C21AGVoices

Real Estate Wisdom and Information From CENTURY 21 Advantage Gold -The Only CENTURY 21 Firm With Offices in Pennsylvania AND New Jersey!

C21AGVoices header image 4

Entries from August 2010

How Much Should You Expect To Pay In Mortgage Closing Costs?

August 25th, 2010 · Comments Off on How Much Should You Expect To Pay In Mortgage Closing Costs?

How much does a mortgage cost? The answer depends on where you live. But no matter which your locale, chances are strong that you’ll pay more for a mortgage in 2010 as compared to 2009.

[Read more →]

Tags: Budgeting

Home Builder Confidence Falls Again; Home Buyers Gain Leverage?

August 24th, 2010 · Comments Off on Home Builder Confidence Falls Again; Home Buyers Gain Leverage?

After reaching a 3-year high just 90 days ago, the National Association of Homebuilders’ Housing Market Index is now at a multi-year low after falling by almost half.

[Read more →]

Tags: Homebuilders · Local · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Real Estate

Mortgage Rates Make New Lows For The 9th Week In A Row

August 23rd, 2010 · Comments Off on Mortgage Rates Make New Lows For The 9th Week In A Row

Mortgage rates are (again) at their lowest levels in history.

[Read more →]

Tags: Mortgage Lending · Mortgage Rates

How Big Is The Foreclosure Market? It Depends On Where You Live, Of Course.

August 19th, 2010 · Comments Off on How Big Is The Foreclosure Market? It Depends On Where You Live, Of Course.

Foreclosure filings rose 4 percent nationwide last month versus June, according to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac.com. For the 17th straight month, total filings topped 300,000. 6 states dominated activity levels.

[Read more →]

Tags: foreclosures

Higher (And Lower) FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Start October 4, 2010

August 18th, 2010 · Comments Off on Higher (And Lower) FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Start October 4, 2010

Beginning with FHA case numbers issued on or after October 4, 2010, the FHA is changing its upfront and annual mortgage insurance premium structures.

[Read more →]

Tags: FHA Mortgages · Mortgage Lending · Real Estate

How To Unclog A Sink That Won’t Respond To Drano

August 17th, 2010 · Comments Off on How To Unclog A Sink That Won’t Respond To Drano

Sometimes, a backed-up sink is too big of a job for a bottle of Drano. To clear the clog, you have to get your hands dirty. But what do you do? This quick, 2-minute video from Lowe’s is an excellent tutorial.

[Read more →]

Tags: Consumer Interest · Home How-To

What Does It Mean To Escrow Taxes And Insurance?

August 16th, 2010 · Comments Off on What Does It Mean To Escrow Taxes And Insurance?

The fiscal responsibility of a homeowner extends beyond the mortgage’s basic principal and interest repayments. Homeowners are also responsible for the real estate taxes on the home and its insurance premiums, too.

[Read more →]

Tags: Budgeting · Mortgage Lending · Real Estate

Ex-Burglars Share Tips On Protecting Your Home From Break-Ins

August 13th, 2010 · Comments Off on Ex-Burglars Share Tips On Protecting Your Home From Break-Ins

This week marks the start of August, a popular vacation month for Americans. Maybe you’re among the many that will leave town for a few days — or a few weeks. But, before you leave your home, make sure you don’t leave clues for burglars.

[Read more →]

Tags: Consumer Interest · Home Safety

Are You Throwing Out Food Before It Goes Bad?

August 12th, 2010 · Comments Off on Are You Throwing Out Food Before It Goes Bad?

Just because the expiration date has passed, that doesn’t mean that the food is spoiled. It’s a deep-seated misconception that results in the average American household wasting 14% of all food purchases. Learn what to pitch — and what to keep.

[Read more →]

Tags: Home Safety · Just For Fun

As The Pending Home Sales Index Falls, Home Buyers See Dollar Signs

August 11th, 2010 · Comments Off on As The Pending Home Sales Index Falls, Home Buyers See Dollar Signs

June’s Pending Home Sales Index is weak by most measures, but if you’re a home buyer, the headlines aren’t so bad. Fewer home sales can push negotiation leverage to the buy-side of a transaction.

[Read more →]

Tags: Economy · Pending Home Sales · Real Estate