there for the whole duration. This will assure you count and condition of your belongings on your inventory list. Additionally, all parties involved in assisting you with your relocation move will be there answer any questions that you may have. This also includes your selected moving company.

Never hesitate to ask questions, address concerns, request school and town tours in the area of your move amongst additional service vendors or professionals you need in any area of expertise.

Author Resource:- Relocating from one home to another, whether it is for a job relocation, family move, retirement, starting out or starting doesn't mean it is a stressful move. Simply tips will guide you through moving to your next home.

Call 1-866-281-4956 for more advice about relocation or visit: www.readytomakeamove.com to get advice, search homes for sale or get a market value of your home.

Your Credit History

As part of the loan application process, virtually all lenders will want to see a copy of your credit report. The report will list all your long-term debts (credit cards, mortgage payments, automobile and student loans, etc), as well as your payment history. If you don't have a copy of your credit report, most lenders will generally require you to pay for a copy when they process your loan application.

However, most real estate experts agree that it is a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report several months before you apply for a loan. This is so you have a chance to resolve any problems with your credit before your bank sees it. U.S. Federal law ensures that you have access to your credit report, which may be obtained from your local credit bureau or any of several national firms that specialize in credit reports.

Late payments
For most people, problems with their credit report are likely related to late payments on a debt. If you were late one month in paying off your credit card, but otherwise have a good payment history, chances are most lenders won't be too concerned. But if you have a history of late payments you'll need to document the reasons why. A slow payment history won't necessarily get you turned down for a loan, but you may have to pay a higher rate of interest or otherwise prove to the lender that you can repay your loan in a timely fashion.

Errors on your credit report
Many people are surprised to learn that credit reports can often contains errors or inaccurate information. If this is the case with your credit report, you'll need to contact the reporting agency or creditor to have the problem resolved. This can sometimes be a slow process, so make sure to give yourself time to clear up the mistake.

Bankruptcies and foreclosures
There's no getting around it, a bankruptcy on your credit report is not a good thing. But that doesn't mean you still can't obtain a loan. Even though a bankruptcy may stay on your credit report for seven to ten years, lenders will often consider the circumstances surrounding a bankruptcy (family illness, injury, etc.). Moreover, if you have reestablished good credit since the bankruptcy, a lender will be more inclined to approve your application.

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You will find a wealth of useful real estate information for home buyers and sellers at our website! Before you sell or buy a home in Connecticut, view market information found on this website.

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Our real estate web site is designed to provide you with the latest market information and current home listings for sale in Connecticut (CT). Our website features a free real estate search that will allow you to search for home listings in Connecticut.

Find information on buying or selling your next home. Let an expert, a Connecticut Realtor®, help you through the real estate buying or selling process. This is a great area to live!

Whether you have an area in mind or are looking for some suggestions, contact us today and we can discuss any question you might have about or any of the surrounding cities! or any of the surrounding cities!

Selling a Connecticut Home
If you're thinking of selling your home in Connecticut, the first thing you should ask is "How much is my home worth?" Being educated on market trends in Connecticut gives you the best chance of selling your home quickly and for the best price possible.

Click on "Free Market Analysis" to request a free (C.M.A.) Comparative Market Analysis of your home.

Buying a Home in Connecticut (CT)
Let us find you the perfect home! We specialize in a variety of properties including: resale, new home construction, custom builders, luxury, retirement property, land, horse property, vacation homes, second homes, long term rentals, leasing, foreclosures and investment property. You can find it all on our website. In fact, make your home search easier and become a VIP Buyer. Get immediate information on ALL new listings that match your criteria emailed. Click on "VIP Buyer's Program" now! As always, if you have any questions about the Connecticut real estate market, or finding that perfect home here in Connecticut, please let us know!

Need a Home Loan?
Finding the right financial solution for your real estate transaction can be confusing. It's important for you to know the facts about your mortgage before you buy a house. Making sure that you know how much you can afford and the best rates for your purchase can save you more than money, it can save you time and stress! Read the "Articles" on this site to learn more. Make sure you click on "Pre-Qualify Now" to take the first step to financing your home purchase. We will contact you and connect you to one of our referred lenders for a free mortgage pre-approval, the very first step to home ownership.

Getting Your Finances in Order when Applying for a Mortgage Loan

Getting Your Finances in order is a crucial step in starting your search for a new home is having a clear idea of your financial situation. By getting a handle on your income, expenses and debts, you'll have a much better idea of what you can afford and how much you'll need to borrow.

For lenders to verify this information, though, they're going to need to look at your financial records. It is also important to remember that you should include records for each person who will be an owner of the house. So before you even visit the bank, make sure you'll be able to provide copies of these important documents:

Paycheck Stubs
Remember that lenders are most interested in your average income. Not only will they want to see this month's paycheck, but also how much you've been making for the past two years. Steady employment is also more attractive to lenders, so if you've been hopping from job to job, be prepared to discuss the reasons why.


Bank Statements
In order to qualify you for a loan, most lenders will also ask you for copies of your bank statements. Ideally, they'd like to see a steady history of savings--or at the very least, that you're not bouncing checks every month.


Tax Records
It's always a good idea to save copies of your tax returns, especially if you're self-employed. If you own your own business, it's important to note that lenders generally consider your income as the amount you paid taxes on--not the gross income of the business.


Dividends &Â Investments
Lenders will usually consider long-term investment dividends, as well as your investment portfolio, when evaluating your income.


Alimony/Child Support
If you receive steady payments as part of a divorce settlement or for child support, you can also include this as part of your gross income. Just remember that lenders will want to see a copy of your divorce/court settlement verifying the amount of the payments.


Credit Report
Virtually every lender will want to see a copy of your credit report as part of the loan application process. The report lists all of your long-term debts, as well as your payment history. In general, they will require you to pay for the credit report (approximately $50), but if you have a recent copy, they may accept that instead.

FHA Announces Policy Changes - From Arthur Sapienza; Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

FHA Announces Policy Changes to Address Risk and Strengthen Finances
New Measures Will Help FHA Better Manage Risk, While Maintaining Support for the Housing Market and Access for Underserved Communities

WASHINGTON - Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David Stevens today announced a set of policy changes to strengthen the FHA's capital reserves, while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission to provide access to homeownership for underserved communities. The changes announced today are the latest in a series of changes Stevens has enacted in order to better position the FHA to manage its risk while continuing to support the nation's housing market recovery.

The FHA will propose to take the following steps: increase the mortgage insurance premium (MIP); update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers; reduce seller concessions to three percent, from six percent; and implement a series of significant measures aimed at increasing lender enforcement. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan previewed the changes in December of last year, noting that the FHA would announce additional details before the end of January.

"Striking the right balance between managing the FHA's risk, continuing to provide access to underserved communities, and supporting the nation's economic recovery is critically important," said Commissioner Stevens. "When combined with the risk management measures announced in September of last year, these changes are among the most significant steps to address risk in the agency's history. Additionally, by continuing to provide affordable, responsible mortgage products, FHA will support the housing market's recovery. Importantly, FHA will remain the largest source of home purchase financing for underserved communities."
Announced FHA Policy Changes:

1. Mortgage insurance premium (MIP) will be increased to build up capital reserves and bring back private lending
•The first step will be to raise the up-front MIP by 50 bps to 2.25% and request legislative authority to increase the maximum annual MIP that the FHA can charge.
•If this authority is granted, then the second step will be to shift some of the premium increase from the up-front MIP to the annual MIP.
•This shift will allow for the capital reserves to increase with less impact to the consumer, because the annual MIP is paid over the life of the loan instead of at the time of closing
•The initial up-front increase is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and will go into effect in the spring.


2. Update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers.
•New borrowers will now be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA's 3.5% down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10%.
•This allows the FHA to better balance its risk and continue to provide access for those borrowers who have historically performed well.
•This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February and, after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.


3. Reduce allowable seller concessions from 6% to 3%
•The current level exposes the FHA to excess risk by creating incentives to inflate appraised value. This change will bring FHA into conformity with industry standards on seller concessions.
•This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.


4. Increase enforcement on FHA lenders
•Publicly report lender performance rankings to complement currently available Neighborhood Watch data - Will be available on the HUD website on February 1.
•This is an operational change to make information more user-friendly and hold lenders more accountable; it does not require new regulatory action as Neighborhood Watch data is currently publicly available.
•Enhance monitoring of lender performance and compliance with FHA guidelines and standards.
•Implement Credit Watch termination through lender underwriting ID in addition to originating ID.
•This change is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and is effective immediately.
•Implement statutory authority through regulation of section 256 of the National Housing Act to enforce indemnification provisions for lenders using delegated insuring process
•Specifications of this change will be posted in March, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in early summer.
•HUD is pursuing legislative authority to increase enforcement on FHA lenders. Specific authority includes:
•Amendment of section 256 of the National Housing Act to apply indemnification provisions to all Direct Endorsement lenders. This would require all approved mortgagees to assume liability for all of the loans that they originate and underwrite
•Legislative authority permitting HUD maximum flexibility to establish separate "areas" for purposes of review and termination under the Credit Watch initiative. This would provide authority to withdraw originating and underwriting approval for a lender nationwide on the basis of the performance of its regional branches

In addition to the changes proposed today, the FHA is continuing to review its overall response to housing market conditions, and continuing to evaluate its mortgage insurance underwriting standards and its measures to help distressed and underwater borrowers through FHA/HAMP and other FHA initiatives going forward.

For Additional information, please contact Arthur Sapienza at the below numbers. He will be more then happy to provide you a free mortgage consultation and free pre-approval or re-financing information if you currently own real estate property:

Arthur J. Sapienza
Home Mortgage Consultant
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
(203) 230-0116 Home Office
(203) 605-7621 Cell
(203) 876-3810
(800) 545-4681
(866) 871-9558 Secure eFax
https://www.wfhm.com/loans/arthur-sapienza

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