Christine Pelland- Lusk & Associates Sotheby's International Realty

Christine Pelland- Lusk & Associates Sotheby's International Realty •Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The question every home buyer should have the answer to 💵Short Answer: YES! It is in your best interest as a home buyer ...
09/13/2021

The question every home buyer should have the answer to 💵

Short Answer: YES! It is in your best interest as a home buyer (especially in a competitive market) to work with a *local* lender!

Long Answer: Let me explain..

1. Face to Face - Choosing your lender is just as important as choosing your real estate agent. You should work with someone you trust, who you can meet in person, who can explain the process and who you can make an appointment with if you need to.

The fact that you can show up at their office also makes you more than a number in a corporate database. They want to go the extra mile and build a relationship.

2. Knowledge of the Market - Local lenders have knowledge of the market you're buying in which means they understand local property values in the area and can truly know the market value of your home. Online lenders have no way of understanding the ins and outs of the city you're buying a home in because they haven't lived or worked in that area.

3. Reputation - When you write an offer, you have to also submit your pre-approval letter which has your lender information on it. Because most agents understand the importance of working with a local lender, having an out of state lender on that pre-approval could make your offer look less appealing (especially if there are others you're competing with).

4. Relationships - Not only is it important for you to establish trust with your lender, but they want to establish trust with me as the agent as well. A local lender has more of a vested interest in keeping the agent happy because they can tell other agents and clients about their *great experience* vs an online lender who isn't in a referral based business.

5. Less Stress - Local lenders will be easier to get ahold of whether you need something last minute or have a question you need answered.

I have a list of trusted local lenders I can refer you to. Do your research but shop local!

Rates are low low low — so when should you consider refinancing your mortgage? Here are a few signs it may be a good ide...
08/19/2021

Rates are low low low — so when should you consider refinancing your mortgage? Here are a few signs it may be a good idea to shop around:⁣
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You think you can lower your rate by ½ to ¾ percentage points or more.⁣
You’d like to do some major home renovations but you need your home equity to do so.⁣
You want to shorten your mortgage term (to pay your home off faster) or extend it out (to lower your monthly payment).⁣
You love your house, your neighborhood, and your kid’s school — and you’ve got no plans to move.⁣
Your job is secure (so far as you can tell), and you’re not looking to change jobs.⁣
You’ve looked at your estimated closing costs and calculated the break-even point (where your savings from a lower interest rate exceed your closing costs).
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Refinancing is a smart move for lots of homeowners these days. Let me know if you have questions — I’m happy to help however I can!

A title search is a crucial but behind-the-scenes part of the home buying process. I’ve asked a local title insurance ex...
08/04/2021

A title search is a crucial but behind-the-scenes part of the home buying process. I’ve asked a local title insurance expert what buyers should know about their services — and the valuable role they play in keeping buyers safe.⁣
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Q: First off, what is title insurance? ⁣
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A: Title insurance is a type of insurance that protects buyers and lenders from loss due to snafus with a property title. The most common issues are back taxes, liens, and conflicting wills. ⁣
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Q: What does a title company do?⁣
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A; Since a clean title is required for every real estate transaction, title companies complete a search on every title to check for claims or liens before a new title can be issued. Without title insurance, buyers could be liable for monies owed on the home long after closing.⁣
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Q: How much should title insurance cost?⁣
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A: The cost of title insurance ranges between $500 and $3,500, depending on where you live, the provider you choose, and the purchase price of your home.⁣
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Buying a home doesn’t have to be stressful! There are ways to avoid common pitfalls—title insurance is one of them. Work with a trusted agent and team for the home buying & selling process to go as smoothly as possible. Please reach out with any questions pertaining to title insurance!

Getting a mortgage doesn’t haven’t be complicated or overwhelming so long as you know what to expect going in. ⁣⁣Here’s ...
07/08/2021

Getting a mortgage doesn’t haven’t be complicated or overwhelming so long as you know what to expect going in. ⁣
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Here’s an overview of the entire process start to finish:⁣
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1. Mortgage pre-approval: Just a bit of paperwork to show sellers you’re a serious buyer.⁣
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2. Shop and make an offer: Work with an agent to make offer sellers can’t refuse!⁣
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3. Loan application: Beef up what you started in the pre-approval process to get your loan ready for underwriting. ⁣
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4. Loan processing: Sit back while loan processors review all info in your loan file and gather documents about the house for the underwriter.⁣
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5. Underwriting: Underwriters are the key decision-makers in the whole process—the buck literally stops here. With everything reviewed, he or she will approve, reject, or come back and ask for additional documentation. ⁣
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6. Closing: Once you’ve made it to closing, you’re in the home stretch. Documents are approved, and after a few signatures, the house is officially yours!⁣
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If you’re ready to buy or know someone who is, don’t let getting a mortgage get you down. Reach out and let’s take walk through each step one by one!

06/03/2021

Find homes for sale, find an agent, view virtual tours, receive homes by e-mail, learn about buying and selling a home and more!

05/27/2021

Photo by Stux via Pixabay Although popular reality television shows make house flipping seem like a relatively low-risk endeavor, nothing could be further from the truth. It would be more accurate to call the business of house flipping “high risk, high reward.” The risk factors involve l...

05/27/2021

Click here to view Lancaster, PA blog post which has information on the constantly changing market trends.

05/20/2021

Photo by Yavyav via Shutterstock Whatever your priorities are, before you take on the purchase of a home, answer these questions for yourself: Why do you want to purchase a house? Is it for financial reasons? Is it less expensive than paying rent? Until you’re certain about your reasons for buying...

05/13/2021

Image by Brasil Creativo from Shutterstock If this is your first time owning a home, your mind is likely consumed with plans to replace the carpet or upgrade the appliances. You want to get the best deals and save money where you can. One area not to skimp, though, is in your homeowner's insurance.....

05/10/2021

Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay If you’re looking for a new home you are probably searching for a specific category. While residential properties come in many different types, sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate them. Once you learn more about the terminology, you might find that you can...

05/06/2021

Photo by KML from Pexels Buying your first home is exciting and you will spend a lot of time working with your real estate agent. However, before you begin searching for the right agent, here are some helpful hints to help you get started off on the right foot and make sure you are ready to purchase...

Buying a home is exciting, but the financial side of things can often feel you leaving a little overwhelmed. ⁣⁣Side note...
05/05/2021

Buying a home is exciting, but the financial side of things can often feel you leaving a little overwhelmed. ⁣
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Side note: Am I the only one who wishes they taught us this stuff in school!?⠀⁣
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The good news is once you learn the lingo, nail down a budget, and have your down payment secured, you'll be more than ready and able to choose which loan option works best for you. ⠀⁣
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Here are 5 types of mortgage loans for homebuyers:⠀⁣
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1. Conventional mortgage: Loans backed by private lenders rather than the government. You can even put down as little as 3%! This is a great option if you have a solid credit score. ⠀⠀⁣
2. Adjustable-rate mortgage: Loans with low initial interest rates that mean big savings early on. ⠀⠀⁣
3. Fixed-rate mortgages: Loans with predictable payments month after month, year after year.⠀⁣
4. Government-insured mortgages: FHA loans, USDA loans, and VA loans. These government-insured options make homeownership more accessible if you have less liquid cash or less-than-stellar credit.⠀⁣
5. Jumbo mortgages: Common in high-cost areas, these loans allow homeowners to borrow more money in expensive zip codes.⠀⁣
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Do your research and bring questions to your loan officer or real estate agent. If you need guidance or suggestions of awesome loan officers in your area, let me know! I'd love to help.

Address

100 Foxshire Drive
Lancaster, PA
17601

Telephone

+17176828702

Website

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