C21AGVoices

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

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How the Truth in Lending Act Protects You When You Take Out a Mortgage

April 6th, 2016 · Comments Off on How the Truth in Lending Act Protects You When You Take Out a Mortgage

If you’re planning to get a mortgage, it’s critical that you know your rights under the law. The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) is a piece of federal legislation that governs how mortgage lenders can and cannot operate their businesses.

So how does the Truth in Lending Act protect you, and what are your rights under this legislation? Here’s what you need to know.

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Tags: Home Buyer Tips

Selling Your Home Soon? 4 Ways to Quickly Boost Your Curb Appeal

April 5th, 2016 · Comments Off on Selling Your Home Soon? 4 Ways to Quickly Boost Your Curb Appeal

Most people that have embarked on selling their home know a lot about how to showcase the inside of it, but one of the most important parts of showing a home can be forgotten as a result. Since the outside of your home is the first thing a potential homebuyer will see, here are a few simple ways you can quickly boost its appeal.

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Tags: Home Seller Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 4, 2016

April 4th, 2016 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 4, 2016

Last week’s economic calendar was full of new releases including pending home sales, Case-Shiller Home Price Indices and construction spending. Labor related reports including ADP payrolls, federal Non-farm payrolls, and the national unemployment rate were also released along with reports on consumer confidence and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new unemployment claims.

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Tags: Financial Reports

Green-ify Your Home with These 3 Easy Home Renovations

April 1st, 2016 · Comments Off on Green-ify Your Home with These 3 Easy Home Renovations

The concept of going green is often seen as an expensive process, and this can stop many people from taking the small steps needed to make their home more environmentally friendly. If you want to green-ify without any of the high costs, here are some simple things you can do that will easily improve the energy efficiency of your home.

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Tags: Around The Home

Understanding Mortgage Tax Benefits and How They Save You Money in the Long Run

March 31st, 2016 · Comments Off on Understanding Mortgage Tax Benefits and How They Save You Money in the Long Run

If you’re considering whether home ownership is the right decision for you, there are lots of different factors you’ll want to take into account. Do you want to keep moving around, or are you ready to lay down roots in a community? Are you prepared for the additional upkeep that home ownership requires?

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Tags: Home Mortgage Tips

Case-Shiller Report Shows Home Prices Rose in January

March 30th, 2016 · Comments Off on Case-Shiller Report Shows Home Prices Rose in January

Home prices were 5.70 percent higher year-over-year in January according to S&P Case-Shiller’s 20-City Home Price Index. Top year-over-year gains were posted by Portland, Oregon at 11.80 percent, San Francisco, California at 10.80 percent and Seattle Washington posted a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent.

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Tags: Financial Reports

The FHA Mortgage Minimum Credit Score Has Been Reduced. Here’s What You Need to Know…

March 29th, 2016 · Comments Off on The FHA Mortgage Minimum Credit Score Has Been Reduced. Here’s What You Need to Know…

If you haven’t heard about the changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) credit score minimum, here’s some information on the recent reduction and how it may impact your home purchase.

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Tags: Home Mortgage Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 28, 2016

March 28th, 2016 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 28, 2016

New home rose in February according to the Commerce Department. Based on a revised reading of 502,000 new home sales in January, February’s reading was 2.00 percent higher than January’s reading, but was 6.10 percent lower than for February 2015.

Builders have held back on increasing construction due to concerns about ups and downs in the economic recovery. Short supplies of labor and available land have also kept home builders from meeting current demand.

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Tags: Financial Reports

Accent Walls: 3 Easy Ways to Spice up Your Space

March 25th, 2016 · Comments Off on Accent Walls: 3 Easy Ways to Spice up Your Space

For those who love to decorate and are always excited to test out the latest trends in design, the accent wall is a concept that’s become popular in recent years. If you’re not sure how to use this feature to twist any room on its side, here’s how to go about painting your very own and instantly dressing up the look of your favorite room.

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Tags: Around The Home

Selling Your Half of a Jointly-owned Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

March 24th, 2016 · Comments Off on Selling Your Half of a Jointly-owned Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

There are many factors to consider when it comes to selling your home, and if you own your home with someone else the details involved can be even more confusing. If you’re wading into your co-ownership options and are curious about your next steps, here’s a short list of some things to think about.

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Tags: Home Seller Tips