Deciding to buy a home is so exciting! Congratulations on taking the first step. Now take a deep breath and get ready to jump into applying for a home loan. The process can feel overwhelming, but with some preparation, you’ll keep any problems from slowing down the mortgage process. Let’s dive into how to successfully apply for a home loan. What documents do I need to get a mortgage? For every mortgage...
Millennials, the demographic group aged between 26 and 41, appear to have their eyes wide open when it comes to home ownership. Statistics show that they have less interest in the American Dream than either the generation before them, Generation X or even the Baby Boomers at the same age. The reasons are varied. At some level complicated, and to me, rather surprising. Millennials are the largest...
Yup, it’s called the roller coaster of life. Roller coasters aren’t for everyone, especially if you’re not in Disney World or another theme park. I think it’s safe to say that the pandemic turned the real estate market as a whole upside down and sideways. It resembled nothing less than a rollercoaster ride for everyone involved – buyers, sellers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, et al....
Whether you’re looking at your credit card, applying for a loan, or watching the news, you’ve probably heard the term “prime rate.” Prime is a common financial term that affects many of us from how much interest we pay on a loan to the interest rate of a new credit card. So, what is “prime rate”? Prime rate is also referred to as “prime lending rate,” “prime interest rate,” or just...
When given the choice of being indoors or outside I will always choose to be outdoors. Is there anything better than a simple meal of wine, a crusty baguette, and some cheeses spread out on a blanket either in Sheep Meadow, Central Park, or under an umbrella on the beach? My answer is always the same – absolutely not! Food seems to taste better; I inherently feel more relaxed and at one with the...
We can all probably cite examples of irrational exuberance over the years: when home prices soared in the mid-2000s banks threw all caution to the wind and offered nothing down loans the dot.com era of the 1990’s involving the tech industry the times leading up to the stock market crash in 1929 and of course, the tulip mania in the 1600s I’m certain that at least one of the above examples...
Keeping a roof over our heads isn’t as simple as it used to be and it’s certainly getting more expensive by the day. We’re all experiencing the same frustration and it’s worth asking ourselves why, and if there is anything to be done about it. Florida’s tumultuous property insurance market amounts to nothing less than a perfect storm according to lawmakers. We will attempt to summarize the...
It will come as no surprise to you to know that the odds of being hacked today are against us. I’m sure you’ve opened your email inbox or received a text message from a complete stranger – gone are the days when it could have been from a friend of a friend. We know better now. These “phishing” tactics are from highly skilled “pickpockets” who no longer need to resort to walking the streets...
THE FLORIDA HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS JUST ANOTHER REASON TO MAKE THE SUNSHINE STATE YOUR HOME! Did you know? Though we may not have any control over the amount of taxes we pay to the Federal Government, Florida is a tax-friendly state. There are no state taxes, no inheritance taxes or estate taxes. Did you also know that Florida has very generous homestead laws? Florida law provides for lower property...
Think of a Living Trust as your Bucket List. It is filled with everything that you’ve worked hard for and were lucky enough to accumulate throughout your life. You filled it with your money, property, and other assets - stocks, bonds and perhaps even a boat or plane! You’re free to do whatever you want with the contents of your Bucket, such as selling your property or stocks while you’re...