Have you ever wondered why you would want to use a Realtor when buying your house?  In today’s episode of “It’s Not Rocket Science” Don sits down with Justin Sturdefant, with Greater Springfield Realtors, to discuss that very question.

Why should you use a Realtor?  What are the benefits to you as a home buyer?  How much will it cost you?  All of these are good questions that Don and Justin will discuss in this newest episode.

Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch the video.

Here are some takeaways from this video:

• Realtors’ access to pertinent information.
• A Realtor is your negotiator.
• As a buyer, do you pay the Realtor?
• Time Savings
• A good Realtor is well versed in the legalities (the contract).
• A good Realtor has good connections and resources at their disposal.

If you are in the market for a new home in the greater Springfield, MO area and want a great Realtor, give Justin Sturdefant a call at Greater Springfield Realtors.  Justin can be reached @ (417) 234-2834.

Stay connected with Don and his team @IWantAGreatHomeLoan and sign-up for our email updates.

If you live in Missouri and want to get started right away with getting pre-qualified for a GREAT Home Loan, fill out our Quick Inquiry and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

We Want To Hear From You…

Were you familiar with the benefits of using a Realtor when buying a home?  As a buyer, what kinds of questions would you like to see answered by us?  Please leave your comments below.

Are you a veteran looking for a home loan?  The VA home loan might be the perfect loan for you.

In this video Don shares what a VA home loan is and who is eligible.  Having served our country and being a veteran himself, Don is very passionate about helping our veterans get the best home loan possible.

As one of the last 100% financing options out there, a VA home loan is a great option for veterans who are looking to buy or refinance.

Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch the video.

Here are some takeaways from this video:

• What is a VA Home Loan?
• Can a VA Home Loan be used for a purchase or refinance?
• How do mortgage rates for this type of loan compare to other loan programs?
• What do I need to do to get started?

You can also visit our page on VA Home Loans to learn more.

Stay connected with Don and his team @IWantAGreatHomeLoan and sign-up for our email updates.

If you live in Missouri and want to get started right away with getting pre-qualified for a VA home loan, fill out our Quick Inquiry and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

We Want To Hear From You…

Were you familiar with VA home loans?  As a veteran, what do you think about the VA home loan program?  Please leave your comments below.

Are you looking for a 100% financing option for you next home loan?  A USDA Home Loan just might be the ticket.  There are guidelines and requirements involved with this type of loan, but if you qualify this is a great loan.

In this episode, Don answers some of the most important questions regarding USDA Home Loans and who qualifies for this type of loan.  This could be the ticket to your next home.

Just remember, knowledge is power and understanding the different loan programs available out there can really give you a leg up when searching for your next home.

Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch the video.

Here are some takeaways from this video:

• What is a USDA Home Loan?
• Can anyone qualify for a USDA Home Loan?
• What are the guidelines for this type of loan?
• Are mortgage rates higher with this loan?
• Where can I go to get more information on the USDA rural home loans?
• What do I need to do to get started?

You can also visit our page on USDA Home Loans to learn more.

Stay connected with Don and his team @IWantAGreatHomeLoan and sign-up for our email updates.

If you live in Missouri and want to get started right away with getting pre-qualified for a USDA home loan, fill out our Quick Inquiry and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

We Want To Hear From You…

Were you familiar with USDA home loans?  Is 100% financing important for you when purchasing your next home?  Please leave your comments below.

Have you asked the question lately, “Should I refinance my mortgage?”  If so, you are not alone as it is one of the top searched questions regarding refinancing.

In today’s video post Don answers this very question.  With mortgage rates being at record lows and people hesitant to purchase due to the unrest of our country and economy, refinancing your mortgage may just be the best action to take at this time.  You will learn in this video the main reasons why people refinance and what the rule of thumb is regarding whether you should refinance or not.

Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch the video.

Here are some things you will learn in this video:

• What are the reasons to refinance your mortgage?
• What are the refinance options out there?
• What is the “Rule of Thumb” for refinancing?
• Does refinancing make sense for me at this time?
• What do I need to do to get started?

Stay connected with Don and his team @IWantAGreatHomeLoan and sign-up for our email updates.

If you live in Missouri and want to get started right away with a mortgage refinance loan, then fill out our Quick Inquiry and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

What are your questions regarding mortgage refinancing?  Will this help you in your current situation?  Please leave your comments below.

What is HARP 2.0?

Better question might be, “Are you upside down on your mortgage and want to refinance, but don’t feel you qualify?” If that is you, then I highly recommend that you spend a few moments and watch the video below.

In this video, I sit down with Don and ask some of the pressing questions regarding the HARP 2.0 program and who qualifies.

This is a limited time program, so don’t procrastinate and miss out if you qualify. With rates still hitting record lows there is no better time than now to take advantage of the HARP 2.0 program.

Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch this video.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn in this video:

• What is this “HARP” loan everyone is talking about?
• Can anyone get a HARP loan?  Who can’t use it?
• What kind of mortgage rates and terms does it have?
• What are the costs to do a refinance?
• What if my home appraises for less than what I owe?
• This sounds to good to be true, what is the catch?

Stay connected with Don and his team @IWantAGreatHomeLoan and sign-up for our email updates.

If you live in Missouri and want to get started right away with a HARP 2.0 loan, then fill out our Quick Inquiry and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

What are your thoughts on the HARP 2.0 loan program?  Will this help you in your current situation?  Please leave your comments below.

On Monday, October 24, 2011, Obama, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced several enhancements to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to attract more eligible borrowers who may benefit from refinancing their mortgage.

We are assessing the announcement and impacts. We will provide more information as it is received from the Agencies.

The industry expects more operational details for HARP Phase II to be published by the FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on November 15, 2011.

As a reminder, we are currently doing HARP Loans under both Fannie Mae’s DU Refi Plus® and Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance® Programs.

For more information regarding this program or if you have questions regarding the refinancing of your home call Don today at (417) 844-5370.

RATE ALERT…RATE ALERT…RATE ALERT

Jumbo Portfolio Rates

*Add 20 bps in TX and NM

• Purchase and Refinance available > $417,000+
• Cash out is available
• 80% loan to value to consolidate 1st and 2nd
mortgages in CA, FL, MI, NV, and AZ
• 90% loan to value to consolidate 1st and 2nd
mortgages in all remaining states

For complete product guidelines / restrictions / current rates please contact Don at (417) 844-5370 or fill out our contact form.

Guest post by Josh Holcomb with Farmers Insurance in Springfield, MO.

Are You Covered?

As the current real estate market keeps getting harder for people to sell their houses, it is not uncommon for a home to sit unsold for months. As the house sits on the market for a long period of time many sellers often move out of their current home into a new home, which leaves their old one vacant.

With the challenge of taking care of two mortgages many people don’t stop to think about their homeowners’ insurance policy. I can understand, with that type of stress, all that is on one’s mind is making sure both loan payments get paid. Thinking they have a current homeowners’ policy and that nothing needs to change the owner moves on. But is that truly the case? What happens if disaster strikes and you need to file a claim?

Most insurance policies for homeowners have some type of automatic coverage for up to 30 days on vacant homes. But, after the 30 day grace period is up most insurance companies will stop covering several items, and even some insurance companies will drop your homeowners’ policy all together leaving nothing in force. Some of the things that insurance companies stop covering are things like vandalism, fires and water damage.

So why would an insurance company drop certain coverages or drop the policy all together? Below is a list of some of the reasons:

1. Attractive nuisance
2. Lack of oversight of the house
3. Damage could go unreported for days, which would make the claim bigger than it should have been.

Leaving a home vacant can lead to a lot more problems than a house that is being lived in.

So what should you do if you have a vacant home?

The number one thing you should do as soon as your house becomes vacant is to get in touch with your local insurance agent and let them know. Find out if your current policy covers the vacant home. If your current homeowners’ policy does not cover a vacant home, then your agent can help point you to what you need to do next.

Looking for homeowners insurance in the Springfield, MO area?  Josh Holcomb is a licensed insurance agent with Farmers Insurance in Springfield, MO.  He handles homeowners, health, auto, life and business insurance coverage.  Give Josh a call today @ (417) 429-0644 for your insurance needs.  You can also visit Josh online @ http://insuringtheozarks.com.

Well, tomorrow is November 2, 2010 and most Americans know this is a very crucial time for our Country’s future. As millions head to the polls tomorrow to cast their vote we must ask ourselves one thing, what kind of legacy do we want to leave for our children and our children’s children?

I can think of no other time in my life that a midterm election seems so important. Usually when we think about a midterm election, actually come to think about it most of us probably don’t think about midterm elections. They usually have very low turn-outs and people don’t seem very concerned about them. But that does not seem to be the case this time around.

What is being predicted as one of the largest midterm election turn-outs in history could very well dictate the direction our country will go. If you have turned on the TV at all over the last month you know exactly what I am talking about. Hardly a program goes by without multiple political ads being aired. They are everywhere! And if you are like me, you are sick of them. Nasty, Nasty, Nasty! Its come down to who can smear their opponent the best. To this I say, I’m Fed UP!

The media has created a feeding frenzy of politicians who are out to one up their competition. As an American citizen, born and raised in this GREAT COUNTRY, I say STOP!!! Stop with the politics as usual. Stop with the fat government. Stop with telling me how I am going to live my life for YOU! The last time I checked Congress works for me and it is about time we as Americans wake up and take our position back.

I was one of those who use to think that voting didn’t make a difference. I would go out and vote for the President, but other than that it didn’t matter. Boy was I wrong! I now see what my complacency has done. Slowly this country is slipping away to be another historical statistic. It is time for the SILENT MAJORITY to take a stand for what we believe. We have been quiet for way to long. Our voice MUST be heard before it is to late and we leave a legacy of demise.

This is not about Republican or Democrat; this is about taking back the freedoms that this Great Country was founded on. A country that was founded on working hard and fighting for what we believed in. Tomorrow, November 2, 2010, we all have the right to the greatest freedom bestowed upon us… The right to freely VOTE!

Please join me along with millions of others as we head to the polls tomorrow to make our voices heard. Don’t sit by thinking it doesn’t matter, because it does. Your voice needs to be heard.

Your Country Needs YOU!

Get out and vote your conscience, VOTE CONSERVATIVE!

Guest post by Gary Busker, a Realtor with Murney Associates in Springfield, MO

Some call it a buyer’s market; I call it a bargain market. With the large inventory of short sales and foreclosures available, affecting property values and low interest rates, it is an amazing time to buy a home. Even with economic fears it should be noted that there is no documented case in US history of the Real Estate Market staying down over five years.

Buying a home today is a great way to invest in the future. The terms Foreclosure and Short Sale have flooded the media lately yet the understanding of them is vague. Though they can be great bargains there are a few things a buyer needs to know before shopping and purchasing one.

• Foreclosures and Short Sales, often referred to as distressed properties, involve more documentation to complete a sale, this equates to longer closing times.

• Distressed properties are homes that often need some form of repair. This requires special consideration when it comes to financing. Having a skilled Realtor and Lender familiar with these considerations can make all the difference in completing a smooth and pleasurable transaction.
• Savings on these properties can often be as great as purchasing them for 40-60 cents on the dollar, however this again requires a very skilled Realtor familiar with the process and how their pricing works.
• Distressed properties are almost always sold as is where is. Many people including some Realtors believe this to mean no matter what you are buying. This is incorrect. As is where is simply means that the seller will NOT be making ANY repairs to the property to complete the sale. You as the buyer still have full rights to inspection and protection against hidden defects. Again this is where a skilled Realtor is vital.
• Short Sales though they can be a great deal can take sometimes up to 6 months to get closed whereas foreclosures are much quicker from 30 to 60 days and some as quickly as 10. Be prepared to hurry up and wait to get your bargain.

If you are a home owner looking to upgrade it is still a great time to sell. Keeping in mind that equity is made when you buy not when you sell. This means the same loss you may take selling, the other seller will be taking on the larger house so you get the better bargain.

If you take a 4% loss on $100,000 home ($4,000) and upgrade to a $200,000 home their loss is $8,000 based on the market before you begin to negotiate. That is a $4,000 bonus to your position.

If you are a first time home buyer the benefits are huge as the home you buy today if kept in good maintenance should only appreciate in good stride over the years to come.

In conclusion with speculation of rising interest rates in the first quarter of 2011, it is a great time to get out and buy or upgrade. For more information on Investment properties, Foreclosures, and Short Sales feel free to contact Gary Busker at 417.353.9189 and he will be glad to assist you in your bargain hunting.

Are you looking to purchase a home in the Springfield, MO area? Gary Busker is a licensed Realtor with Murney Associates in Springfield, MO.  He specializes in residential real estate, first time home buyers, investment properties, foreclosures and short sales. Give Gary a call today @ (417) 353-9189 for all your real estate needs. You can also visit Gary online @ http://pulseoftheozarks.com.