Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Are you ready for homeownership?

Tired of renting? Homeownership does have its advantages:


- Ability to deduct mortgage interest on your tax return.

- Home values generally appreciate over time.

- You can avoid increases in your monthly payment — something you can't avoid while paying rent.

You just may be ready to make the big step. But before you start collecting paint chips and fabric swatches, collect your thoughts around more practical matters — in particular, money matters.

The first question to ask yourself is “How much can I afford to spend on a home?” Purchasing a home at a price you can afford is key to successful homeownership.

I can help you figure out your maximum affordable home price. Give me a call @ 832-647-1769 or drop me a line at donte@TheNewlywedRealtor.com, and we’ll get you set on the path to homeownership.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Can you afford homeownership?

Are you thinking about buying a home, but don’t know whether or how well you can afford it? The best way to find out how much home you can afford is to prequalify for a mortgage.


Prequalifying for a mortgage is just a fancy way of saying “figuring out how much you can afford to spend on a home.”

Prequalifying shows you where you stand financially, based upon your current income, debt and savings. In doing so, you can determine:

- an estimate of a home purchase price and monthly house payment that you can afford,

- how much money you will need for the down payment (the difference between the sales price and the amount of your mortgage), and

- budgeting goals you need to set and achieve.

I can help you prequalify for a mortgage. (Please know that prequalifying is not a commitment on your part to work with me. It also does not guarantee you a loan. That all happens during the actual loan application process.)

Give me a call @ 832-647-1769 or drop me a line at donte@TheNewlywedRealtor.com, and we’ll get you moving toward moving day in no time!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Cutting Household Expenses In 2010

PSA: Check your household expenses and see what bills you can lower. Make a few phone calls to see if they are offering you the best deal. I did it and it was well worth the time. Life is all about what you negotiate. Treat your household like a business and see where you can cut cost in the new year.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Dream Home

Once you’re ready to start looking for a home, think carefully about what you want — there is so much to consider: Sales price, Neighborhood, Distance to work, schools, shopping.

If you have children, you may want to know if there are other kids in the neighborhood and whether schools and playgrounds are nearby. As a working person, distance and travel time to and from work or the availability of public transportation may be a factor.

You’ll also want to consider the condition of the plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and whether these are up to code. Closet space. Number of bedrooms. The list goes on and on.

As a real estate agent, I know the local market and have information about such things as school systems, tax rates, water and sewer charges, public transportation and other concerns that might affect your decision to buy a particular home.

If you’re in the market for a home, please give me a call @ 832-647-1769 or send me an e-mail @ donte@TheNewlywedRealtor.com

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Stop Paying Rent, Invest in Your Future

Today may be the best time to buy in many years, especially if you plan to stay in your home for approximately five or more years. If you think you should keep renting because of the state of today's housing market, think again. Talk to any homeowner who purchased their home ten or more years ago. It's unlikely that they could buy their home today for what they originally paid.

Financial benefits to home ownership include: equity increase due to appreciation, principal reduction and home improvements, and tax benefits.

Personal benefits include: pride of ownership, stability, security, freedom to occupy or rent the home, and much more.

Your new home may be closer than you think. Call 832-647-1769 today for a free analysis of your situation, and learn how easily you may be able to afford your own home.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended through April 2010

Eligible first-time homebuyers who purchase by April 30, 2010, can qualify for a tax-credit of 10% of a home’s sale price, up to $8,000 for single and joint filers and $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. To qualify, buyers or their spouses may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

New: $6,500 Tax Credit for Current Homeowners through April 2010

Eligible current homeowners purchasing a home between Nov. 7, 2009, and April 30, 2010, may qualify for a tax credit up to $6,500. To qualify, homeowners must have owned and resided in a home for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date.

Dollar-for-Dollar Reduction

These tax credits are straight, dollar-for-dollar reduction of the buyers’ tax bills and will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax, or the credit is more than the tax that they owe.

Eligible Properties

Tax credits may be applied to any home that will be used as a primary residence, including single-family homes, condos and townhomes. The purchase price may not exceed $800,000, and the home cannot be purchased from other family members (parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, etc.) or a spouse or a spouse’s family members.

Expanded Income Limits

Effective Nov. 7, 2009, single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 may receive the maximum tax credit. The amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above those limits.

Buyers with an MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) are not eligible. First-time homebuyers who purchased between Jan. 1, 2009, and Nov. 6, 2009, are subject to income limits in place prior to the extension of the tax credit. For married couples filing a joint return, that was an adusted gross income (AGI) of $150,000 or less; and all others, an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less.

Deadline
Homebuyers must have a written, binding contract to purchase in effect by April 30, 2010, and must close by June 30, 2010.


NOTE: This is only a brief summary of the First-Time Homebuyer and Current Homebuyer Tax Credit, intended for informational purposes only. This summary does not constitute tax, accounting or legal advice of any kind. Because other terms and conditions may apply to any individual taxpayer, individuals should consult their independent tax advisor to ascertain whether they are eligible for this tax credit. Although this summary is generally accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this summary. More information regarding the tax credit is available from the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

You Down With OPM (Other People's Money)

Good to Excellent Credit can get you into alot of places. Like a new home. You down with OPM (Other People's Money) Using other people's money to get what you want. So don't let that $100 cable bill or cell phone bill go to collections. That $100 can hinder you from getting those keys to your new home.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Who Is EDJ As A Mortgage Broker?

EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies is a full-service mortgage brokerage firm offering expertise in every area of mortgage lending...from purchase to refinance. We have access to a full range of mortgage sources and all of our lending specialists are dedicated to finding the right loan - with the best rates, terms and costs - to meet your unique needs. But that's just part of the service we offer. EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies also provides a strategic EDJe for paying off your mortgage loan faster so you can use that money to build wealth and live with the peace of mind of a paid-off mortgage. That’s right, EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies can assist you with your home loan, and we now provide the EDJe on successfully building wealth beyond the home loan experience!



Edmond Donte' James, owner of EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies, brings an extensive amount of financial experience and expertise to the company. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from LeTourneau University. His previous experience as an accountant and mortgage loan officer, and his drive to help others succeed, gives him the "EDJe" on helping his clients build wealth to achieve personal financial well-being. By incorporating a financial planning and consultative approach within the business, EDJ helps clients reach their true dreams...wealth accumulation.

What Is A Mortgage Broker?

I am often asked, “What is a mortgage broker and why should I have one?” By definition, a mortgage broker arranges financing for a borrower by placing loans with lenders. Mortgage brokers are paid a fee by the borrower and/or the lender when a loan closes. Why should you have a mortgage broker or more specifically, why should you have me as your mortgage broker? Glad you asked. Just like you have a doctor or lawyer on-call should something come up, you should have a mortgage broker that you can call on for all your real estate needs. As a mortgage broker, I am able to answer any of your real estate financing questions because of my expertise in the industry. Why should you get your financing through a mortgage broker? Because I have access to a vast number of lenders that offer different mortgage products based on your credit scores. I also have access to lenders that offer commercial loans.



All of these lenders offer me interest rates that are wholesale, which are usually lower than interest rates offered in a retail environment. One of the biggest advantages to working with a mortgage broker like myself, is that I am able to “shop” for the best loan that meets your financial needs without the risk of pulling your credit report multiple times.



Here’s how it works: You are interested in financing your new home/business or refinancing your existing home. After meeting with you to discuss your financing needs, I get your permission to pull your credit report. My lenders will use that "one" credit report to determine what interest rate and terms you qualify for. Now, if you decided to go to your personal bank for a mortgage loan, that personal bank will only have access to their products, while as a mortgage broker, I have access to multiple loan products. Therefore, if you do not qualify for your personal bank’s loan programs or do not like the interest rate your personal bank is offering, then you will have to seek another source for financing your mortgage loan, which will result in another inquiry on your credit report. We discussed how multiple inquiries can decrease your credit scores and you don’t want that to happen!



EDJ Mortgage pulls your credit one time and is able to offer you a very competitive rate and term based on your financial needs. One of the other things about working with me is that, as the mortgage broker of EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies, I am able to control some of the fees and even the interest rates. So it pays, literally, to have me as your mortgage broker. Your EDJe on building wealth starts right away when you work with mortgage broker EDJ!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Find out if now is the right time to refinance!!!

You may be able to lower your monthly payments or reduce the time it takes to pay off your loan. You may also be able to save even more if you use your refinance proceeds to pay off credit card or other installment debt, since mortgage interest is usually 100% tax-deductible, and interest on consumer debt is not. Here are some important reasons to consider refinancing:

Get a lower mortgage rate and reduce interest costs.
Convert an adjustable rate mortgage to a secure, fixed-rate mortgage.
Consolidate your first and second mortgages into a mortgage with a lower rate.
Get cash for family wants and needs.

The advantages we offer you for your refinancing needs include:

Low rates
Easy online application
All types of mortgage programs
Guidance and advice from an experienced loan professional

Visit www.edjmortgage.com Today!!!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Forclosures On The Rise

If you have been looking at the news the past few months, I am sure you have heard about the difficulties in the mortgage and real estate industry. There are a lot of homeowners that are facing foreclosure. The reason that most people are facing foreclosure is because of the type of mortgage that they have in particular the Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). Many homeowners purchased their home two to five years ago using the adjustable rate mortgage, and now that interest rate is adjusting up. If you remember, I talked about adjustable rate mortgages in an earlier issue of The EDJe-ucator. The increase in the interest rate causes the mortgage payments to increase which makes it difficult for the homeowner to make their monthly payments. An adjustable rate mortgage can be a budget buster, and I know that you have been sticking with your budget.


If you are a homeowner, my advice would be for you to make sure you know what type of mortgage you have, i.e. a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage. If you are in the market and looking to purchase a new home, make sure you know the difference between an adjustable rate and fixed rate mortgage. If you know of anyone with an ARM that it is getting ready to adjust, have them to give me a call at 1-877-469-3353 or 832-647-1769. I am sure it is in their best interest that they refinance to a fix rate mortgage. If the homeowner is unable to refinance and is having difficulty making their mortgage payment, he/she should contact their current mortgage company and try to set up a payment plan. This might hurt your credit scores, but at least you will not lose your home. Banks and mortgage companies really don't want to foreclose on your house because the foreclosure process can be very expensive and sometimes they actually lose money. Banks and mortgage companies are not in the business of foreclosing on houses and trying to re-sell them. They are in the business of lending money. If you contact your bank or mortgage company, sometimes they are willing to work out an agreement with you.


For the record, I am not totally against adjustable rate mortgages. There are a couple of occasions I will recommend an adjustable rate mortgage to a client. The first occasion is if the borrower knows that they are not going to occupy the house for a long period of time. In this case, the borrower can take advantage of the lower interest rate of the adjustable rate mortgage, and sell the house before the interest rate adjusts. The second occasion is only for "discipline" borrowers. In this case, maybe your credit is not strong as it should be. I might recommend that the borrower consider an adjustable rate mortgage and take advantage of the lower interest rate. While on the adjustable rate mortgage, the borrower must work on their credit to improve the scores and never be late on their mortgage. Before the interest rate adjusts, the borrower can refinance to a fix rate mortgage.


Thank you for reading The EDJe-ucator. If you have any questions or referrals, call 1-877-469-3353 or 832-647-1769 email donte@RealEstateByEDJ.com.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Say "Good Bye" To Your Landlord

Owning your own home provides several benefits. In addition to the satisfaction of being a homeowner, you can build equity, enjoy tax deductions, say "good bye" to your landlord and take control of your living environment. Whether you are a first-time home buyer, renter, or are purchasing a new or second home, we have an assortment of tools and loan programs to meet your individual financing needs.

We can help you realize your homeownership dreams by offering you all the best advantages:
Low Rates
Easy Online Application
All types of Mortgage Programs
Guidance and Advice From an Experienced Mortgage Broker/Realtor

Determine how much you can borrow and buy with our pre-qualification consultation. You can beat the competition and negotiate more effectively when you're pre-approved. Apply online at www.edjmortgage.com now to be pre-approved. Call EDJ Toll Free 1-877-469-3353 or 832-647-1769

Monday, July 13, 2009

Now Is A Great Time To Buy

That's right...now is a great time to buy. In today's real estate market, there is a huge number of homes for sell. No matter what neighborhood you live in, I am sure that you have seen a for sale sign in the front yard of many homes. With this influx in housing inventory in the market, many sellers are willing to negotiate in the buyers favor. With that being said, there are some major bargains available for home buyers.

If you are already a home owner, now is also a great time to purchase your first investment property. As you know, one of the most common ways to building wealth is through real estate. When you purchase a property at a bargain price and it is worth alot more, then you have equity in that property. Since it is a buyers market right now, I would recommend that you rent the property. As a result of the increase in foreclosures, alot of families are losing their home, but these families still need a place to live. Once the market becomes a seller's market, you can sell your investment/rental property or you can continue to rent the property. Either way, you are building wealth. If you want "The EDJe On Building Wealth", contact Edmond Donte' James at 832-647-1769 or 1-877- 469-3353 or email me at donte@RealEstateByEDJ.com.

Monday, July 6, 2009

How Can EDJ Help You As A Realtor?

Most of us think we know the role of a realtor, right? You're buying a house, you need a realtor to help you. You're selling a house, you need a realtor to list your home. But what about apartment locating, did you know realtors can help you with that? Leasing a home can also be done with a realtor. Ready to open your business and need to lease or buy a commercial space? It's all about location, location, location! Are you an investor looking to take advantage of the current foreclosure market? Contact EDJ for the latest foreclosure information.

Whether you knew the role of a realtor or not, I am here to "Give You the EDJe on Real Estate." With my extensive experience as a mortgage broker and my ability to "Give you the EDJe on Building Wealth," I am ahead of the pack of realtors because I am always working to put you in the best wealth building position. From getting you the best residential purchase price to helping you get the most for your home, I am always focused on your wealth strategy in every step of the real estate process. Even if you are not ready to purchase a home or sell a home, but are more interested in leasing a home or apartment, I can provide that EDJe to help you build wealth even while you are LEASING...who else can do that for you?

I am thrilled and excited to offer this real estate service to you, your family and friends through my affiliation with Realm Real Estate Professionals. When you think real estate, think Real Estate by EDJ...where you know you are guaranteed to get that EDJe!

Got a real estate referral, please contact Edmond Donte' James at 832-647-1769 or 1-877- 469-3353 or email me at donte@RealEstateByEDJ.com

Monday, June 29, 2009

$8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Disclaimer:
The following $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Q&A is from a RealtyTrac.com email dated June 29, 2009.


Q&A


When do I need to purchase to qualify?
If you buy a home between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 this year and close escrow during these dates, you will qualify for an $8,000 tax credit - as long as it is your primary residence and you meet the simple requirements.

How does the law define "first-time homebuyer"?

The law defines "first-time homebuyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.


What are other requirements to qualify?

All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate. An income limit of $75,000 a year for individuals and $150,000 a year for joint filers also applies.

How do I apply for the credit?

Taxpayers should use IRS Tax Form 5450 to claim the first-time homebuyer tax credit.

Does the credit have to be repaid?

No. Unlike a similar tax credit passed in 2008, this $8,000 tax credit does not have to be repaid to the IRS.

Can I use the tax credit toward a down payment or other closing costs?

Yes. An announcement made May 29 allows the tax credit to be used toward purchase costs of a home, including down payment in some cases. This can be done one of two ways. First, buyers using an FHA-approved lender can sell their anticipated tax credit to the lender and use the proceeds to immediately apply the tax credit to any down payment above the minimum down payment of 3.5 percent required with FHA-insured mortgages. Second, buyers who receive financing through state housing finance agencies and certain non-profits will be able to use the tax credit for their down payments via a tax credit advance loan that does not result in any cash back to the buyer.



Source: RealtyTrac.com

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Today's Economy

If you have been reading the blog posts for the past few days, you remember me talking about saving, creating a budget, the importance of having excellent credit scores, and having the right mortgage. With the condition of today's economy, it is critical to have a financial plan for you and your family. In regards to saving, many experts now are saying that you need to have 9 to 12 months saved for monthly expenses instead of the usual 3 to 6 months. Again, a way to save is to create a budget and account for every dollar that is being spent on a monthly basis. Over the last few months, the housing market has changed tremendously. With that being said, it is important to work on your credit scores to get that excellent credit. If you are not doing so, start paying your bills on time and pay down debt. Last but not least, it is imperative to have the right mortgage. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage and your payments are increasing, now is the time to refinance to a fixed rate mortgage. CALL EDJ TODAY!!! If you are looking to buy or sell a home, CALL EDJ TODAY!!!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Edmond Donte' James at 832-647-1769 or 1-877-469-3353 or email me at donte@RealEstateByEDJ.com.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Escrow Accounts

When you have an escrow account, the mortgage company will pay your property taxes and homeowner's insurance for you. When you make your monthly mortgage payment, a portion of the payment goes towards your escrow account. If you look at your statement, you should have a breakdown of how much goes into the escrow account. Always know how much is in your escrow account. If your escrow account goes into the negative, your mortgage payments will go up. The reason your escrow account is in the negative is because you did not have enough money in the account to cover the property taxes and/or homeowner's insurance when the mortgage company made those payments. As a result, the mortgage company increases your monthly payment to make up the difference in the escrow account, and to make sure you have enough money in the account when your taxes and insurance are due again. If you notice that there is a shortage in your escrow account before the mortgage company pays your taxes and insurance, I would recommend that you send in extra money to be put into the escrow account. On the other hand, if you have an overage in the escrow account, the mortgage company will either refund you the overage or keep the money in the escrow account and decrease your monthly payments.



Should you have an escrow account? If you are good with money management, then you can actually set up your own escrow account in the form of a savings account and pay your taxes and insurance on your own. If money management is not one of your strengths, then I would recommend having an escrow account. That way, the mortgage company will pay your taxes and insurance for you, and you do not have to worry about coming up with money when the taxes and insurance are due.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Your 2009 Progress Report

Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2009? If so, now is a great time for you to do a progress report. In the previous blog posts, we have talked about establishing excellent credit, creating a budget, buying your first home or investment property, having the right mortgage, avoiding foreclosure, and a number of other topics.

With that being said, I have a few questions to make you go HMMM!!! Have you worked on getting excellent credit, have you been sticking to your budget, have you purchased your first home or investment property, and do you have the right mortgage? I almost forgot the most important question, have you sent any referrals to EDJ? If you answered "No" to any of these questions, then we have a lot of work to do the second half of 2009. The great news is that the year is not over, so get in the game and make it happen.

If you want "The EDJe On Real Estate", please contact Edmond Donte' James at 832-647-1769 or 1-877- 469-3353 or email me at donte@RealEstateByEDJ.com.

Monday, June 15, 2009

What Is Wealth Strategies?

The EDJ Philosophy is an eight step plan to wealth strategies. The first strategy to building wealth is paying your tithes. My belief is if you pay God what He is owed, He will in return bless you, your family, your business, and your career. Next, live on a budget. We talked about creating a budget earlier. If you have a budget, then you have a sense of what your monthly household expenses are, and how much discretionary funds you have available at the end of every month.Thirdly, pay-off all your debts excluding your mortgage. We will get to paying off the mortgage later. If you have a budget, then you can use some of those discretionary funds to pay-off your debts.

Fourth, start a savings and retirement plan. Once you pay-off your debts, you can use that extra money to contribute to a savings and/or retirement account. Fifth, you should have good to excellent credit. If you have paid your debts off, this will help your credit scores, which brings me to my sixth strategy, having the right mortgage. How do you get the right mortgage? First you call EDJ Mortgage & Wealth Strategies. With good to excellent credit, you will get a great interest rate. This will save you tons of money in interest. Another thought about having the right mortgage, you can get a great deal on the purchase price of a property. But if you get the wrong mortgage, this will totally negate the fact that you negotiated a good deal. The seventh strategy is paying off your mortgage early. Ways to pay your mortgage off early are to do bi-weekly payments, or make extra payments towards the principal. If you have been following EDJ's wealth strategies, you can use the extra money that you have to make extra payments towards the principal. Edmond Donte' James is a realtor and mortgage broker that does not want you to be broke because of your mortgage.

Finally, you should acquire real estate. The majority of the successful financial people that I know and read about have real estate in their portfolio. You can either acquire real estate and sell it for a profit or have rental properties. Again, if you have been following EDJ's wealth strategies, you should have good to excellent credit which will allow you to obtain financing to get these properties, and pay them off early.

This is EDJ's philosophy on building wealth. Call EDJ and let me give you that EDJe.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Advantages Of Home Ownership

The first advantage of owning your home is the fact that you achieve that great "American Dream" of home ownership. As you know, home ownership is an important component to building wealth.

Secondly, there are also tax benefits to owning your home. The interest that you pay on your mortgage is tax deductible when you file your taxes every year.

The third advantage is every time you make your mortgage payment, you are gaining equity in your home because you are paying down your principal balance. In addition, most real estate appreciates, so this is another way to gain equity in your home. If you decide to sell your home, you will walk away from the closing with a profit because you have been paying your mortgage principal down every month and the value of your home has increased from when you first purchased it.

Finally, when you own your home, you are making an investment in your community and an investment in your financial future. This investment will assure you a great return, but to guarantee that great return, you must first obtain the right financing. To get the right financing and the best deal for your home, call EDJ today at 832-647-1769 or 1-877-469-3353!!! June is a good month to start building your wealth. CALL EDJ TODAY!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Creating A Budget

My first question to you is, how much do you spend each month on household expenses? If you don’t know, I would recommend that you create an excel spreadsheet that lists all your expenses (i.e. mortgage/rent, car note, credit cards, insurance, student loans, cable, electricity, gas, phone, cell phone, water, etc.). You should also be tracking how much you spend each month on each bill.

In addition to your household expenses, establish a monthly budget for your groceries and entertainment. Next, determine your total monthly household income. Now, subtract your total expenses from your total income (Hopefully this is a positive number). If this is a positive number, this is considered your discretionary funds. My recommendation is that you put a percentage or certain amount of your discretionary funds in some type of savings account. This savings account can be used for your emergency funds. Each household should have 9 to 12 months of monthly expenses saved in case of an emergency or life changing circumstance (i.e. sickness, losing a job, etc.).

If you are already doing this, CONGRATULATIONS! You already have “The EDJe On Building Wealth.” If you do not have a household budget, NOW would be a great time to start building wealth.

What Are Your Credit Scores?

What are your credit scores? I always tell my clients, just like you are supposed to have an annual physical, you should also check your credit at least once a year. Your credit scores follow you everywhere you go. There are even companies that pull your credit report before they hire you. If your credit isn’t good to excellent, it could prevent you from getting that job.

You have three credit scores from three different credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. The 3 reasons you need to review your credit scores are: 1) Make sure your identity has not been stolen. 2) Make sure everything is accurate on your credit report. 3) Know what your scores are so you can clean up your credit. Here are some of the ways to increase your credit scores: 1) Look for any past due balances on the credit report and bring them current 2) Pay off past dues and charge-offs within the last two years 3) Reduce all outstanding debt to as close to a zero balance as possible. If you are unable to pay all debt down, try to keep balances below 50% of available credit. For example, if your available credit is $1000, you want to keep your balance below $500, but keeping it below 30% or $300 would be even better. Also do not close existing accounts. 4) Too many inquiries for credit will negatively impact the score.

Certain low credit scores can hinder you from buying a home, but if you check your credit every year and dispute any inaccuracies on your report in a timely fashion, you can be assured of maintaining good to excellent credit scores. If you are seeking to purchase a home, your should acquire a credit report from Real Estate By EDJ. Knowing Your Credit Scores is the 1st Step toward purchasing your new home!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Still a Great Time to Buy Real Estate




Contrary to the news media reports, now is still a great time to buy real estate. There is a plethora of inventory that sellers are ready to off load, including my current listing picutred here.



As we kick off the new Spring Season, the economy still has been the main topic of discussion around many dinner tables. As we all know, the housing and real estate market is seeing some of its worst times, but if you are in the market for a new home, now is a great time to buy a home. Interest Rates are at an all-time low! So don't believe the hype that now is the time to sit still. As you read this, great deals are being made and many more Americans who have good credit and a down payment are getting a 'steal-of-a-deal' So YES! It's definitely a great time to buy a home!


Already have a home? It's an excellent time to refinance your home. Low interest rates are not only good for the home buyer, it's a great opportunity for existing homeowners to secure a lower interest rate on their current mortgage.


Whether you are in the market for a new home or need to refinance your current home, EDJ is poised to help you all the way! EDJ is a one stop shop with our mortgage office ready to finance you and our real estate office ready to help you find your new home or investment property.
When you think real estate, think EDJ! And YES, we still appreciate all your referrals. Give us a call at 1-877-469-3353 or email me at donte@realestatebyedj.com


Follow Me on Twitter and check me out on Facebook!




Thursday, January 22, 2009

Welcome to Real Estate by EDJ!

Welcome to the Real Estate by EDJ blog site where you will be EDJe-ucated on everything real estate! At Real Estate by EDJ, we'll give you insight into the real estate market, share our tips for real estate, showcase homes for sale, and essentially provide you with a one-stop shop for all things real estate!

Whether you are in the market for a new home or need to refinance your current home, EDJ is poised in 2009 to help you all the way! EDJ is a one-stop shop with our mortgage office ready to finance you and our real estate office ready to help you find your new home or investment property.

So in 2009 and beyond, when you think real estate, think EDJ!

Got real estate questions or need a realtor, email me at donte@RealEstatebyEDJ.com
Need to refinance or get financing for a new home, email me at djames@edjmortgage.com
Or just give us a call at 1-877-4MYEDJe! That's 1-877-469-3353