Baxter Homes Team

07/03/2020

How many correct will you get?

01/25/2019

GET YOUR CREDIT IN CHECK! Do you check your credit report every 3-6 months? You can do so for free and keeping up with your credit report frequently will ensure that you can quickly take care of anything that's incorrect. Go to creditkarma.com for your free report and make this the year that you also take care of legitimate issues on your credit. Whether you're already a homeowner and aren't intending to move anytime soon or are looking to buy this year, getting your credit in order and improving your score can leave you better prepared for anything that may pop up.

01/24/2019

2. DONATE! There are many worthy organizations out there today who are desperate for clothes, shoes, linens, and housewares. Think about what you could let go of. Employ the 6-month rule. It is undeniably hard to get rid of things you have fond memories of, but if you need to re-evaluate your space needs, it's time to start donating or throwing out some of your stuff. If you have clothing, odds and ends, or even appliances you haven't used in the past six months, chances are that's not going to change out of the blue. If it's hit that half-year mark and those items are gathering dust, put them in the donation bin. Some organizations are even willing to make a pickup. How much easier could it be?!

01/23/2019

#1 Declutter! - Not only will it look great to have cleaned-out closets and cleared-off counters, but it will feel great too! It turns out that your well-being could also become victim to what we might call the 'clutter effect', says Psychology Today. A collection of recent studies on stress, life satisfaction, physical health, and cognition all speak to the value of streamlining. Check back for #2

01/23/2019

We are 3+ weeks into the New Year and 93% of the resolutions to start eating better or hitting the gym made just before New Year's day have been forgotten or compromised. But don't neglect your home! Here are some New Year's resolutions for your home that will help your space look better, which will make you feel better, and there's no green leafy vegetables or cardio involved!

02/19/2018

Think about this! Canned, packaged, and perishable foods all have a "best before date." But what about us, what is our best before date? None of us knows. The late Wayne Dyer once said, "Go for it now, the future is promised to no one." Most of us, if not all, have a bucket list, a list of things that we want to fulfill and all we know for sure is that we have right now, no later time is guaranteed. So if you want to travel to some tropical destination, spend more quality time with friends and family, add a new media room to your house, or trade your existing home for one that's a different size or in a different location call me for an idea of your homes value, and take something off your list!

02/09/2018

02/03/2018

How to Keep Your Mortgage Approval Approved

You know how tough it is to qualify for a mortgage?

Proof you've got a long-term job with ample income. A credit score almost off the charts. Your life's savings as a down payment. More cash stashed away. A debt-to-income ratio to die for. And usually, tax returns for the last two years.

You've been there, done that. For weeks now. Maybe a month or more.

You've fought the good fight, you've run the gauntlet of mortgage qualifications and you have your signature-tired hands on that coveted home loan approval.

Now, all you have to do is not blow it.

For goodness sake, never, never, never make any surprise financial moves that could cost you your home loan.

Your mortgage approval is primarily based on documenting your income and assets, your equity stake or down payment, your credit and the cash you'll have left over after the deal is done.

Once you have a mortgage approval, if you change the profile of any one of those qualifiers, you could have to wave your mortgage approval goodbye.

Lenders today don't just check your qualifying information once or even twice. Three, four or more checks, of one document or another, aren't out of the question in today's tight lending market.

Avoid big purchases - If you buy a new car, change the lease, or acquire another large possession, it likely will show up on your credit report or bank statement.

The lender could think you've gone beyond the risk the lender is willing to accept on your mortgage - especially if you qualified by a hair.

If the new loan or purchase amount upsets the debt-to-income ratio the lender used to approve your home loan, your mortgage could go "p**f."

No new credit - Likewise, don't open new credit cards, even for a zero interest rate. Those credit card offers will come streaming in after you close your mortgage. Just wait. The lender didn't approve you based on the additional card or extra loan.

Pay your bills - Also, pay your bills on time, even if there's a dispute. Stop paying a bill and the blotch on your credit report can block your mortgage.

Keep your job - Be kind to your boss, don't get fired. Also, don't go looking to change jobs right now, unless it's a second job to make more money.

Certain job changes also can affect how the lender rates your creditworthiness.

That includes a job change between industries, a job change to start a new company and changing from a job with a salary to a job that pays by commission.

Don't cash out - Leave your stashes of cash alone. Don't transfer large sums of money between bank accounts. Don't make random, undocumented deposits to or withdrawals from your bank account.

Be cautious – It should go without saying, but criminal activity, trying to buy a second home and trying to add a co-signer or name to the loan, after approval, could all also get your mortgage canned.

Remember, things happen. There are events beyond your control that could cost you your mortgage. An unforeseen lay-off, divorce, an accident.

However, once your mortgage is approved, keep tight reigns on what you can control.

02/02/2018

Looking for to buy or sell(?) I can help with that, call me at 816-728-7433. Looking for a mortgage(?) take a look at Today's Rates. Here is a good source for that. Call Ron Cardozo at 913-710-5626 for a quote.