austinmortgageassociatesblog.com

Nationwide home sales in the first quarter of 2010 were 11.4 percent higher than they were during the same quarter in 2009.  We can probably expect a surge to show up some time in the coming two quarters caused by sales closings before the June 30 termination date of the credit program.  Freddie Mac’s chief economist Frank Nothaft stated:  “the underlying fundamentals for housing markets are improving rapidly” — and should continue to do so through 2010.

So what does this mean for home buyers? There are SMOKIN real estate deals everywhere!

With Austin ranked the 3rd best city to move to in the United States (according to a RelocateAmerica.com report) and the Texas State capital taking the No. 2 spot on the “America’s Top 100 Places to Live” for 2010, home buyers are realizing that here and now is the time to buy!

3 Tips For Home Buyers

1. Accumulate a decent down payment, but not at the cost of your emergency fund. The no-money-down era of lending is gone…

2. Choose a loan originator wisely. This is one of the most critical and difficult tasks for buyers, since there are currently no national licensing standards in place.  Ask for referrals from friends and colleagues.  Know how long a broker has been in business, do Internet searches to see if his or her name is mentioned in unflattering or criminal ways and check his or her record with state regulatory agencies. And finally – Do a Better Business Bureau Check!

3. Get pre-qualified as early as possible. You need to know how much house you can afford and what kind of money you will need for down payment and closing costs.

Have questions? Contact us today!

We focus in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Lake Travis, Lakeway, and Westlake. We also have a presence and facilitate loans in and around Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. In addition to purchase loans, we also provide refinancing of both primary residences and investment properties, as well as home equity and cash out refinancing. We do conventional loans and jumbo loans in addition to the government loans which include FHA loans, VA loans and Texas Veterans Land Board loans. We are a mortgage broker with multiple avenues available to provide the best and most competitive solution for your specific needs.

Give us a call today and let us know how we can best serve you!

CLICK HERE to verify Austin Mortgage Associates A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and see our BBB report.