New Listing: 193 Bishop Rd. Cartersville, GA 30121

This home is a perfect 10!  Hardwood floors throughout!  Upgrades galore!  Unbelievable back yard with cooking patio, hammock and fish pond!  Almost an acre!

 This home is priced at $147,500.

 Please call us at 770-606-0054 to speak to a team member for more details!

New Listing: 108 Marshall Lane Rome, GA 30165

This is a great 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with hardwood floors throughout, a huge backyard deck, and rocking chair porch.

 This is a Fannie Mae Home Path property.  You can purchase this property for as little as 3% down.  This property is approved for Home Path Renovation Mortgage financing.

 108 Marshall Lane is listed for sale at $50,000.  Call us today for more details at 770-606-0054!

Warren Buffett once said “price is what you pay…..value is what you get.”  When it comes to real estate transactions, this is quite true.  For example, when exploring options and choosing a mortgage lender, a borrower may decide to give his business to the one with the lowest interest rate. The lender could be a bank. Often this is an online lender.  The online lender touts the lowest rate available and the ease with which they can process and approve a home loan.  So, the borrower applies with the online lender and the process begins.  Of course, there is no face to face meeting.  Everything is done online.  The closest thing to a relationship between the borrower and lender is a phone conversation, which is brief.  Now, the online lender may indeed have the lowest rate and may be able to complete the transaction.  But what happens if problems occur during the transaction?  When I say problems, I also mean turbulence…..rough spots, such as a low appraisal. Online lenders simply contract with an appraisal company they find near the area where the home is located.  The online lender has no relationship established with the appraisal company, and they use the appraisal company because perhaps they are the least expensive and are licensed to do residential appraisals.  This may work fine for the online lender, but what about their client, the borrower? Using just any appraiser can spell trouble for a real estate loan, believe me.  When there is no expectation of future business from the online lender, an appraiser is far more likely to be overly cautious and prudent in his assessment of value.  Furthermore, he is likely to cite repairs to be made even if they are minor and tedious.  How do I know this happens?  Twenty plus years of mortgage lending experience, that is how.  It happens all the time and a borrower who decides he needs to go with the lender with the lowest rate is not always making a wise decision.  So, OK, he is getting a low price, but what about the value?  The online lender is not interested in future business or the reputation of how they conduct business.  They are in it for the transaction, and that is all.  They do not attend the closing and if an appraisal comes in low, an online lender is not at all likely to pitch in and work through the problem.  Many times over the years I have intervened on my clients’ behalf when turbulence occurred, not just for my borrower, but also for my realtor partners and even the seller. Intervention on my part can be several things, but often it is my persuading underwriting to work with me and approve a loan.  Sometimes I help my realtor partners or even a borrower with money when funds are short and we need to close. This kind of participation and help is something I provide because I value my business and most of all my reputation.  A solid reputable business is not easily acquired.  It is earned, and is something I cherish.

     An online lender or just any lender with a low rate helping out like this?  Friends, it won’t happen, rest assured.  As I stated at the beginning, price and value are two very different things.  So what if a lender is .125 or .25 percent lower on rate?  When push comes to shove if they cannot deliver or if they leave parties to a transaction twisting in the wind, what do you have?  Nothing, that’s what, or at least some very regretful folks who should have been wiser in their choice of lender.

Post contributed by Rena Rogers with AmericaHomeKey (770) 387-4504 ext. 208 www.renarogers.net

New Listing: 38 Harbor Lane White, GA 30184 *Short Sale*

This home has all the privacy of a home hidden in the trees with the luxuries of a swim and tennis neighborhood.  This spectacular home boasts 2 back decks, a great back yard, and a spacious floor plan.  The finished basement features built-in shelving and a full bath.  The main level is bright and airy with vaulted ceilings.  Make this home yours today!

 38 Harbor Lane is priced at $159,900.  Call us today for more details at 770-606-0054.  Thank you!

1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline Extended

With 180,000 loans in lender’s pipelines that were at risk of not closing in time, the government has stepped in and approved a bill to extend the closing deadline from June 30,2010 to September 30, 2010.  For those home buyers who were on the fence, this should ensure enough time to close and still be eligible for the credit.

New Listing: 40 Bramblewood Drive Cartersville, GA 30120

This is a complete and total charmer of a home.  Mr. and Mrs. Clean have made this lovely home updated and beautiful.  It features new carpet, paint, appliances and lighting and it has a finished basement.  It also boasts hardwood floors.  On the exterior, there is a lovely screened porch and fenced yard.  This 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath home is a great deal at $144,850.

 Please call us at 770-606-0054 for more details!

New Listing: 33 Timber Ridge Drive Cartersville, GA 30120

This is a great 2 bedroom 2 ½ bath townhome with a lovely and charming floor plan.  It features a private, stone, back patio with a KOI pond, and a terrific kitchen that over-looks the family room.  This home is in great condition and is priced to sell at $57,000!  Call us today for more details at 770-606-0054.

Last week we reported that the tax credit closing deadline for first-time home buyers had been extended from June 30 to Sept. 30.  However, that is not the case as the senate voted the bill down yesterday that would have allowed for this extension.  This means those hoping to secure the first-time home buyer tax credit must close on those properties by the original June 30 deadline.  This could definitely prove tough for those whose lenders are behind on closing these loans.

Tax Credit Closing Deadline Extended

For first time home buyers who got a contract on a home by April 30, they were supposed to close by June 30 to ensure they received the tax credit.  However, due to 180,000 loans in banks’ and lenders’ pipeline trying to be closed by that date, many worried their loan would not be finalized in time.  To help be sure these home buyers get their credit, the Senate just passed a measure that extends the closing date from June 30 to September 30, 2010.  This should allow banks and lenders the time they need to close these outstanding loans.

For those of you who were worried you wouldn’t make the June 30 deadline, now you can rest easy knowing the extension is in your favor and should allow banks and lenders the time they need to close your loan!

For those of you looking to purchase a home with a USDA loan, the funds are now back and ready for your use.  The funding fee has increased to 3.5% until further notice.

If a loan was not already granted a conditional commitment at two percent it will need to be updated with the 3.5% funding fee as well.

Give us a call at 770-606-0054 if we can help find a home that will work for you!