2020 Homebuying Checklist

Infographic Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

Some Highlights:

• If you’re thinking of buying a home, plan ahead and stay on the right track, starting with pre-approval.
• Being proactive about the homebuying process will help set you up for success in each step.
• Make sure to work with a trusted real estate professional along the way, to help guide you through the homebuying steps specific to your area.

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Additional thoughts from Pook...

Before you CLOSE on your new home, don't do anything that could affect your credit report:

• Don't make any large credit purchases or sign any lease agreements (car, boat, or other big ticket items).
• Don't open a new credit card account.
• Don't close out an old credit card account.
• Don't change employers.  

TreeTops Update

Lennar has released the last of their Meadows sites.  They are all interior lots.  Meadows sites allow for adding a 3^rd car garage space to the Beacon/Bliss, Canton/Cambridge, Dover/Dorchester models. 

Current Inventory Homes

Contact me for a PDF of this Inventory Sheet
Lennar has some great discounted "Ready Now" homes available!

Charlotte Among Top 10 Housing Markets Expected to Outperform

Excellent article about housing trends in the Charlotte area at CHARLOTTE STORIES:

Charlotte Stories

Charlotte Ranked Among Top 10 Housing Markets Expected to Outperform Over Next Few Years.

 

Historic Haile Gold Mine in Lancaster County, SC Re-Opened

Interesting article about re-opening of Halle Gold Mine in Lancaster County, SC.  The comments following the CHARLOTTE STORIES article are quite interesting, too.

Charlotte Stories

Historic Charlotte Area Gold Mine Re-Opened In Hopes Of Digging Up $5.7 Billion Worth of Gold

Annual Credit Report

Thanks to Kevin Barbee of Highland Mortgage for the following important information.

 

I wanted to send you a friendly reminder to obtain a free copy of your credit report by going to AnnualCreditReport.com, the official website established through the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Other sites may have similar names, such as “FreeCreditReport.com,” but they actually come with a price.

Remember these tips:

Try to have credit account info handy before logging on. For security purposes, you will be asked to verify information that can include anything from existing loans to prior addresses. If you have your last credit report available, that’s ideal.

Get a report from all three repositories. They are: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.

As soon as you’ve accessed each of the reports, print or save a copy. If you close the window with the report open, you’ll have to wait one year to return to that bureau’s report.

Review your reports carefully. If you find errors, please give me a call. We can talk about the potential impacts—good and bad—of credit disputes.

You may purchase your “credit score” as an option. If you opt for this, keep in mind these scores can differ from those typically used by creditors.

I highly recommend that you take advantage of AnnualCreditReport.com every year as one additional step in protecting yourself from identity theft and to make sure your credit is in good order for the next time you need to apply for new credit, insurance, or sometimes, even new employment.

Kevin Barbee Loan Officer | 645363 Office: (704) 904-8836    |    Mobile: kbarbee@highlandsmortgage.com  2301 Randolph Rd.  | Charlotte, NC 28207 highlandsmortgage.com/agents/kevin-barbee/

Top Renovations for Maximum ROI [INFOGRAPHIC]

Infographic Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

Some Highlights:

• If you’re planning on selling your house in 2020, these are the top renovations that will give you the highest Return on your Investment.
• Regardless of how long you’re planning on staying in your current home, it’s smart to be aware of which home renovations add the most value.
• The exterior of a house is the first thing buyers see when searching for a home. Upgrading your roof or siding will ensure your home leaves a great first impression!

Tax Deductions for Home Owners

Thanks to Ashleigh Clark of Highland Mortgage for the following important information.  Please contact me for a pdf copy.

Welcome to 2020!

As we transition from 2019 to 2020, I want to make you aware that when you sign and date documents or checks this year you should write out the whole year "2020."  For example, instead of writing 1/1/20, you would want to write 1/1/2020.  Doing this should (hopefully) prevent someone from changing the year to an earlier or later date beginning with "20."