Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Are you ready for homeownership?
- 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?
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
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dream Home
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
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
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)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Who Is EDJ As A Mortgage Broker?
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?
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!!!
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 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
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
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?
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
Q&A
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 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
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
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Welcome to Real Estate by EDJ!
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