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Month: February 2014

How to shave years and dollars off your existing home loan

How to shave years and dollars off your existing home loan

Did you know that by making one extra mortgage payment per year — either in one lump sum or divided into twelve months — you can reduce a 30-yr. loan term by up to 7 years and save thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of dollars in interest over the life of the loan? It’s true.

To find out how much you could save, go to www.BankRate.com and choose  the Amortization Schedule Calculator. If you can’t afford to make a whole extra payment, you can still save big by adding just a few extra dollars per month or by splitting your payment in half and paying twice a month. Call your lender to ask for details and other options.

 

Posted by Alice Kuder on 2/24/14

 

What time of year is best for selling your home?

What time of year is best for selling your home?

I’m often asked ‘when is the best time to sell a home’?

Although the best time to sell depends on the particular circumstances of each homeowner, there are definite trends as to when homes come on the market.

Springtime is consistently the strongest season for new listings. The highest number of homes typically come on the market in May, followed by  April and March. Summer months — June, July and August — are the next busiest. The months of January, February, September and October see comparable amounts of activity, but less than the spring and summer months. November and December are (not surprisingly) the slowest months for new listings.

What does this information mean for you as a potential seller? Inventory is still perilously low; the law of supply and demand is your best friend. Plan to go on the market when there is less competition. Listing your home in March is a good way to snag buyers before the springtime onslaught.

I am happy to provide you with a free, no-obligation CMA (comparative market analysis) to help you determine the current value of your home. Contact me at 206-708-9800 or Alice@AliceKuder.com to make an appointment.