Paul here again offering you some snippets of info to help you in the Real Estate Market.  If you are contemplating Buying, Selling or Investing in Todays market, don’t hesitate to contact me and allow me to guide you through that process!  Enjoy the read!

Mortgages are the largest monthly expense most homeowners will ever have. Getting the best mortgage interest rate starts with basics. Here are five ways to get the best rate possible.

1. Check your credit. Before you shop for a home, review your credit reports. Correct any negatives you find, pay bills on time, and don’t open any new accounts. A change in your debt-to-income ratio can cause you to pay more in interest.
2. Choose the right loan. Choose your loan based on current market conditions and how long you plan to stay in your home. The longer you plan to stay in your home, the better off you’ll be with a fixed-rate mortgage. It takes most borrowers five years just to earn back their original closing costs in equity.
3. Compare rates and lenders. A loan officer can offer certain loan packages. A mortgage broker can shop your deal around to lenders for you. Remember, rates can change several times a day, so compare loan packages at the same time to get the best deal.
4. Consider terms. The true cost of the loan is the APR or annual percentage rate, which includes fees from the lender. All terms are negotiable, so don't be afraid to ask what a particular fee is for and if it can be reduced or eliminated. Also, the costs for a 10, 20 or 30-year loan will vary. Shorter terms mean larger monthly payments, but faster equity.
5. Don’t wait for rates to go down. Rates are currently below four percent and likely to go up instead of down. Instead of worrying about rates, work on how quickly you can build equity quickly. Pay $25, $100, or $500 extra per month and you'll more than offset any rate you'll pay.

For more information, contact me today.

To take the mortgage finding a step further, I thought the following article I found on MSN Real Estate to be a good representation and Step by Step process to buying a home.  Check it out through the link below and see what you think.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/how-long-it-really-takes-to-buy-a-home/ar-AAfCaOo?ocid=spartanntp

Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices professional wants to sell your home quickly and at the highest price possible. Your home must be exposed to qualified buyers who are serious about finding a home.

What do serious buyers look like? They’re ready to buy and show it by getting prequalified by a lender and knowing their price range. They have criteria to meet, including likes and dislikes. They have a moving date in mind. They’re represented by a real estate agent. They’ve already eliminated homes using the Internet and your home is on the short list. They can make a solid offer on the right home today.

Serious buyers aren’t nosy neighbors, open house explorers, or people who can’t or won’t make a realistic offer. Serious buyers won’t waste your time because they don’t want to lose the opportunity to buy your home to another buyer.

Your listing agent’s job is to network, advertise, and market to make serious buyers aware of your home. How attractive your home is to buyers is up to you. Here are five ways to help your agent attract buyers to your home.

1. Verify market prices with your agent. Price your home for today’s market reality.
2. Stage your home to best advantage. Declutter, depersonalize, clean it, paint it, and enhance curb appeal with fresh landscaping.
3. Fix everything that’s a problem. No leaks, chips, smells. Move-in ready condition is what most buyers want. Don’t give buyers room to argue price due to condition.
4. Do something extra for your home. Some updating, fresh paint, new appliances, or new countertops can work wonders.
5. Be a serious seller. Just as a serious buyer is ready to buy, show you’re ready to sell by offering your home at an attractive price, being flexible about moving dates and other terms, and making your home available for viewing with their agents.

There’s an old saying in real estate, “It’s always a great time to buy a home!” And right now, it’s really true. Here are five reasons to buy a home right now:

1. The job market is good. The Bureau of Labor says the national unemployment rate in March was 5.0 percent. Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 7 cents to $25.43.
2. Homes are a hedge against inflation. The Labor Department also said the consumer price index, less food and energy, rose 2.3 percent in March, the largest 12-month increase since May 2012. You may be paying more for goods and services, but if you're a homeowner, you're better off financially. A major asset such as a home, purchased at a fixed cost, becomes more valuable when prices inflate.
3. Housing price increases are slowing. The median existing-home price for all housing types in February was $210,800, up 4.4 percent from February 2015 ($201,900), but down from the 8.1 percent year-over-year increase in January. February's price increase marks the 48th consecutive month of year-over-year gains. Now's the time to take advantage of better homebuying conditions.
4. Mortgage interest rates are still low. In the week ending April 7, Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.59 percent, with an average 0.5 point paid to get that interest rate. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.66 percent, so they have nowhere to go but up.
5. Pent-up demand for homes is real. At the current rate of national home sales, unsold housing inventory is at a 4.4-month supply. A balanced housing market – one equally favorable to both buyers and sellers - has six months of inventory on hand. A market with under six months of supply is a “seller’s market.” Currently, there are not enough new homes being built or existing homes being listed to make prices come down any faster.

As a buyer, you could wait for better market conditions, but your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices professional would be the first to tell you that the present market conditions are attractive. Falling mortgage interest rates, slower home price increases, and a tight supply of homes are unlikely to align for much longer.