Understanding the Mortgage Process

Mortgage 101

Let's face it, the mortgage is the most important item in buying a home. Without the mortgage there is no home. Mortgages can be very confusing .

The most important part is getting your Pre-qualification letter and Pre-approval letter. Without these letters sellers are not going to take you seriously. I have also blogged about down payments in the past and have added a Mortgage page to my website that covers Types of Mortgages and Down Payments. One of the most crucial items that affect your mortgage is your credit score. Your credit score affects the rate you get with your mortgage. When filling out your loan application there is a lot to understand. You will find a Loan Application Checklist on my website to help you with the mortgage process.

Be careful when looking online for a lender. There are a lot of scammers out there. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a great brochure to help you look into your lender. The National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) has a government’s lender licensing database. Go over all costs with your mortgage lender that will be on your mortgage payment. Ask about PMI: Private Mortgage Insurance. You do not need any unexpected expenses. I hope that my website will help you. If I can help you in any way with your real estate needs please just ask.

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This is it! Let’s make that offer

Now that you have done the fun part, touring homes and have found the perfect one, it’s time for the hard work to start. I have added a Making the Offer to my website that outlines items that need to be done and what I, the realtor, can do for you. I found a Michigan Government website that will help you understand the Michigan Transfer Tax that will need to be paid at closing. Now is the time to think about Home Warranties . I can help walk you through the advantages of a warranty and help you get one. The major inspections/appraisals that will probably be handled at this time: Inspections (always it an inspection) Land Survey ( This is important if there is any undefined boundaries) Home Appraisal ( the lender will insist on this ) No worries, I can walk you through all of these things. If you have any questions just ask .

Ice Safety Tips for enjoying Michigan lakes this winter

Brownington Pond in Brownington Vermont My sister in Vermont reminded me today about being careful on the ice. She lives with and takes care of our dad on a small pond in Vermont. A couple of teenagers were out fishing on the pond and fell through the ice. Berrien County has a lot of lakes for ice fishing, snowmobiling and ice skating. I thought that it might be a good idea to touch on some ice safety info . When ice fishing or snowmobiling on frozen water you should have 2 ice picks or they are sometimes called ice claws with you at all times. Ice varies from area to area on lakes and ponds. It is never the same thickness. Temperature, underwater springs and water currents can affect the thickness and stability of the ice. Stay off the ice if it is covered in snow or slush on top. Snow on top of the ice insulates the ice and slows its freezing. If there is slush it means that the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom. It is never a good idea to take a car or tru

Home Safety 101 - Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a great flyer for you to download on Smoke Alarms that covers all this information on it. SAFETY TIPS Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound. Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined. Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate false alarms. • A

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