What you may not know about the VA Loan…

March 11, 2010
by byjoella

The VA home loan is set up so a vet can purchase a home for $0 down. This is possible because VA will allow a vet to get a 100% loan, guaranteed by the government, and will not allow a vet to pay buyer fees. VA loans typically offer veterans excellent interest rates which are often offset by a lender by charging discount points.

What are discount points?
The discount points are prepaid interest that has to be paid to make up for the difference between the FHA/VA rate and the current rate charged on conventional loans. These points cannot be added to loan amount to be paid the vet. Discount points must be paid by the seller or the lender.

Who pays the discount points? read more…

Potential Garage Door Security Issue?

March 9, 2010
by byjoella

Do you use one of those handy garage door opener key pad codes to open your garage?  They are pretty popular these days. Families often use them to let themselves into the house without a key. Pretty handy, but do you ever clean the buttons?

Problem: Over time, the buttons you use for your code will appear cleaner or dirtier than the ones you don’t use. This could give a criminal a clue as to what numbers you use for your code making the odds of guessing your code easier.

Solutions: Periodically inspect your key pad and clean off your key pad when needed, so the dirt doesn’t give away your door code.

Refer to the garage door opener’s owners manual to find out what products are recommended for cleaning.

Home Buyer Tax Credit…

February 26, 2010
by byjoella

If you take the first time or move up home buyer tax credit, make sure you can provide eligibility documentation for the IRS.

It seems there are some people that took the credit that weren’t eligible. In an attempt to avoid this from happening in the future, the IRS has tightened the rules regarding this tax credit.

To take the home buyer tax credit, offers must be contracted by April 30, 2010 and must fund by June 30, 2010.

For more information regarding the home buyer tax credit eligibility, refer to a tax professional and/or the IRS.

Public Transportation…

February 17, 2010
by byjoella

With all the economic and environmental concerns we have today, public transportation is a hot topic.  When shopping for real estate, public transportation may be something you want to consider.  Staying informed about C-Tran’s 20 Year Transit Development Plan could play an important part in deciding where you want to live and invest in real estate. Knowing where C-Tran is going to put a new transit center, add or eliminate a route, or where they are going to close a transit center could effect your decision to buy a property. This information could also effect the salability and/or value of your current home if you are considering selling.

Public transportation plays an important role in our community. C-Tran has been providing public transportation within Clark County for 29 years, connecting Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Yacolt, Ridgefield, La Center, and Portland (Oregon).

For more information, check out C-Tran’s website at: http://www.c-tran.com

Oregon Increases Taxes on the Wealthy…

February 9, 2010

Oregon’s top earners may be preparing for a mass exodus now that Oregon has voted to target the wealthy to solve their deficit problems.

It is possible SW Washington will see businesses and high income earners relocating over the border to avoid the new tax increases. Prior to this tax increase being passed we talked to several people from Oregon that said, “If Oregon increases our taxes, we are out of here.”

Time will tell if Oregon’s tax increase will cause a wave of top earners to move across the border into SW Washington. At a time when Washington has it’s own deficit problems, a move like over the border could benefit Washington state greatly.

Regarding Washington’s budget shortfall, Governor Chris Gregoire said “I will do my best to avoid any new taxes that slow our economic recovery. I will balance, as best I can, my interest in keeping new taxes down, while still protecting programs that I believe the vast majority of us agree are just too important to eliminate. We need a combination of reduced funding for services and raising revenue.”

Avoiding new taxes may sound very appealing to Oregon’s high income earners.

For more info about this tax increase, check out: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajcEehgldZh0 and http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1391&newsType=1