Life In Wake Forest NC.....

Honestly, why do I find the most random stuff when I am out and about?  This was captured in a local Ace Hardware in a display at the checkout.  Just below it in the yellow container was the "Regular" Anti-Monkey Butt which I assume is for men?

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

 

Whether you're seeking a lower payment with a refinance, cash out to pay bills or looking to purchase a home we have all kinds of loans!  FHA,VA, Conventional, Jumbo and USDA rural housing loans.

It costs you $0 to get a free quote and only takes a few minutes.  If you could pay off your home 7-10 years faster making the same or similar payment you make now would you investigate your options?  Of course you would.  Contact me today and let's see if we can help you pay off your home more quickly. 

If we can't then you get a free credit report.  You should check your credit regularly anyway so you still get something out of it!

Purchase a home with no money down using a USDA rural housing loan.  Seller can provide funds to cover your closing costs.  Also, if the home appraises for more than the purchase price you can roll closing costs into the loan up to 100% of the appraised value.

Home prices and rates will eventually start to creep up again.  When they do you may find yourself in multiple offer situations and could have a hard time getting into a home.  Lastly, the $8,000 tax credit is due to expire in April so get a movin'!

                                          DIRECT LENDER

Since 1977

 5106 Oak Park Road Suite A Raleigh NC 27612

 First Priority Financial Lic #B-146523-101  Nevin's NC lic#139451

  The opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of First Priority Financial.

                                        Credit restrictions apply.  This is not a guarantee to lend.

*These are estimates only to draw a hypothetical example of what monthly payments might be.  This is not a guarantee to lend. Certain credit restrictions apply.  Equal housing opportunity lender.  Rates subject to change.

Many self employed folks ask this question.  In my opinion, yes. I think stated income loans will once again be a prodcut offered by most banks. Here is why I think this will happen:  Mortgages are bundled up and sold as securities (bonds).  Right now the federal government is buying most of these securities. Hence the reason for such low interest rates and strict underwriting guidelines.

When the Feds stop buying mortgage backed securities and private investors begin buying them it's my belief that they will eventually get tired of a paltry 2%-3% return on their bond investments.  This desire for a higher rate of return I believe will once again spur creative financing options.

Why would banks do this?  Because investors are often willing to take higher risks for a higher rate of return.  If any of you reading this own stock in a company or a mutual fund then you have likely taken risk higher than that of a US Treasury.  It's a matter of demand - if investors want it then banks will produce it.  However I seriously doubt you will ever see underwriting as liberal as it used to be.

Approximately 10.4 million Americans are self employed. During the housing crises many of the stated income loans were available to wage earners (W2 employees).  This loan product was initially created for self employed borrowers with complicated tax returns.  But with a strong demand for higher returns the stated income wage earner and no doc loans were born. The stated income wage earner loan was the main culprit for mortgage defaults on the stated income loan versus those for the self employed borrower.

Bond rating agencies are to blame for our housing crisis.

These were rated as AAA (low risk) mortgages when in fact there were a lot of high risk loans mixed with the low risk loans. Sort of like selling a bag of apples with rotten ones hidden at the bottom but then telling you they are all fresh. Had the bond rating agencies rated the bonds accurately and had investors knew what they were buying the crisis would have unfolded differently.  Less people have an appetite for low rated bonds and a much smaller segment of the mortgages would have defaulted.

As long as regulators carefully screen bond ratings on mortgage backed securities then I don't see more stated income loan issues when they come back.

Wow, what a crazy weather week in Wake Forest NC!  While we had incredibly beautiful snow last week it became quite a hassle the rest of the week.  Kids didn't have school Monday - Wednesday and now they will have to make up several of the days on Saturdays!  My neighborhood was FULL of kids sledding and having snowball fights and there were a few injuries - my son included.  My son, Liam, decided to find the steepest driveway and go rogue.......he hit a bump and ended up in the trees.  After 4 visits with an Ophthalmologist we think he will continue to get his sight back little by little with minimal long-term damage - it has been very scary but not enough to keep him from basketball!  He played in his game last night and at one point when the coach was getting him in the game where Liam had to look to the left Liam said, "Hey, that's my bad eye!" to which the coach just responded "Well, use your GOOD eye!"  Way too funny!

Many of the local restaurants and business had abbreviated hours this past week as well due to the weather but as the week is coming to a close things seem to be getting back to normal.  So, with that said, here is a peek at the upcoming week's schedule!  It's going to be a fantastic week with so much going on!  Don't forget the Valentine's Day Dance, Margaritas and Mambo, Art After Hours, and so much more.....

I'll see you out and about this week in Wake Forest NC and remember, it's just doesn't get any better than Life in Wake Forest NC!

Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Special Meeting: Managing Stress
Monday, Feb. 8; 9:30 am weigh in and 10:10 am meeting
St. John's Episcopal Church, 830 Durham Rd., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! This special meeting will teach you how to manage stress and improve your health. Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613.  www.tops.org


Margaritas and Mambo - Salsa Dance Lessons
Monday, Feb. 8; 7 pm - 11 pm
Tuxedo Junction, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest
Join us for margarita specials and $10 salsa dance lessons! (919) 556-2038  www.tuxedojunctioninc.com


Lunch & Learn with the Triangle Community Coalition
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 11 am
Realtors Building, One Eleven Place
Join us for a timely conversation about the future of Wake County schools. You will hear about the following and more:
* How could the county help build schools?
* How do we make the transfer of responsibility from the School Board to the County?
* What ever happened to public private partnerships for schools?
Guest panelists and speakers include Wake County Commissioners Paul Coble, Lindy Brown, and Betty Lou Ward, and Wake County School Board members Ron Margiotta, Kevin Hill, and John Tedesco. Tickets are $15 for TTC members and $20 for non-members and at the door. Lunch will be provided. Register online at www.tricc.org.


Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Evening
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 6:45 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Church Room 213, 103 N. Main St., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613.  www.tops.org


Open Computer Lab
Thursday, Feb. 11; 6 pm - 8 pm
Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club
The Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club offers a computer lab on most Thursday evenings. Visit www.wakebgc.org for more information.


Town Hall Meeting Hosted by Sen. Dan Blue
Thursday, Feb. 11; 6:30 pm
Northern Regional Center
Sen. Dan Blue is inviting area residents to a town hall meeting from 6:30 pm – 8 pm on Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Northern Regional Center, 350 Holding Ave. Sen. Blue encourages members of the local community to attend and engage in a conversation on the goals and priorities of the state government in 2010. Sen. Blue currently serves on the following committees: Appropriations/Base Budget, Appropriations on Education/Higher Education, Commerce, Finance, Judiciary, Rules, and Ways and Means.


Art After Hours
Friday, Feb. 12; 5 pm
Downtown Wake Forest
On the second Friday night of each month the streets of downtown Wake Forest come alive with food, merchants and music! Everyone is invited to come and experience the dining, art and retail merchants of downtown Wake Forest. Downtown businesses stay open until 9 pm. You never know what treasure you may find! www.wakeforestdowntown.com


Guest Artist Jose Laguna at Sunflower Studio & Gallery
Friday, Feb. 12; 5 pm - 9 pm: Opening Reception
Saturday, Feb. 13 thru Saturday, Mar. 6: Exhibit
Sunflower Studio & Gallery, 214 E. Jones St.
Sunflower Studio & Gallery features artist Jose Laguna during Art After Hours and through March 6 during normal business hours (Thursday through Sunday 11 am - 5 pm). Jose is an impassioned acrylic abstract painter based in Rolesville. By nature, a profoundly forward-thinking and optimistic person, Laguna infuses his philosophies and outlook on life into his work. He makes his mark on the viewer with liberal strokes of vivid and evocative color. The title of his exhibit is "One Life Expressions". While there, also see the latest works of Sunflower Studio's resident artists.  (919) 570-0765  www.sunflowerstudiowf.com  


Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Evening
Tuesday, Feb. 13; 6:30 pm weigh-in; 6:45 pm meeting
Wake Forest Baptist Church Room 213, 103 N. Main St., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613.  www.tops.org


Valentine's Dance
Saturday, Feb. 13; 7 pm - Midnight
Tuxedo Junction, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest
Join our special Valentine's Dance featuring the big band sounds of the Moonlighters Orchestra and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine. Members tickets are $60/couple, $35/single and non-members tickets are $80/couple, $45/single. Call (919) 556-2038 to make your reservation.  www.tuxedojunctioninc.com


Pancake & Sausage Breakfast
Sunday, Feb. 14; 8 am - 1 pm
American Legion Hall, 225 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
American Legion Post 187 will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast on the second Sunday of each month at the Legion Hall, across from the Wake Forest Post Office. All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange juice and choice of hot beverage for only $5 per person/$20 max per family. Proceeds support community and veterans projects. For information call (919) 494-2707.

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

 

You have braved the real estate crises, plummeting stock market, waves of foreclosures, dropping property values and distrust from the public.  If you're reading this, you're to close! To close to succeeding! Don't give up, quit or throw in the towel.  We as an industry need you. You must have been doing something right if you're still here. It's not time to walk, it's time to build.

Maybe you've tried building a team in the past with no luck.  Maybe it's because you haven't had formal training on team building or how to properly manage people.  Maybe managing IS the problem rather than the solution.

When you have the time watch this motivational video.  It's suggestions could change the way you view your business.  With the large audience watching this speaker I have to think they paid money for this information.  Luckily this video allows me to share.  Enjoy!

The listings in Wake Forest NC that fit comfortably within the Luxury Market tier offer a huge variety of styles and prices wth numerous features that set these estates apart!  The current Market Report for January 2010 introduce four new properties within the Luxury Market for Wake Forest NC.

For a complete report of the new listings in Wake Forest NC within the luxury market and a current snap shot of all listings in Wake Forest NC available in the Luxury Market please feel free to visit Raleigh Luxury Homes and Estates. 

If you would like more detailed information regarding any of the Luxury homes currently available and/or pictures please feel free to contact me at 919.649.6128 or you can simply send me an email!

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

 

Gorgeous White Brick home located on quiet culdesac in Wakefield Plantation!  Walking distance to the Kerr Banks YMCA, Grocery Stores, Restaurants and Schools!

Awesome professional landscaping in both front and rear of home, fully finished basement with media room and kitchenette, completly updated kitchen, large deck, wine cellar and first floor master!

Price has just been adjusted to $528,000.00 and is priced very competitively!

• 5 bedrooms / 4.5 bath
• Year Built 2002
• 4702 sq ft
• 2 car garage

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

 

Home loan junk fees.  What an ambiguous term.  So many things can be mistakenly classified as home loan junk fees including fees that are bona fide. Mortgage loan fees nationwide amount to roughly 110 billion annually.  You may wonder why that figure is so high after all it's just a home loan.

With each loan that funds there are multiple people working to complete the loan.  Many of the people involved in the transaction will never meet some of those who assist the loan officer in completing the loan process.  This includes

* a loan processor

* escrow officer

* title insurance company

* appraiser

* underwriter

* underwriting assistant

* lenders account executive

* funder

* doc drawer

* county recorder 

* courier

None of these fees are junk if they are bona fide meaning normal and customary charges for services performed.

A junk fee, essentially is a fee charged for a service that is not performed.

Home loan junk fees can also be a padded fee for a service that is performed. 

Example would be:  If recording your deed cost $85 and the lender or broker charged $125, this would be padding fees. 

With the housing crises into its second year junk fees fall under a term known as Predatory lending.  Lenders are in fear of loan buy backs so they are monitoring these types of charges very carefully.

Wow, talk about an area coming to a standstill!  I know that in Wake Forest NC we have waited all season to see a few snow flakes and we got our wish over this past weekend!  Over 6 inches of snow fell in Wake Forest NC!  That may not be much to others in different parts of the country but it was a huge event here!  I have to laugh when I think of a Status Update a friend of mine put on Facebook:  "For those of you that don't live in the Raleigh NC area:  We are having a "Winter Storm EVENT"-- very fancy way of saying, "It's SNOWING"

Roads are still a little edgy this morning but little by little we will get it all cleared and be back to normal - just takes us a little longer than the rest of the country when we get snow.

Regardless, events in Wake Forest NC are pushing on this week and there is SO MUCH to choose from!  Check it out......

Come rain, sleet or snow, Life in Wake Forest NC moves along....

CTE Month at Heritage Middle School
Feb. 1-28
Heritage Middle School
Volunteers are needed throughout the month of February to speak to classes in the following fields: Business Technology, Computer Technology, Keyboarding, Family and Consumer Science, Techonology Education, and Exploring Career Decisions. Volunteers can pick the date and time they choose to visit the school. Contact Rosalynn Tennie at rtennie@wcpss.net to schedule your time.

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

 

Are you thinking of doing some updates on your home in Wake Forest NC?  Ever wonder what you'll recoup on a kitchen remodel?  A basement remodel?

The latest Cost vs. Value Report 2009-2010 is now available and there are some surprising numbers on the list. Among the top items that will get you the most return are:

• Attic Bedroom - 90% cost recouped
• Back-up Generator - 59.9% recouped
• Basement Remodel - 84.4% recouped
• Roof Replacement - 71.8% recouped

Most other improvements made to homes were down in Cost vs. Value compared with last year.  A few to note are:

• Sunroom Addition 
• Bathroom Remodel
• Deck Addition
• Kitchen Remodel
• Home Office Remodel

If you are thinking about performing a few jobs around your house to increase your resale value in Wake Forest NC you might want to take a look at the 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report.

If you are interested in placing your home for sale in Wake Forest NC I would be happy to review the report with you and how the improvements you may have made you your home have been impacted.  Remember, a professional Realtor® will prepare a detailed Market Analysis for you which will include updates and upgrades that you have done before listing your home!

Feel free to check out my website at www.wakeforesthousechick.com for some great tools in helping you to prepare your home for sale in Wake Forest NC!

                         

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

• Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
• Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....