Wednesday, April 30, 2014

FIRST STEPS IN PREPARING TO BUY A HOME

   I have had a lot of questions concerning credit and the home purchase process. I hope this will help.

Credit score is not the ONLY consideration by mortgage lenders, other factors such as the amount of savings you have and your income help in your appeal to lenders

Preparation: Documents to have at the ready include your credit report, most recent pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns and W-2s, a financial worksheets summarizing all monthly expenses, utilities, car payments, insurance and rent; as well as a summary of all your assets and liabilities

Credit Score: Credit score are affected by your payment history, outstanding debt balances, new credit lines opened, length of your credit history and types of credit used. The calculation of your credit score is heavily weighted against your payment history and outstanding debts owed, about 65%!

You must have a credit score of at least 760 to qualify for the lowest rate available.  A credit score between 660-759, you can still get attractive interest rates that are just a few points/percent higher. If your score is below 580, The rate increases at least four percentage points.

These are the first things you must have under your belt before you call an agent and start looking for your future nest. This being said don't ever give up and think you can't own a home of your own, establish what's holding you back and make a plan to tear away those obstacles!
majones@realtysouth.com

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Fun Things To Do This April 2014!


Birmingham Botanical Gardens 
04/07/14 
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham 
Birmingham Zoo 
04/12/14 
Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham 

04/12/14 
Railroad Park, Birmingham 
Color Me Rad 5K 
04/12/14 
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover  
Birmingham Museum of Art 
04/12/14 
Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham 
Birmingham Botanical Gardens 
04/10/14 - 04/13/14  
Former JC Penny's at Century Plaza, Birmingham 
Alabama Theatre 
04/16/14 
Alabama Theatre, Birmingham 
McWane Science Center 
04/19/14 
McWane Science Center, Birmingham 
Birmingham Botanical Gardens 
04/26/14 
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham 
City of Birmingham 
04/05/14 - 04/26/14  
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham 
PALS of the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest 
04/26/14 
Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, Vestavia Hills 
Birmingham Fashion Week 
04/19/14 - 04/26/14  
Pepper Place, Birmingham 
Foundation for Art and Cultural Connections 
04/26/14 - 04/27/14  
Linn Park, Birmingham 
Foundation for Art and Cultural Connections 
04/25/14 - 04/27/14  
Linn Park, Birmingham 
Barber Motorsports Park 
04/25/14 - 04/27/14  
Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds 
Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences 
03/13/14 - 05/15/14  
The Edge of Chaos, Birmingham 
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve 
03/21/14 - 05/16/14  
Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, Birmingham 
Pepper Place Saturday Market 
04/12/14 - 12/20/14 
Pepper Place, Birmingham