How to Get Discounts On Your Home Purchase

Many people ask, “The home listing mention that HomePath Financing is available - what is that?”   HomePath, Fannie Mae’s REO program, maybe a great financing program to take advantage of if you see it offered for a particular sales listing.  For Fannie Mae homes, HomePath Financing offers owner-occupant buyers 3% of the sales price down with no mortgage insurance and no appraisal fees - this is even better than FHA, which offers 3.5% down with an additional mortgage insurance fee that buyers have to pay at closing and each month.

Get Discounts At Your Favorite Restaurants

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.  Food 101.  Wildfire.  Even The Flying Biscuit.  What is going on at some of your favorite restaurants?  Well, this upcoming week (September 26 - October 2, 2010) is Restaurant Week!  Taking place in Metro Atlanta’s Sandy Springs/Perimeter/Dunwoody Area, some of Atlanta’s best restaurants are offering 2 and/or 3 course meals at discounted prices. 

Places To Love: SERRANO CONDOMINIUMS

After much anticipation, Metro Atlanta’s Serrano condos have finally made their grand opening debut.  Deemed as Sandy Springs’ Mediterranean-inspired homes, the Serrano offers condo lovers 13 exquisite floorplans, gated, covered parking with private resident floor access, and amenities galore all at a discounted price.  Conveniently located in the heart of Sandy Springs, GA off Abernathy Rd. 1 block west of GA 400, the Serrano offers you convenience and quick access to Perimeter Mall, Buckhead, Downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta, I-285, GA 400, and I-75, which is a must in Atlanta’s heavy traffic.  (The key in Atlanta’s traffic is to learn the back roads, which from the Serrano you can get downtown, north, east or west without getting on a freeway - having been in Atlanta’s traffic, you know this is a miracle!)

Get 10% Back on Your Mortgage?

As ”strategic” mortgage defaults rise, Loan Value Group, is offering banks and homeowners a way to resolve the problem through a program entitled, RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNER REWARD.  The program involves the investors structuring a reward for homeowners, averaging 10 percent of the loan balance, payable when the loan is paid off. While the reward will not give the homeowner positive equity, it could give the homeowner an incentive to keep paying despite dropping home values.

Metro Atlanta’s Top Scoring High Schools

Whether you are looking to relocate to the Metro Atlanta area or if you already live here but are in search for the best public school districts, here are the latest findings.  Despite the state of Georgia’s average SAT score for public, private and home schooling landing in the bottom of all the states (48th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia) with a total average of 1453, there are still Metro Atlanta public schools that exceed the state’s average and maybe a good choice for your high school-aged children.

Becoming a Savvy Real Estate Investor in Today’s Market

With the record-low pricing that still exists in many regions of the country, you may be contemplating investing in real estate.  But how do you invest shrewdly in this real estate market?  Real estate entrepreneur Ryan Moeller offers these four tips for anyone considering a consumer real estate investment:

NEW REFINANCE OPTIONS If You Owe More Than the Home’s Worth

FHA has launched a refinancing program to assist homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth.  Beginning Sept. 7, 2010, the agency will offer qualified non-FHA borrowers the opportunity to refinance with an FHA-insured mortgage on their primary residence.  Borrowers must be current on their existing mortgage, qualify under FHA underwriting requirements, and have a credit score of at least 500.

AFTER A SHORT SALE - When Can I Buy A New Home?

Here is a question from a concerned homeowner, “If I go through a short sale, how soon can I purchase another home?  I was told that if I did a short sale instead of allowing the home to be foreclosed on, it is not as bad“.  Answer, “It all depends“.