Buying your first home can be a stressful situation with all the tasks and responsibilities that go with it. To make it all easier for you, the first step you should take when buying a house is to find a great Realtor. This is some one who is attentive to your wants and needs in a house and is concerned with putting your mind at ease. Over all, the ideal Realtor is not only attentive but is trustworthy as well. Your Realtor should be more than willing to answer any and all questions you have to the fullest of her ability. If ever when you are searching for a Realtor and you find one who skirts around the answer of a question or leaves you questioning things after a meeting, pack your briefcase and run. This is a very big deal, and you need to be able to trust your Realtor explicitly. With large amounts of money and your personal credit standing in jeopardy, how can you afford not to find a good Realtor.

Your second step to take when purchasing a house is to apply for loans BEFORE you go looking at houses. When applying for loans, do it in person, with lots of paperwork, and make sure you are getting pre-approved, NOT pre-qualified. When you get pre-approved for a loan, things like your credit history, pay stubs for employment verification, tax returns, and of course your loan application will be looked at. This is not all that the banker will be asking for, however, he may want more or less, depending on who you are trying to get your loan through and your own personal credit history. Getting pre-approved also guarantees you will have the money set aside and waiting for you when you come back after you have decided on a house. Pre-qualification however, is a completely different story. This is usually done over the phone, with little personal background information and usually no paper work, and is not a guaranteed loan. Basically, anyone with credit that is not utterly horrible can get pre-qualified for a loan, but all that can change once you go in to fill out the paperwork. A detailed credit history search or some other problem that was not discovered in the pre-qualification process can turn up something that leaves you inapplicable for the loan. Another important thing to watch out for when applying for a loan is the interest percentage rate: too high and it is no good. The higher the interest rate, the more money you pay to the bank instead of towards paying off your loan.

Once you have a loan secured through a bank, it is time to update your Realtor as to how much the loan is for, a.k.a what your spending limit is, and what exactly in a house you are looking for. From here, she can match you with a house based on a variety of different aspects. For instance, if you really liked a neighborhood you got lost in one day, your Realtor should be able to find a house in or around that area to show you. Or perhaps you want to be closer to your child's school. Your Realtor will be able to help you find something there too. Say you just want a house with a garage, a big backyard for your dogs, and a swimming pool; your Realtor can search houses by desired aspects for you as well.

Before settling with one house, remember this is a big decision and you should look around to find the one that suits your personality and desires the best. Once you have firmly decided on a house, let your Realtor know and she will begin the negotiations. Usually what happens is the Realtor offers the seller or seller's agent the final price that the buyer is willing to pay, along with some cash as a sort of "down payment" to show the seller you are serious about buying the house. Then, negotiaton is done until every one agrees on one price. Once this step is completed, carefully re-read the paperwork before signing the agreement. Once your signature is added and a few more pieces of paperwork are completed, you can start moving into your new house.

Making sure that you get the best Realtor, the best loan, and the best deal on a house can leave anyone frantic and frazzled. You don't have to worry anymore because Realtor Miranda Hinchman is here to help. One of the top Realtors with the dependable real estate company ERA Woods Group., Miranda provides all her clients with a personalized, one on one consultation to help you find what is best for you. www.sellmelexington.com provides the best possible atmosphere and tools to help you feel comfortable, and to calm your qualms about purchasing your first home. Miranda will help you find your perfect house for the best deal. Plus, if you are looking to move to the beautiful area of Lexington Kentucky, that is just what Miranda specializes in: Buying and selling any and all types of properties in Lexington, Kentucky and bluegrass area. So, before you get all sweaty and stressed looking for an excellent Realtor, check out Miranda Hinchman of ERA Woods Group. Thousands of people chose her and her company because they stood out above the rest. Thousands of people can't be wrong, so browse her website and feel free to contact her. Her trusting personality, her drive to please and her desire to achieve results is sure to win over even the most pessimistic of people.

The real estate market has taken a huge hit in the last year or so; however now is the right time to purchase a home if you can. There are many great deals out there because there is a huge inventory of homes for sale and very few buyers. You can work with your local real estate agent to negotiate the price and get a great deal.

There are also huge deals on foreclosed homes. In this instance, the bank that holds the mortgage is willing to sell the foreclosed property as fast as possible because they want to recoup their losses. This means that as long as the bank gets what they are owed then they are all set; some foreclosed homes have even sold at a few hundred or thousand dollars. How is that for a bargain?

In order to help get the housing market back on track so that home values increase we all need to invest in real estate to bring money back to the market. Hopefully, by the end of 2009 there will be fewer foreclosures and more people getting their first home or a new home.

Are you looking for your dream homes in Lexington KY? You will be able to find what you are looking for at www.sellmelexington.com.

All of us have dreams about our home. We pay attention to every little detail to ensure the investment that we make on our Lexington homes is a worthwhile one. Besides that, our home will most probably be the biggest investment that we will ever make in our lifetime and as such, it is important that we buy the best home at the least expensive price possible. Lexington is one of the best places to invest in real estate properties.

If you are looking for Lexington KY homes for sale, it is best to make use of a reliable Lexington real estate resource site such as www.sellmelexington.com. It is much easier to find the best Lexington KY homes for sale at Sellmelexington.com, as you will not have to surf the internet for hours or chase around newspapers for classifieds on Lexington KY homes for sale.

When you want to buy a home, it is vital that you find the hot properties at the right time. There are many people waiting to invest in Lexington KY real estate as they consider it one of the best investments. Moreover, the falling interest rates are again rekindling the interest of buyers. The real estate industry works very differently these days. According to one survey 80 percent of prospective home shoppers who are interested in finding Lexington KY homes for sale visit the worldwide web first before they go to any other source such as newspaper or using their local realtor. Therefore, property owners who are interested in selling their property fast list them in websites that allow real estate property listings. Therefore, if you have Lexington KY homes for sale I can help list your property to ensure that it sells at a good price in the shortest time possible. By listing with me and my website, together will give your property great exposure as one of the most trusted sites, Sellmelexington.com gets very good site traffic.

Those who are interested in finding the best Lexington KY homes for sale will find this site to be a highly resourceful place because shoppers can find all the best properties in Lexington listed here. Your local realtor will have only limited access to the properties that are for sale in Lexington on the other hand Sellmelexington.com will contain all the latest properties that are for sale. It will contain properties that your local realtor is not even aware off and as such the best way to find you dream home in Lexington.

Buying and selling homes in Lexington has never been easier. Sellmelexington.com does not only contain properties for sale but it also has a number of user-friendly tools that will allow you to make quick searches on your favorite Lexington properties. You will also be able to get email updates on the latest properties that are for sale in Lexington. Go ahead, and explore this site, find your favorite Lexington property, and also bookmark this site for future reference.

Thanks, Miranda

Now Representing the Briggs Company 

The Briggs Company is an award winning leader in the home building industry. Briggs offers affordable home building including new homes, town homes, and condominiums in Lexington and Central Kentucky.

Briggs homes are built with high quality construction, stylish architecture, and trusted brands. Briggs builds their distinctive homes in many Lexington KY neighborhoods including: The Home Place, Palomar Reserve, The Pinecrest Community, Brookfield Chase, Masterson Station, McConnell's Trace, Parkside at Masterson Station and Sutton Place just to name a few,

Let me be your Briggs agent. With my extensive knowledge on these wonderful Briggs homes I can assist you in any way. Want to build a home suited just for you or to an already existing Briggs home? I can help. Contact me now and we can discuss the benefits for you of having me as your buyer's representation.

Great news for first time homebuyers; purchase a home now and take advantage of the new new tax credit of up to $8,000.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows a tax credit for first time homebuyers. This law applies to this year (2009) only so act now! If you purchase a Lexington Ky home between now and November 30, 2009 you may be eligible to receive a tax credit for 10% of the purchase price of the home up to $8,000.

Some important points of the program to mention are:

- Any individual (and if married, their spouse) who has had no ownership interest in a home during the last three years is eligible.

- Full credit for single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint tax return) partial credit for incomes up to $95,000 ($170,000 joint tax return)

- Available only for the purchase of a single family home that will be used as a principal residence

- Homebuyers can reduce or even eliminate their income tax liability for the year of purchase by claiming the credit on their tax return.

- If the home is sold before three years, the first time homebuyer (now the seller) must pay the IRS the entire amount of the tax credit at closing.

With great incentives such as this, and with the price of homes lower than they have been in years it is THE time to purchase an new home. I can help you find ANY home in Lexington Kentucky and the surrounding Bluegrass area, whether it be a build to suite, or an older home let me assist. If you would like to know more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and how this can make purchasing a new home more affordable give me a call at 859-621-8073. I can also assist you in finding a trustworthy mortgage advisor all you have to do is ask.

I work hard to make SellMeLexington as informative and user friendly for my clients as possible. The tools found here are also valuable to the individual who would like to browse for Lexington Kentucky homes without being hassled. If you haven't already noticed, this website offers much more compared to the other Lexington Ky MLS and home search websites. I have taken a great deal of time and effort to find the best assets to provide you.

Below are some of the benefits you will receive by using this site to find your dream home. Whether you are looking for a new custom built home in Masterson Station or a luxurious home in Tuscany at Hamburg, this is the place to start looking. If you need assistance or have questions about any of the Lexington Kentucky home listings found here feel free to drop me an email or call me at 859.621.8073.

Benefits to using SellMeLexington to find your dream home are:

Google Map Search - You can simply click on the area of Lexington Kentucky you would like to start home searching.

Daily Email Alerts - You can sign up for FREE customized daily email alerts regarding new home listings that match your criteria complete with photos of the listing.

Save Home Searches - Save the results of your home search for future viewing.

Google Map Search Results - Display the locations of the Lexington Ky MLS properties that match your search criteria on a Google map.

Advanced Home Search Options - You can perform very detailed property searches.

Listing Sort Options - You can sort search results by square feet or price.

Create Your Own Account- You can create your own account on SellMeLexington to view saved searches and listings.

As you can see, these are just a few of the many helpful features we offer you  for FREE. Just keep us in mind when you are ready to sell or buy your Lexington Ky Real Estate. To get started click Home Search.

You may have heard the term Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) when looking to finance your Lexington Ky home.  What is PMI, and how do you know when you need to purchase it?  The answer can be hard to find among all the real estate jargon you’re hearing lately.  Here is the short version of what you need to know about it:

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance?

PMI is an extra insurance required by some lenders to offset their risk of you defaulting on your home loan.  When you put down less than 20 percent of the real estate’s value, your lender may tell you that you have to buy PMI.  It is usually added into your monthly mortgage payment until the equity in your Lexington Ky property reaches 20 percent.

Under the current law, the PMI will be canceled automatically at 22 percent equity, if you are current on your payments.  If you aren’t current, the lender does not have to cancel the insurance because the loan is high-risk.  After getting caught up on your payments, the PMI will be cancelled.  Any money that you have overpaid must be refunded to you within 45 days.

What If Your Lexington Ky Homes Increases In Value?

With a conventional loan, it may take as many as 15 years of a 30-year loan to pay down 20 percent.  But, if property values in your area rise, you might be able to cancel the PMI sooner.

Some lenders may be willing to consider the new value of your home to determine the equity in your home.  You may be responsible for any fees like an appraisal that may occur.  You’ll have to weigh the costs of the appraisal against the savings of the PMI premium.  In most cases, you’ll find that the added expense is worth it. 

Private mortgage insurance is a good thing if you can’t afford to pay 20 percent of the cost of your Lexington Kentucky real estate as down payment.

Are you a first-time home buyer?  Now's the best time ever for you to buy real estate.  Call me today at 859.621.8073 or email me here to find out why.

1. What is the top reason buyers state for purchasing a home?

34% Desire to own a home
11% Relocating due to job
11% Need a larger home

2. What do buyers most look for in seeking a neighborhood?

62% Quality (upkeep and appearance)
Also important was price and proximity to work.

3. What do buyers most often say is the benefit in using a real estate agent?

60% Guidance on the home buying experience *Cited by 79% of first time home buyers
Also noted, pointing out features of the home the buyers overlooked, negotiating a more favorable deal for the buyer, and improving their knowledge of search areas.

4. What is the biggest compromise buyers make when buying a home?

20% Price
15% Home condition
14% Distance from work

5. Do sellers really use an inducement or incentive to attract buyers?

58% offer an incentive or added benefit for buyers to purchase their home
18% Paying a portion of closing costs or prepaids (taxes and insurance)
15% Home Warranty
4% Money for updates, repairs and remodeling
17% of sellers on the market a week or less use incentives/inducements
56% of sellers on the market 17 week a or less use incentives/inducements

6. What is the first thing buyers do when they decide to buy a home?

33% Look online at homes
17% Contact a real estate agent
12% Researching the home buying process online

7. What do buyers consider most useful on a real state website?

86% Photos
80% Information on properties for sale
86% Virtual tours
Buyers found open house information and recently sold homes least valuable

8. Why do sellers usually sell?

22% Due to job or relocation
17% Outgrew current home

If your New Year's Resolution is to sell your Lexington Kentucky Real Estate home, you can make a few simple changes to improve the value of your home and get it ready to sell.
 
With the buyer in mind, take a tour of your home, making a list of the good, the bad, and the not so bad.  This real estate market is not the time to invest money in major renovations before selling your home.  You simply won't get your money back out of them.  Instead, your goal is to spend a little money to make the good areas eye-catching and fix the rough areas.

Here are a few suggestions for getting your home “buyer ready:”

Landscaping

The first thing a buyer notices is the outside of your Lexington Kentucky Real Estate home.  First impressions are very important. You’ll want to trim the bushes and rake the leaves to make the house seem more inviting. It is also preferable to lay down fresh mulch and if you have a few problem places in your yard cover them with new sod.

If your wood porch or deck is looking a little run down, buy a couple of cans of outdoor stain’n’seal and give it a few coats.  It will instantly brighten up the front of your house.

Your Home’s Interior

Most real estate experts agree that sprucing up the bedrooms, the bathrooms, and especially the kitchen can really improve the value of your home.  Let’s start at the beginning of the list:

* Bedrooms: Paint the walls of the room a light, neutral color to really open up the space.  Replace any old light fixtures with new modern ones and consider adding a ceiling fan to each bedroom to increase the room's appeal.

* Bathroom:  If your tub has seen better days, have it resurfaced.  Or, if you're handy, you can resurface your bathtub yourself.

* Kitchen: The kitchen might also benefit from sprucing up.  Do not gut renovate your kitchen.  Today's real estate market won't give you back the money you'll spend to do this.  Instead, refinish the cabinets and install new handles.  You could also put in a new backsplash, if needed.

If your New Year's Resolution is to sell your home as quickly as possible and for the most money, call me today at 859.621.8073 or email here.

A good way to save money in your Lexington, Kentucky homes is to improve your home’s energy efficiency.  You can save four to nine percent a year on water heating costs by installing a water heater jacket.  They’re quick and easy to install, here’s how:

Prepare to Shop

Before you go shopping, make sure you know if your water heater is gas or electric.  The access panels and materials can be different between the two.  The installation of a water heater jacket on a gas heater is more difficult.  You may want to have a professional do the installation on a gas water heater.

Write down your water heater model number.  Most water heater jackets list the compatible water heater models on the packaging.  Choose a jacket with a value of  R-8. 

Installation

Before beginning, shut the water heater off.

Water heater jackets are pre-cut to make it easier to install in Lexington, Kentucky homes.  Take off the packaging and separate the pre-cut pieces.  You should have a top, body and belts.  You’ll need to have plenty of duct tape on hand, too. 

Shape the top of the water heater jacket to fit the model.  Cut around the pipes that enter the water heater, and then tape the areas closed to form a good seal. Tape the edges of the top down to the sides of the water heater.

Wrap the body of the water heater jacket around the heater.  Have the belts ready to go around the jacket.   Make sure you don't put them on too tight.  The belts shouldn’t push down on the insulation more than a quarter of its width.
 
You’ll need to mark the area of the access plate. Carefully outline it and then cut the insulation out.  Tape around the edges of the cut to prevent fraying of the insulation.  Take care not to set the water heater above 130 degrees; it can cause the wiring to melt under the water heater jacket.

Congrats!  You’ve learned how to install and save energy by using a water heater jacket in your Lexington, Kentucky homes.

Thinking of buying a new home?  With the lowest interest rates in decades and extremely low prices, this is an amazing time to buy a home.  Give me a call today at 859-621-8073 or email me here.

 If you are having trouble making the payments on your Lexington, Kentucky real estate mortgage, you may be worried about foreclosure.  You don’t have to have foreclosure on your credit record for the next ten years.  Your lender may accept a deed-in-lieu and protect your credit rating, or you may be able to get the lender’s approval for a short sale of your property.
 

What Is A Short Sale?

A short sale refers to the lender accepting a discounted payoff amount, or accepting less money than due to satisfy the loan.  Not all lenders will agree to a short sale.  Here are some tips on how to get approved for a short sale.

Call Your Lender

Explain to your lender why you are unable to make the payments and why you should be allowed to have a short sale for your Lexington, Kentucky real estate.  You may be asked to submit documentation of your financial difficulties, including bank statements and tax papers. Whatever you do, don’t fail to act. If you fail to take action matters will get worse!

Send In Documentation

The lender may request that you send in proof of your income and assets.  They’ll want to know if you have any money in a savings account or a money market account.  You’ll have to tell them if you have any stocks, bonds or any other real estate that could be liquidated to pay off your debt.

Once you have approval to hold a short sale, you’ll still need to submit more paperwork to the lender.  You can ask your real estate agent to fill out the preliminary net sheet that the lender requires.  This form will show what you expect to sell the house for and what the net profit will be after all loans are paid off.

After you find a buyer, mail in a form showing the offer and a copy of the listing agreement.  The lender still has the option to refuse to approve the sale if the terms don’t meet their requirements.

A short sale may be your ticket to avoid foreclosure on your Lexington, Kentucky real estate.

Ready to work with a professional real estate agent who can guide you through the complicated process of a short sale?  Call me today at 859-621-8073 or email me here.

So your New Year’s Resolution is to get your Lexington, Kentucky home clutter free; it can seem like a daunting process.  However, if you follow these few suggestions, you'll be on your way to keeping your New Year’s Resolution.

Work in Small Bits of Time

It’s best to break the project down into pieces.  You could work as little as fifteen minutes at a time or up to a few hours, if you prefer.  Just be sure to pick a time frame that doesn’t overwhelm you.  Set a timer to make sure you quit when the time is up.  Here's a great online timer you can use.

Pick a Room

Choose one room to start in. Believe me; keep the chaos contained in one area. It doesn’t have to be the messiest room, just one you think you can handle. Look for a shelf or closet that needs sorting, and don't forget to look under your bed. If the whole room is in need of de-cluttering, start in corner farthest from the door.

Gather Supplies

Wait!  Don't just dive in.  Before you’re ready to start sorting through your Lexington, Kentucky home, you’ll need to find a couple of boxes and trash bags. Label the boxes with KEEP and GIVE AWAY.  You'll use the trash bags for stuff that isn’t useful to anyone and needs to be thrown away.  It may be beneficial to have someone help you dispose of things. A good tip is to keep items that are important to you but don’t get too emotionally attached, a friend or family member can help “keep you in check”.

* KEEP: These items are useful or have sentimental value.  Here's a good rule of thumb:  If you can’t remember why you kept it, it's time to let it go.

* GIVE AWAY: Some of the stuff you've accumulated may be useful to someone else.  If you loved it once, most likely someone else will too. Clothes that don’t fit anymore go in here, and anything in good condition that you haven’t used in six months. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are many great Lexington Kentucky charities like the Salvation Army or the Goodwill that may even come pick up your stuff.

* TRASH:  Anything that didn’t make it into the first two boxes goes here.  Clothes that are beyond repair, household items you don't use and out-of-date magazines that can take up a lot of space are all trash. Some libraries or schools will take old journals or magazines off your hands.  Remember to shred anything that has your social security number or other sensitive information on it.  If you have a lot of things to shred, there are services that will pick up the materials and shred them for you at amazingly reasonable rates.

Be honest with yourself about what you should keep.  Before you keep that favorite sweater that hasn't fit in years, check your "honesty" radar.  In no time at all, you’ll have your Lexington, Kentucky home de-cluttered. And, you’ll have kept your New Year’s Resolution this year!

Want more tips like this one?  Come back and visit my Lexington, Kentucky Real Estate Blog often!  You'll get money saving home maintenance tips and valuable real estate tips once a week. You don’t even need to sign up, just come back and visit. If you like the tips and advice please let others know. We greatly appreciate any “word of mouth” business or referrals.

A home? A horse farm? You’ve finally decided you want to buy a piece of Lexington, Kentucky real estate.  What do you do now?  Here are a few tips for getting the best deal for your money:

Check Out Your Credit

The first thing you’ll want to do is order a copy of your credit report  from the three major credit bureaus:  Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. It is now a law to your benefit that you can get one free credit report per year. Once you get it, look for inaccuracies in:

* Name
* Address
* Creditors
* Late payments
* Delinquencies

After you’ve reviewed your credit report and know your credit score, you’re ready to make improvements to your report.  You can send a written “Notice of Correction” to the credit bureaus.  It can be up to 200 words.  If needed, you can explain why you fell behind on a particular debt, and every time a lender accesses the report, they’ll see your explanation.

It can take several months to for your credit score to go up.  However, it's well worth the effort to get a better interest rate.  It can save you thousands on your Lexington, Kentucky real estate.

What’s Next?

Before you start looking at properties, it’s a good idea to get a pre-approval  letter from a lender.  The lender will take into consideration your income and credit history.  Then they’ll determine what loan amount you can be approved for.

Most pre-approval letters list the maximum amount that you are approved for, not necessarily the amount you can afford.  Look carefully at your budget so that you don’t get too excited about the number and get into more house than you can afford. An experienced Realtor can recommend a mortgage professional that can assist you with this process.
 
A pre-approval letter will give you and your agent an idea of what houses to look at, and no time is wasted seeing properties that you can’t afford.  Prospective sellers may also give your bid more weight if you have a pre-approval letter and this happens more that you think.

Whether you are a first-time buyer, an experienced buyer wanting to upgrade or someone that is looking for investment property?  You have just made a fabulous decision for your future.  There are tons of great buys in the Lexington, Kentucky real estate market. You have plenty to choose from including; new homes, older houses, short sale or forclosures. I'm a specialist in this community and would love to help you buy the home of your dreams. I would appreciate the opportunity. Call me now at 859-621-8073 or email me here. Our website discusses many reasons why hiring a Realtor is advantageous to you.