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Showing posts from August, 2016

Pay Off Your Mortgage?

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Becoming debt free is as much a part of the American Dream as owning a home but there certainly can be conflicting circumstances that make the decision to pay off your mortgage early unclear. The advantages of paying off debt early is increased cash flow, less interest paid and a higher credit score. The disadvantages are lower cash flow available as discretionary funds for meals, entertainment and other things. If the ultimate goal is financial security, is it worth the intermediate sacrifice? Whether you pay off your mortgage early is a personal decision that may be right for one person and not for another. Consider the following before you get started: Reasons you should Peace of mind knowing that you don’t have a mortgage You’ll save interest regardless of how low your mortgage rate is Lowering your housing costs before you retire Reasons you shouldn’t You can invest at a higher rate than your mortgage You h

Two Negotiations

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There are two negotiation periods in some home sales. The primary negotiation takes place when the contract is agreed upon that includes the price, closing and possession. Buyers and sellers alike feel relieved once this first round has resulted in an agreement but there may be more negotiations to come if there are contingencies for financing, inspections or other things. The purpose of an inspection is for the buyer to receive an objective evaluation about the condition of the home and its components to identify existing defects and potential problems. The expense for inspections can be several hundred dollars and it’s reasonable for buyers to not want to spend the money before they find out if they can come to terms with the seller. From a different perspective, sellers want to know quickly if the buyer is going to reject the home due to the inspections. Sometimes, buyers will expect sellers to make all of the repairs listed on the report and this is where the second round

Ready for Retirement?

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It’s surprising to realize that most people spend more time planning their next vacation or cell phone purchase than they do on their own retirement. Let’s look at a hypothetical situation where you have $35,000 to invest for your retirement in 15 years. Have you compared where you might have the best opportunity? The safest place to put it might be a certificate of deposit because it’s insured but unfortunately, rates would be less than 2%. The value would grow to $47,233.26 at the end of the 15 year holding period. Investing in a mutual fund has more risk but also a greater opportunity to earn a higher rate of return. An estimated 7% return would project an accumulated value of $99,713.14. Using the $35,000 for a 20% down payment and closing costs on a $150,000 rental home could realize much higher proceeds. Using a familiar investment analysis spreadsheet, the $35,000 could grow to a future wealth position of $153,302. This analysis considers leverage, 3% appreciation, re

Price of Paradise

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Median Sales prices for the month of July 2016 continue to rise for single family homes and condominiums on Oahu.  However, we are beginning to see a slowing down in our market, with less sales compared to July of 2015.  For several years now, we have seen an average of a fairly stable 4-5% appreciation in value but this increase is showing signs of flattening.

Avoid Wasting Time

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“If you waste my time, don’t expect me to hang out with you very long.” This could have been said by a buyer or seller or a real estate agent. Time is valuable and no one wants to waste their time. Most people can’t put their lives on-hold while they’re trying to buy or sell a home. Whether they have a family, a couple or single, life continues and the time constraints of moving can become burdensome. Your agent is committed to helping you save time while making the experience memorable. They know the process and the potential problem areas and can help you move through them. To preserve your time and your agent’s, please consider the following: If your plans to buy or sell change, let your agent know. Be on time for appointments or if it is necessary, cancel them with as much notice as possible. Get pre-approved through a trusted mortgage professional. Cooperate with your loan professional by providing all requested documentation. Don’t wander

Picture This!

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Listing photos may be one of the most important marketing efforts that lead to a potential buyer. Nearly, all buyers use the Internet during the home search process. They usually start looking at homes online before they contact an agent. It’s far more efficient to screen properties by looking at the pictures that have been posted than to make appointments with each homeowner, drive all over town and waste a lot of time looking at homes that would never meet a buyer’s criteria. There needs to be enough pictures of a property to adequately represent the home; most websites allow for at least 24 and more may be needed if it is a large home. Take horizontal shots to accommodate the format of most listing websites. The pictures should be well-lit so that it is easy to see all of the features of the room. Natural light is preferred over the limitations of flash. They should be taken with a wide-angle lens so that you can see the majority of the room in one pi