Six Must-Haves for Mortgage Approval
February 9, 2012 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
If you’re thinking of buying a home, getting approved for a loan is one of the first steps. It’s getting more complicated to get approved for a loan these days, so make sure you have your paperwork in order. It’s also important to find a loan agent who is competent and effective at navigating possible [...]
Brass Fixtures Send CHEAP Message
February 6, 2012 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
An article encouraging sellers to get rid of cheap brass fixtures appeared on Inman News today, and I couldn’t agree more. In the article, Chicago real estate agent Steve Somogyi emphatically states that he thinks dated, cheap, yellow brass fixtures send the wrong messages to buyers: C-H-E-A-P! Changing out dated brass fixtures can dramatically improve [...]
Mello-Roos NOT Tax-Deductible – Enforced 2012
February 1, 2012 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
California tax-payers will have to be extra-careful when filing their 2012 state income taxes in 2013, as the State Franchise Tax Board cracks down on homeowners who have been illegally writing off their Mello-Roos fees or taxes paid via the 1915 Bond Act. Although Mello-Roos and 1915 Bond Act taxes have not been legal deductions [...]
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent
January 26, 2012 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
Whether you’re a buyer or seller, your real estate agent’s skills can make or break a sale. That’s why it’s so important to find a trustworthy, professional Realtor who has your best interests at heart. Especially in this market, easy transactions are few and far in-between. Lenders are tightening up their policies, new laws that [...]
Big Banks Are Opposing A Bill to Protect Borrowers
May 19, 2010 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
Brought to you by the California Association of Realtors Background California has protected borrowers from so-called “deficiency” liability on their home mortgages since the 1930s, but the evolution of mortgage finance requires that the statute be updated. Current law says that if a homeowner defaults on a mortgage used to purchase his or her home, [...]
First-Time Buyer Tax Credit is a Whopping $18,000 for a Limited Time
March 31, 2010 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
Did you know that for a small window of time you can get up to $18,000 in first-time buyer tax credits? This is a combination of both the federal and state tax credits. Up until now, you could only get the federal tax credit of up to $8000 when you entered into a purchase contract [...]
How to Choose a Realtor
March 2, 2010 by Markus & Heidi Brown · Leave a Comment
I meet a lot of buyers at open houses and one thing I can’t understand is why most buyers out there don’t interview their agents before hiring them. I guess it’s because they don’t think of themselves as employers. But really, that’s what they are. They’ll be making the single largest purchase of their lives [...]
