Surviving Short Sales - Local News Story

It seems like everywhere we look there are more and more For Sale and Foreclosure signs. In Idaho Falls during the month of May just over a third of all homes sold were distressed properties.Read more from our Local News. I was interview for this local story.

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen

Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience.
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Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program

If your mortgage payment is unaffordable and you are interested in transitioning to more affordable housing, you may be eligible for a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure through HAFA. The benefit of a HAFA short sale is that you are no longer responsible for the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the amount that your home sells for. Read more here

HOME Down Payment Closing Cost (DPCC) Assistance

Available for first-time homebuyers with a household income less than 80% of area median income.
- Minimum of $1,000 with a maximum of 3.5% of the purchase price not to exceed $8,000, based on borrower's need, and the adjusted gross household area median income (AMI).
- Borrower minimum investment of $500, with no cash out at closing.
- Property must have been previously vacant or owner-occupied.
- Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education program completion prior to applying for the assistance
Click here to learn more

Building Credit

Your credit report represents how well you manage your financial responsibilities. The good news is that your negative information drops off over time but the positive information remains. Building a strong and consistent history of responsibly using credit is the foundation to building a great credit profile. Although it’s relatively easy to gain access to new credit such as credit cards, there are many best practices to use and common traps to avoid. Here are a few easy tips for effectively building your credit history.

Building Credit | RE/MAX, LLC

President Obama on Loan Modifications

President Obama has made a public call for mortgage lenders and servicers to provide struggling homeowners with longer-term modifications and principal reductions when it fits the situation. Read more here

Idaho Legislation Places New Requirements on Lenders

Under a new Idaho state law, lenders must respond to requests for loan modification within 45 days and cannot proceed to a foreclosure sale until after responding to the request.
Read the article here