Wilmington NC Real Estate Guide

The Wilmington- Cape Fear Homebuilders announced yesterday that the “housing affordability” in the Wilmington NC area remained near the highest level nationwide for the 6 consectutive month.  The Wilmington NC real estate prices have been lowered and the interest rates are favorable.   

This quote is from WWAY 3 from the president of Homebuilders “The possibility of homeownership is more obtainable for buyers in our market now than it has been for years,” said WCFHBA President John Lancaster of Venture Homes of the Carolinas. “More buyers are beginning to enter the market again thanks to renewed confidence as housing prices stabilize while the fed maintains all time low interest rates.”

Syracuse NY held the top spot on most affordable homes, with some smaller housing markets following close by Mansfield, Ohio; Bay City, Mich.; Monroe, Mich.; and Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.  Lancaster says “Our market is greatly influenced by what happens up north, so the numbers out of places like New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio are encouraging,”. 

That is encouraging news when the news lately has not been so positive.

Please take a minute to tour our website and search the Wilmington NC real estate area to find the house, neighborhood and price that you are looking for.  We have an inhouse Lender – Alpha Mortgage and an inhouse Insurance Agency – Real Mark Insurance and would be happy to give you contact information so that you have a “One Stop” Shop to buy real estate.   We make it easy for you.  Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty and Kay Baker and Associates.  Search all Wilmington NC real estate on www.cbbaker.com

If the low prices and the low interest rates have you wishing you could buy a new home but cannot because of your debt load, there is still time to reorganize your finances to make your wish come true.  Take a realistic look at where you spend your money.  Write everything down and where you spent it.  Is there a $4.00 Latte everyday? Make a budget and try to do away with some of the extras that you buy on a whim.  There are budget tools online, like Suze Ormans expense tracker that will help get you started.   We also have a credit repair company that can help you earn additional points for your credit score, so that you can qualify for lower interest rates.  Before you know it, that new home can be yours.  Be patient and work towards what you really want.  We can help you achieve this.  For all your Wilmington NC real estate needs please visit www.cbbaker.com or www.kaybakerwilmington.com

To view the home pictured please visit www.AskMeAboutWilmington.com

Income Tax Deadline

You’re probably up to your neck by now in forms and paperwork as the April 15th income tax deadline approaches. Maybe you’ve already completed your taxes, paid your bill, or are awaiting your refund check. Either way, now is the perfect time to revisit the extended and expanded Home Buyer’s Tax Credit.

$8000 Tax Credit

Why? Because now, as you calculate your tax bill or your refund, you can finally see in real terms just how beneficial a tax credit of up to $8,000 can be to your bottom line.

Here’s the basics:

Qualified 2009 and 2010 first-time home buyers can get up to 10% of the home’s purchase price or a maximum of $8,000. In November 2009, legislation extended a tax credit of up to $6,500 (or up 10% of the home’s purchase price) to long-time residents of the same primary residence if they purchase a new main home. To qualify, eligible taxpayers must show that they lived in their previous homes for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period ending on the closing date of the new home.

Important details to remember:

1) You don’t have to pay it back (as long as you stay in your qualified home for at least 36 months).

2) If you qualify for the credit, you can still apply it to this year’s taxes, even if you’ve already filed your returns, or save it for your 2010 returns.

3) This is a true tax credit, not a deduction. If you qualify for the full credit, there will be an actual dollar-for-dollar reduction of up to $8,000 (or up to $6,500 for qualified repeat buyers) on your tax bill now or in 2010.

4) New income qualification limits have been put in place that expanded the pool of qualified buyers.

5) If you purchased a qualified home or plan to after reading this article, you must have a contract in place by April 30, 2010 (with closing to take place by June 30, 2010), so don’t wait!

There are, of course, other details and qualification requirements and restrictions that you’ll need to consider. But don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions. Also, if you happen to have your completed 2009 tax return handy, we’ll help you calculate how much money you can get if you purchase a home and qualify for the full credit.

Wilmington NC Real Estate

Start your Wilmington NC real estate search right here. You can search homes by schools, price range, neighborhoods, maps, zip codes and more. And, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at kaybaker@ec.rr.com.
If you know anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home, please forward their name and telephone number to us. We will happily provide the same high level of service that we have provided to you. The greatest compliment you could possibly give us is the referral of your friends and family.

Homebuyers Good Faith Estimate

Recent guidelines from Washington have forced a change to the way that loan originators will disclose closing costs for all homebuyers. The purpose of the new Good Faith Estimate is to level the playing field for borrowers comparing loans to be able to make apples to apples comparisons for loan scenarios.

In essence, HUD is working to bring all lenders up to the same standard of excellence in reporting closing costs that I have always adhered to, estimating realistic fees that a buyer should expect to pay at closing with no last minute surprises.

Closing costs for the homebuyer

What are the important facts you should be award of as a homebuyer? Below are some important points to know:

All fees paid to the lender/broker are to be consolidated in one line, including processing fees, origination fees, etc. These charges cannot change from the original estimate without a material change to the loan requested.
In the event fees are being charged to obtain a lower rate, these are to be broken out and itemized for the borrower’s ease of comparison to other loan programs.
Estimates for fees from government recording charges and third party settlement providers we suggest are to be itemized and the lender is held to a tolerance of 10% for their accuracy. In the event the estimated charges exceed the amount listed by the allowable tolerance, the lender will be responsible for making up the difference.
Estimates for services that the buyer can shop for and do choose can change at settlement without the lender being held accountable. This can include title charges, homeowner’s insurance, and initial deposits for an escrow account.

Wilmington NC Homebuyers

As always, we strive to assist our Wilmington, NC homebuyers in selecting a reputable home lender that will give you an accurate estimate of closing costs and funds for closing.

Wilmington NC Real Estate

Why not contact a professional Realtor with many years of local knowledge and experience, Kay Baker. I am here to assist you in your purchase of Wilmington NC real estate every step of the way. Whether you are looking for foreclosures and short sales, second home, golf course home or a first time buyer, we are here to guide you in one of your most important decisions. Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a home. Interest rates are at historic lows and homes are all on SALE! Contact me today kaybaker@ec.rr.com.

Great news for Wilmington, NC real estate market

Congress is extending the $8,000 stimulus package to first time home buyers and buyers who have not purchased a personal residence within the last 3  years.  Also an extra bonus to home buyers is a $6,500 stimulus to homeowners who have owned their home for 5 years and would like to purchase a personal residence.  Both stimulus plans require that the buyer be under contract by April 30. 2010 and close by June 30, 2010.  If you have been thinking about purchasing your first home or a move up home, NOW is the time to do it.

The housing market continues to show signs of improvement day after day. Looking at the very latest local data and trends is key to making a sound buying or selling decision in any particular market. That’s one of the most important services we offer our clients.  We are the local experts, use our knowledge to your advantage.

Wilmington, NC Foreclosures, Short Sales

We can send you detailed information on the latest listings, Wilmington, NC foreclosures, short sales and more. There prices won’t last for long. Many homes sell within 48-72 hours of listing. Be the first to know about them. Call or email kaybaker@seacoastrealty.com today!

Fantastic positive news was released from the National Association of Realtors today.  The news release stated that the historically low interest rates combined with the $8,000 credit for first-time ( or homeowners who have not purchased a home in 3 years) helped raise the pending home sales contracts, for the third consective month.

The Pending Home Sales Index a “pending prediction” indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.7 percent to 90.3 from 84.6 in March,
which is even above the April 2008 index of 87.5.

To get the first time home buyer credit of $8,000, contracts must be firmed up by November 30, 2009 to receive the credit, so we look forward to an increase in home sales.

The Wilmington NC real estate market has also enjoyed an increase in pending sales contract and still is in a a strong postion to continue this trend.

To search all Wilmington NC real estate and find out about the $8,000 tax credit please read more about the Wilmington NC real estate market here.

1. Don’t apply for new credit card 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 checked by a potential creditor or lender, you lose points from your credit score immediately.
2. Don’t pay off collections or charge-offs during your loan process. Paying collections will decrease the credit score immediately due to the date of last activity becoming recent.
3. Don’t close credit card accounts. If you close a credit card account it will appear to FICO that your debt ratio has gone up and it will affect length of credit history.
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.
5. Don’t consolidate your debt into 1 or 2 credit cards. It seems like it would be the smart thing to do, however, when you consolidate all of your debit into one card, it appears that you are maxed out on that card and the system will penalize you.
6. Don’t do anything to cause a red flag to be raised by the scoring system. This would be adding additional accounts, co-signing a loan, changing your name or address.
7. Do join a credit watch program. You can then check your reports weekly, or even daily.
8. Do stay current on existing accounts. One 30 day late can cost you!
9. Do continue to use your credit as normal. If you change your pattern, red flags are raised immediately.
10. Do call your loan originator if you receive something in the mail from creditors or collection agency that you believe may affect  your score. Your broker may be able to supply you with the resources you need to stop any derogatory reporting to the bureaus.

Please email kay@cbbaker.com for more details on home mortgages. We can also put you in contact with a reputable lender to prequalify you for a home purchase or refinancing. To search for Wilmington NC real estate, please go to www. cbbaker.com.

So you have started your home search, but you really are not sure as to what price range homes you should be looking at. The first place to begin is with a knowledgeable local Realtor and a reputable lender. The combination will put you in the driver’s seat. The lender will pre-qualify you and tell you exactly what price range homes to be looking at. Therefore, you will not waste your time or your Realtor’s looking at homes that may not fit your budget. Also, with a pre-qualification letter in hand, you are in a much better negotiating position with the seller.

Now that you have found your dream home with the assistance of a professional Realtor, you will need to decide exactly what type loan best fits your needs.

Would you be best suited for a fixed rate 30 year mortgage?

A fixed rate mortgage simply offers the same payments for principal and interest throughout the term of the loan.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

An adjustable mortgage may adjust at different intervals based on the exact terms of the loan. You typically get a teaser rate for the first year or so and then it increases based on the market rate.

Interest Only Mortgage

If you do not plan to live in your home long term, an interest only mortgage may suit your needs just fine. You only need to pay the interest monthly and the principal is due upon payoff.

FHA

First time home buyers reap the benefits of an FHA loan which offers lower down payments and easier credit and qualification guidelines.

$8000 Stimulus

Let’s don’t forget to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers and some that have owned a home before.

Right now is the perfect time to be looking for your first home, or maybe a larger one and in some cases you might just want to scale down to a smaller one. You can start your search for Wilmington NC real estate at www.cbbaker.com. There you can search by price range, neighborhood, zip code, map and more. And, please give me a call or email kay@cbbaker.com for complete details on the home buying process. I can also put you in contact with a reputable mortgage broker to get you prequalified today.

531 Sea View Road

Your dream is just about to come true! A gorgeous custom built home with panoramic views to the intracoastal waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. For a limited time only, aggressive financing is being offered for clients who are looking to purchase this home in Wilmington NC.  Read the rest of this entry

Loans are Available

Now is the time to buy! There are great loans available under 5% and  some are 100% financing. First time home buyers can receive $7500 tax credit! In addition, there is a proposal in Congress for all home buyers to receive a $15000 home credit! Read the rest of this entry