Can You Really Ever Know Too Much?

It is of the utmost importance to me to provide my clients with the tools they need to make informed decisions.  In so many circumstances in life, knowledge IS power.  The same is true when researching your next home purchase.  Please take a moment to browse my website to explore the following tools. 

The Powerpage- This link provides up-to-the-minute new listings, the all important price changes and foreclosures for your convenience. 

Local School Reports/Ratings- This link is a wealth of information and statistics on local school districts.

Moving to Dallas /Ft.Worth- This link provides a great introduction to the area, complete with city websites, sports entertainment and dining options. 

My YouTube Channel-  Want to SEE what I have to say?  Check it out!

Buyer Resource- This link is a catalogue of helpful information for home buyers.

Seller Resource- This link is a catalogue of helpful information for home sellers.

The above links are just a few of the features my website has to offer.  May the information I have gathered serve you well. 

Best regards,

Sally

Coming Soon!  Big news about Sally's Real Estate team.  See you next week!

I Plan To Live Forever....

Thus far, my plan seems to be working!  Do you want to live a happy life? Just give up #15 easy things. No need for psychotherapy, avoiding chocolate, or pretending you are happy when your best friend loses weight!  Ha! 

1. Give up the need to always be right. Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control. Let it go! Everything gets done anyway.

3. Give up blame. Stop giving away your powers and take responsibility.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. The mind is a great instrument when used correctly.

5. Give up your limiting beliefs. If you think you can, you can!

6. Give up complaining.  The power of positive thinking!

7. Give up the luxury of criticism. We are all the same and different.

8. Give up your need to impress others.  It doesn't work anyway.

9. Give up your resistance to change. Change is good.

10. Give up labels. Your mind only works when open.

11. Give up on your fears. Fear is an illusion. (False Evidence Appearing Real)

12. Give up on excuses. 99.9% of them aren't even real.

13. Give up the past. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life.

14. Give up attachment. Attachment and love cannot coexist.

15. Give up living your life to other people's expectations. You have one life,don't let other people's opinions distract you from your path.

provided courtesy of Edward Kampf, Houston TX

A Great Investment Is One That Invests In You!!!

If you invest in a savings account, you'll make less than 1% and will have to pay income tax on the earnings. On the other hand, contribute something extra to your house payment on a regular basis and you'll essentially, earn at the mortgage interest rate which is certain to be more than you're earning in the bank.
Making additional principal contributions on your mortgage will save interest, retire debt and build equity. An extra $100 a month in the example shown below will save thousands in interest and shorten the term of the mortgage as well.

Reducing your cost of housing is another way to improve the investment in your home. Becoming debt-free is a worthy goal that is achieved with discipline and good decisions. Suggestions like this are part of my commitment to help people when they buying, selling and all the years in between.

Risk Determines Rate

Regardless of what a lender quotes on mortgage rates, the actual rate paid by a borrower is based on a number of variables. Lenders determine whether to loan money and at what rate based on the risk involved with the transaction.

Factors that increase the risk that the loan will be repaid will proportionately increase the interest rate charged to the borrower. If the risk becomes too high, the loan will not be approved.

• Loan amounts - conventional loans for more than the conforming limits set by Fannie Mae are considered jumbo loans and generally have a higher interest rate.
• FICO score - the lowest interest rate is reserved for the highest credit scores; the lower the score, the higher the rate borrower will pay.
• Occupancy - borrowers occupying a home as their principal residence are considered a better loan risk than second homes and investment properties.
• Loan purpose - purchase transactions generally have the lowest interest rate while refinancing a home is generally higher.
• Debt-to-Income ratio - a borrower's monthly liabilities divided by their gross monthly income develops a ratio that helps lenders to assess the borrower's ability to repay the mortgage.
• Loan-to-Value ratio - the lower the percentage of the loan to the appraised value of the property will generally lower the interest rate.

Any combination of these factors could limit a borrower's ability to secure a mortgage at the rate initially quoted. Being pre-approved by a trusted mortgage professional is the best way to know what rate you can expect to pay. Please call me for a recommendation.

Sally Bartz 214-448-3835